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.

Essential Spring Juicing Ingredients

The craze for juicing is still going strong, whether you choose to do a regular detox or include a juice in your daily diet, there is no denying that it has an impressive list of health, well-being and dietary benefits and there are so many different juicers, juicing recipe books and experts that we can refer to in our quest to find the find a mix that you enjoy and that works for you.  We’ve had a good look around and found some essential ingredients that you should try to include in your juicing and explained why:

1. Strawberries – to start with they taste delicious, and feel like spring, they're rich in vitamin c, high in antioxidants and are excellent for skin health and beauty.

2. Arugula - Very cleansing, high in chlorophyll, great for bone building and mental sharpness.  And lettuce in general is a "brimming with micronutrients, super hydrating and very cleansing," she says. "They're wonderful in blends and juices because they add a light fresh taste.

3. Lemon - Never leave this citrus out the mix.  We all know that lemon squeezed in warm water is the perfect way to start each and every day - it’s a great liver cleanser.  But it's also important to add to your juice, too.  Although acidic in taste, lemon is very alkaline when taken into the body.

4. Avocado - Rich in good fat, and an amazing support for the body’s detox and nourishment, plus it's also a great source of glutathione (helps to block carcinogens while aiding the liver in its detox). And due to its consistency it adds creaminess to any blend.

5. Kale and Spinach - There's a reason kale is laced into nearly every juice joint concoction…..It’s high in fibre so it's great for digestion and is loaded with nutrients including, calcium, magnesium, and iron (kale has more iron than red meat!).   It's also high in vitamin K, touted for cancer-fighting and bone health properties, as well as prevention of blood clots, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.  It is also known to promote cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol levels, boost immunity, promote metabolic function, and aid in liver detoxification – a true super-food if ever there was one!

Spinach - the other popular leafy green, it's not only "antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory, heart healthy, bone healthy and just all around so healthy for you.

6. Chia – A great way to add some heft to a juice.  Another modern super-food that really should be found in everyone’s kitchen cupboard.   Chia seeds are an amazing source of soluble fibre, omega 3, and protein.

7. Basil and Parsley - Antioxidant rich, anti-inflammatory, heart healthy, bone healthy and so healthy for you, basil is a great source of vitamin A, which helps to prevent the cells from damage by free radicals and is rich in an array of flavonoids which help to protect cells and chromosomes from damage. Basil also contains potent natural anti-inflammatory compounds, antibacterial properties, and has a whole host of antioxidants that boost the immune system.

Parsley - Helps clean the colon which is often the source of bad breath…. also rich in chlorophyll which helps clean our blood and eating a few sprigs isn’t going to do the trick—but to reap the rewards of this plant you ideally need to juice a half a bunch.

8. Cabbage – Pretty new to juicing, but so good for the digestive system— if you have a sensitive or upset stomach, juicing cabbage will help.  However, as it has a slightly bitter taste —just juice about a quarter head of cabbage for a few ounces with in equal parts carrot. Juicing red cabbage over green as it has more vitamin C and phytonutrients. 

9. Carrots - have important nutrients such as vitamin c and a, both vitamins that assist our bodies to maintain a strong vision, teeth, bones and skin too.  Plus, they add sweetness, which is great when doing an all veggie juice. Try ¼ red cabbage, four oranges and carrots with their tops and two apples.

10. Turmeric – An amazing anti-inflammatory so great when you have sore muscles after a workout and it's also been given some credit in research for being used against Alzheimer’s.  A little goes a long way thought, don’t over do it, you only need a pinch.

SPF Moisturiser – a MUST in your daily beauty regime

SPF moisturisers are a must-have – simple. You may not be able to see their work every day, but they're worker much harder than you think, they are a much bigger deal than you think and now that the sun is trying very hard to peek around the clouds and fight the rain way, you may be starting to think about your sun cream, but ultraviolet rays can be damaging on even the cloudiest of days, so SPF protection is a year-round beauty bag essential.



At Face Matters we’re working on our own SPF but in the meantime, we urge you to use one in conjunction with the daily Face Matters regime.  Building a base for your make-up is the first step to a great skin day, but also in anti-ageing. Choose either SPF30 or SPF50 to make sure the sun's rays aren't wreaking havoc with your skin cells. This will ensure you’re protected from the moment you step out the door, sun protection should be the top of your daily routine list.  In addition, wear your sunglasses as much possible when outside, sun rays particularly like trying to make those deepen fine lines around your eye.  In particular, if you do a lot of outdoor sport, running, cycling, walking….they are a necessity, a fabulous excuse to splurge on some flash new sunnies!

Here are 5 that caught our attention:

Clinique Superdefense Daily Defense Moisturiser SPF25,£39

With a mood-boosting grapefruit scent that instantly lifts your spirits, this lightweight defense cream has a lovely spring feel. It works wonders on your skin with the likes of firming birch extract, nourishing soybean oil and skin-plumping Vitamin E weaving their magic. Glides on and absorbs quickly.

Ren Photoactive Sun Veil SPF 15

This photoactive sun veil from REN is a triple action micro-mineral sunscreen that delivers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, fights free radicals and harnesses beneficial light energy for a laser effect that gives the complexion a radiant, even toned appearance.

