Live chat with Liz Earle, Tuesday 21 September (1-2pm)

[HelenMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that Liz Earle is going to be joining us at Mumsnet Towers for a live chat on Tuesday 21 September between 1pm and 2pm.

Liz is a broadcaster and best-selling author of over 30 books covering a wide variety of beauty, health and lifestyle issues.

She is also co-founder of the award-winning Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare range. Liz Earle products are regularly revered by Mumsnetters, and Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is cited across the boards as a 'must-have' beauty product.

We hope you can join Liz for the chat on this thread on Tuesday but, if you can't make it, feel free to post your advance questions here.

All Mumsnetters who post a question to Liz on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a Liz Earle Ultimate Hamper, worth over £170, plus the brand new Botanical Shine Shampoo and Botanical Shine Conditioner for Normal Hair.

To be in with a chance of winning, you must post your question to Liz, on this thread, before the end of the online chat (2pm on Tuesday 21 September). For all other prize draw terms and conditions, see the bottom of the competitions page.

[happysunnymummy]

Hi Liz,

I love, love, love all your products; particularly the Eyebright lotion which is fab for my tired new-mum eyes. I was wonderng if you had any plans to branch out into cosmetics in the future?

[LizEarle4095]

@curlytops58

Thank you for the response. It is'nt just the animal testing thought but also the Fair Trade side. I know that not all parts of the product can be protected but it surely stands a better chance with a smaller organization?

Hi again Curlytops58
I agree - we work with so many overseas NGOs in developing countries as well as organic farmers and growers more locally in the UK. Fairtrade was originally developed for food ingredients. There are only a few ingredients that can be used in skincare that are classified as Fair Trade. we always consider a great number of factors, including local, sustainable, organic, community projects, support for the smaller farmer etc when sourcing our ingredients. it is so important to us, which is why we have our own in house ethno-botanist, Jennifer Hirsh - do read her on-line Blogs on our website or take a look at some of our video clips of the people we work with in this area (either on lizearle.com or YouTube. thanks for flagging this important area :-)

[mamabear1]

Hi Liz...Did not know much about this brand...I used to have clear skin until i got pregnant. Since then (4 yrs) I look awful...older spottier with dark patches and black around eyes...I'm of an Asian origin. Thanks

[LizEarle4095]

@happysunnymummy

Hi Liz,

I love, love, love all your products; particularly the Eyebright lotion which is fab for my tired new-mum eyes. I was wonderng if you had any plans to branch out into cosmetics in the future?

Hello happysunnymummy
What a great pseudoname :-) I wish I was always a happy sunny mummy... My youngest is six months today and my sleep is now being broken by the dreaded teething (having JUST got him to go through the night - typical!!). So I too depend on Eyebright (keep mine in the fridge to make cotton wool compresses - really good). I'd love us to do make-up. Hopefully one day :-)

[LizEarle4095]

@DreamsInBinary

Hello

I love love love C&P, and am always impressed by Liz Earle when I see her on QVC.

My question would be around toner. I like the Instant Boost Skin Tonic very much (it smells divine) but what does it do?

Hello DreamsInBinary,

Thank you very much. Thanks also for your question regarding our Instant Boost Skin Tonic and what it does for your skin.

Often ignored, toner is useful for temporarily refining the appearance of open pores and prepares skin for moisturiser.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic does exactly what it says on the bottle - gives skin a visible lift and boost. I can really see a difference in terms of brightness and vitality on the days when I use the tonic vs days if I don't.

I also use our spritzer version to rehydrate skin when I need a boost; I took it to hospital recently in my labour bag and I keep a small spritzer bottle in the glove box of the car! It's also great for setting your make-up and giving a fresh, dewy look.

[LizEarle4095]

@mamabear1

Hi Liz...Did not know much about this brand...I used to have clear skin until i got pregnant. Since then (4 yrs) I look awful...older spottier with dark patches and black around eyes...I'm of an Asian origin. Thanks

Hello Mambear1 - great to hear from you. we have a lot of Asian-origin customers (well, all skin shades really as C&P especially works across all types and ages of skin). Cleanse and Polish is your starting point - a fab hot cloth cleanser containing purifying extracts of rosemary and eucalyptus. For dark circles I recommend Eyebright (does what it says on the pack...) also Daily Eye Repair, a great cream with tiny light-reflective particles that instantly help conceal dark shadows. it really makes me look as though I've had a good night's sleep - even when I haven't!! HTH

[AndiMac]

As someone who hasn't worn make up very regularly in several years, where's the best place to start if I want to wearing it again? What do I need and where do I find out what the styles now are without just finding the style/colour of the month?

