Introducing Andrea…

Hi there, I’m Andrea and I’m the Customer Care Manager here at Liz Earle. I work in the Customer Centre, so I may have spoken to you on the telephone, in our weekly chat room or maybe at one of our events.

Based at our Green House offices on the Isle of Wight, our Customer Centre is responsible for taking your phone orders and answering all of your web and email queries. Every member of our team is expertly trained, so you can rest assured that whether you have a particular skincare concern, need help finding the perfect Christmas gift, or are simply calling to place an order, there will always be a friendly voice at the end of the line to help you. Just call us on 01983 813 913, we look forward to chatting to you!

Every Christmas, my family and I begin our celebrations with a special Christmas Eve lunch, where we heave a sigh of relief that all the shopping is done and wind our way home early evening full of festive spirit where my husband and daughter ban everyone else from the kitchen and bake mince pies together – luckily they clear up after themselves too!

My perfect gift this year would be a Signature Facial voucher. As my daughter is getting married in March, I will be having regular facials in the run-up to the wedding to ensure that my skin is radiant and in tiptop condition for my important role as mother of the bride! I’d love to hear what you’re hoping for this Christmas, so do leave me a comment in the box below.

Step-by-step home pedicure

It's important to give feet and legs some loving care before slipping into your party shoes. My easy-to-follow home pedicure will transform dull feet, soften any dry areas and is also a fabulous pampering treat.

Step 1 - buff and soak

• Start by body brushing your lower legs, working upwards from your ankles, to boost circulation.
• Fill a bowl with warm water and add a generous amount of Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash (UK, IE & US) or Energising Body Wash (UK, IE & US) and soak your feet, taking a few deep breaths to de-stress.

Step 2 - exfoliate

• Spritz feet and lower legs with Instant Boost Skin Tonic (UK, IE & US) to soften skin before exfoliation.
• Massage our new Foot Scrub (UK, IE & US) onto feet and legs, concentrating on dry areas such as heels, toes and balls of your feet. For best results, I recommend buffing hard skin with a large foot file beforehand. Rinse or shower off and pat skin dry.

Step 3 - care and condition

• Using a cotton bud, apply a pea-sized amount of Superbalm (UK, IE & US) to cuticles, nails and any dry skin areas. Massage into the base of the nails to get the circulation flowing.
• If your legs are tired and puffy, massage some Energising Hip and Thigh Gel (UK, IE & US) on your lower legs to boost circulation.
• Then massage in a generous amount (3-4 pumps per foot and lower leg) of our new peppermint-scented Foot Repair Moisturiser (UK, IE & US) to your feet and lower legs.

Step 4 - massage

If you have time, why not complete your pedicure with this relaxing 5-minute foot massage. For best results, sit comfortably on your bed with legs stretched out in front of you, making sure your back is supported with a pillow.

• Using the flat of your hand, massage the sole of the foot in a downwards motion on the inner curve of your foot (from your big toe to the inner heel). This is great for reducing tension in the back.
• Use your 2 thumbs to do large 'zig zag' moves across the soles of your feet. Stretch out tension by flexing your feet towards you and holding for 5 seconds. Release and stretch the other way and hold for 5 seconds.
• Massage your toes individually to relieve tension in your head and decongest sinuses.
• Finish by pressing on your solar plexus reflexology point for 5-10 seconds to 'wake up' your whole system!

A Country Christmas

I love everything about Christmas from the clear, crisp winter days to the exotic spices baked into biscuits to the decorations and family gathering. And yet Christmas is a relatively new holiday for me: I’m Jewish, and didn’t celebrate Christmas until I met my husband. Just as we have blended families, we now combine holidays in a wonderful mix that is all our own.

Every Christmas I make my own wreath, and this year I’m taking inspiration from Energising Hip and Thigh Gel and Energising Body Scrub, using pine and butcher’s broom to form the body of the wreath, with bluey grey accents from rosemary, olive and eucalyptus leaves from my garden. This autumn, ivy has been in flower all through the woods around my New Forest home. So, the clusters of dark blue ivy berries will be the perfect foil for the colour of whole dried oranges.  And, of course, I’ll be finishing my masterpiece with a Signature blue bow! Our Christmas tree comes from a plantation on our doorstep, and if my husband has his way, will arrive the week before Christmas with our first guests. Decorating it is a family affair, complete with homemade eggnog to ensure that it isn’t too perfect.

