While the excitement of summer travel is looming, we’re also conscious of taking care of our health, our skin and our hair.
These are some essentials to pack in your summer suitcase, plus a favourite restaurant to book into, date night or friends night. So stay cool and get booking. This is what we’re loving in this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
EAT HERE The Barbary, Covent Garden
Counter dining is perhaps one of my favourite types of dinners, a casual affair watching the action as you eat, and dishes served as soon as they are ready, sharing style. The Barbary, perhaps one of my preferred London establishments, tucked away in Covent Garden’s Neal’s Yard is, understandably, a favourite for so many. The restaurant has open windows with inside seating wrapped around the kitchen and along one of the windows, cool enough to enjoy your meal during London’s heatwave. While the menu changes seasonally, the spiced dips made to be enjoyed with pillowy flatbreads are obligatory before you tuck into the mains. The rest of the Southern Europe-meets-North African menu continues to show-off with plenty of cooking over fire. Moroccan cigars that have a perfect filo crunch with a salty, soft cod filling and yoghurt dip; crispy violet artichokes; Cornish squid served with charred onions and a rich tomato sauce; whole fried sea bream (be prepared to get your hands dirty to de-bone); and a fine Pata Negra pluma. If you can save enough room for The Barbary’s signature dessert, the hashcake, well done. If you can’t, there are some interesting ice cream options – the cremino one is essentially a Ferrero Rocher flavour – if you just want a tiny taste of something sweet. Sexy date night or a catch-up with friends, take a pew on one of the pink velvet stools as your conversation will likely be interrupted (regularly) by comments on the exceptional fayre.
TRAVEL WITH THIS Hello Klean Travel Essentials
You can trust us at CF for insider tips for summer travel. Your skin and hair often get the rough treatment with different climates, water conditions, sea water, hair treatments and so on. Did you know that chlorine increases skin’s water loss by up to 30% after one wash? And hair exposed to chlorinated water fades up to 50% faster? Enter Hello Klean’s Shower Head 2.0 and products. This is a somewhat under-the-radar fix for brassy hair, tight skin, and flare-ups that hit after flights, pools and unfamiliar showers. The easy to travel with shower head fits on most hotel and rental showers, and filters out over 90% of chlorine and metals – ideal for trips to places like Spain, Greece or Ibiza, where tap water often exceeds EU chlorine safety limits. It’s the kind of easy-but-effective step that derms and colourists swear by – and it pairs perfectly with Hello Klean’s travel-sized Anti-Dryness Duo, formulated with kombucha, Centella and probiotics to help reset the skin barrier after long-haul flights and high-chlorine showers. Take our word for it, you’ll want to travel with this.
PACK THIS FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS Hunza G
Summer travels often means new swimwear. Of course. And who doesn’t love a crinkle cut? Hunza G unveils her exclusive edit of best-selling swim and ready-to-wear styles, reimagined in a bi-stretch red-and-black gingham. Ultra-lightweight, quick-drying, UV-protective, and fully swimmable — perfect for beach-to-bar wear. Plus its perfect for all sizes, so whether you’re pregnant, post natal, growing or just prepared for a big beachside meal, you’ll feel very comfortable and very stylish. It’s no wonder the label has amassed a cult following and celebrity fanbase.
POP IN HERE The Spence Residency @ Tracksmith, Chiltern Street
Kicking off from today until the 13th of July, running alongside the British racquet event of the season Wimbledon, head along to The Spence Residency at Tracksmith, on the oh-so-cool Chiltern Street in London’s Marylebone. Founded by Amanda Greely, Spence is a racquet sports brand that’s not just about how you look, it’s about how you feel and move. It invites players to show up with confidence and style, blending tradition with boldness. Focused on precision and purpose, Spence embraces the tension between elegance and rebellion. It’s for players who move differently, who see sport as rhythm, timing, and self-expression. Spence aspires to set a new standard for tennis apparel that resonates with both players and the culture at large.
TAKE THESE SUPPLEMENTS Selfish
Travel can do all sorts of things to your gut. That’s when bringing in support for your digestion and hormonal balance is a good idea. After going viral in Australia with hero products like Balance My Gut (which sold out multiple times), new brand Selfish has become known for its refreshing approach to women’s wellness: science-backed, easy-to-understand, and actually good-looking on your bathroom shelf. With formulas designed to support everything from digestion and energy to mood and hormonal balance, the range includes Balance My Gut, Hydrate Me, Give Me Plant Protein Water, Give Me Plant Protein and I Want Energy. The founders say, “For us, fitness isn’t just about dropping dress sizes, it’s about showing up for you. Selfish Supps is the support you need to fuel your goals – from work out to workday. Whether you’re running your first 5km, finding your fitness during postpartum, or investing in your health now for better returns later. It’s uncomplicated, inclusive nutrition.” That’s the kind of language that we like.
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?