Outift | Mesh & Distressed Denim

Now the weather is warming up, I've been really enjoying putting together some Spring outfits and this is one of my current favourites so I just have to share it! As soon as the sun starts shining, I'm all about that transition from dark to light wash denim so as soon as I spotted these distressed light wash denim jeans on the Missy Empire website, they had to be mine. 

I'm obsessed with distressed denim - there's just something so cool and effortless about it. In my opinion, every girl needs a pair of ripped jeans in her wardrobe - wether that's just a subtle rip on the knee or full on holes like the ones I'm wearing here, (my Nanna often likes to tell me they look like they need sewing back together, haha!) they're a must have piece of clothing. You can get the ones I'm wearing here for only £24 too which is such a bargain!!

As these jeans are so statement, I decided to pair them with another one of my fave S/S items - a white tee! I love nothing more than the t-shirt and jeans combo - it's a classic look you just can't go wrong with. I love this oversized white tee which is also from Missy Empire - the mesh panels add a nice touch and make it look that little bit more chic and dressed up that a basic white t-shirt. I've had so many compliments since I got this top - it's a really interesting item but so easy to wear at the same time which I love. I also think it looks way more expensive than it's £12 price tag - I definitely need the black one in my life too.

To finish the look I added some simply strappy heels (although I'd also wear this look with trainers for something more casual!), my beloved Givenchy Antigona and a big pair of sunnies!! Yay to wearing sunglasses again - I've missed them!!

Do you like this outfit?! Are you a fan of the simple white tee and jeans look?

Tinting My Eyebrows At Home With Colorsport 30 Day Brow Kit

As much as I love going to the salon for a pamper, it's not always ideal to be constantly going back and forth for treatments - especially when you're someone like me who has eyebrows, hair colour, nails and lash treatments to keep on top off. With this being said, home beauty products that allow me to these treatment myself intrigue me - they can be done in the comfort of my own home with no need to wait for an appointment/travel to a salon and they're way more affordable too - win win! I probably wouldn't trust myself to do my own hair or nails but when it comes to brow / lash tinting, I'm more than happy to give it a go myself so I was very excited to try the Colorsport 30 day brow tint which promised to give natural look and defined brows in a few minutes.

The colour I went for is Dark Brown as despite being blonde, I do have fairly naturally dark brows and lashes - they're just a bit sparse in areas which is why I love to tint them as it picks up every little hair and makes them look naturally thicker. At the moment, they only have the Dark Brown or Black kits available so if you have really light eyebrows and prefer a more medium brown shade, this might not be for you. However, I do think the majority of people would go for the Dark Brown or Black as you always want to go a shade or two darker than your natural brows when tinting as this is what will make them look more defined.

I have to be honest, I was nervous to try this product as I've never done a home brow tint and I was a bit wary I'd end up with a bit of a scouse brow or I'd dye the skin around my eyebrows and wouldn't be able to get it off. However, after reading the instructions, it seemed like a pretty simple process. The kit comes with three items - the dye itself, a developer lotion and a cute little spoolie brush to comb the brows and ensure they're completely coated with the colour.

The process is really easy and takes no more than five minutes from start to finish. However, when using a dye at home, you MUST perform a patch test 48 hours before to ensure you're not allergic to the product. The kit tells you exactly how to do it so make sure you don't ignore this as it's really important to be safe. Like most people, I was completely fine with the product and didn't experience any redness, itching or irritation. After you've done the patch test, you're good to go.

To begin the treatment, you need to ensure your brows are totally clean and then add something like Vaseline on the skin around them to prevent the dye from staining the skin. I didn't have any Vaseline so I improvised and used a lip balm which seemed to work just as well. After that, I simply mixed the dye and the formula (1cm of dye and 10 drops of formula) and mixed it all up in the mixing area provided until it formed a thick paste. I then applied it to my brows using the plastic stick included in the kit. As you can see from the above image, I did apply it fairly thickly to ensure every hair was coated but it didn't feel uncomfortable and it only need to be left on for 1-2 minutes before wiping it off with a cotton pad and warm water. The instructions suggest leaving it on for up to five minutes if you want a deeper colour but I didn't want to risk them going too dark on my first attempt. If you want to watch a video tutorial of the process you can view this tutorial to get a better idea of how it works.

When I removed the dye, I wasn't left with any stained skin and I definitely noticed an improvement in the overall appearance of my brows. They looked more defined due to the deeper colour, had a better shape and the hair itself looked shiny and healthy. To be honest, I probably could have left it on for the five minutes without any issues which is good to know for next time I use it. I did try my best to get before and after pictures of my brows but the camera wasn't really showing up the difference in colour, so annoying. Hopefully you guys can take my word for it!!

