Raw Millionaires Shortbread

I saw these little gems after reading the blog ModelMangetout and seeing her raw Millionaires Shortbread. First thought: I can have a healthy version of Millionaires Shortbread ?! I'm sold. So here is my version.

You will need:

For the Base:
150g Cashews
3 tablespoons Desiccated Coconut
5 tablespoons Ground almonds
1 tablespoon Agave Nectar
3 tablespoons Tahini
1/4 cup Coconut oil (melted)

Place the cashews, almonds and coconut in a food processor and blend till you have a fine crumb. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend till combined.

Spoon the mixture into a freezer-proof container (I used one about 22x18cm but you might want to use a square one for perfectly shaped shortbread.) Freeze while you make the date caramel. (minimum 1/2-1hr)

Date Caramel:
11/2 cup of Dates (Try and use Medjool dates for a sweeter and stickier caramel!)
3 tablespoons Coconut oil (melted)
2 tablespoons Almond Butter
2-3 tablespoons Coconut milk (I sometimes use canned coconut milk, but almond milk or another milk works too!)

Pour boiling water over your pitted dates, and let them soak for 5mins then drain. This makes them softer and easier to blend. Place them into your food processor along with the coconut milk and blend, this could take a little while but you're looking for a smooth paste. Once your date and milk mixture is smooth you can add in the rest of the ingredients, and blend. Cover your base with the caramel and place back in the freezer, for another hour.

For the Chocolate Top:
1/2 cup Melted Coconut Oil
6tbsp Raw Cacao Powder
3 tbsp Agave Nectar

Over a low warm your coconut oil and add in the cacao powder. Whisk the two together, then add in the agave nectar. This is personal preference, taste as you go, if you want it sweeter add more if you like it a little more bitter then add less or none at all.
The base and date caramel is very sweet so you might not want to make the top too sweet!

Pop in the fridge for 1/2-hour, until the top is just set, place back in the freezer for at least 3-4 hours.
Then Slice and devour !!

If you do give these ago please let me know, I'd love to know how they turn out!

Love, Olivia x

Makeup Starter Kit

Next weekend my friend has asked me to take her makeup shopping so we can battle the minefield of the beauty section together! She loves her makeup but she has always done the same thing, using the same products and wants some help updating products and establishing a basic kit. It got me thinking about what would be the essential products to have in your makeup collection.

1.     Base

If you want to create a beautiful painting it helps to have a good canvas, it's the same with your skin. Having a solid skincare routine really helps to make your makeup look even better.

When picking your base, ask yourself, do you always wear foundation or are you a lover of tinted moisturiser? Do you use a BB or CC cream as your preferred base? Notice the products you reach for the most, as they will probably be you favourite. Decide on what you like using and make sure you have a good match for your skin tone.

Note: If you have very oily skin and/or if your base doesn't last very long on you throughout the day then consider a primer. There are so many on the market, find which ones you like the most.

2.     Concealer and Correctors

This stage you want something that's going to cover anything that your foundation hasn't. Choose a formula based on your skin type.

For oily skins choose liquid concealers if you have normal, dry or sensitive skin pick a stick concealer. Cream concealers work best on normal, dry, combination and sensitive skin and cream to powder formulas are best suited to normal, combination, and sensitive or slightly dry skin.

For your under eye area try and use a shade that is 1-2 shades lighter than the one you used on your base as this will help lighten the under eye area.

3.     Powder

You need powder to set the liquid or cream base (if this is what you've used, skip this if you use powder foundation) Pick two colours. I personally always use transparent powder but make sure you have a coloured one too this allows for extra coverage if it's needed.  

4.     Eye Shadow

Depending on your confidence with eye shadow I would start with 3 to 4 basic colours in neutral shades and work up from there. I also love using cream formulas either in a stick or from a pot as they are so quick and easy to apply and last all day! They also create a great base to apply powder shades on top.

5.     Eyeliner

I would have powder, pencil and gel formulas in a basic kit, again depending on your normal makeup look. If you love liner include a liquid one to!

6.     Mascara

I love this step, I find it finishes off eye makeup so well and makes such a difference to your appearance. If you have very straight lashes that don't hold a curl well, choose a waterproof formula that will last longer.

It’s not essential but I couldn't be without mine, an eyelash curler, just to give your lashes that extra bit drama!

7.     Blush

There are so many different formulas to choose from, find out what works best for you and what you like using. But make sure you have a few shades to choose from in either (or both) powder or cream formulas.

8.     Lips

Whether its liner, lipstick and gloss or just tinted balm, lips make the look polished and put together.

Depending on your routine, try and have a liner, lipstick, gloss and balm in your basic kit.

I think the main thing to remember that makeup is so personal is important to find what You like and what works best for you!

What would be in your basic kit? I’d love to know!

Love,

Olivia

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate- Why I’m in love

I’ve always been really worried about using facial oil on my skin. I thought it would increase the oiliness of my skin causing breakouts and other oil related side effects. How wrong I was.

 I think we are conditioned into thinking all oil must be bad because we link it to oily skin type. But as I’ve found it’s all about using the right kind of oil.

Watch out for Mineral Oil, it's found in more skincare products than you would think.

Reasons to avoid mineral oil:

•   It clogs your pores, which increases the risk of acne and blackheads.
•   It offers no benefits for your skin. All it does is sit on the skin and prevents moisture loss.
•   Having said all that, I find I can use products that contain mineral oil if I am washing it straight off. A cleasner for example, is not left to block pores or sit on the skin so for me it doesn't have too much of an effect! 

Ironically if you suffer from acne or oil skin, using facial oil can help! Often products for acne prone/oily skin strip the skin of its natural oils, causing the skin to freak out leading to an over production of oil maybe dryness and probally breakouts. So even though it might feel weird, I’ve found that using oil can really help re-balance the skin’s oil production.

Recently my skin has become very dry and I have been desperate for something to increase the moisture content and help repair the skin while I sleep. I was very reluctant to try Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate despite hearing so many amazing things about it, because of the fact its an oil. But I finally took the plunge and I haven’t looked back since!

This product is gorgeous. The ingredients include, Evening Primrose and Lavender oil giving the oil giving it a beautiful scent that is not too invasive. Also lavender before bed? Yes please!

Use sparingly as a little goes a long way here. I use two drops and smooth over my skin just before bed. As my skin is so dry I’ve found the oil is absorbed very quickly, but if you have an oilier complexion don’t be worry about the greasy look, it will absorbed over night and leave a radiant complexion by the morning! That's why this is a night only product. Also maybe just use 2-3 times a week as a treat for your skin.

Since I’ve been using this oil, by morning my skin is super soft and moisturized. Any scars or pigmentation are reduced and healing which is the main reason I love this product. Its so comforting to use and you know its helping your skin repairs itself.

If you suffer from scarring or acne its definitely worth a try. But as with anything skincare related, I would always try a tester first – it is a little pricey so its worth making sure you will love it before you splash out!

What do you think about facial oils? Have you had any experience with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate? I’d love to know!  

Olivia x