I’m like a little kid on Christmas morning, wide awake by 5 and impatient with the rest of the household as they snooze the day away. I can’t wait to see their faces when they unwrap the treasures I’ve collected for them (including plenty of Liz Earle in a vain attempt to safeguard my own stash). This year, along with the traditional sugar mice, clementines, candy canes and chocolate oranges, the stockings in our house will be replete with travel sizes of our new Foot Scrub (UK, IE & US) and Foot Repair (UK, IE & US). When the kids were little, they’d wake us in the early hours to plunder their stockings and piles of gifts beneath the tree. Now it takes the lure of pancakes and coffee to coax them downstairs…and never before 7.

Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is the Jewish holiday closest to Christmas, and everyone loves latkes, the potato pancakes associated with the eight nights of celebrating. Just the smell takes me back to the warmth and noise of my grandmother’s kitchen.  I grew up in a house where food was the most important part of every holiday, each with its specific dishes, and my approach to Christmas is the same. As well as the traditional turkey, I’ll be making fresh cranberry and orange zest sauce, a recipe passed down from my mother who makes it every Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to get all the benefits from eating the super-tart berries fresh.

Once Christmas dinner is in the oven, we put on wellies, scarves and Superbalm (UK, IE & US) for the mile meander down to the village pub, dogs, children and guests in tow. Cheeks red with cold and holiday cheer, we make our way back to dinner and the obligatory snooze on the sofa. Nothing makes me happier than a houseful of people I love napping in harmony.

I’d love to hear what you’re up to this Christmas, so if you have any special recipes or traditions leave me a comment in the box below.

Step-by-step home facial guide

With many of you wanting to give yourself a home facial, I've put together a step-by-step guide for the perfect pampering treat...

1. Cleanse
Massage Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (UK, IE & US) into your skin in small circular movements. Work down the neck, up onto the forehead and outwards across the face. Remove with a warm, damp muslin cloth to gently exfoliate. If you've been wearing make-up during the day, you might like to do a ‘double cleanse', repeating the process above.

2. Exfoliate
The next step is to remove any dead skin cells in preparation for your mask by exfoliating. Massage one pump of our Gentle Face Exfoliator (UK, IE & US) over your face (avoiding the eye area), neck and décolleté. Using the whole length of your fingers, massage outwards in circular motions for around 3- 5 minutes.

3. Steam
After cleansing and exfoliating, steam* the skin to open the pores and deeply cleanse. Fill a large bowl with 2 parts hot water and 1 part cold (making sure the bowl is on a stable table). Add 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to the water to clear sinuses. Hold your face over the bowl of water (for safety a minimum distance of approximately the length of your elbow to hand) for 5 minutes and take deep breaths.

* Steaming is not recommended for any rosacea sufferers or people with very high colour on the cheeks.

4. Mask
Apply a generous layer of your favourite mask and relax. If you need some help choosing a mask, then see our guide below…

• If you have dry or dehydrated skin, try our Intensive Nourishing Treatment (UK, IE & US), packed with powerful botanicals to leave your skin softer, smoother and hydrated. Sensitive or irritated skin will also benefit from using this.
• If you have oily or combination skin, use our Deep Cleansing Mask (UK, IE & US). This highly concentrated clay and botanical mask draws out impurities and absorbs excess oil leaving skin looking clean and clear.
• If you want to boost radiance, then try our Brightening Treatment Mask (UK, IE & US). This quick-fix mask leaves skin radiant and revitalised.
• Or, why not combine masks? If you have combination skin, try using Deep Cleansing Mask on your t-zone and Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask on any dry areas.

5. Tone
Follow your mask with our Instant Boost Skin Tonic (UK, IE & US). Soak onto a cotton pad and gently sweep over the skin to refresh, revive and brighten. For an extra cooling treat, pop it in the fridge before you begin your routine.

6. Moisturise
After toning, use your daily moisturiser (approximately the size of a 5 pence piece) and dot over your forehead, cheeks, chin, neck and décolleté before massaging in using the flat of your hands. Massage downwards from your neck onto the décolleté, then massage upwards over your forehead and continue outwards across your face until all your moisturiser has been worked in (take care not to go too close to your eyes). Always use a separate eye cream, as the skin is thinner around the eye area. Simply apply and massage up to your eye socket bone and no higher.

7. Massage
Warm your favourite face oil (Superskin Concentrate (UK, IE & US) is my favourite, 2-3 drops is sufficient) between your hands. Cup your hands over your nose and face (not touching skin) and take a deep breath in. To de-stress, hold your hands over your face for 3 deep breaths and inhale.