Overall I'd say this is a great little kit for home use - it's easy, quick and fuss free to use and will save you a lot of money on all those salon brow tints. It costs less than £9 to buy which is around the same or less than you'd pay for one treatment at the salon and this kit offers up to sixteen applications. I'm sure you can do the maths on that one but it's a fairly big saving - especially if you're someone who gets your brows tinted regularly.

Do you like the sound of this brow tinting kit? Is it something you'd try out at home? It's available to buy here fom Boots for only £8.25.

This is a sponsored post - however, all opinions are my own.*

My Top Five Blogging Don'ts

I know the title of this blog post probably sounds really negative but I promise, it's not. I don't believe in 'do's and don'ts' when it comes to blogging - it's your blog, your content and you decide exactly what you want it to be. That's the beauty of blogging. However, there is a few things that are a big no-no for me when it comes to blogging - little things that can stop you from growing as a blogger and showing your true potential. I thought I'd share my top five 'blogging don'ts' - the things we should all try to avoid at all costs to make us happier and more successful bloggers! I hope you enjoy! 

1. Don't feel guilty; My number one blogging don't would definitely be to not feel guilty if you have a few days off, not feel guilty if you can't be bothered to write a post that day or not feel guilty if you've not updated your social media as often as you usually would. I've experienced these feeling of guilt myself and it always leaves me feeling down about myself and my blog so it's something I'm learning to deal with. At the end of the day, you can't be on top of your game at all times. I often feel guilty about not posting enough and think I should be posting more but it's my blog and therefore I can post as often as I like. I'm no stranger to writer's block and some days, I just don't feel like sharing anything. I never want to write a post for the sake of it so if that means having a couple of days between posts, so be it. If people want to read my blog, I'm sure they won't mind waiting for the next post. There's no rule to say we have to post X amount of times per week but there is certain pressures that can affect us all - we all want to be the best we can be but my tip would be not to be so hard on yourself! 

2. Don't compare yourself to others; Following on from my first point, it's SO important not to compare yourself to other bloggers. This is a big no-no in my opinion as it's the one thing that can really leave you feeling down about yourself. Let's face it, there's always going to be someone we aspire to and someone we think is 'bigger and better' than us but rather than comparing yourself to them and feeling like you aren't good enough, use them as your inspiration to work hard and achieve your goals. Social media is a fairly dangerous place when it comes to comparing ourselves - it's full of beautiful people with seemingly perfect lives and things we all wish we had. However, as the saying goes 'don't compare somebody else's highlights reel to your behind the scenes' and that couldn't be more true. Everyone has their flaws, everyone has things going on behind their blogs and social media accounts we don't know about and everyone compares themselves to other people. It's a natural feeling we all experience but to be a happy blogger, it's something we should all try to do less.

3. Don't get too big for your boots; I think this is quite an important one in blogging, especially as your blog grows and you begin to get a large following. When I started blogging, I never expected one follower, never mind 20,000+. However, despite my growing following, I'll never get too big for my boots. I totally appreciate the support I've had so far and will always be so grateful - I still get that feeling of excitement when someone follows my blog, leaves a nice comment or tweets me to say they enjoyed my most recent post. For me, I don't think that will never change and I think it's so important to always remain grounded and never let a follower number give you a sense of self-righteousness. After all, we all work hard to create our blogs and just because someone has 100 followers and someone else has 100,000, it doesn't make either better than the other. 

4. Don't expect anything; Blogging comes with a lot of perks - free products, trips and event invitations. However, one thing I'd say is to never expect anything. I've seen so many people starting blogs recently purely to gain freebies and that's not why anyone should start a blog. You should blog because you enjoy it and you're passionate about the content you're sharing. When I started my blog back in 2011, I wasn't aware you could be sent free products (although I did always wonder how bloggers could afford so many new products, haha!) and I was blogging for almost 12 months before I received my first PR sample. Yes I was very excited when I got that first email but it's never been my top priority or the reason I blog. As I mentioned in my previous point, if you become self-righteous and begin to expect things, it will only take the joy out of your blogging experience. 

