Party time…see in the New Year in style...

Ok, 2 days to go until New Years Eve.  Whether you are having a small dinner at home with a loved one, a drinks party with friends or hitting the town to see the New Year in in a big way, it's always important to look and feel your best.  We've had a little look around on your behalf and found some inspiring make-up looks, knock 'em dead party frocks.

Firstly the prep - you may have a slightly sore head on the 1st January but why not start proceedings feeling great and give yourself a little pampering me-time; either tonight or tomorrow night, we recommend using our 24/7 Balm as an overnight treatment, this will deeply nourish and moisturise your skin and prepare it for the onslaught on of a party.  ALWAYS start your mornings with a glass of boiled water and a slice of lemon, the benefits and endless - but you know that!

The look - there are so many brilliant websites, You Tube Channels, Facebook pages and good old fashioned magazines that we can refer to to get our inspiration.  These are some of our faves…

Unleash your inner Rock Chick with this look from Charlotte Tilbury.  This look is defined by a sexy feline eye, smokiness and lashing of black mascara, Kohl and your choice of perfect nude lipstick.  A failsafe super sexy look.  Think classic beauties like Brigitte Bardot, rock original chick Debbie Harry and the ultimate Kate Moss.

A true party look shown here by the amazing Lisa Eldridge, her model for this tutorial is none-other than uber-blogger and style hunter Bip Ling.  This look is bold and strong and would work well at a party.  Just because Lisa uses the higher-end brands such as Tom Ford in this look, don't be intimidated there are brilliant high street brands that you can use to re-create.  It's the colour and depth that it imperative to this style.

So…you've got the look, but what are you going to wear?  This time of year you can pick up some real bargains and not just from high street stores, the designers are knocking the ££'s off too.  We love Net-a-Porter and it's super sale site the Outnet.com with lots of dresses up to 60% discounted it will inspire you, advise you and get you in the mood to chuck on an LBD or or something with a little New Year SPARKLE!

SHOES SHOES SHOES!  A girls best friend!  Now, if budget were no probe then Sophia Webster would be our party shoe of choice for sure…I mean, how pretty??  They're good enough for the Angels at Victoria Secret, so they're good enough for us!

Don't forget though, High Street Favourite Zara has a fabulous selection of party shoes that have a real runway look……and their sales are brilliant!

Cheers and a very very Happy New Year to you all.

See you in 2015….

x

All I want for Christmas is…..

I was asked the other day what's going to be on my Christmas Gift List this year…Oooh it could be rather long and I could get quite carried away…..but having thought about it, it involves a lot of companies in and around where I live.  So I thought I'd share this with everyone, not just in the hope my family will read it and take the hint (!) but also it may inspire you when you're sitting there mulling over what to get for whom over the coming weeks.

I am fortunate enough to live in the beautiful Georgian town of Alresford in Hampshire so don't have to travel far to select some really special Christmas treats…….

Long Barn www.longbarn.co.uk is a stunning oak barn with cafe, lifestyle and garden store.  Their lavender essential oil is a world beater and their body products are a big favourite of mine.  A goody box with a selection from their essential oil, soap, body lotion, pillow spray, body wash and eau de toilette makes the perfect de-stress gift you could give - for both men and women - who could ask for more than a good nights sleep!

Hetre for shoes, bags, scarves, jewellery to die for www.hetre.co.uk. Whether you are looking for party sparkles of wellies with some added glam, something for everyone and they have THE most amazing sale!

Delilah boutique on West St if you're looking for a clothes treat.  Julie, the owner couldn't be more helpful.  You never feel under pressure to buy and she stocks my favourite brand "Cream". Lovely inexpensive jewellery, great scarves and always fab Avoca socks !

Debbie Joss at www.pinkthistle.co.uk for gorgeous handmade wreaths and stunning florals from Wildbunch Florists.

For all the foodies out there you can't go wrong with www.caracoli.co.uk. And if you pop into one of their coffee shops in Alresford, Farnham, Guildford or Winchester then you can be assured of a perfect cappuccino every time.

Now that Face Matters has launched in Fenwick Bond Street I am up in London far more and love to have a mooch around and where better than Bond Street at this time of year, it oozes Christmas magic.  Now Santa listen up, I've been a very good girl all year and worked so hard, if you could see your way clear, a Tiffany Diamond Tennis bracelet or if they've sold out a Chanel bag…any will do, I'm not fussy!

If you pop into Fenwick over the next few weeks, look out for me and Face Matters and take walk around the accessories department, Sew Lomax embroidered bags are quirky and so creative.