[LizEarle4095]

@redpanda

I'm also a big fan of Liz Earle products. I've used C&P and tonic for donkeys years and more recently am now using the superskin moisturisers (after spells with clarins and aveda).

My Q is are you planning to launch a superskin product for eyes?

P.S. My dh has treated me to two facials in your London salon and they were bloomin' FANTASTIC.

Hi redpanda,

I'm genuinely thrilled to hear that you are also a big fan of our products and that you enjoyed your facial at our flagship London store! It is great to hear that you are using our Superskin Moisturiser, and regarding your question for a Superskin product for the eye area and you will be pleased to know that we have a fantastic Superskin treatment called Superskin Eye & Lip Treatment!
This powerful serum contains naturally active ingredients which work hard to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

A potent blend of organic pear seed extract, (fabulous for firming the skin), West African shea butter, cranberry, rosehip and borage seed oils leaves the delicate eye and lip contours looking and feeling plump, smooth, firm and rejuvenated.

Apply day and night, gently tapping around your eye socket bone, lip line and any other areas prone to lines and wrinkles.

P.S. I love the facials too - I always forget to book in advance but my Top Tip is to call on the day for a cancellation - I've always been able to find a slot this way ;-)

[JulesJules]

Thank you so much for answering my question!

(Nick Clegg take note )

[pinkfizzle]

Are there any super foods which are good for the skin?

[LizEarle4095]

@Catilla

I'd been ignoring this webchat because my skin is so sensitive I normally stick with my tried-and-trusted (and cheaper) brands. But reading through it I am intrigued that several people seem to have made a real difference to their skin with these products.

I have a history of eczema and its adult incarnation seems to be varying areas of itchy skin as a hay fever / animal allergy reaction. I keep control of it best through antihistamines, no soap/cleanser on my face, and lots and lots of moisturiser, mostly old-fashioned Nivea lotion and E45 cream. My skin still looks red & blotchy though, and is very sensitive: my cheekbone areas go red with a little sun or a hot shower. I have worn makeup about 5 times since my wedding 10 years ago - always feel it will either make me sore, or I'll need to be touching/creaming my face during the day which will spoil it. (plus I'm lazy!).

My question is, therefore, how & why can I trust that one of your products is going to make the difference for my skin, at a price which is so much higher than I pay for my beloved E45?

Thanks!

Hello - yes, we do have an unusually high number of customers with sensitive skins. many of whom say they come to us as a last resort having tried everything else! I would suggest trying just Cleanse and Polish and Superskin Moisturiser. nothing else to start with. The good thing is that you can buy small mini travel sizes of just about everything we do, making it much less expensive to experiment. Nothing worse than forking out a hefty sum for a large jar of something only to find it disagrees with you. Do call one of our customer care experts (see website for info) and they will very gladly chat you through what we do - absolutely no sales pressure. just for the record, please don't EVER use an aqueous cream containing sodium lauryl sulphate on a baby/youngsters skin, especially if they have eczema. this synthetic detergent is not meant to be left on the skin and can actually make fragile skin worse (very interesting research being done here by dermatologist professor Mike Cork at Sheffield). I feel REALLY strongly about this (my soap box moment). HTH

[RachelMumsnet]

Many thanks to Liz for answering so many questions. We'll be posting up her answers to some of the advance questions shortly and of course announcing the winner of the fab hamper. If you're interested in hearing more about LE products, visit Liz Earle.

[LizEarle4095]

@Honeydragon

Pennies
[[http://www.aubreyorganicsuk.co.uk/product-61-blue-green-algae-spf15-moisturiser.html
I use this]]

(Sorry Liz)

I am also a fan.

My question is, I cannot use any "natural mascaras", the more effective ones that give a good result, including your own make my lashes feel fibourous and itchy (although your lash conditioner does not). I am stuck using mabilline forever or is there something out there for me?