5. Don't take others content / images; As a blogger who has had their content stolen before, I can tell you how awful this feels. When you work hard on your content and then someone takes it and claims it as their own, it's really disheartening. If you're just starting out as a blogger, it's so important that you don't take other people's content or images (unless they've given you permission and you're crediting them of course) and claim it as your own. I've seen it happen quite a lot to bloggers I follow over the 4 years I've been blogging and every single time that blogger has been left so upset by it. If you can't create your own content, there really isn't any point in having a blog as that's what blogs are all about - a place to share YOUR thoughts with other likeminded people. However, one thing I will say is that copying/stealing others work is very different to taking inspiration. I've seen a few dramas on social media where people have accused others of 'copying' from them and it can get a bit silly. A lot of bloggers get sent the same PR samples, go on the same trips or go to the same events so chances are there will be a lot of bloggers writing about similar topics. However, unless your content has been copied word for word, let it go over your head as it's really not worth getting angry about as this again will just make your blogging experience miserable.

A bit of a different post from me today but I hope you guys enjoyed it and if there's anything else you think we should avoid when blogging, please let me know in the comments below as I'd love to read what you think!

Outfit | Seventies Style Stripes

I feel like Spring is finally on its way and I'm very, very, very happy about it. I'm totally over the cold weather now and can't wait for the sun to be shining and lighter evenings. I've been visiting family back in the Lake District this week and we've had some really lovely weather so I decided to make the most of it and get some outfit shots for my blog. 

I've had such a hard time getting decent shots over these past few months because of the weather so I was very grateful for a warm day with very little wind - the perfect combination for outdoor fashion photography!! I dragged my mum out to take my photos and we actually had such a laugh and found some really cute countryside backdrops!! I often forget what a beautiful part of the country I'm from!!

Today I want to share this amazing striped jumpsuit I was recently sent from Charlotte Crosby's In The Style collection. It was love at first sight when I spotted it on their new in section and I love it just as much in person. I'm a big fan of jumpsuits - they're so easy to throw on for an instant stylish look which is perfect when you want to look like you've made an effort without all the actual effort of  putting a stylish looking outfit together. I'm also a big fan of jumpsuits with a loose fit leg as I find them much more flattering than those with a tapered or fitted leg so this one is right up my street.

However, the thing that really grabbed my attention about this jumpsuit is the beautiful colours. I love the mix of baby blue, black, cream and burnt Orange - it really is a stunning combination. It has a very seventies vibe about it in my opinion, especially with the vertical stripes! I feel like there's a lot of this style on the high street at the moment so it's clearly going to be a big trend this S/S season and I can see why as I think it's a really chic and stylish look. Plus, vertical stripes are really flattering which is always bonus! I just know I'll get so much wear out of it over the next few months.

I paired the jumpsuit with my brand new bag, the small Givenchy Antigona. This thing is literally my pride and job - I'm obsessed with it. Seriously, I could just stare at it all day - it's too beautiful. I'm also so happy with the colour I decided on as it goes with SO many different outfits - it's the perfect neutral shade. I just love how chic it looks too, it really is the most perfect finishing touch and makes any outfit look 10x more stylish. It may be an expensive bag but I'll certainly get my use out of it.

I'm also wearing my new Miss Pap Carmen aviator sunglasses which I absolutely love and they're such a steal at only £5 plus 10% off with the code KAYLEIGHJ10. Yay!! I love the aviator style so can see myself getting a lot of wear out of these as they'll go with any outfit. 

I hope you guys like this look! If you love this jumpsuit as much as I do, you can get it here for £37.99 and also get 10% off with my code KAYLEIGH10. I'd say it's a wardrobe essential!!

Are you a fan of jumpsuits?!

New Bag | Small Givenchy Antigona

For the longest time, I've wanted to treat myself to a designer handbag. I already have a Louis Vuitton that my dad kindly bought me as a gift but I've never ever bought myself anything I'd consider an investment piece. I'd been saving up for quite some time and was constantly browsing Selfridges website looking at all the beautiful bags they had on offer. I fell in love with a number of YSL and Chloe bags but for me, the Givenchy Antigona was always the one I came back to and the one I thought I'd get the most use out of.

It's a classic bag, the kind that will never go out of fashion and if I'm going to spend a lot of money on a bag, that's exactly what I want it to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely in love with the Chloe Faye bags but they are a very seasonal item and a bag of the moment - I'm not so sure they'll still be as popular this time next year which was something that worried me when making my decision. As much as I'd love one, I don't want something that will go 'out of fashion' in a few months time - definitely not ideal!

The Givenchy bag is everything I dreamed of and more - it's amazing quality, it feels lovely to hold and the size is perfect too. I've only used it a couple of times since I bought it but it's not a bag I'd used every day. When something costs a lot of money, I'd much rather use it for weekends and evenings out rather than every day. Some of you may think that's a waste but for me, I'd rather cherish it for days/evenings out when I want to feel a bit more glam.

