Last night I attended an event at the beautiful Sandersons Boutique store on the outskirts of Sheffield at Fox Valley.

Handily its only a 10 minute drive from mine… or un-handily depending on how you look at it ? Everything is so beautiful I want to shop , shop , shop …that or move in.

If you’ve not visited you are really missing a trick. Get yourself down and experience it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

The event was the first ‘Meet the Maker’ to be held at Sandersons with Maleka Dattu founder of Merumaya skincare. It was hosted by Armand Beasley; Sandersons Ambassador of Beauty.

I’ve met Maleka once before so was looking forward to seeing her again. Maleka is one of those woman who make other woman feel bloody fantastic about themselves. Enpowered. She is very hands on, passionate about her brand and just a lovely, very interesting lady. As my nan would have said ‘ no airs and graces – she’s the salt of the earth’

She also has dreamy pink hair… As my friends will vouch its the one colour I’ve never been but is the one colour I truly hanker after.

Armand is MUA to the stars. His clients include (amongst others) Goldie Hawn and Michelle Keegan. He was charming and made sure we all had a drink, pens and paper in-case we wanted to make notes. I’d not met him to speak too before but I had spotted him a few times during the opening of the store working his magic on lots of people.

I wanted to go and say hello then but if you remember rightly I had washed my face with  a face cloth that had somehow got turps on it  ( yes bloody turps!) and to put it mindly … I reacted. I was a bit crusty, sore and swollen. Or as mum beautifully put it “why is your face falling off?”

I thought it best to keep a wide birth. Scaring somebody is not the first impression I ever wish to make… unless I’m at a Halloween party.

Introductions made we took our seats and Maleka got underway.

Maleka talked passionately about her career, range of Merumaya products and her companies mission to make woman feel good about themselves. To be confident in the their own skin. To stop judging others and support each other. Woman supporting woman – not pulling each other down. It was inspiring listening.

Being an ‘older’ blogger it was refreshing to hear somebody talking about looking and feeling beautiful at any age. Maleka  pioneered the #beautyhasnoage campaign

I’m a firm believer that you can be beautiful at any age. My late grandma aged 92 was testimony to this.

Betty Herring was a legend and amongst other things was always immaculately dressed, perm set in place with her signature green eyeshadow and manicured nails. She had the most beautiful skin and a look of mischief in her eyes … even towards the end when she was terribly ill.

My mum at 71 is incredibly beautiful.

Maleka’s herself is in her early 50s (which I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing) and looks absolutely fabulous.

Her words resonated with me.

I’ve only recently found my confidence. Its taken 40 odd years but I’m eventually getting there. At one time I would have shied away from events like last night, made my excuses and missed out.

I still have a way to go but I wish I had the same confidence I have today when I was 20 year old – I’d have taken over the world by now !

I decided a while ago that rather than dwell on my ‘faults’ I would embrace and make the most of the good things I have. (there are some) I won’t be defined by my scars. I don’t have to look a certain way to be beautiful.

I am my own beautiful.

It’s a great feeling.

Hearing Maleka speak last night ‘revitalised’ this way of thinking. At one point I wanted to give a ‘whoop whoop’ followed by initiating a great big group hug.

It was a fun , insightful evening and the 2 hours flew bye. Before we knew it we were saying our goodbyes, and leaving complete with cake courtesy of Blakes Tea Rooms and a fabulous goodie bag full of Merumaya products.

I will review each item we were kindly gifted after I have used them for a few weeks or so. It is however going to go down in history as THE best, most generous goodie bag ever! If Carlsberg did goodie bags eh …

7 full size products including one of the newest additions to the collection Youth Preservation Moisturiser SPF 20 which I am wearing today. It feels lovely.

I have used a couple of products before but I’m looking forward to trailing  the following :

• Treatment Toner
• Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover
• Intensely Youthful Eye Cream
• Concentrated Spot Treatment
• Skin Brightening Exfoliating Peel
• Everything Everywhere Beauty Oil – which I have already been slathering everywhere. Sinks into the skin and smells beautiful.

It was also lovely to meet a few ladies I speak to over on Instagram / twitter but have never had the pleasure to meet in the flesh.

That would be you Fiona (staceywith_an_e) also has pink hair and Kara (Spread the Sparkle)

I’d finally just like to say a big thank you to Maleka, Armand and the guys at Sandersons for having us and making us feel so welcome. It was a lovely event.

For more information on Merumaya Skincare products including the new gift sets – Girls Night In and Skin Essentials Kit // HERE

Until next time, Tracey x

• Linking up with the fabulous #SaturdayShareLinkup – Notdressedaslamb