Hi Honeydragon,

Many thanks for your question. We don't make colour cosmetics at the moment so there is not currently a Liz Earle mascara available but watch this space! I have a similar problem to you and find Lancome Definicils pretty good.

[LizEarle4095]

@Silvj

Any chance of making a womens facial wash to use in the morning?
I love Cleanse & Polish but as my skin is sensitive, I find that I can only use it once a day, usually in the evening.
Thanks.

Hi Silvj,

Many thanks for your message. Sorry to hear that you have sensitive skin and can only use our Cleanse & Polish once a day. I'd be very wary of a facial wash as anything that foams on the face can overly strip the skin - not the thing for you if you are already sensitive.

Have you tried just using a well-washed (ie nice and soft) muslin cloth just on its own in the shower in the morning and saving your C&P for evening dirt, make-up and general grime removal??

[LizEarle4095]

@Anenome

Hi Liz! Thanks for joining us here on Mumsnet...I would like to ask you for advice on my skin, I have very pale and sensitive skin and since I hit my late thirties, it has gone downhill...it is dry around the creases of my nose but I also have a strange patch of red skin on one side of my nose below the inner corner of my eye...Dermo said it "could" be acne and gave me antibiotics...no result..patch sometimes itches a little and actually looks like swollen pores! It flares up, dies down but it always very red...I feel self conscious of it! Any ideas as to what to do? It is abuout an inch in diameter...I would be SO grateful for advice. I am not on any medication and have no allergies I know of or health trouble.

Hi Anenome,

Many thanks for your post. I am sorry to hear that you are suffering with your skin at the moment. All the products in our Naturally Active Skincare range are formulated to be extremely gentle and are used by many people with sensitive skin.

However, as a common sense precaution, we recommend a patch test is carried out prior to first application. First and foremost I would recommend that you start with a regular cleansing routine. Use a gentle plant based cleanser like the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish both morning and night.

Then to help with the dry areas of skin, I would recommend our Superskin Moisturiser as it is specially formulated to help dry skin plus it is great for sensitive skins as it is fragrance-free with no essential oils. I'd just stick with these two products for the time being - best of luck - please let us know how you get on.

[Porpoise]

Hello Liz - hope I'm not too late to ask you a question?

Do you have any brilliant tips for people like me who have rosacea?

[Bucharest]

Thank you for answering me! I will try again,and maybe polish more gently!

[LizEarle4095]

@MayorNaze

i have heard Great Things about C&P but, as someone else stated, none for sale near me and am a bit distrustful of buying skincare on t'net.

i have prob in that unless i use medicated "teen" products, my skin breaks out :(
BUT i am also getting increasingly old and wrinkly :(
anti-age stuff is just too rich and clogs the old pores up big time :(

what do you suggest??

many thanks :)

Hi MayorNaze,

Many thanks for your questions. If you are concerned about shopping over the internet you can call our expert in-house customer centre and they will be able to take an order for you or if you simply want some expert skincare advice they are always more than happy just to chat.
When you call us you'll be treated to a very individual and personal experience and our team will be able to provide you with advice bespoke to your skincare needs and think of them as "personal shoppers" for your skin.
In terms of products, I would recommend that you start off with Cleanse & Polish. As our skin is oil-based, it's crucial to use an oil-based cleanser as soap-based cleansers can alter its natural pH balance, leading to dry or oily skin and spots. Plus ñ the gentle exfoliating action of the muslin cloth increases cell renewal by buffing away dead skin cells, helping to keep skin clear of blemishes and excel oil leaving it radiant and youthful looking. If you really don't like it (highly unlikely in our experience!) just send it back for a refund :-) We also sell virtually everything we make in small travel and try-me sizes, perfect for a bit of lower-cost experimentation without having to spend a fortune on something you find doesn't work for you. HTH.

[LizEarle4095]

@lucysnowe

Hi Liz

I like the new fragrance a lot, although I know it's had some mixed reviews.... are there any plans to do another one?

Also: what about shampoos/fragranced body lotion/makeup etc etc????