Oooh one other little gem you may or may not know about Lilou et Loic…a candle you really do need in your home.

And last but most definitely not lease buy one more present - think of it as for the best friend you haven't met yet www.refuge.org.

Happy Shopping and Happy Christmas x

Fenwick Launch and a Pure Beauty Award

Woweeee!  What a week…..and it's only Thursday!

We are launching in Fenwick Bond Street today and we have also been recognised and awarded with a Pure Beauty Award with Best New Beauty Brand category.  It really has been a week to remember.

Our launch and the award are both hugely significant for the brand and is testament to the quality of the product and range and a welcome reward for the time spent on the development of it.

Fenwick has always been top of the wish list for Face Matters and to be invited to join their esteemed list of beauty brands is a huge compliment.  It is one of the UKs most respected, iconic department stores with a loyal, discerning customer not into gimmicks and when it comes to skincare they want trusted brands that really work. 

Sally,the founder says: 

‘I am so delighted to be launching the Face Matters skincare range into the UK High Street with Fenwick.  I am looking forward to working closely with Mia Fenwick and her team to successfully build a strong following for the brand and to raise awareness of our chosen charity; Refuge.’

The Pure Beauty Awards, now in their 12th year and they give the beauty industry and its retail staff the opportunity to reward innovation and creativity in this most competitive of industries. The awards recognise the most exciting, innovative and efficacious beauty products launched within the last year and the results are decided by the readers of Pure Beauty, including the beauty retail staff responsible for selling your products to your customers.

Come in and see us on Bond Street if you are passing!

It's Chocolate Week this week! Go on spoil yourself….just a little nibble.

Normally on our blog we like to talk to you and share with you all things beauty, skincare and well-being related but this caught our eye and we simply couldn't ignore it….Chocolate Week!  And as we all know chocolate makes us feel great, so in fact we are not steering too far away from our norm it's definitely fits under the 'well-being' umbrella.

Before we start on the edible chocolate treats that are in store for you this week, who's had a chocolate facial?  The cocoa bean is your skin's friend, forget the old wives tales that chocolate gives us spots, good quality cocoa has been used in facials, wraps and pedicures for years, it contains antioxidants and anti-ageing properties.  You'll look good enough to eat!  We found some stunning chocolate beauty products including Finest Chocolate Cleanser from  Karin Herzog.

 You may or may not be aware but every year around the 2nd week in October is Chocolate Week and surely it must win the prize as the nations favourite themed week?  It's been going now for 10 years and each year it grows from strength to strength.

There are hundreds of events up and down the country at various hotels, chocolate shops, cafes, bars, restaurants - giving talks, demonstrations, sampling and lots more, so many ways for you to get your paws on our favourite sweet treat!

We rather liked the sound of what's going on at London's Cafe Royal - Celtic Scallop Ceviche with orange and cocoa nibs (£14) anyone?  Or maybe Carpaccio of Venison, chocolate marshmallows and parmesan (£14), and not forgetting the Cocoa Chipotle Salsa and Crispy Fajitas (£10), each dish has a nod to chocolate…

You can also try one of their delicious 'choc-tails'….Pearfect and Gold Whisper (£13) designed by the hotel's mixology team - thats a job we wouldn't say no to!

There's loads more going on in the Capital and around the country, for a full line up check out the Chocolate Week Website

We'll let you know all about the Chocolate Show this weekend - tickets already bought! x

Olympia Beauty - 10th Anniversay 21-22 September….We are on Stand C136

We've had a fabulous summer, spent some time revitalising, refreshing and recharging our batteries we hope you have to.  We're now very much back to it and the first major event for us will be the Olympia Beauty Show from 21-22 September in the Great Hall, Olympia.   We literally cannot wait!

If you've not been to the Show before,  you really should try to visit, this link will take you straight through to the booking page  get in quick and you can still take advantage of their complimentary tickets.  It is an absolute aladdin's cave of all things, beauty, hair, skincare, make up, nails and much much more and this year it'll be even more impressive as they're celebrating their 10th Anniversary so we're sure they'll have some special treats up their sleeves.  If you're looking for new ideas, latest trends, advice, tips and much more, this show really does tick all the boxes.

If you are lucky enough to have the entire weekend there, then you can wander at your leisure and experience all that it has to offer, if time is a little tight, then we advise to plan your day as there is so much to see and experience, tutorials to watch/take part in.  The Educational Stages are always a great place to learn here's a snippet of what's on offer:  Art of Make up Stage, Creative Nails, The Business of Beauty.