1. Massage the oil onto your skin with upward and outward movements using firm pressure.


2. With flat fingertips pointing upwards, sweep hands from the middle of your forehead up towards the hairline and outwards towards the temples. Finish with a sweep under the eyes (along the bone) and repeat the move (a full circle) around the forehead and eyes 3 times. This will relieve tension in the head and reduce puffiness around the eyes. With alternate hands stroke upwards along the third eye (middle of the eyebrows upwards along the forehead) 6 times. This induces relaxation and will drain blocked sinuses.


3. Finally, move onto your jaw line: sweep your right hand (palms flat to your skin) downwards from the top of your neck (left side first) outwards across your décolleté to your shoulder. Repeat this move with your left hand on the right side. Repeat 3 times on each side - this will improve circulation and help to boost your skin.

Winter-proof your skin

As temperatures plummet and the central heating goes on, skin can become dry and dehydrated. Here are my top tips for helping your skin look radiant and healthy this season...

Feed your skin from within

In addition to a good skincare routine, good food gives us the building blocks for great skin, so feeding your skin from within is essential. Great skin-feeders include fruit, vegetables, mixed nuts and seeds which are all a great source of energy and nutrients and absolutely bursting with protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. I also try to include skin-friendly vitamin E-rich foods in my diet, such as avocado, which work to optimise moisture levels and improve the skin’s appearance.

Radiance booster

Winter’s flat light often makes our skin appear dull and grey. Combined with central heating indoors and harsh weather outdoors, it’s no wonder our skin can look drawn and lacklustre. For an instant boost, try mixing your Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (UK, IE & US) with our Brightening Treatment Mask (UK, IE & US) to really pep-up sluggish skin. With aloe vera and camphor, this combination works in under 2 minutes to give skin a real radiance – fast!

Heavenly hands

As hands can age quickly, it’s important to protect them from the elements by always wearing gloves. We all tend to wash our hands more this season to avoid winter bugs, but this constant exposure to warm water and detergents can leave skin dry. So after using our gentle, non-drying Orange Flower Hand Wash (UK, IE & US), apply Hand Repair (UK, IE & US) to nourish hands and condition nails. For an ultra-rich moisturising treat, why not combine Hand Repair with 2 drops of Superskin Concentrate (UK, IE & US)?

Discover more winter skincare tips in the blog from Jo Givens, Treatments Manager at our London Store and Treatment Rooms.

Winter Skin Wellbeing

After my wedding in September, I am back into the swing of things here at Liz Earle and it’s great to be back!  The last few weeks have been busy as ever with the launch of our new skincare tutorial and a guest appearance on QVC in October, where I demonstrated my top tips for getting the most out of our range.  This was my fourth show and it was such an honour to be invited back - I think the nerves are finally starting to settle about being ‘live’...

Now that winter is here, I have put together some hints and tips for you to help keep your skin beautiful this season…

Protect your skin - skin can really suffer from the elements.  Using a good quality moisturiser every morning and evening will help protect it and prevent moisture loss.  As central heating and cold weather leave skin parched, it is crucial to give your skin a ‘drink of water’ through moisturisers, replenishing masks and a hydrating spritz such as Instant Boost Skin Tonic (UK, IE & US).  Always use an oil (I like Superskin Concentrate (UK, IE & US) at night underneath your moisturiser, or just alone if you prefer.

Hands & Feet - are often neglected in winter, but it’s important to give them a little extra TLC. Before bed, slather hands with Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask (UK, IE, US) and apply Foot Repair (UK, IE & US) to your feet. Then pop a pair of cotton socks and gloves on and leave overnight, before waking to softer, smoother hands and feet!

Regular Facials - are a beauty must-have and just as important as your daily cleanse, tone and moisturise regime. Why not treat yourself to a facial once a month, such as the Liz Earle Signature Facial, to help keep skin calm, hydrated and balanced.

Exercise - is just as important for your skin as a good diet and beauty regime. Try exercising 3 times a week to improve the texture, tone and appearance of your skin. I love walking as it not only does it keep me fit but it gets me out and about. Best of all, it’s free.

Hydrate with H₂O - Water is essential for keeping skin clear and smooth. Although it can be tempting to drink less water during winter, your intake should actually increase as central heating and alternating temperatures can dehydrate the skin. If you don’t like drinking water on its own, try adding a few slices of fresh ginger to hot water - it’s a great way to up your water intake and helps you to stay healthy.

I’d love to hear from you if you have any health, beauty or wellbeing tips, so please do share them with us by adding a comment below.

My perfect Christmas...

