AUSTRALIAN BRANDS ARE TAKING OVER THE UK HIGH STREET! HERE ARE THE BRANDS SET TO BE BIG THIS YEAR
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In 2017, I made the dramatic move from the far northern West Australian desert to the hustle and bustle of London.
Moving to a new country came with a myriad of challenges; however, one I did not expect was having to build a whole new list of go-to brands.
When it came time to buy a new kettle, pair of work trousers, or a boujee candle, I had no idea where to start, and endured a lot of trial and error before finding the retailers within my budget and preferences.
However, it still left me longing for those I left at home.
I am a home fragrance connoisseur; there are currently eight candles and one reed diffuser in my bedroom alone.
While I'm loving the likes of Zara Home and M&S, they just don't hit the same way well-known-in-Australia names Glasshouse and Peppermint Grove do.
Call me biased, but when it comes to sun protection, I would go Australian over British 100 times over.
The Aussies are, after all, necessary experts in the field, and have a stack of buys available in the UK to snap up and stay protected this summer.
Fashion-wise, Australians do summer best - for obvious reasons.
Trending styles tend to be laid-back, relaxed and more on the casual side, but there's plenty to be found for work, play and everything in between.
Below is my list of brands that curb my homesickness - some harder than others to find, some stocked at top UK retailers, some with free international shipping - and some you've probably never heard of before.
Peppermint Grove Fragrances
Recently, my mum wanted to send me something from home, and when she asked what I would like, the first thing that came to my mind was a Peppermint Grove Coconut and Lime candle.
Peppermint Grove is best known for its luxe line of signature scented soy candles and diffusers - many of which I have sampled myself.
As well as the coconut and lime, the patchouli & bergamot, freesia & berries and red plum & rose are winners.
It also has a range of eau de parfums, hand and body wash, room sprays, bath salts, hand sanitisers and
Not only do they smell divine, but the glass jars are cute enough to be reused as home decor.
I've stored makeup brushes in one and use another as a small flower vase.
They come and go from Amazon UK, but the good news is, right now, there is a decent selection of candles and diffusers to choose from.
Even better is that because it's on Amazon, shoppers don't need to worry about high international shipping or customs fees.
Price: £14.99 - £34.95
Available from: Amazon UK
MCo Beauty
MCO Beauty is a frugal makeup lover's best friend in Australia and hit the ground running when launched only five years ago.
I've used everything from bronzers and concealers to eye pencils and setting spray and never had any complaints.
Its affordable price point is maybe its biggest appeal, with nothing costing more than £15.
Fans have likened MCo Beauty products to those of higher-end brands Charlotte Tilbury, Glossier, Benefit, Drunk Elephant, and Sol De Janeiro.
Best sellers include the Flawless Glow Foundation, Miracle Flawless Pressed Powder and XtendLash Mascara.
UK shipping is available through the brand's website, and Superdrug and Amazon stock a generous selection.
Price: £4.50 - £15
Available from: McoBeauty, Amazon and Superdrug
UK Shipping: £4 from mcobeauty.co.uk
Glasshouse Fragrances
I couldn't even begin to count how many Glasshouse candles I've burned through over the years, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say the figure would be budging 100.
In 2013, I picked up my first: the seasonal Night Before Christmas candle, which has been bought for me as a gift almost every year since by friends and family.
Ever since, I've most likely worked my way through each of the brand's signature scents and sampled countless limited-edition fragrances.
Kyoto in Bloom is probably the brand's most recognisable scent, but I prefer the likes of Midnight in Milan and Arabian Nights.
Glasshouse also has perfumes, car diffusers and hand and body lotions and washes, but for now, only the candles are available in the UK.
The only retailer stocking Glasshouse is another synonymous Aussie brand, Peter Alexander, a favourite for fun sleepwear.
Price: £16 - £40
Available from: Peter Alexander
UK Shipping: £4.99 - £6.99
Cotton On
I would be confident in guessing that there would be a Cotton On store in every shopping centre in Australia - it's an enduring fashion staple Down Under.