If you are coming, you simply must come and see us on our stand its C136, you can try before you buy, and receive special show discount.  We will also giving all visitors to our stand the chance to win the entire range…that privilege will cost you just £1.

See you there!

Summer Salad Recipes

Summer is the perfect time to focus on feeling fabulous, both inside and out. With the sun shining and the warm weather continuing, we can't wait to try out these amazing summer salads this August. Whether it's a light bite with friends in the garden, a picnic with the family, or even a quick and easy evening meal, salads are a summer staple on a hot day. 

But our love of salad continues. Rich in hydrating properties and full of antioxidants, eating salad is the ultimate beauty therapy. Glowing skin starts within, so join us in championing salads this summer! After a day in the sun, salad can offer a restorative burst of hydration, helping to maintain a dewy complexion in the heat. Great taste and it does wonders for your skin: what more can you ask for in such an easy-to-prepare summer meal? 

We've compiled our Top Five Summer Salads to share with you, courtesy of the excellent Foodies over at Hip and Healthy. With these tantalizing, zingy recipes, you'll be wowing your friends with both your meals and your enviably glowing skin. 

First up, it’s the super healthy kale salad, with a figgy dressing. Kale is absolutely having a moment right now, popularized for its amazing list of health benefits (its rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants so its a great boost for your hydration levels). It’s so simple to make and tastes fantastic: crunchy pepper, smooth avocado, and of course the tangy kale. So grab your ingredients and you’ll be tucking in within five minutes. 

If five minutes is just too long to spend prepping a salad, then why not give this strawberry salad a go? Just toss salad leaves, strawberries, cucumber, avocado and mint in a bowl with a quick dash of lemon juice, olive oil, and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and you’re ready to go! Fresh, flavoursome and so undeniably summery, this is the perfect grab-and-go lunch this August. 

For a rainbow salad, packed with plenty of omega goodness, give Hip and Healthy's Ultimate Salad Recipe a try. This one does require a bit more preparation (get that oven on at 200 degree celcius now to roast the sweet potato for 20-30 minutes), but other than that it’s really just a case of tossing the ingredients together in a bowl. So while you wait for the sweet potato, grab a smoothie and relax in the garden. The combination of toasted pinenuts meeting zesty pomegranate seeds and fiery rocket really is the ultimate tasty summer salad. 

For a quick, but impressive, picnic contribution, turn to the Puy Lentil and Pomegranate Salsa Raw “Noodles” salad. Simple to prepare, packed with flavour, and full of energy-rich vitamins and antioxidants, this is a must for a healthy main course at every picnic this summer. The pomegranate seeds provide the perfect pop of colour too. No need to worry about servings: just spoon it out and let the colours do the appetising for you. 

Finally, don’t just think of salad as a lunchtime or picnic option this August. Hip and Healthy show us how to create the perfect courgette salad to accompany delicious homemade Chili Salmon Burgers. In under 30 minutes, this delicious dinner can be ready to serve. After a day on the beach, this is just the thing to end your day. Healthy, wholesome, and immeasurably tasty, this has livened up our dinner menu already this summer. 

We are thoroughly embracing salad this summer thanks to all these delicious recipes from Hip and Healthy. If you’ve been inspired by their fantastic, easy salads, then check out the rest of their site for more healthy treats, perfect for you and your skin. We also recommend Pinterest for more recipes and ideas (the images from this blog post all came from Pinterest, where we were inspired to enjoy al fresco dining this summer). 

Get on your bike! Face Matters at Macmillan Cycletta Events this Autumn

"Macmillan Cycletta is the UK's leading series of women-only bike rides set in stunning, family-friendly host venues, supported by Olympic Gold medallist Victoria Pendleton. There are six events around the country featuring spectacular routes between 20km, 40km and 100km." 

Catering to riders of all abilities, including those who haven’t read a bike in years, the distances are a challenging, yet achievable, chance to get on that bike. Pop over to Macmillan Cycletta to book your spot in one of the upcoming Autumn events. 

"The events are all held at wonderful family-friendly host venues with plenty on offer for supporters and participants throughout the day. If you’re looking for a challenge this summer, why not join the women on wheels? We hope to see you there. Oh, and you also get to enjoy the free Unlisted Recovery Zone; the perfect way to relax, rejuvenate and revive after your ride!" 