I must admit, on the few occasions Ive used this bag since buying it, I've felt very sophisticated. If you asked me a few years ago if I'd be a fan of deisnger handbags I'd probably have said they're not worth the money but since getting my Givenchy, I can totally see the appeal.

I'm absolutely in love with my new bag and I hope you guys like it too!! What's your dream designer bag?! Chanel, Chloe and YSL are next on my list!! 

Elemis Nourishing Omega-rich Cleansing Oil Review

As I'm sure you all know by now, Elemis is my favourite skin care brand. I love every single one of their products I've tried and their moisturisers are a must have on my bedside table. However, my all time favourite Elemis product would definitely be their Pro-Collagen cleansing balm - I've been using it for a couple of years now and it's the best cleanser I've ever used, hands down. It melts makeup of f my skin in a matter of seconds, feels like an at-home facial every time I use it and it leaves my skin feeling super soft and hydrated. I'm obsessed basically. With this being said, you can imagine my excitement when a delivery of the new Elemis Nourishing Omega-rish cleansing oil* arrived at my door. Being such a big fan of the cleansing balm, I was very excited to see if their new oil would be just as good!

The first thing I have to mention is the packaging as that's the first thing I look at when trying out a new product. I really like that it comes in a bottle with a pump - it makes it so easy and fuss free to use which is perfect for those mornings when I'm in a rush. As with all Elemis products, the bottle itself is very simple - clear(ideal as you can see how much you've got left) with the Elemis branding and name of the product on the front. When it comes to packaging, simple and sleek is always best in my opinion. 

Now on to the product itself. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I have to say, I'm absolutely in love with it and it's definitely become a joint favourite alongside my beloved cleansing balm. I'd say they're actually very similar in how they work and how they leave my skin feeling, they just have different textures. The cleansing oil is obviously a thin consistency compared to a thick balm but just like the balm, it melts away my makeup with ease and when combined with water, turns into a milky lotion. I start by applying it straight from the bottle and massaging it into my skin to remove my makeup before combining it with water to wash it off with a face cloth. This is exactly the same way I use the cleansing balm but because the oil is thinner and not as heavy, I find it perfect for morning use. 

In terms of ingredients, it's blended with over 90% natural oils including Winter Rose oil which is rich in omega 9 and helps to calm and nourish the skin. It also contains Chia Seed oil which is rich in omega-3 and again helps to nourish the skin. Finally, they've also added Pomegranate Extract, a rich source of Vitamin C to help detoxify and boost collagen. Basically, it's full of good stuff that's gentle and kind to the skin leaving it feeling nourished and looking clear and radiant. 

This has definitely become one of my favourite cleansers and it's definitely going to be my go-to, especially for mornings. This along with the cleansing balm for the evenings are the perfect cleansing combo. Elemis, you've done it again.

Do you like the sound of this cleanser?!

Monthly Favourites | February

It feels like such a long time since I did a favourites post - the last one I did was my 2015 favourites as last month I didn't feel I was loving enough new products to share. I always want my favourites posts to be full of products I really do love and would recommend you guys to try so I only do them when I have enough to share. With that being said, I'm excited to be posting about my February favourites as I've been trying and loving lots of new beauty goodies!

Elemis Nourishing Omega-rich Cleansing Oil; My favourite skincare brand is definitely Elemis - I love every single one of their products I've tried and the pro-collagen cleansing balm is my all time favourite cleansing product. Well, it was, until this new cleansing oil came along as it's equally as amazing as the balm but more ideal for use in the mornings. The cleansing balm is quite thick and a great one to use in the evening to remove the days makeup but I don't really need something so heavy in the mornings so the oil is perfect as it feels much lighter on the skin but still leaves it feeling really clean and fresh.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara; I can never normally tell the difference between high street and high end mascaras and often find high end mascaras to be a total waste of money but this one from Too Faced is on a whole other level. It has a thick and fluffy brush that picks up every lash and makes them look really long and fluttery. My favourite thing about this mascara is that it doesn't go clumpy which is one thing I HATE about certain mascaras. There's nothing worse than mascara that feels heavy on the eyes whereas this one feels completely weightless.

Too Faced Melted Chocolate lipstick; I'm not usually a fan of nude lips but this Too Faced Melted Chocolate lipstick in the shade 'Chocolate Honey' has completely changed my opinion and I've been wearing it almost every day both day and night. It's the most beautiful brown nude shade and looks amazing with a dark eye and bronzed skin. I usually find nude lipsticks wash me out which is the reason I don't like them but because of the brown tones in this one, that's not the case at all. The formula is amazing too - it's SO pigmented, it feels really creamy on application then dries to what  I'd describe as a semi-matte finish (matte without looking or feeling dry) and is super long-lasting! I can put this on first thing in the morning and it'll last for hours without the need for a top up.

