Insta Style #1

Although my blog is mainly focused on beauty, I'm also obsessed with fashion, buying new clothes and putting outfits together. The reason I don't tend to do too many 'ootd' posts on my blog is because I rarely have the time to get outside and take professional photos. I also don't get on well with tripods which can make getting good shots pretty difficult. However, if you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I'm always posting my latest outfit as it doesn't require quite as much planning as a blog post does. With this being said, I thought I'd start sharing my Instagram outfits here on my blog too so I can include links to the things I've been wearing! I'll probably aim to do this every couple of weeks!

So, starting with the top left outfit - both the top and shorts are from In The Style. The shorts are part of Charlotte Crosby's range and come with a matching crop top (here and here) which I also love but I decided to pair it with a different top from In The Style in this photo as I love the combo of a plain top with printed bottoms. The top also has a lace up front so it's very on trend at the moment. You can get that here and for an extra 10% off anything from In The Style, just add 'KAYLEIGH10' at the checkout.

The top right outfit is this stunning floral playsuit from Ashanti Brazil which has fast become my favourite piece of clothing. I love the floral print and the fabric is a really lovely quality and so comfortable! I'm also a big fan of the plunging neckline and while it is a bit risque, it doesn't look too revealing because of the long sleeves. 

Moving on to the bottom left and my new favourite co-ord. This is from LVNDR which is one of my fave sites for affordable clothes. They've only just launched their clothing line recently so there isn't lots of options yet but the pieces they do have are Summer wardrobe staples. This striped co-ord is so perfect and I love how it can be worn day or night. If you didn't already know, LVNDR is owned by my good friend Em from Em Talks so make sure you check the site out!

Finally, the dress in the bottom right photo is available here from Lasula Boutique and it's the perfect little Summer dress. Again, it can be dressed up or down which I love. I'm a big fan of the off-the-shoulder trend that seems to be everywhere at the moment and this baby doll style is really flattering.

Which of these outfits is your fave? Did you enjoy this kind of post? Let me know if you want to see more.

Toni & Guy Summer Essentials + GIVEAWAY!

You may or may not know that I recently worked with Toni & Guy on their recent Hair Meets Wardrobe campaign where I spent the day shooting with them in London. I was pretty nervous to say the least as it was my first time doing anything like it but I had a lot of fun and it was so great to work with one of my favourite hair brands. Head over to their social media @hair_wardrobe if you want to see the final images - it includes me representing Manchester and covered in Manchester landmarks. Eeep! I've also been trying out lots of Toni & Guy products recently and they've kindly given me some for you guys to win too. So, if you want to win the products in the above image... keep reading! 

The three products up for grabs are all what Toni & Guy refer to as 'Summer essentials' and I'd have to agree as there three products will help you achieve any style this Summer. First up is the Sea Salt Spray which is one of my personal favourite hair products and one I've been using for years. I love applying this to damp hair, scrunching my hair up between my fingers and leaving it to dry naturally. It's the perfect product to take away on holiday when it's too hot to use heat on your hair and it creates the most amazing beachy waves. I love it!

Next up is the 3D Volumiser and this one is for you ladies (myself definitely included) who love big glamorous hair! This will help you achieve that gorgeous bouncy blow dried look with ease which is perfect for all those Summer parties. Simply spray it on from root to tip and blow dry your hair as normal.

Finally we have the 'Cool Defining Cream' which is a great product to use all year round but especially in Summer if you hair is feeling a little dry after exposure to the sun. This lightweight cream will soften and moisturise your hair to create a smooth and polished finish. Simply apply it to towel-dried hair and style as normal.

So if you like the sounds of these three products and want to win them for yourself, here's what you need to do...

- Be following me @k_leexjx on Twitter

- Follow @hair_wardrobe

- Leave a comment below letting me know which of these products you'd most like to try.

For an extra entry, you can tweet 'I just entered @k_leexjx's giveaway with @hair_wardrobe to win 3 Summer products! Enter here: ( include link to this post)'

To help me pick a winner, please leave your entry below in this format:

Name:

Email:

Twitter username:

Product I'd most like to try:

Link to my tweet: (you can remove this if you chose not to tweet)

GOOD LUCK GUYS!

Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme Lipsticks

The perfect red lipstick is a staple in any woman's makeup bag and with the help of Marc Jacob's Beauty and their range of incredible 'Le Marc Lip Creme's'*, you can find the perfect red for you! The collection contains 20 shades of red from bold and bright to deep and dark so there's a shade to suit all skin types, hair colours and most importantly - your personal preferences. 

The lipsticks are described as 'rich, velvety and ultra hydrating' whilst delivering a 'dramatic punch of vivd pigment and endless hours of luxurious wear'. With claims they last up to 10 hours on the lips, it's safe to say I was pretty excited to try them. Each lipstick has been named after iconic women who have inspired Marc throughout his lifetime too which I thought was a cute little touch.

My first impression on receiving seven lipsticks from the range was that the packaging is beautiful. The bullets are a sleek rectangular shape with the Marc Jacobs logo on the lid and a metallic clasp which is strangely satisfactory to open and close. Each lipstick also has the shade and name on the bottom so it's easy to differentiate between them when they're together.

The formula is lovely too - they're really creamy and the pigmentation is just out of this world. I mean all you need to do is take one look at the swatches in this post to see just how vivid the colours are. I wouldn't say they're incredibly moisurising like the description of them claims but they're certainly not drying either. I'd describe the finish as a 'velvet' or 'satin' rather than glossy or matte. I really like this as it means they last a long time without drying my lips. I can't say wether they last the full 10 hours as claimed as I haven't worn any of them for that length of time but they do last well and even if they do start to fade after eating and drinking, topping up my lipstick isn't something that bothers me too much anyway. Especially not when they're this beautiful!

As well as looking great and having a great formula, they're also enriched with ingredients that are good for the lips including powerful peptides, antioxidant-rich seaberry, and natural humectants, including meranti and cocoa butter. Most of those things other than cocoa butter don't mean anything to me but I thought I'd include that anyway just in case you like to know what goes into the products you buy and use.

I'm not going to go through every single shade or this post would go on forever but as you can see from the images, there's every variation of red you could think of. My favourite shades would have to be 'Oh Miley' as it's a really fun shade with a mix of Pink and Orange undertones and I also really like the more vampy shades 'Miss Scarlett' and 'Blow' as I think they'll look great in the Winter months! It's safe to say I've now got a red for every occasion.

L-R: Je T'aime, Oh Miley, Goddess, Core Corra, Miss Scarlett, Rei of Light and Blow

I'm a big fan of these lipsticks and would highly recommend you give them a try - whether you're already a big fan of a red lip and want to expand your collection or you're still looking for that perfect shade, look no further than this collection. They're available to buy here from Sephora!

Which of these Reds is your favourite?

The Best Hair Dryer EVER! | BaByliss Pro ItaliaBRAVA Review

Hair dryers aren't usually a hair tool that I get excited about as they tend to be pretty standard and all do the same job! However, the new Babyliss Pro ItaliaBRAVA* is a different story - it has totally blown me away! I was very kindly sent this as a surprise from Feel Unique and as soon as I opened the sleek black box it came presented in, I was highly impressed with the way it looked. It's a very chic looking black hair dryer with the Babyliss logo on the side as well as the heat and speed settings on the handle.

When I removed the hair dryer from the box, I couldn't believe how light it was. Before receiving this I'd been using a hair dryer that was so heavy my arm would start to ache halfway through drying my hair so the fact that this one is so light is a big big big bonus for me! I also noticed a little card in the box that said 'Ferrari designed engine' and that had me instantly intrigued. A hair dryer designed by Ferrari - surely not right?! Well actually, that's exactly right. Babyliss have partnered up with Ferrari to create the ItaliaBrava. No wonder it's so blooming good!

The main reason I love this hair dryer so much is because it's super powerful. I've got pretty long hair so it can take what feels like a lifetime to dry it if I'm using a bog standard hair dryer (like to ones you get in hotel rooms for instance - not great) but this one is so powerful that it drastically reduces the amount of time I have to spend drying my hair. An extra 10 minutes in bed in the mornings?! Yes please. In all seriousness though, it's actually made a massive difference to my morning routine. The reason it's so powerful is because it has a 'fierce brushless motor' with a power of 2400w which lasts up to ten times longer than a normal motor. Babyliss say "the grille provides hair with a superior heat transfer whilst the ionic generator can be used to boost hair´s shine." It also has a 15% faster airflow and stronger air pressure than other Babyliss dryers as well as 12 heat/speed settings so it can be used exactly as you want it. 