We’ll be in the Recovery Zone with our fantastic range of Face Matters skincare, ready to help you revitalize post-ride. Join us at five of the Cycletta events, where we will be offering post-event massages, mini-skincare tutorials, and showcasing our range of collagen boosting anti-ageing products.

We are very proud to be involved with such a great series of events, raising much needed funds, and sharing the mission to ‘empower women’. It was such an easy decision to join in and support the cause and we’d love to see you there with us. If you are interested in taking part in one of these great events, here’s the schedule for the year. Why not ask your mates along and make a fun, girly day of it?

Macmillan Cycletta New Forest –  21^st September 2014

Macmillan Cycletta Cheshire –      28^th September 2014 

Macmillan Cycletta Scotland –      5^th October 2014 

Macmillan Cylcetta Surrey –         12^th October 2014 

The Summer Season....it's just about here

Easter and the 2 May Bank Holidays are but a distant memory, now we can focus firmly on The Season and all the fabulous events that it entails; from polo, to racing, tennis and rowing, picnic baskets are being dusted off as we speak!  To help you decide where you’ll be treading in the divets or clapping excitedly from the sidelines, we’ve put together a calendar of some of our favourites:

JUNE

Chesterton Humberts Polo in the Park (6th-8th June)

http://www.polointheparklondon.com

It just wouldn’t be summer without Pimms, picnics and pretty dresses at the various polo matches, the first notable one being Polo in the Park.  The popular event takes place in the stunning surroundings of Fulham’s Hurlingham Club. Most guests make a beeline for the Pommery Champagne Garden, which is located in one of the sunniest spots and offers a great view of the action.

Cartier Queen’s Cup 2014 (15th June)

http://www.guardspoloclub.com/tournaments/cartier-queens-cup-2014

This is Cartier's third year of sponsorship of The Cartier Queen's Cup and this leading jewellery brand will again bring their unique blend of glamour, style and elegance to this world-famous, high-goal polo competition. In addition this luxury brand will be celebrating three decades of polo sponsorship - making Cartier the biggest global supporter of the sport in the world. 

Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club (9th – 15th June)

www.aegonchampionships.com

This event has been staged at The Queen’s Club for more than a century and the grass courts have been described as “the best in the world” by former champions Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt.

Can the current title-holder Andy Murray do it again?  Murray, who completed the Aegon Championships-Wimbledon double in 2013, has already confirmed that he will return this year.  We can already hear cheers of ‘Come on Andy’….

No doubt for our fashion and style fix we’ll see the stalwart of Queens Pippa Middleton in the stands on most days as usual.

Royal Ascot (17th -21st June)

www.ascot.co.uk/royal-ascot-2014/royal-ascot-begins

As they say themselves, Ascot brings you excitement, pageantry, style and fashion and the best horse racing in the world. It is Great British Drama and an example Great British sport at its best.  This premier racing fixture is not to be missed and gives both ladies and gentleman the opportunity to dress up in their finest formal attire. Aside from watching some of the best flat racing in the world, the spectacular hats will also provide entertainment. Stick with tradition and enjoy a picnic in the car park, before venturing to the Royal Enclosure where you will find a plethora of champagne bars.

JULY

Wimbledon (23rd June – 6th July)

www.wimbledon.com

After such an amazing year for Andy Murray in 2013 after finally winning the tournament, this quintessential British event needs very little introduction. This is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is also considered by many players to be one of the most prestigious titles to win. Celebrities and dignitaries flock to the event from around the world.   It lasts for two weeks, which means there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the action and to get stuck into the strawberries and cream! 

Henley Royal Regatta (2nd-6th July)

www.hrr.co.uk

Henley Royal Regatta is a perfect excuse to escape London for the day and step into the pretty British countryside. This age-old rowing event takes place every year on the banks of the River Thames next to Henley-on-Thames. It is a hugely popular social occasion.  So….striped blazers and summer frocks at the ready, paired with copious amount of Pimms, champagne and strawberries and you’re just about ready!  This event has a real party atmosphere from morning till night, with a choice of fashionable pop-up bars to visit that decamp from London each year.

Glorious Goodwood

29^th July – 2^nd August 2014

http://www.goodwood.co.uk/horse-racing

This stunning racecourse set on the South Downs in the grounds of Lord March’s Goodwood House is awash with colour.  A vibrant sea of Panamas, (and yes more) Pimm's and panache. The scene is set for the world's greatest horses and jockeys to do battle as they strive for top honours at our iconic Festival meeting.

Fashion, high society and horse racing all come together for five enthralling days.