Hi lucysnowe,

Many thanks for your message I'm thrilled to hear that you like our Botanical Essence No.1. Creating another fine fragrance is something Kim and I would love to do as we really enjoyed creating our first. Takes ages though. We are just starting out on our fragrance journey but I love the ideas you have mentioned here, especially a Botanical Essence No.1 fragranced body lotion - this is something that many of our customers have requested so watch this space! We log every request so if enough people want it...

[LizEarle4095]

@SmallShips

Have you recently tinkered with the C&P formulation? I've been using it for around 2 years and the past month or so I've been noticing that my skin is feeling very dry after using it despite using the skin repair moisturiser.

Big fan, love going into the Ryde store, the girls are lovely.

Hi SmallShips,

Many thanks for your message and Thanks also for being a big fan and really pleased to hear that you love going into our store in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight.
Thank you for your comments about our Cleanse & Polish formulation. We started to phase out almond milk from Cleanse & Polish back in early 2008, as it had the potential to cause allergies in some nut-allergy customers and we had many requests from these customers, so we felt this was the responsible thing to do. It was only present in a tiny quantity and we tested and tested the newer version and found no difference in the way it looks, feels or performs. As we say in our literature, you may occasionally notice changes in a products' texture, colour etc due to the fact that they contain very high levels of natural ingredients, which are subject to the vaguaries of climate and harvest changes, unlike synthetics these ingredients are not identical year after year, so some variations can be expected. But ultimately, if you're ever unhappy about anything, please return it for a full refund.

We always welcome feedback, favourable or otherwise. Although we have not made any changes recently to our Cleanse & Polish formulation, our skins needs change over time and although it can become oilier it often can become drier too. Many people find that they notice a change in their skin from summer to winter and sometimes need to 'tweak' their skincare regime accordingly.

You do not mention which Skin Repair Moisturiser you are using, but you may find using a slightly richer formulation is helpful so you may want to switch to a richer Skin Repair or step up to our Superskin Moisturiser now that the weather is a little colder.

[LizEarle4095]

@littlelapin

Hi Liz, my mum is a HUGE fan of your Cleanse and Polish so she wants me to say "THANK YOU!"

I'm interested in the Avon deal. Avon states that it "does not conduct animal testing on any of its products or raw ingredients and does not require that suppliers of raw ingredients and finished products produced for Avon conduct animal testing on our behalf." (my italics) but this does not cover ingredients that are not specifically developed for Avon or preclude suppliers choosing to test off their own bat. I understand that obviously this deal exposes you to a global market and is an immense opportunity for your company, but were you concerned about the reaction of your existing client base? I know that Avon have said that Liz Earle will be "managed independently as a stand-alone brand" but do you think that your principles will potentially be comprised?

On the other hand - Avon has an excellent philanthropic record, I have a friend in the States who does the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer every year - do you think your firm will become involved in similar activities?

Hi littlelapin,

I am thrilled to hear that your mum is a huge fan of Cleanse & Polish! Let me reassure you that since our acquisition by Avon nothing has changed and that none of our products or ingredients are tested on animals.
Our principles will absolutely NOT be compromised. Avon fully supports all of our brand values and we will remain true to our philosophy and none of our principles will change, including our ethics and our stance on animal testing.

Regarding Avons excellent philanthropic record and their commitment to women, their company slogan is the company for women which resonates very much with us here at Liz Earle. As a company, founded and run by women, that's always been our approach and very much a policy we adhere to today. Avons initiatives are very much in tune with the charitable activities myself and my co-founder Kim pledged to support when the company was founded 15 years ago. We very much look forward to taking these principles and ethics to a very much larger audience worldwide. Such a fantastic opportunity to make changes for the better globally :-)

[LizEarle4095]

@bluebump

Ok I still can't think of a decent question other than...

I know you now sell in John Lewis and are involved with Avon, are you still going to be continuing your work with QVC as although I like getting products directly from your website I do look forward to a good TSV, and I was most upset when another company molton brown stopped working with QVC!

Hi bluebump,

Many thanks for your question. We most definitely will be continuing to work with QVC as we know that so many of our customers love to shop with us via QVC - especially when we have a great TSV! So don't worry we have no plans to stop working with the QVC team. If anything, our hours have been increasing on QVC as our team expands, with Jennifer, Caroline and Jo all hosting great shows in addition to me :-)

[LizEarle4095]

@sheffmummy

Hi Liz

Your range has been a godsend for my hormonal skin so thank you! I love your book skin secrets too, you could do a recipe book on the side to keep us all on the straight and narrow too!

