Hot on the Highstreet Week 197

Having my hair brushed as a very little girl was a nightmare. I have very thin hair but lots of it… easily tangled and painful to brush, a £2.99 plastic implement from the local pharmacy would just not do. Mason Pearson was a great option when my mum discovered this luxury brush brand, with thick but flexible bristles that are perfect for troublesome locks. Soon my younger sister and I both had one, an essential part of our morning routines. The Mason Pearson brushes are classic and traditional, and with no way to differentiate between brushes sibling squabbles soon became the norm too.

Let me introduce you to Rock & Ruddle, the lovely little company producing hairbrushes which solve all your hair problems. I met with the R&R ladies last week for chocolate and chatting at Rococo. Jackie and Alexandra met in their twenties when they were both working at L’Oreal. Years later they combined their knowledge of beauty and started Rock & Ruddle aiming to fill a noticeable gap in the market for a hairbrush that was both great quality and great design. The company began a couple of years ago after extensive research, and continues to thrive with stockists throughout the UK, though the main shop is online.

Visually they are very jolly with colourful and comical patterns and illustrations. Clare Mackie’s ‘Cats and Dogs’ design is particularly sweet. The pictures are printed into the plastic rather than on the surface ensuring the pretty pattern lasts forever. The hairbrushes are made in a traditional style with tufts of boar bristle. The natural bristle distributes the hair’s oil down each strand giving the hair extra gloss and shine. I really appreciated the additional nylon strand included in each tuft which gently separates the hair and detangles knots. The brushes are available in two sizes: Small (£20) and Large (£30). More reasonable than similar brands, but with loads more personality, Rock & Ruddle tick every box.

A thoughtful present for a friend, or a gift for mother’s day, the Rock & Ruddle products are a high quality and fun alternative to the boring brushes currently available on the British highstreet.

I have got a ‘thoroughly modern’ bright pink brush which I love. Buy a beautiful brush here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 193: Redchurch Street

Blink and you might miss something on Redchurch Street. Every time I visit there are a host of new boutiques, cafés and shops to discover. When the sun came out yesterday Shoreditch was full of Londoners and tourists making the most of the dry weather and blue sky. After a stint at my favourite flower market on Columbia Road we wandered to Redchurch Street where East London shopping is at it’s very finest. Here’s my pick of the bunch:

Start your shopping at Labour and Wait where you can find classic homeware, stationery and utilitarian clothing. Your home will thank you!

Parisian perfume at Etat Libre D’Orange, trendy but sophisticated scents.

Shop and eat or vice versa at Cafe And, a clean cut contemporary venue with great design pieces and a lovely dining room.

Scandic simplicity rules at Hostem, where you can find a range of international designer clothing. The shop is filled with old furniture but feels alarmingly up to date.

Pasta lovers will delight in Burro e Salvia, Shoreditch’s first pastificio. For daytime dining and pasta making courses.

Recently the Redchurch community welcomed West London hit Aime. I love the carefully curated selection of designers, including the much coveted Isabel Marant.

Beautiful and obscure objects will overwhelm you at Maison Trois Garcons, which also houses a restaurant particularly popular on weekends.

For cool cuts visit Radio Salon, or for a retro up-do The Painted Lady does the best beehives in town.

Take a coffee break at Allpress Espresso, the caffeine obsessives who pour a perfect flat white and offer awesome homemade cakes.

Enjoy a healthy Peruvian brunch at Andina, I can recommend the Mini Chicharrones (Confit pork belly with rococo chilli jam) and the Choclo Corn Cake with fresco cheese, avocado and salsa. Wash it down with a freshly pressed apple or melon juice.

Can’t fit it all into one day? Stay overnight at Design haven, The Boundary Hotel.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 192

January is a good time to change and refresh your daily beauty routine. I’ve scoured the best brands around, and here’s my top selection for the winter.

Face

Finding a brand that offers a range of products to cover your whole face routine is a revelation. Murad Daily Cleansing Foam, Balancing Moisturizer and T-Zone Pore Refining Serum is on offer as a set for £99 when you buy all three and they compliment each other and your skin so you don’t have to worry about any other products. I love the easy-to-use cleansing foam, it is very light and fresh and tones the skin while also washing away all dirt and impurities. The serum is particularly good to use on more problematic areas of your face, whilst the moisturizer can be applied liberally and will hydrate and protect.

The luxuriously organic collection from Thalgo is faultless. Made from a concoction of the finest ingredients, these formulas are a a joy for every skin type. Both the Freshness Exfoliator and Relaxing Cream are light and yet hydrating. The silky touch of the cream makes it a pleasure to use, night and day.

Those days your skin needs a little extra boost, Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream does the trick. This rich and creamy moisturiser smells divine and feels even better. Presented in a retro turquoise glass container, it is a facial cream for the most glamorous girls and will keep your skin glowing long after application.

I have always been a fan of Jurlique, the floral and girly ranges are great for maintaining even tone and complexion whilst scenting the skin with delicious perfumes. The Balancing Cleansing Lotion is a gentle product made with rosewood and lavender, to cleanse and hydrate the skin. Once the skin is clean, a few pumps of the Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum will combat any dullness and leave your skin radiant. I notice the wonderful effects of Jurlique everyday.

Body

I can’t get enough of the indulgent Cocooning Body Butter from Sanctuary Spa, it soaks so easily into the skin whilst softening and tightening. It can be used on the whole body and is the perfect remedy to unwind at the end of a stressful day. Another great product, the brings the spa to your home, is the Warming Sugar Polish. This self-heating scrub deeply cleanses the skin with the crushed organic sugar and crushed walnut recipe removing any dead skin to leave your body feeling bright and fresh.

For bronzed skin all-year round, there is only one brand to go to. St Tropez is a godsend, and in summer the shelves of Boots are emptied as girls rush for these precious bottles of tanning lotion. My favourite is the Bronzing Mousse which is easiest to use and very natural. But before tanning can commence the skin must be smooth and soft, which is where the Tan Enhancing Polish comes in. This scrub preps the skin and helps ensure the best tan. For your face, St Tropez Bronzing Lotion gives the best results.

Hair

Charles Worthington is an affordable and reliable haircare brand. These three products (Moisture Seal Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Masque) work well as a set, intensely nourishing the hair from root to end. Enriched with argon oil, when dry the hair appears shiny and glossy. Use the masque occasionally to add strength to weakened hair.

In my opinion Philip Kingsley is the king of haircare. His Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner is proof of this, these carefully formulated products are ideal for medium-textured and wavy hair, giving bounce and shine. As well as improving quality, this shampoo and conditioner makes hair manageable and easy to style, adding moisture to dry split ends and ensuring balanced roots.

When it comes to hair styling it is important to have products that you know work for your hair. Joico is a fashionable American brand with sassy styling products, I can particularly recommend the Styling & Finishing Spray and Ultra Dry Spray, with a light and lovely smell and medium hold, they will prepare hair perfectly for a night out on the town.