Dermalogica Age Smart Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 30,£60.70

We love this brand and are never shy in sharing the skincare love when it comes to other great brands.  Dermalogica is fast becoming one of the 'it' brands in skincare. It is a little pricier than other SPFs on the market, but the Smart Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF Moisturiser is trusted by the experts.  Those rays will struggle to fight through the SPF 30 barrier.

Ole Henriksen protect the truth™ SPF 50+sunscreen

An oil free sunscreen, is light enough to wear under any daily moisturiser or make-up, and strong enough to protect from UV damage and other environmental aggressors that can cause pre-mature ageing. Ole Henriksen's NEW heat and light activated Solar Active Complex™ is designed to help strengthen the skin's barrier and stimulate it’s natural repair function to help heal pre-existing damage, while increasing the skins resistance to damage.

Skinceuticals UV Mineral Defense SPF50, £34

If you have sensitive skin this could be the one for you. The Skinceuticals UV Mineral Defense Cream will create a mattifying, lightweight coverage on your skin without aggravating the surface. And with a whopping SPF50, this cream features broad-spectrum protection with effective mineral filters.

Natural Alternatives to Facelifts

We are constantly striving for ways to slow down the ageing process and to maintain a youthful appearance.  Using Face Matters Skincare products in your daily beauty regime will significantly improve the look, texture and feel of your skin and complexion, BUT what if you are looking something extra with resorting to the ‘knife’ or Botox and fillers?  Here is our line-up of some alternatives:

Facial acupuncture

Traditional cosmetic surgeons will tell you that acupuncture won’t really make you look more youthful, but acupuncture specialists would argue otherwise:  It helps the circulation of blood and the distribution of fluids in the face, which rapidly gives a better glow to the skin and improves the general appearance.

Following the procedure which involves the penetration of needles in to the skin at various points, skin should be smoother, with shallow lines often erased and a softening of deeper lines.

Pelleve

Our range of Face MattersSkincare contains a potent blend of highly-active botanical oils synergistically blended with pure organic mineral silicon to stimulate the production of collagen, but how about stimulating that collagen even more?  The Pelleve system uses radioactive waves to induce collagen – and with virtually no pain. With constant gradual energy, heat builds up between the layer of skin and fat on your face leading to the collagen to contract and result in improved quality in the appearance of your skin.  The treatment, which requires no recovery time and can be over in 45 minutes, is ideal for the delicate eye area and top lip lines.

Chemical peel

This is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments.  Chemical peels can remove layers of skin and help to remove age spots, acne and deep wrinkles. There are lots of different types of peel, and you should always discuss your options with a qualified doctor first. Two of the most popular include the glycolic peel, a mild peel that is recommended for freshening up dull and tired looking skin, or the salicylic peel which is best for oily or sensitive skin with fine lines or wrinkles, or undergoing acne treatment.

Ultherapy

Ultherapy uses ultrasound therapy and our body’s own healing process to lift, tighten and tone the brow, neck and chin areas by directing sound waves through to the deeper layers of our face. The ultrasound stimulates these hard to treat areas that have deep structural support layers. Bear in mind that results can take some time and Ultherapy isn’t cheap though.

Facelift Massage

As stress and tension affect our everyday lives, they can also affect our face causing a loss of muscle tone and elasticity.   It is designed to be a gentle non-invasive approach to looking younger. It works primarily by freeing constrictions both within the facial muscles and in the connective tissue.

 Tension can build up within our facial muscles from the pressures of everyday life without us realising it.  Under such conditions muscles can actually “dry up” and contract, inhibiting freedom of expression. This can encourage ageing and the formation of wrinkles as the face loses its muscle tone and elasticity and begins to sag.  Facelift Massages work by freeing the constrictions in facial muscles and in the tissues.

Fraxel

A non-invasive laser resurfacing of the skin, Fraxel claims to reverse the signs of ageing. Fraxel can be affective for many skincare worries we have as we age; wrinkles, pigmentation, scarring and sun damage. It only targets the specific problem area, and works by producing thousands of microscopic laser spots that eliminate old pigmented cells deep within the dermis.

Oscars 2014: Our Best Beauty Looks

Images from Grazia

With the Oscars comes the most beautiful dresses and fabulous hair and make-up. Here in the Face Matters office, after many arguments, we've chosen our top three looks from the night.

Jessica Biel looks elegant with her make-up kept quite natural with a pale pink lip... but the best bit about this look is her hair! Elegantly swept to the side over the shoulder with a slight curl - not only was Jessica seen with this hair style, it was a firm favourite among other stars including Sandra Bullock and Kate Hudson.

Naomi Watts gives her look a slight edge with her straight locks swept back giving her hair a laid-back feel and the pop of colour on her lips. She works this well as everything is kept quite simple but the pop of red gives the look definition.

And finally, Cate Blanchett. She looks utterly flawless with her natural make-up - which is a huge beauty trend at the moment. Her hair side parted and styled perfectly in a classic wave. Her overall look gets a huge thumbs up from us here at the team... pure glamour!

What did you think of this years Oscars beauty looks? What were your top three favourite looks?