As a follow-up to the original announcement of a collaboration, Clinique’s partnership with England’s Red Roses is proving to be more than a headline. Launched under the banner “Where Great Looking Skin Begins, Confidence Follows,” the initiative positioned skincare as part of an athlete’s preparation and recovery, an element of confidence as much as care.
That ambition has now been realised in a tangible way: a limited-edition bottle of Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion featuring the Red Roses emblem. Available at John Lewis and online, it marks the first co-branded skincare product of its kind between a global beauty brand and the Union. Creative agency MATTA credited an extended team from both organisations for bringing the project to life.
For marketers like me, who value and seel the personal touch in campaigns, this collaboration offers a rare example of how partnerships with sports talent can evolve beyond logos and press releases. Many sponsorships stop at naming rights or surface-level endorsements; few involve athletes in the creative process or produce an artefact that gives fans a stake in the story.
As someone who works in the field, that distinction matters. Collectibles and memorabilia are not just souvenirs, they truly are cultural touchstones that record how brands engage with sport women or sportsmen. By crafting a product that embodies its alliance with the Red Roses, Clinique signals a shift toward more thoughtful, lasting relationships with women’s teams.
Whether the bottle becomes a sell-out or a quiet keepsake, its significance lies in what it represents: a collaboration designed with respect for the athletes and an understanding of how consumers want to connect with them. I think it sets a benchmark that other brands would do well to emulate.
Read the original blog post below. Published 24 July 2025
This is not a review, but if it were to be one, I would first mention that I am an absolute admirer of brand related collaborations that are often a little too unexpected. Nothing elicits a highted level of excitement out of me like a niche brand, of global or national standing, partnering up with […]
Clinique Partners with the Red Roses in a First-of-its-Kind Collaboration