My favourite setting would have to be the 'turbo' button which can be found on the back of the handle - just like a Ferrari, pressing this button really revs up the 'engine' of the dryer and gives you even more power and quicker drying time. It also has a cold shot button so you can lock your style in place and create shine as well as two nozzles which allow you to concentrate the airflow and create your preferred hair style.

Another bonus of the ItaliaBrava is its 'Nano Titanium heat technology' which is said to be an excellent heat conductor and instead of drying the hair out, it helps to lock in its natural moisture. This is great news if you need to blow dry your hair a lot as we all know how damaging heat can be for the hair. I've actually noticed a big difference in the condition of my hair since I started using this hair dryer - it's a lot softer than it was a few months ago and it always looks healthy and shiny after blow drying instead of dry and frizzy like it once did.

You can get the Babyliss ItaliaBrava here for £120.00 and although it is quite expensive, I'd say it's an investment worth making as it's a truly high class hair dryer and will be sure to blow the one you're currently using right out of the water. Plus, who doesn't want quicker drying time, less heat damage and a lightweight hair dryer that won't leave your arm achey after 5 minutes? Feel Unique often off site wide discount codes too so keep your eye out for one of those!

Do you like the sound of this hair dryer?!

I’m due a Big Hair Colour Change

I was recently contacted by Schwarzkopf and asked if I'd like to be part of their next Schwarzkopf LIVE Lookbook campaign – and I was SO excited.

Myself and four other bloggers (all of whom I follow and can't wait to meet!) will be undergoing a new, bold colour refresh. I’m a big believer that your hair should represent your personal style – so I’m looking forward to showing you my new look!

I know how scary changing your hair can be so my aim to is show you how you can recreate the look at home! As a long time blondie, I'm going to be representing all the blondes out there – I will be going Platinum!

As I'm sure some of you will know if you're a regular reader, I recently had my hair toned down and darker pieces put through it to create a more natural look. Now although I do like it, I recently looked back at some old pictures of myself when my hair was much blonder and I've come to the conclusion that light blonde suits my skin tone and features far better. I almost feel like darker hair washes me out and makes me look older. When I have my hair light blonde, I feel I look younger and my complexion looks brighter.

If you're a blonde too, I'm sure you'll know that it isn't an easy colour to achieve without some professional assistance, so I’m going to be documenting my journey so I can show you just how this is possible with their LIVE Absolute Platinum or Max Blonde lighteners. (It will also save me some money in the process!) Another issue I have with being a blonde is that bleach can sometimes make it look a little brassy. I much prefer a white ash blonde so that's the look I'll be looking  to achieve with Schwarzkopf LIVE..

Be sure to follow #LIVELookbook on their social channels to keep up to date with the campaign and our hair makeovers! Also make sure you check out the website livecolour.com for more helpful hints on colouring at home.

I can't wait to show you all my new look!

Holiday Lookbook ft ASOS, Topshop & In The Style

One of my favourite parts of going away on holiday (other than the obvious things like chilling out, spending time with loved ones and lots of sunshine!) is getting to wear pretty new outfits. Every year before I go away somewhere, I spend a good few weeks planning what I'll wear each night plus lots of 'back up' outfits too, just in case. This means I usually pack way too much for a week away and am almost always at the top end of the weight limit but as someone who loves clothes and putting outfits together, I guess that's all part of the fun! 

I recently went away on a three day trip to Mallorca with On The Beach (read all about what I got up to here) and in true blogger style, I took way more than three days worth of clothes so I could shoot some outfit photos with pretty backdrops. This may have involved getting changed behind a bin too - the glamorous life of a blogger ey?! I thought I'd share a few of the outfits I wore and include links to where you can get the items if you fancy treating yourself for any of your upcoming holidays!