My question is:

I would love to have a Signature facial but dont want to trek into London for it, will it be available anywhere else soon, ie John Lewis stores or even the Isle of Wight store?

Thanks

Hi sheffmummy,
I am delighted to hear that the range has helped your hormonal skin and that you have enjoyed reading Skin Secrets. I love the idea of a recipe book! Would love to do it one day when I have more time (haha).

Regarding our Signature Facial, you are correct, at the moment it is only available at our flagship store in London. We would love to be able to bring our special Liz Earle treatments to more people around the country so it is something we will be looking into so watch this space! (yes, really).

[LizEarle4095]

@foofi

Have used C&P for many years, and have not found anything to better it. Also really like the superskin moisturiser.

It's really nice getting freebies when ordering from your website, but is there any way of requesting certain items? It's useful to have small sizes of things you like, but I often get sent things that I just don't like or don't use which is obviously a waste. I also think the tissue paper layers are OTT and not environmentally necessary!

(I too would like a Liz Earle facial if it were available nearer to home.)

Hi foofi,
I am delighted to hear that you have used our Cleanse & Polish for many years and that you have not found anything to better it. It is also great to read that you like our Superskin Moisturiser too.
Regarding the complementary try-me size products that we treat you with whenever you shop with us online, by phone or at our Liz Earle stores, we always try to gift you with something new to try. You never know what you might like until you try! However, you absolutely can request certain products to try.

All you need to do is ask for the complimentary try-me size product you would like when you place your order via the phone or when you are at the counter in one of our Liz Earle stores. If you are ordering online at lizearle.com you can request the travel size complimentary product of your choice by inserting your request into the web comments box when placing your order, this is at stage 5 of the online check out process.
Regarding our hand tissue wrapping, part of our customer service is to ensure we provide those special finishing touches that make our products such a pleasure to receive and make our customers feel so valued ñ and we receive lots of lovely feedback from customers who love our tissue hand wrapping. However, we are more than happy to send products unwrapped and with minimum paperwork if our customers prefer. Again, if ordering by phone you can request this from our advisor's and if you request this in the web comments box when placing an order we will gladly arrange this for you (the comments box can be found at stage 5 of the checkout process).

[LizEarle4095]

@Haliborange

Hello

Since I turned 30 I have the skin of a very unfortunate teenager, which is terribly annoying since I had about three spots during the whole of my teens! The only time my skin is ok is when I am pregnant and obviously I have no desire to spend my life that way.

I was wondering what routine you would recommend for my troublesome skin, given that I quite a high-powered job, two kids, a falling-down house and very little time for facials etc. Also, when I do get a spot what should I do about it? My inclination is to pick at it until there is nothing more to pick but I don't want to end up looking like Kevin the teenager.

Thanks.

Hi Haliborange,
I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering with your skin at the moment. Acne occurring past your teens can either be hormonal, stress or diet related. I would advise against a high intake of salt, sugar and cow's milk, and recommend you choose anti-inflammatory foods (such as garlic/omegas 3 & 6) and food rich in anti-oxidants. Select skincare products high in protective ingredients such as naturally sourced vitamin E and plant oils. Our Deep Cleansing Mask (with green clay and manuka honey) is a great treatment for excess oils, inflammation and breakouts. It can be mixed with Cleanse & Polish or used alone as an intensive mask twice weekly for 10 minutes. Try to have a de-stressing treat once a week, even if it is just a 5 minute bath with some soothing candles. Stressed mind and body=stressed skin!
With spots, my top tip is to avoid squeezing. Although tempting, spots should be left alone to heal - squeezing can result in painful infection, scars and cross contamination. To help clear break outs, regularly apply an alcohol-free spot treatment that won't irritate the skin. Essential oils including antiseptic and antibacterial tea tree oil, purifying melissa and healing lavender will stop spot-causing bacteria in its tracks. Try the Liz Earle Spot-On which is packed with all three of these hard working essential oils and additionally contains natural source vitamin E to help repair and protect the skin. I really hope all this advice helps!