This week, I’ve been out and about meeting customers and finding out what you’re up to for Christmas.  Travelling around, I’m always fascinated to find out how you first discovered the range and it’s interesting to hear that so many of you have heard about us through word of mouth. For me, helping someone with problem skin, who has perhaps been searching for decades for that elusive something to ‘save their skin’, is the best gift that you can give. I know some of you are thinking about Christmas already, so this year, why not spread the word too and give the gift of gorgeous skin to all your friends and family? Suitable for everyone, our special limited edition Cleanse & Polish (UK, IE & US) with its very own festive sparkle is just asking to be gifted!
 

My family and I are full of excited anticipation about Christmas this year, as we’re moving to the country so it will be time to start the traditions of Christmas all over again, in a new home. Christmas for us has taken on the thrill of childhood all over again, as our 20-month old toddler is now at the stage where she too can join in the anticipation and longing (although we’ll have to dress our tree from its waist up, to stop tiny fingers stealing all the decorations and chocolates!) My favourite part this year will be seeing what our daughter makes of midnight mass!
 

I’ve been thinking about what I would really like for Christmas and although I adore fragrance, to date I’ve been rather conservative and always stuck to a couple of old favourites – my wedding day choice and my teen favourite. But I think I’ve found a replacement... I’m seriously addicted to our new fine fragrance, Liz Earle Botanical Essence No 1 (UK & IE). What I love about it is that it smells different on every person who uses it, which means you never get bored of the aroma or feel that ‘everyone is wearing the same smell’. For me, being involved behind the scenes and seeing the traditional way that this was crafted makes it even more precious…. I do hope my husband is reading this!

My recent travels...

The generous quantities of high quality, naturally active ingredients are a key reason why our range is so phenomenally effective. We literally go to the ends of the earth to source the very best, most effective botanicals and then use them in amounts that really work. Researching and sourcing these wonderful ingredients is one of the most interesting and challenging parts of my job and I’ve just returned from a fascinating field trip to East Africa, on the trail of a truly amazing new plant ingredient. I can’t say too much about it at the moment (it’s still being tested and reviewed for a really exciting, brand new, product range for next year…watch this space…), but I can tell you a little about my extraordinary trip and give you a flavour of the excitement soon to come.

As you probably know from recent pictures in the news, there has been a major drought across sub-Saharan Africa for the last six months or so and this has had a major impact on all kinds of crops and harvesting. For us, scheduling our production and the availability of key ingredients, such as shea butter and essential oils, takes great skill from our supply team as they forecast crop requirements often far more than a year ahead. Most botanicals only harvest once a year, so once they’ve been used up there are no more supplies until the following harvest-time. Unlike standard synthetics, we can’t simply step back into the lab to concoct more chemicals. We’re also subject to the vagaries of nature and the recent climatic catastrophe has played particular havoc with the flowering shrubs and trees. So when I arrived in the Great Rift Valley (a vast expanse of land that runs down the entire Eastern side of Africa, running from North to South) ready to film some special flowering trees, I discovered acres of forest – but not a single blossom in sight; not even a bud, let alone a petal! This was not great news for our filming and photographic mission as we had hoped to capture some flowering footage prior to harvesting for a new website clip.

Our trip had been planned for some time and we’d arranged to meet representatives from the Kenyan Forestry Commission whose job it is to protect the Rift Valley’s trees from illegal logging and deforestation. We were set to meet by a petrol station in a small shanty town at the foot of the main escarpment and, sure enough, two hours after the appointed time (not bad for a country where transport and time-keeping is erratic at best), a pick-up truck arrived with an official and several camouflage-clad armed guards. It’s somewhat nerve-wracking walking through the bush accompanied by complete strangers armed with AK47s, but we were told they are armed to deter poachers, bandits – and buffalo! Fortunately, we didn’t encounter any of these…just plenty of smiley, waving children from the local Kikuyu tribe, intrigued and excited to know why we were there. We also saw several of the local harvesters who will hand-gather the precious botanicals we’ll need and whose communities will greatly benefit from the income this will generate for them.

Suddenly, shortly after we set off on foot, the heavens opened…yes, the six-month long drought decided to break on the very day we embarked without so much as a folding umbrella between us. The weather changed unbelievably quickly – from sunshine to stair-rod rainfall seemingly in seconds as rain-filled storm clouds darkened the immense Rift Valley skies. I sent a quick text to Kim back home to let her know the situation and she summed it up with her SMS reply “fabulous and miserable all at the same time!!” The rain ended up pouring down across much of Kenya for several days without a break, especially on the coast where bridges collapsed and many roads were washed away, making our transport tricky. It certainly made sense of the phrase “it never rains but it pours”. The good news is that these welcome rains are at last turning the dry, dusty arid African plains green again and we’ll be returning once the blossoms are in full bloom to bring you more news of the very best botanicals this remarkable region so abundantly provides.