Romy Raves

Happy Valentine’s Day GORGEOUS! Just in time for the holiday of love, red, hearts, romance and sexy, I give you my favorite curated product picks of this amorous season. Whether you are attached or not, I think this assortment of goodies is swoon worthy, so share the list with your lover or treat yourself to a little indulgence. Hugs & Kisses, Romy

MOR Cosmetics The Vow Gift Set ($17)

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of the products from MOR Cosmetics because they are beautifully made and come in the most gorgeous packaging. I am loving this Limited Edition Vow Gift Set, inspired by the new Sony Pictures’ V-day film The Vow (in theaters February 10th.)  This precious set comes with a Lychee Flower Soapette and Hand Cream presented in classy heart shaped tin. Lychee Flower is a sparkling sweet scent with ripe berries, soft powdery florals and the slightest hint of green forest woods. I love this fresh feminine scent and the affordable price of this great set.

Stella & Dot Ever After Necklace ($49)

I was recently invited to preview the new Stella & Dot Spring Collection and was pleasantly surprised by the fantastic, hip, modern statement making pieces of beautifully made, affordable jewelry. There were many pieces that caught my eye, but I thought this lovely delicate Ever After Heart Necklace was a perfect fit for this gift guide. This dainty heart comes in silver or gold and is pierced by the chain. This necklace is a Maya Brenner Collaboration Style (Maya Brenner is a twelve year jewelry industry veteran with a strong celeb following) and it showcases her simple, classic, bold and modern style. I love the look of this sweet necklace layered with other complimentary necklaces. Very chic and understated.

Rodial Glam Balm Lip ($25)

Rodial makes fabulous, active anti-aging products that really work, and their new Glam Blam Lip is no exception. This new luxurious moisture-rich balm plumps lips, fills in fine lines and smooths imperfections with filling spheres, nourishes with rose wax and protects against environmental damage with pomegranate extract. This potent balm volumizes your lips and also does a great job of soothing dry, chapped lips. I love the rose flavor (totally makes me think Vday!) and the way my lips instantly feel hydrated and nourished. Love it!

Stephanie Johnson Ibiza Alex Sparkle Clutch in Berry ($45)

Confession: I am addicted to Stephanie Johnson travel and makeup bags! Truth be told, I am stock piling quite a collection of these statement making versatile bags because the designs are so fab and collectible worthy. How could you not love this Berry Sparkle Clutch? Perfect for your Valentine’s Day evening on the town, right? It’s super cute, sparkly and fun, just love it! And it’s the perfect size to fit all your makeup essentials. Get one now before they are sold out!

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment ($25)

Every beauty junkie has a Fresh Original Sugar Lip Treatment in her product arsenal, and now this cult fav product has upped it’s game by adding fab anti-aging ingredients to make it even better. The Sugar Advanced is fortified with a high concentration of ultra-nourishing, age-delaying ingredients, including Hyaluronic Spheres, that penetrate the skin to fill in wrinkles and plump the lips, and sea fennel extract, to help smooth fine lines and define the lip area. This exciting new line extension repairs, nourishes, plumps, and smooths your lips and I love how supple and moist it makes my lips feel and adore the Fresh signature sugary lemon scent.

Havaianas Love Sandal ($28)

I live in my Havaianas, seriously they are the most comfortable flip flop ever! I cannot resist these super adorable Valentine’s Day worthy limited edition Love Sandal that come in a cute special edition red velvet shoe bag. This sandal is the slim style with a metallic silver strap and a colorful hearts graphic print. LOVE LOVE them! They will sell out fast!

Antica Farmacista Champagne Fragrance & Candle Gift Set ($88)

Anyone care for a little bubbly this Valentine’s Day? Me please! Especially when it’s in the exquisite luxurious home fragrance products from Antica Farmacista. The Champagne Fragrance and Candle Gift set consists of a home ambiance fragrance diffuser (with sticks) and a long-burning candle elegantly packaged in a gift box. The champagne fragrance is vibrant and fresh with a sparkly citrus floral top note, a sensuous and sweet fruity middle note and a subtle vanilla base note. I am so impressed with the complexity of the Antica scents and I think these products look gorgeous on display and smell amazing.

Too Faced Natural Kiss Neutral Lip Color Collection ($24)

Too Faced does it again with another fabulous must-have lip palette collection! The Natural Kiss Collection features four gorgeous warm-toned lip glosses in cream, gloss, and shimmer finishes that compliment all skintones. The colors include a Gold Shimmer gloss and Shell, Totally Nude, and Maple. This is my new go-to palette for that perfect nude lip and I think it will look good on almost everyone.

