International Woman's Day…What is it and what will you be doing?

What is International Woman's Day…?  Well, it is a marked and internationally celebrated day of the year when we can do our bit to ensure that the future for women and girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding, this day is 8th March.  It works to gain more rewarding roles for women in business, an increase in the growth of women owned businesses and a greater awareness of women's equality.


It's something that's been observed since the early 1900s when more and more women were becoming more vocal and active in campaigning for change.  Now International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. 

Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

At Face Matters Skincare we believe strongly in the empowerment of women and women being listened to and recognised as much as they deserve to in the around the world.   We are also proud to donate a % of every sale on every product in our range to the women's charity Refuge this will be a continual donation from us and will increase as the company grows.

To mark IWD this year we are involved in a great event at Fenwick Bond Street, (where Face Matters is stocked) it will be called Empowering Women.  There will be one event on Thursday 5^th March from 5-9pm and then the second on Friday 6^th March 2-6pm.  If you are in London and near Fenwick why not book in for your it's only £15 which is then redeemable against product, for this you get a mini facial from us, make-over also there will be a hairstylist on hand too to freshen up your hair before you have your photo taken by our professional photographer - what do you think?

We want you to look and feel even more fabulous.

Hope to see you there…..

x

Love is in the air….

Valentines Day is fast approaching and it seems everywhere we look there is a sea of red, we're bombarded with suggestions of presents, chocolates, champagne,  getaways, the perfect Valentines restaurant for the most romantic of dinners…..so we thought we'd pick out for you a few of our favourites and some of those gifts which caught our eye and may offer a little inspiration to any Valentine who needs a bit of inspiration.

For the proposal?  We think this gift is probably one of the most romantic gestures we've heard about for a long time.  It's called Song For Your Loved One and is a touchingly unique gift idea written and crafted by the hugely talented Lotte Mullan, who's music has featured in Ridley Scott films and is often played on BBCR2.  All you need to do is give Lotte some background information on the recipient from which to draw her inspiration and she will pen the most beautiful lyrics set to a stunning piece of music…now, who's not going to say 'yes' to that!

This caught our eye for the style savvy Valentine, Lilou et Loic has a collection of stunning home, bath & body products; handblown glass decanters of Body Butter, Bath Foam or Bath Salts that will sit statuesquely on any bathroom shelf or how about a beautiful Emperor Candle with a burn time of 300hrs (yes 300hrs), all with heavenly scents that will seduce and woo any Valentine.  Here's what we'd earmark. the Bath Foam & Body Butter gift set £136...

Roses, not a cliche on the 14the February, or an unimaginative gift but a tradition that has always and will always be the one that is guaranteed to raise the biggest smile and ensure that Valentines Day goes smoothy, signifying love and romance we think they should really be obligatory….and why just on Valentines Day?  Never underestimate the power of the flower.  Delivery some love to someone you love.  After much research the ones we think will do the trick are from Roses Only London.  They come in a metre long box embossed with their distinctive logo, nestled in a bed of soft tissue, with a beautiful ribbon tied neatly around the middle of the box.  The ultimate in roses.  Oh, did we forget to say that you can team your box of roses with a bottle of the finest vintage bubbles from Veuve Clicquot or Moet & Chandon….! Prices start at £89.

Mwaaaah! Lulu Guiness is known for her quirky and humourous accessories and handbags….we LOVE this shocking pink perspex lips clutch!  How cute??  It's £245, so you'll have to promise to be a very good girl ALL year if you're lucky enough to get one.

Hope you like our little round up….and we hope you have a lovely February 14.

x

Make using Face Matters the New Year resolution you don't break.

Christmas is over, we've celebrated, drunk, eaten, had later than usual nights.  We've seen in the new year with friends and family and made a list (as usual) as long as our arm of resolutions that we PROMISE we will keep!   Some of these may already have been broken.  BUT if there is one thing you should try to do this year that is look after your skin as well as you can and here's where Face Matters can help.

During the winter months our skin tends to get drier, more dehydrated, and easily irritated.  It may produce less sebum and lose moisture due to changes in the weather and also the drying nature of heaters.  Our 5 time-friendly anti-ageing skincare range is your one-stop collection offering all the protection your skin needs.  The principal ingredient is pure organic silicon rich in collagen and super active botanicals that helps stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.  This is derived from one of the earth´s most abundant minerals.   Organic silicon really is a miracle mineral.

We understand that nowadays many of us don't have the luxury of timely extensive beauty regimes, and it’s not all about the newest, man-made ingredients either, it is about collagen, the natural protein in our skin which is responsible for elasticity and youthfulness. The younger we are, the more we have, but as we age our collagen levels decline and it is then that wrinkles and imperfections begin to appear.

During the winter months you may need to adjust your skin care routine.  We all function better in our busy daily lives with some routine, so why not do the same with your skincare?

Start the week with a mask.  Our 24/7 Balm will offer a super restorative treatment if applied and left overnight, you will wake with baby soft skin.  Don’t just stop at the face, massage it into cuticles, onto heels, elbows and lips, it evens moistens our hair’s dry ends.

To use this product as a cleanser, warm a small amount in palm of hand, massage over face and neck for 1-2 minutes and rinse with warm water to emulsify.  Skin will feel cleansed, incredibly soft and look radiant. 

It even works as an exfoliator at least once a week using the 24/7 Balm simply apply as before but remove either with a damp muslin cloth or facial loofah.  Oil-based products are fantastic for cleansing as they remove all the dirt but don’t strip the skin – this is even more important as we age.  By doing this on a weekly basis skin will have constant benefits and you’ll see it in your face quicker than you could ever imagine.

There you have it, our 24/7 Balm is truly multi-functional, multi-tasking and anti-ageing, including of course the blend of pure mineral collagen. 

Start and finish each day with the AnytimeCleanser a seriously effective-yet-gentle foaming cleanser.  The surface of your skin will be left feeling revitalised, without any tautness.  Contains blends of aloe, argan and pure organic mineral collagen.

Follow this with the All Day Spritz.  Dab on with the ends of your fingers, then smooth over the face and neck, re-spritz during the day as and when skin begins to feel fatigued and to revitalise the complexion.  The skin quickly starts to show a healthier tone and texture and will look fresher, smoother and much firmer. 

Our Morning Moisturiser is light and soothing and compliments the other products in the range perfectly.  It envelops the skin in comfort and enhances natural hydration.  Rich in beta-carotene, Essential Fatty Acids, oleic and linoleic acids, plus skin-loving vitamins A and E, phytic acid vitamin B complex to stimulate cell regeneration. 

Most brands have a 'hero' product in their collection and ours is the Evening Elixir.  Apply a few drops into your hand after cleansing and moisturising day and night and massage into the skin.  The results will be clear for all to see.  With a potent blend of botanical ingredients, rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9, vitamin E and Essential Fatty Acids (essential for the retention and enhancement of skin moisture), Vitamin A (to aid cell regeneration) and GLA it will revitalise and restore ageing skin, plus pure organic mineral collagen.

We have also added Rose oil (to refine the skin’s texture because it is rich in mineral and antioxidants) and Jasmine, which helps to soothe and soften lines and wrinkles.

Finally a delicate floral fragrance helps to lower the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol. 

Feel your best and you'll be your best.

x

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!