Top - Here // Shorts - Here // Shoes - Here // Hat - Here

I love wearing high waisted items on my bottom half as I find they're really flattering on my body shape so these cute ASOS daisy print shorts were a must have as soon as I laid my eyes on them. I love the print as daisies are such a Summery flower and they're made with a really lovely light fabric so they're super comfortable and not clingy in the slightest. I'm usually a size 10 on the bottom half but I ordered these in an 8 and they're still baggy around the waist so I'd definitely go down a size in these. I paired them with a off the shoulder bardot top which is also from ASOS and I think they work really well as an outfit. I also wore my absolute favourite Carvela chunky lace up heels from Love Shopaholics and my Dorothy Perkins fedora. 

Dress - Here & Here (currently on sale) // Shoes - Here // Hat - Here

Another ASOS number I wore is this super pretty playsuit / maxi dress. I ordered this not long before I went away as I thought it was a bit different and I love the floral print, floaty fabric and low back. This is one of those items that can be thrown on and you're good to go - it doesn't need any accessories as it's a statement piece that does all the talking itself! I wore my fedora again too as I'm totally obsessed with it - hats seem to make any outfit look 10x more chic.

Top - Here // Shorts - Here // Shoes - here

I've been working with In The Style quite a lot recently and I LOVE their stuff. Literally everything I own from them is so lovely (actually much nicer in reality that on their website) and I always get compliments whenever I wear an In The Style outfit. My current favourite look from the brand is this super cute stripes two piece from Charlotte Crosby's 'Nostalgia' range. I just love the print - it's very classic and something anyone could wear but it also really stands out and makes a statement. I absolutely love a co-ord too as they're so easy to wear and make an effortlessly chic outfit! I have the jumpsuit version of this too and I love that just as much. You can also get 10% off anything from In The Style when you enter my discount code 'KAYLEIGH10' at the checkout. Happy shopping ladies!

Top - Similar here // Similar here // Shoes - here

I love all things crochet in Summer so this skirt from Topshop was a must have as soon as I saw it. I love to intricate detail and how the hem is different levels around the bottom. I paired it with a simple off the shoulder crop top from H&M as the skirt is quite a statement piece on its own and then wore my favourite Public Desire Rita heels. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of the outfits I wore on my holiday and if you'd like to see more style posts, do let me know. I've been posting lots more fashion stuff over on my Instagram recently (@kayleighjcouture) and it seems to be going down quite well so if you'd like to see more style focused posts on my blog, do let me know. Any feedback is welcome! Also a big thank you to my girl Em for taking these photos for me!

What's your favourite thing to wear on holiday?

Top 10 Under £10 | The Makeup Edition

As I'm sure you all know by now, I'm a makeup junkie. My collection of products is big enough to rival a small Boots store and I can't get enough of trying new products! As much as I love my high end goodies from the likes of NARS, MARC or Charlotte Tilbury, I also love finding a bargain from my favourite drugstore brands. With this being said, I've decided to start a little 'top 10 under £10' series which will showcase 10 of my fave products you can pick up for £10 or less. I'm going to start with makeup and will probably do skin care, hair care and nails too!

First up are the bases and two of my all time favourites are from Bourjois, my top drugstore beauty brand. I love both their Healthy Mix foundaion (£9.99 and 123 Perfect CC Cream (£9.99) for a flawless look. I find both of these products have great coverage without feeling too heavy and they make my skin look radiant. Another Bourjois face product I love is their Bronzing Powder & Highlighter Duo* (£7.99). This one of their newer products but it's basically the same as their original 'chocolate' bronzer with the addition of a highlighter. I love this because it gives a natural bronzed look, smells like chocolate (always a bonus!) and combined with the highlight it gives my skin a lovely candlelit glow. 

I'm a little bit obsessed with highlighters and glowy skin so another of my high street favourites are the Topshop powder highlighters. I love the cute black and white packaging despite the fact I've got two of them now and my fave is called 'Sunbeam', a lovely gold tone. It's a very finely milled powder and haves a lovely metallic finish without looking glittery. 

When it comes to eye shadow I do find high end is better and stick with my palettes from Too Faced, Urban Decay or MAC. However, one eye shadow I do like from the high street is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in the shade 'And On Bronze' - it can be used as a base for other shades or on its own if you just want a quick sweep of colour across the lid. I love the taupe shade and the metallic finish is really pretty! I must pick up a few more of these!

