Clinique x Red Roses
Clinique
Building confidence on and off the pitch
Clinique has long championed women’s confidence, and in recent years, that’s included showing up meaningfully in sport. This summer, we helped them build on their commitment by becoming the official beauty partner of the Red Roses – a first-of-its-kind partnership.
We created the strategy behind the partnership, and brought it to life with a creative platform: Where Great Looking Skin Begins, Confidence Follows. The platform reflects the broader cultural shift where skincare, sport and confidence collide, and is an evolution of previous work.
In 2022, we collaborated with Clinique to launch GameFace, a grassroots campaign supporting female rugby players with funding, education and skincare essentials. It built credibility in the world of women’s rugby, and demonstrated how beauty and sport can work together in empowering, purposeful ways.
The new partnership scales Clinique’s mission with purpose, helping them to support elite athletes in the same way they support grassroots players.
Skincare is more than skin deep
For elite athletes, skincare is more than cosmetic, it’s part of their preparation. Long hours of training outdoors, changing climates and physical exertion, coupled with the stress and pressure of performing at the highest level, can all take a toll on skin.
Having a consistent skincare routine, much like players have consistent nutrition, physio and recovery plans, can help them to feel their best and ready to take on anything, on and off the pitch.
This insight is what led us to develop the creative platform, Where Great Looking Skin Begins, Confidence Follows. It reflects how the partnership is about giving athletes the confidence they need, and helping them to inspire other women.
Bringing the partnership to life
Every Red Roses player was offered a personalised skincare consultation with Clinique experts trained in partnership with dermatologists. These 1:1 sessions helped athletes develop simple, effective routines tailored to their unique needs.
We activated the partnership through a variety of ways, from ambassador led content and social storytelling to player-led skincare education and visible matchday presence.
Whether it was the players completing their Clinique Three-Step Skincare Routine from start to finish, candid chats to camera about their personal skincare journeys or self-shot content demonstrating how skincare is part of their daily routine, every piece of content showed how having a consistent routine can help you to feel confident and ready for anything, on and off the pitch.
The partnership launched in the weeks ahead of a landmark summer for the Red Roses.
We have a phrase in rugby: ‘Look good, play good’.
That definitely includes your skin.
Centre
Partnerships with purpose create impact
According to the 2025 Women’s Sport Trust Report, brands that invest meaningfully in women’s sport outperform traditional sponsors across emotional connection, brand affinity and long-term loyalty.
In the report, Clinique ranked as one of the top-performing sponsors, with over 70% of those aware of the brand’s partnership with the RFU feeling more positively towards the brand.
These metrics reflect a demand from consumers for brands to show up meaningfully in women’s sport. With 72% of consumers saying that athlete mental health matters in sponsorships, and 68% saying long-term investment is key, Clinique is not just jumping on a trend, but leading with strategy and intent, by listening first and building credibility from the pitch up.
The future of sponsorship
Back row
When I take time to feel good on and off the pitch,
it only helps me to play better.
Fly half