Dome Euphoric Body Perfume ($34.95)

The DOME Euphoric Body Line is imported from Italy, made of high quality natural ingredients and designed  to tap into your senses and evoke feelings of happiness and pleasure. I like the sexy smell that makes me smile when I use this cream and how it instantly penetrates into your skin. Wanna get your sexy on this Valentine’s Day? Take this body perfume for a spin and see what happens

Tea Thes Des Amants for Valentine’s Day ($44)

The Parisian tea brand Le Palais des Thés is offering a new limited edition tea set this Valentine’s Day, Thé des Amants (Lovers’ Tea), a sensual and spicy elixir made with fruits, flowers, and spices flavored with apple, almond, cinnamon, vanilla and a hint of ginger. The Tea comes cleverly packaged as a his and hers duo: For Her, in a pink and red box, a China green tea version of Thé des Amants which highlights the brightness of the citrus and fruity notes of this blend. For Him, in a dark blue and turquoise box, is the black tea version of Thé des Amants, which showcases depth and spice of this blend. This is a yummy elegant tea and ideal for foodies who appreciate complexity and depth of flavor in their tea.

Meow! by Katy Perry

Meow! is the sister parfum to Katy’s first fragrance, Purr. Purr was created while Katy was on the California Dreams world tour and this scent is Katy’s interpretation of the fun, sensual spirit of the tour (so fun, in fact, Perry felt the name of the fragrance needed an exclamation point at the end of it.) Meow! is a soft sensual scent combining the notes of honeysuckle and pear with the backdrop of creamy vanilla, musk and amber. This is the purrr-fect sexy scent to wear for Valentine’s Day and I just adore the pink kitty bottle, definitely collectible worthy!

With a name like Hairroin (get it?), I just couldn’t resist including the word addiction in the title of this post So here’s the scoop: I recently had the opportunity to visit the hip edgy Hairroin Salon in Hollywood, California and was treated to cut and color session with owner and celebrity stylist Janine Jarman.

Janine is a seasoned and established Los Angeles based stylist who has worked with many of Hollywood’s top stars including Britney Spears, Fergie and Scarlett Johansson to name a few; and she was also the official hair stylist for the Pussycat Dolls and has worked on many television shows, print campaigns, and runway shows. Janine also gained national recognition for her creative hair inspirations on Bravo’s popular TV series, Shear Genius.

With a plethora of expertise and credibility, Janine opened Hairroin Salon in 2005 to showcase the industry’s most talented, creative and in-demand stylists. Given the success of the salon, Hairroin recently moved across the street to bigger and swankier new digs at Space 15 Twenty Retail Center in Hollywood (Right next to Umami Burger and Urban Outfitters.) I love the new edgy urban chic industrial space, it feels modern and welcoming at the same time. Hairroin also has the distinction of being the only Sebastian Professional Flagship Salon in the Los Angeles area, hand-picked for its trendsetting work. Janine also currently serves as the West Coast spokesperson for Sebastian Professional and is a member of the national Sebastian Design team.

So with this glowing resume, I was more than thrilled to put my hair in the skilled hands of such a tenured artist. And let me tell you, she did not disappoint! Janine is adorable, spunky, confidant, DTE and a true artiste. I didn’t come into the salon with a preconceived idea of what I wanted, I just left it up to her (because honestly, when you are in the hands of a master, let them do their thing!) Janine wanted to shape up and freshen my style by giving me some sexy layers, and she also wanted to kick up my hair color with some warm natural Balyage highlights. I was super excited because I have yet to try Balyage, which is more of a painting/free hand style of highlights without paper or foils, where the stylist strategically paints highlights onto your hair the way the sun would naturally fall and lighten your hair. It may sound/look easy, but this is a technique that takes talent and experience to get just right. This is what Balyage looks like while it’s on (glamorous, don’t ya think?)

And here’s what my hair looked like afterwards (sorry for the blurry iPhone pics)

I absolutely LOVE it! The color is warm, sexy and much more natural looking than traditional highlights. Janine also told me that Balyage lights grow out much more naturally than traditional highlights which allows you to go much longer between touch ups, which saves you money in the long run. I love the sexy flattering color and the flowy movement of my hair, she got it just right!  (Note: I am thrilled with the way Janine’s Balyage lights have grown out, the natural color is so gorgeous and gets even better with time!)

I was beyond thrilled with Janine’s work, her easy going style and her masterful Balyage technique and I will definitely be visiting her again soon.  If you are addicted to hair like I am, I highly rec making an appointment with Janine at Hairroin for your own hair ‘fix’.

