White Clinique logo

GameFace

ESTEÉ LAUDER COMPANIES

Four female rugby players and Clinique ambassadors in a group laughing together and looking at each other. Players are Sadia Kabeya, Abi Burton, Claudia Macdonald and Akina Gondwe

The Brief

Inspired by the success of the UEFA Women’s EUROs, Clinique approached MATTA to help them build an impactful campaign in partnership with women’s sport, with a focus on grassroots sporting communities across the UK. The campaign had to stay true to Clinique’s goal of creating genuine change & building brand resonance amongst Gen Z audiences.
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CONFIDENCE ON AND OFF THE PITCH

61% of girls don’t take part in sports because they lack confidence, and as women go through life they are less likely to benefit from the confidence-boosting effects of sport. GameFace was our groundbreaking project for Clinqiue, that brought together the worlds of rugby and skincare, in their common role of promoting confidence in young women and girls.

Holly Aitchison in group huddle on rugby pitch
Holly Aitchison posed in changing room against a white brick wall in a white top
Holly Aitchison running on a rugby pitch with other female rugby players

Building Natural COnfidence

“Confidence” became the key value that aligned both with Clinique’s mission & women’s sport. The #GameFace campaign built natural confidence in young women to feel comfortable in their own skin through lead ambassador & England Red Rose, Holly Aitchison, & a sponsorship programme supporting 4 grassroots clubs across the UK.
Venn Diagram showing the insights of the Clinique Game Face campaign
Collage of images of Holly Aitchison in her Rugby kit and her skin journey

Widespread Awareness

Social content using Holly provided widespread awareness with an authentic narrative whilst the community sponsorship programme made a genuine impact at a local level for over 150 female rugby players & surrounding audiences.
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who signed up to the GameFace programme went onto purchase from Clinique in the first 6 months

Rugby post branded Clinique pads
Holly Aitchison poses with participant of Game Face day, holding a signed shirt
Clinique branded rugby balls and crash pads laid out on rugby pitch
I never used Clinique before but now I use it all the time because they support women in sport.
GRACE, 19
Set of 4 phones showing various instagram posts from the Clinique Game Face campaign

World Leading Partnership

The #GameFace campaign has been recognised as a world leading partnership by The Telegraph, BBC sport, Hello! Magazine, Women’s Sports Trust and is continuously referenced as a groundbreaking example of authentic partnerships in sport. Beauty brands are on the precipice of huge breakthroughs in the world of sport & we are very proud to have been part of building the foundations for this movement beginning in 2022.
The Telegraph article showing Holly Autchison's involvement with Clinique Game Face campaign

EVERYBODY HAS A GAMEFACE

The second year of the campaign was fronted by four elite women’s rugby players: Sadia Kabeya (Red Roses & Loughborough Lightning), Abi Burton (Double GB Olympian & Ealing Trailfinders), Akina Gondwe (Saracens) and England star Claudia MacDonald (Red Roses & Exeter Chiefs). Each ambassador had their own skincare story to tell, and had experienced first-hand the inner strength, bravery and character that rugby can build in young women through teamwork, camaraderie and empowerment.

We created social media assets and a PR image bank through a photoshoot onlocation at a grassroots club. We also managed the partnership between Clinique and PWR, organised the talent, ideated against the confidence-focused strategy and helped bring to life the final social content.

We also organised a competition in which grassroots clubs around the country were invited to apply for a support package to improve their equipment and facilities, as well as receiving expert skincare advice and products.

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I never used Clinique before but now I use it all the time because they support women in sport.
GRACE, 19
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