Two items I always buy from the drugstore are liquid liner and mascara. I personally think the cheaper ones are just as good, if not better, than high end versions and they're just two of those products I don't see the point in spending a lot of money on. My favourite liquid liner is the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner (£2.99) as it's SO easy to use, really pigmented and long lasting. It also costs less than a fiver - who can complain at that?! My favourite mascara is the Bourjois One Seconde Volume mascara (£9.99) and I've gone through a couple of these now as I just love it so much. It gives my lashes length, curl and thickness - everything I want from my mascara. Another lash product I'd highly recommend are the Vintage Cosmetic Company's eyelash curlers. I've got the rose gold ones (of course) and I love them - they make my lashes look 10x longer than they do before using them.

Finally, my favourite makeup item - the lip products! My all time favourite high street lip product would have to be the Revlon Lip Butters (£7.99) as they come in a great range of bold colours, they're pigmented and really hydrating on the lips. I must have 6 or 7 of them now and I'd still buy more - that's how much I love them. Another lip product I love from the drugstore are the Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons* (£7.99). Similar to the Lip Butters, they're really hydrating on the lips and have a lovely glossy finish. They aren't quite as pigmented as the Lip Butters but that means they're perfect for every day wear when I don't want something too bold.

So there we have it, my top 10 makeup items that all cost less than £10! Boots currently have a 3 for 2 offer on Bourjois products so now might be a good time to grab some of these things if you fancy giving them a try. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know your favourites!

A Trip to Mallorca with On The Beach | Palma, Boat Trips & Beautiful Beaches

I was recently whisked away to Mallorca for three days with my good friend Em and travel company On The Beach. When I was first told about the trip, I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive. The idea of going anywhere unfamiliar is always such a daunting thing for me but I do find tackling my fears head on helps me a lot so that's exactly what I decided to do. I can now say I'm SO pleased I bit the bullet and put my fears aside as I had the time of my life! 

I jumped on a train to London (and upgraded to first class for only £15 with Virgin - score) and met up with Em and Scarlett at Euston train station before we got the Gatwick Express to the airport. We then met up with the guys from On The Beach and headed to our gate for the short two hour flight to Mallorca. I usually hate flying but we were all so busy chatting that it passed by in what felt like five minutes! 

We got a private transfer from the airport to our hotel which was around 20 minutes away and that's when holiday mode really kicked in! We stayed at the BH Mallorca hotel and when I found out it's only a stones throw from BCM night club and the famous magaluf 'strip', I was a little concerned. I went to Magaluf when I was 17 and just presumed it was for people of that age who wanted to party like crazy - not a nearly 25 year old who is used to lazing round a pool sipping cocktails on holiday. However, any worries were soon dismissed when we arrived as the hotel is fabulous - it's a 4 star with a welcoming reception area and everything is very clean and modern. There's a water park in the middle of the hotel (I know - SO COOL!), and the rooms are set out in little blocks dotted around the complex. There's also two huge swimming pools, a jacuzzi and a wave pool. Everything you need for a fun filled day really. 

 

The rooms themselves were fairly basic but again, they were clean and modern. They had cool artwork and big TV's on the walls as well as lots of space for storing clothes. I was sharing a room with Em and we had plenty of space considering we both took SO much stuff with us .. That's bloggers for you haha. The lovely people from On The Beach had also stocked our room with sun tan lotion, sweets and champagne which was so lovely and thoughtful. After we'd got changed into something more appropriate for the glorious Mallorca heat, we made our way to the hotels restaurant area where they'd put on the most lovely spread of welcome drinks and nibbles. The restaurant was absolutely lovely too with modern white tables placed around the room and cool artwork on the walls. I can't fault it!

We were meant to be having a pretty quiet night after travelling all day but as soon as we got a few drinks down us, we decided to head to the strip considering it was only a five minute walk away. All I can say about that night is that it was EPIC. Anyone who thinks Magaluf is 'chavvy', 'rough' or 'dirty' is completely wrong. I'd describe it as fun, happy and chilled. We had the most fun ever and I'd honestly do it all over again in a flash - I loved it.
 