Hairroin Salon 1553 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 (323) 467-0392

Disclosure: I was invited to Hairroin Salon for a cut and color service with Janine Jarman for editorial consideration. The sexy hair and opinions are my own.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and on the heels of a fabulous overnight staycation this past weekend with my hubby, I’ve got love on my mind. You know how it is, like a magnet or energetic force, you are instantly drawn to someone or something without explanation, it just ‘happens’. Well I know it is a bit of a stretch, but for a life long beauty junkie like me, this energetic pull happens to me with beauty products, and every once in a while I try a product that just instantly knocks my socks off! Kinda like being hit with cupid’s arrow, but towards a product, not a person. Strange, I know, but it’s honestly how I feel. Well, lately I have come across some fabulous new products that I was instantly smitten with and now I am dying to share them with you. Hope you love them as much as I do!

Four Truffles Argan Moisturizing Balm ($26)

OMG this magnificent balm is truly “The Balm”! I literally got this product a few days ago and I am obsessed with it and can’t stop using it! This is a luxurious multi-purpose ultra hydrating balm packed with argan oil and all it’s nutrients and antioxidants that soften, hydrate, and repair your skin. It also contains a lovely Bulgarian Lavender Oil, an ancient herb that has been used for ages to relax the body and heal skin. And there’s more goodness: this product is organic, made in the USA with indigenous ingredients, its eco-centric, made by women4women and comes in a hand carved wooden jar. It smells divine, feels yummy on my dry skin, instantly moisturizes and heals like a champ. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift ($95) will be available March 2012 www.skinhealthexperts.com

This is a ground breaking new product that brings Kate Somerville’s most sought after celeb skin transforming treatment  into your home! Liquid Lift has a unique foam dispensed delivery system that instantly infuses your skin with three powerful ingredients KS calls advanced HydraFill™ Complex which work together to increase volume, significantly smooth skin, boost radiance and dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Liquid Lift infuses your skin with a much-needed boost of oxygen to increase volume and deliver a plumping effect that dramatically diminishes the look of expression lines and furrows. I actually have had the FAB professional DermalQuench treatment at the KS Clinic in LA, and I am equally as ‘wowed’ by the similar, and much more affordable results of this at home oxygen treatment. I adore how it instantly plumps, hydrates and makes my skin look more radiant, and after just a couple of weeks of use, my skin feels more supple, moist and it looks smoother.

3LAB Perfect BB SPF 40/PA+++ ($95)

I just adore BB creams because they deliver instant results and are super easy to use, and 3LAB’s version is luxurious and FAB! This BB Cream is infused with 3LAB’s signature bio-engineered growth hormone and apple stem cell technology, which noticeably firms and lifts the skin, regenerates new skin cells, brightens, moisturizes, and protects your skin with a potent SPF.  It also contains a wonderful combination of anti-oxidants, vitamins and botanicals that help improve your skin tone and alleviate irritation. My skin just drinks this cream up, I love that it comes in three shades (I’m medium), and it instantly hides imperfections and makes my skin look smooth and flawless.

Benefit Watt’s Up ($30)

IMO Benefit is the Queen of fab, fun, kitschy, inspired makeup products that really work (like my beloved Erase Paste.) Well, Watt’s Up is my latest  addiction, it’s a great soft focus highlighter that instantly brightens and lightens your face and gives you the perfect luminous glow. It is a stick cream-to–powder champagne sheer highlighter on one side and a blending sponge on the other,and together this gives your skin a velvety glow. I am having such fun manipulating the light on my face with this product and really like how it adds the perfect instant sheen to my skin, which makes it look fresher and younger. Fab!

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($39)

I have to admit, I have not been thrilled with my hair lately, it’s been dry, flat and lifeless, so I decided to cut like 5-6 inches off, much better and healthier. In light of this change, I am trying  new products to add volume and texture, and I am having alot of fun with Oribe’s Texturizing Spray. It’s a wonderful alternative to dry shampoo and it’s giving my hair fullness, movement and a sexy glam look. Basically, this is an invisible dry hair spray that offers incredible volume and a sexy texture. It contains patented polymers that absorb oil at the roots which allows you to milk that fab blowdry for days. It’s easy to use and it gives the perfect amount of va-va-voom to your hair.

Dr Dennis Gross Active Vitamin D Serum Oil ($65)

Leave it to the pioneering Dr. Dennis Gross to notice that his patients were experiencing Vitamin D deficiencies because they were being hyper-diligent about protecting their skin from the sun, so Dr. Gross set out to develop the first skincare serum-oil that would provide sufficient levels of Vitamin D to skin through topical application.  Traditionally, Vitamin D needs sun exposure to activate it, but this innovative new formulation contains an already active form of Vitamin D that does not require sunlight to work. This serum-oil replenishes hydration, boosts elasticity, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, enhances radiance and luminosity, and corrects the appearance of hyperpigmentation. I just love the idea of giving our skin it’s much needed Vitamin D, and I love how this product nourishes my dry skin and how it has added noticeable suppleness in such a short time.

