It's getting to that time of year again, when we start thinking about packing our bags, throwing caution to the wind and fleeing the country with wanton abandon. I can hardly wait. In fact, I've already been building up a secret new clothes stash that's reserved purely for the holiday and which must not be tainted by any pre-holiday wearings. It's sad I know, but it will have been a whole year since I last saw the beach by the time t'other half and I jet off to Sardinia - and I'm chomping at the bit.

But while the clothes, suntan lotions and beauty products are all sorted (himself cannot believe I can take a huge wheelie bag weighing approximately 20 stone while he can quite easily fit in everything he needs into a compact rucksack) many of us neglect to look after our skin while travelling.

And with all the dehydration that flying, sunning oneself and indulging in Sardinian wine might entail, this is a neglectful oversight. Enter Molton Brown with their new travel-reviving cempaka [pronounced cham–pak-ar] range. Designed to inspire rejuvenation, calm and revitalisation - this fragrant duo have the cempaka flower as their vital ingredient. A flowering tree native to Indonesia, the distinct cempaka fragrance is used as an offering in Balinese temples when praying.

Travel-reviving cempaka bath & shower (£16). Molton Brown say: "Soothe away the strains of your journey with this rebalancing body wash. Be it a long-haul flight or short commute, the refreshing formula will counteract your travel woes. Enriched with cempaka leaf-oil to leave you feeling clean, adjusted and settled."

Travel-reviving cempaka body lotion (£16). Molton Brown say: "Refresh and rehydrate the skin. Whether it’s a daily commute or long-haul trip, acclimatise after your journey with cempaka leaf-oil. Your senses will feel rebalanced and soothed while your skin is smoothed and moisturised."

So be it a weekend break, overnight stay or long-haul adventure, this little travel-reviving duo are sure to keep you refreshed. 

A few weeks ago on this blog, we mentioned a new hair straightener that was launching and several of you came back and said that Remington's Wet2Straight Digital Straightener was in a league of its own.

Well, we do love a good tried and tested feature here in Life & Style, so we nipped out and grabbed a set. And I have to say they're simply brilliant.

I've got long frizzy hair and if I want to straighten it, I need to set aside a good half hour for blowdrying, then sectioning and straightening my hair.

With Wet2Straight, you can literally just divide the hair into sections and straighten it straight after getting out of the shower. I was sceptical at first and didn't think it would work, because if I've ever tried to straighten even slightly damp hair before, it's just ended up a kinked, frizzy and, quite frankly, scruffy mess. But these straighteners are specially designed to cut out the middle man - the hairdryer - and work a treat! It took me about ten to fifteen minutes to completely straighten my hair - and I almost felt like I'd cheated afterwards as it was much less effort than normal.

There are two versions of Wet2Straight - and the wider plates are ideal for styling longer, unruly, voluminous hair. Internationally renowned trichologist, Tony Maleedy MIT says: “Curly hair has a definite loopy “S” pattern so the cuticle layers don’t lie as flat and it tends not to be as shiny as straight hair where the surface is smooth and reflects the light. Commonly, people with curly hair blow dry their hair straight to make it look sleeker, but when the air is humid the hair quickly becomes frizzy & curly again. This is because when hair takes up moisture from the air the hair will revert back to its natural shape rather than the one which has been imposed upon it by the heat and stretching of blow drying it”.

With Wet2Straight, hair bonds are not formed with a dryer and then reshaped with a straightener but done in one motion with less snagging. And because of a flattening of the cuticle scales on the surface of the hair, the hair looks more shiny.

Both the Wet2Straight Slim and Wide Digital Straighteners retail at £59.99.

Visit Remington to find out more.

It turns out though that grey liquid eyeliner is one of the most impossible cosmetics to find - I tried Mac, Nars, Chanel, Clinique... you name it - they all had just black, brown or blue. But for anyone who fancies trying the look - the one brand that does produce a grey variety is good old Estee Lauder - they've got a great Double Wear Zero Smudge liquid eyeliner in graphite, for £17.

A couple of nights ago t’other half and I were treated to a visit to Dex, the world’s first DJ club hotel. This luxurious little number (all splendid roof terraces, Moroccan tented nooks and all-round glamour) was an unexpected find in Brixton (I can say that because I live just around the corner).

Slip through the discreet entrance on the high street, glide up a grand marble staircase and you find yourself in an altogether different kind of place.

The main room of Dex is a large light and airy affair, with huge 1930s windows along the wooden-panelled walls, and at the end is a private dining room (which might impress your mates for a dinner party).

But the surprising finds are on the next levels. Over the bar is a smart set of rooms which make up the Dex hotel. The master suite has a four-poster bed and turntables. There’s also a junior sweet and six rooms all individually furnished with various features such as a whirlpool, turntables, CDJ's & mixer, flat-screen TVs, dvds and well-stocked mini-bars. Guests can check in from 2pm and check out at 5pm.

And outside the place really packs a wow-factor punch. With smartly decked curved terraces, there are tables and chairs to sit out at, white cushioned sun loungers to relax on and an exotic looking Moroccan styled Bedouin tent, filled with rugs and cushions. The piece de resistance, however, has to be the floodlit eight-person hot tub bubbling at the top. I can imagine some debauched parties going off in this place.

The club is the brainchild of Stuart Hopson Jones, who spent many years working for the Conran restaurant group, before launching the renowned Smiths of Smithfield and also Polygon in Clapham. His love of music inspired him to launch a DJ Club hotel focused on a range of live music and club nights, while championing new talent from an eclectic range of genres. 

Dex has been created specifically with music artists, executives, A&Rs, DJs and industry clientele in mind. “It’s taken four and a half year’s hard work, and nearly as many lawsuits!” says Stuart. “I’m incredibly excited to at last be launching Dex, giving the music industry their own 24hr 7day a week place to hang out.”

As South London’s only venue to have a 24hr licence, Dex also offers the nightlife and hospitality industry somewhere to relax after work and is a good location for music industry events, club nights, album release parties, after-show parties or even self indulgent bedroom DJ-ing.

Head Chef Ian Hancock, previously of The Rock Garden and The Bluebird, will offer a mouth-watering range of cuisine including Pot-Roasted Pigs’ cheeks with apple and honey and orange glazed vegetables and creamy mash. Over in  Dex’s private dining room, three course feasts with treats such as jellied ham and parsley terrine with home-made piccalilli and fried brill with squid provençal, roast fennel and pepper jus will be served.

If you want to impress your mates, sipping cocktails and hanging out in rather fabulous surroundings, I’d recommend signing up!

Membership Rates
Standard membership costs £240 per annum (paid monthly in instalments). The joining fee is £100
International membership costs £175 per annum (paid in full at start of membership). The joining fee is £100
Corporate membership costs £195 pp per annum (max 10 pp. company – to be paid in full at start of membership). The joining fee is £250

Hotel Rates (per room, per night - based on two people sharing)
Master Suite   £150
Junior Suite  £115
Guest Rooms  £80 - £100

Dex club members are entitled to a 20 per cent discount on room rates, as well as 24/7 access, 365 dats of the year to the cocktail bar and lounge, restaurant, private dining/meeting room, stunning roof terraces and hot tub.

Call 020 7326 4455 to find out more or visit http://www.dexclub.co.uk/
Dex, 467-8 Brixton Road, London, SW9 8HH.

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