 

On day two we woke with slightly sore heads from all the partying we did the night before but we had such a fun day planned so we soon got over it and got stuck into the day! After a nice full English breakfast at the all inclusive we walked down to the beach ready for a boat trip to show us around the beautiful island of Palma. We had such a great time on the boat - the weather was glorious and it was amazing to see all the beautiful views. We were also given the opportunity to jump off the boat into the sea so Em and I took full advantage of this and went for a refreshing dip. My overactive mind did worry a shark would creep up on me (I blame the film 'Into the Deep' for this haha) but the water was crystal clear and it felt so good to let go of my inhibitions and just go for it.

 

After the boat trip we were taken to the most beautiful little beach for some lunch and a dip in the sea. We nibbled on yummy food including bread with aioli, olives and paella washed down with some classic Spanish sangria. We then went to explore the beach and in true blogger style had an impromptu photo shoot on the rocks. The views were simply stunning! The water was a really vibrant turquoise blue and crystal clear - I didn't want to leave!

 

 

After all the fun from the day, we headed to Palma city to explore and it was such a beautiful place. The buildings were so gorgeous and it just had a great atmosphere about it. We made the most of all the beautiful back drops to take some outfit photos which may have involved doing an outfit change behind some bins. I know - absolute blogger problems.

 We were then taken to Illetas for a beautiful meal at Balneario Illetas - the most picturesque restaurant ever. Our table was overlooking the ocean and we watched the sunset as we sipped on wine and Spanish nibbles (as well as some delicious nachos) - it was perfect! I ordered a king prawn and monkfish kebab for my main and it was SO good - even if I couldn't finish it all.

On day three we had a chill out day at the hotel so we could really get a feel for the experience it has to offer guests. Em and I has been eyeing up the white floating beds by the pool area from the moment we got there so we couldn't wait to get down on them and do a bit of sunbathing. This area of the hotel is inspired by the 'ocean beach club' in Ibiza and it's an exclusive area you can pay extra to enjoy. It's 60 euros for the day and this includes a bottle of champagne which I think is a really good price - especially if you're in a group and  dividing the cost between you. It's probably not something you'd do every day but it would be lovely to do on one of the days of your holiday to make it a bit more special. The atmosphere by the pool was amazing - it wasn't lary or too noisy but there was great music playing, a pool bar where you could get a whole selection of drinks included in the all inclusive deal and dancers with the most amazing bodies you've ever seen performing on podiums. I loved it - we met loads of really cool people and laughed and sipped champagne all afternoon.

 

After lots of chilling out - it was time to hit the slides. It was SO cool that there was a water park in the hotel - I'm a total water baby so I was in my element. You don't need to pay extra to use this which is great and it means you'll definitely never be short of things to do during the day. I was slightly too scared to try some of the more crazy looking slides out but we had so much fun on the ones we did try.

 

After dragging ourselves away from the white beds (seriously, we didn't want to leave!), we headed back to our room to get ready for our final night - a Tinie Tempah show and VIP at BCM. As well as the water park, the hotel also had a concert area where well known artists and DJ's play regularly throughout the week. We had a VIP view of the show and the atmosphere was crazy - everyone was so happy and singing along at the top of their voices. Tinie himself was awesome too - I've always been a fan of his music and we were all surprised by how many great catchy songs he's released over the years. After the concert we made our way across the road to BCM which is the biggest club in Mallorca. We had a VIP area again which was really lovely and the music was great!

 

So that pretty much concludes the whole trip! I realise this post is really long but I could go on all day about what a great time I had. I want to do it all over again. I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to Jamie, Emily, Tanase and Karin from On The Beach for giving me this opportunity and being such great hosts for the three days. They're such a great team of people and we all bonded so well! I can't wait for a reunion night out! 

If you're interested in booking a holiday to Mallorca (or any other beach holiday for that matter), I'd highly recommend booking through On The Beach - they're really great. If you like the look of this trip, you can book a seven night all-inclusive stay at the BH Mallorca throughout the summer from only £397pp including return flights from airports across the UK. Book online at www.onthebeach.co.uk or call 0871 474 3000.

 

Do you like the look of this place? Have you ever been to Mallorca?!

 

Big thank you to Em for letting me use some of her photos in this post too!