Greetings Beautiful! I wanted to start the year off right and share some gorgeous new products that I am loving and that are making my skin absolutely radiant, so I figured that I would let you in on my little secret. Perhaps you’ve heard of Jan Marini, skincare icon and the pioneer of medically validated skin care preparations? Well, if not I am delighted to introduce you to this fabulous line full of active products that really work and transform your skin. At the beginning of the Fall/Winter season, Jan Marini kindly sent me two amazing anti-aging skincare products to try and I have totally fallen in love with them! Today, I am excited to tell you all about them and give FOUR of them away!

Limited Edition Jan Marini Holiday Exfoliator 

OK, admittedly my timing is a little off season with this product review, but this product is so yummy and transformative, that I will continue to use it throughout the year. The Marini Holiday Exfoliator is a clinical-strength resurfacer that immediately refines your skin’s texture and follicle size and gives your face a gorgeous radiant, polished glow. This innovative product contains antioxidants, unique spherical dissolving beads (non-abrasive), papaya enzymes, and glycolic acid, all designed to gently and safely scrub and resurface your skin.

What do I love about this product? I absolutely adore the almost edible sweet and spicy gingerbread scent. I love how it thoroughly and effectively smooths and softens my skin and how refreshed it looks after I use it. This is one of those scrubs that you can feel working and your skin looks noticeably different immediately afterwards. And did I mention, it smells like a slice of the holidays?! Deelish! However, this is a Limited Edition product and when it’s gone, it’s gone!  But lucky you, I am giving TWO away and you can also buy it HERE.

Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol PLUS

This isn’t your ordinary retinol product, it’s a ground breaking new concept in retinol technology. Retinol PLUS delivers the most aggressive levels of stabilized retinol combined with advanced topical agents to maximize efficacy while simultaneously decreasing irritation, sensitivity, dryness and redness-all very common side effects with retinol usage. And not only is it formulated with a potent and well tolerated retinol formulation, but it also contains anti-aging and collagen boosting peptides, antioxidants, hydrators and skin soothing ingredients that deliver unparalleled skin rejuvenation benefits.

What do I love about this product? The results are totally noticeable and amazing! I have noticed a nice softening of my fine lines and wrinkles, a much softer and smoother skin texture, radiance and luminosity and an overall vibrancy to my skin. Since I have been using it, people continually comment on how gorgeous my skin looks, and I credit Retinol Plus for that. And I am truly impressed with the lack of sensitivity and irritation that I have not gotten with this product. Typically, when I use retinol, my skin gets a little red and irritated (but the results are worth it), but that didn’t happen at all with this product. Love that! Oh yeah, and the reasonable price of $65 for a potent anti-aging product is very appealing too (not peeling )

But perhaps the best news of all, is that I am giving away TWO Jan Marini Holiday Exfoliators & TWO Retinol PLUS products to 4 lucky readers!

Contest Details 

-How to Enter: All that you need to do to enter this FREE giveaway is use the Rafflecopter Widget Below, enter your name and email or sign in through Facebook, then click “DO IT” to do each task that you choose to and once you have completed the task click the “ENTER” button to confirm your DONE entry. Make sure to enter your name and email for each selection, so your entries will be counted.
-Options for Entering: There are (3) choices for daily entries, and (4) choices for one-time only entries and three of them are mandatory for entry.
-Prizes:  TWO (2) Jan Marini Limited Edition Holiday Exfoliators (Retail Value of $80 each) and TWO (2) Jan Marini Age Intervention Retinol PLUS Products (Retail Value of $65 each) – 4 Winners in TOTAL
-Contest Dates: 1/20/12 to 2/4/12 at 12:01 am EST

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Year’s Greetings My Beauties! I have been MIA on my blog for the last couple of weeks because I took a much needed vacation with the fam, hit Palm Springs, San Fran, ate deelish food, drank gorgeous wine and just relaxed. It was very nice, but now I am back and have lots of fabulous products, events, services and treatments to share with you! First up, is this fabulous new spray-on foundation from Classified Cosmetics called Aero Minerale. It is launching at Ulta stores nationwide this week.

What do I love about this product? It is awesome, easy to use and it gives you that flawless airbrushed look without having to carry around a heavy machine or needing a professional technique to apply it. The best part? It’s affordable at under $15 bucks! Most products of this caliber cost way more! Not only does it give your skin a beautiful even finish and offer lightweight buildable coverage (it makes your skin look like it was in the hands of a pro), but it also contains your daily dose of vitamins and botanicals too.

And here’s further proof of just how fab this product is: The lead makeup artist from Twilight Breaking Dawn ordered 1,000 cans of Aero Minerale to use on the entire cast of the movie. A thousand cans people! That’s a a lot of product! So this stuff really works!

So what are you waiting for? Head to your local Ulta and pick up a bottle or two for yourself, your face will love it and so will you!