It's so common and has been around for so long that any Australian reading this list will be completely underwhelmed, maybe even angered, by this addition; it's like the Aussies' own answer to H&M.
However, I often find myself wishing there was a store nearby when I'm after some quick and easy, affordable fashion basics.
It's a reliable go-to for staples - with frequent two-for-one deals - but also has trending styles as well as shoes, accessories, activewear, and underwear.
Brits can shop directly from Cotton On's UK website for £4 delivery or free for orders over £40.
Also, both ASOS and Next each have a generous selection of Cotton On buys, so I thankfully haven't been completely deprived of the brand I've been shopping since my early teens.
Price: £5-£65
Available from: Cotton On UK, ASOS, Next
UK Shipping: £4 from cottonon.com/UK
Chouchou Intimates
I was hooked on this little-known lingerie brand from the moment I tried on my first set.
Chouchou (pronounced shoe-shoe) made waves in 2023 with its line of 100 per cent cotton underwear, struggling to keep up with demand, with a 12,000-strong customer waitlist.
The adorable styles are as comfortable as they are cute and as practical as they are sexy.
Popular styles include the Georgia bra and briefs as well as the 100 per cent soft black cotton Valentina bralette and brief set.
You can even get selected items adorned with a personalised message, initials or name.
Thankfully, Chouchou offers international shipping from its own website for a fee of £10 per order or free for orders over £199.
Price: From £21
Available from: Chouchou Intimates
UK Shipping: £4 from chouchouintimates.com/en-gb/
Fazeek
Fazeek is another little-known brand that specialises in contemporary homewares established in Melbourne in 2017.
While Fazeek isn't exactly a household name in Australia, many will recognise the brand's famous scalloped glassware.
The wave collection was all over my Instagram feed back in 2023, and I was lucky enough to get a pair of bottle green flutes which have earned countless compliments from visitors who spy them on my bar cart.
If it wasn't the wave collection that people recognised, it was the playful Bloom and Jewel line of glassware and serveware adorned with colourful jewel-toned glass pieces.
Fazeek does offer international shipping on its website; however, shoppers may have to deal with delayed delivery periods or import duties and taxes on arrival.
The good news online retailer Ssense has a small but stunning collection of Fazeek buys in stock, while John Lewis has reduced its range by up to 50 per cent.
Price: From £35
Available from: Fazeek, Ssense, John Lewis
UK Shipping: £15
Ultra Violette
When it comes to sun protection, you might as well throw your trist behind the Aussies; we've had sun smarts drilled into us from the moment we were born.
Ultra Violette is a relatively new kid on the block but one that Australians embraced quickly.
It combines smart sun protection that not only doesn't get in the way of your makeup or skincare routine but aids it.
Ultra Violette's tinted SPF50 Daydream Screen comes in 15 different shades, while the Queen Screen SPF 50 Super Glow Drops add glow or a sunkissed bronze.
I have been using the Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Lip Balm for what feels like years, and it is the one I reach for before the hundred other lip balms I have in my repertoire.
For orders over £40 on the Ultra Violette website, UK shoppers can get free shipping and anything under incurs a flat rate of £4.
Boots, Space NK, Sephora, Cult Beauty also stock the brand.
Price: £12-£90
Available from: Ultra Violette, Boots, Space NK, Sephora, Cult Beauty
UK Shipping: £4 from ultraviolette.co.uk
More Aussie brands to have on your radar
Brits are spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping, but sometimes it's fun to try something different, find styles that are unlike what you'd find on the high street and have friends asking 'Wow, where did you get that?!'.
Maison Balzac falls into the same category as Fazeek with its quirky Instagram-worthy glassware, and In The Roundhouse is a highly-coveted and often copied homeware company.
If you're looking for holiday outfit inspiration, try Faithfull the Brand or Dissh for high-end summer fashion.
Aje has long been an Australian favourite for luxe, contemporary style, as has SIR the Label and Meshki.
Beauty-wise, Miranda Kerr's Kora Organics has been a hot favourite for years, and Aesop is a staple all over the world for luxury skin, hair and body care.