Urban Decay NAKED lipgloss; I'm sure I've featured this lipgloss in a favourites post before but I've been using it every day so I couldn't not include it in this post. This is the lipgloss that is always in my handbag - it's my go-to for every day wear and I just love everything about it. The shade is 'Sesso' which I believe is limited edition as it was part of the On The Run palette but its a beautiful rose pink 'my lips but better' kind of shade - perfect for every day and one that will suit any skin tone. I love the texture too as it feels very nourishing and creamy on the lips and isn't sticky at all.

Madamme La La tan; I have to be honest, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to fake tanning. I find it such a mission and usually can't be bothered doing it, especially at this time of the year when I'm usually wearing lots of layers and not showing much skin. However, tanning does always make me feel more confident when I've done it so I've been trying to make a bit more effort with it recently and the Madamme La La has been my go-to tan. It's a mousse formula and really easy to blend onto the skin. The colour is lovely too - it's very natural but provides a deep tan after only one application. It smells pretty nice too which is always a bonus!!

Paco Rabanne Olympea Perfume; I say it every time but I am USELESS at describing scents so all I can say about this perfume is that I absolutely love it, it smells amazing and has been my go-to fragrance since I bought it just after Christmas. As well as smelling amazing, I also love the packaging. Rose gold gets me every time. Here's how the scent is described online - 'a unique olfactory adventure, at the crossroads between the sensuality of salty vanilla accord and the freshness of floral notes'. Take from that what you will, haha!

Eylure express lashes; I did a full blog post about these lashes here so I won't go into too much detail but I'm so in love with them so they just had to be in my monthly favourites. I wear lashes every time I go on a night out as I love the way they make my lashes look so the fact these ones are pre-glued make the process of applying them SO much easier. You simply remove them from the packaging and place them onto your lash line. Fuss free, mess free and so quick! I can't see myself going back to traditional lashes now as these are much more convenient, look just as good and stay put too! If you're a lash lover, you need to try them!

Have you tried any of these products? What have you been loving lately?!

New Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Shades | Kiss Chase & Between The Sheets

As I'm sure you all know, I'm a big lipstick fan. Lipsticks are definitely my favourite piece of makeup to buy (closely followed by foundation and highlighter, might I add!) as they're so fun, look super pretty and they're the perfect finishing touch to any makeup look. With this being said, I'm sure you can imagine my excitement when two of Charlotte Tilbury's new shades turned up at my door. I'm a huge fan of Charlotte's makeup line - everything is such high quality and looks beautiful in shiny rose gold packaging *swoon*. Everything screams luxury.

The two new additions are called 'Kiss Chase' and 'Between the Sheets' and both of these super cute names were chosen by fans of the brand when Charlotte launched a competition to name the two new shades. Such a lovely idea! Kiss Chase is part of the original K.I.S.S.I.N.G line while Between the Sheets is part of the Matte Revolution line. I'm not a huge fan of matte formulas so I was immediately more drawn to Kiss Chase but they're both beautiful lipsticks. 

 

They both fall into the Pink colour family and are described as 'romantic' shades which I'd definitely agree with. They were released around Valentine's Day so I can see why they went down this colour route and marketing! To be honest, I'm usually more of a browny nude, red or berry kinda girl when it comes to lipstick as I feel Pink shades can look very Barbie-esque with my light blonde hair. However, these two shades are beautiful and there's no bubblegum barbie Pink shades in sight.

Kiss Chase is definitely my favourite of the two and is described as having a 'tawny berry hue' which I'd definitely agree with. I'm personally a huge fan of berry lips so this is perfect for me and it's a great every day shade as it's like a darker version of my natural lip colour. I love the formula of this one too - it feels very hydrating on the lips and has a slight glossy finish. 

Between The Sheets is more of a pale nude Pink which isn't necessarily my kind of shade but this one is actually really wearable as it looks very natural, despite its mate finish. This is the kind of  shade you can wear any time and any place so it's definitely a good one to have - I think lots of people will love this one! Charlotte describes this one as a 'vintage rose petal' shade which again, I'd say is fairly accurate. I also like the formula of this one as despite it having a matte finish, it isn't drying on the lips. It's very creamy and feels comfortable to wear!

I really love these two new additions to the lipstick range and I'm sure they're going to be best sellers as they're both such wearable shades. You can order them from the Charlotte Tilbury website here £23.00 each or as part of a set name 'Date Night Duo' for £42.00.