Romy Raves

This gorgeous sleek silver Acura ILX 2013 arrived today, don’t we look good together

Guess what Rave Fans? Acura is loaning me their FAB new entry-level hybrid luxury car, the ILX, for a week and I am taking it on a local adventure, care to join me? I am super excited about testing out this car and am planning on taking it out on the open road for some fun and fabulous local adventures with my family and I am hoping you will follow along and join me.

Since we tend to be a spontaneous family and always plan things last minute, we have nothing set in stone for this adventure and that’s where you come in. I need your creative suggestions and fun ideas of where to go, what to see, where to eat, great places to drive. We are planning on heading north of LA towards Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez on Friday and will see where the winds take us, but your input and ideas will really help. What should we do with this fun and fabulous car?????

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I recently had the privilege of being invited to the renowned Miraval Resort & Spa on behalf of Clarins, to indulge in a first hand experience of their recently opened Life in Balance Spa and it was nothing short of spectacular! Ever since Oprah took a group of viewers to this destination spa and showcased how amazing it was on her show, it has been on my bucket list of places to see in my life. Clarins invited me and a handful of other amazing bloggers to experience the magic of this special place and most importantly to immerse ourselves in their gorgeous new Spa at the resort.

First, let me tell you a little bit more about Miraval. Miraval is a top-rated all-inclusive destination resort and award-winning spa, located in Tucson, Arizona on 400 acres of idyllic desert land. Miraval is a dedicated to opening eyes, minds, and hearts, centering around the concept of Life in Balance. Mindfulness is the core of the Miraval philosophy, and guests are encouraged to live in the present moment, conscious of the unique intersection of mind, body, and spirit. Miraval is so much more than just a spa or getaway, it is a life-changing and life re-affirming place that totally transforms  you.

Upon arrival, it’s easy to see why Miraval is one of the world’s top destination spa resorts

The property is first class luxury, the grounds are gorgeous, serene and really capture the beauty of the Southwest landscape and the service is personal, pampering and top notch. Upon arrival, I was greeted by my own personal concierge who confirmed my schedule (and seamlessly fixed a scheduling glitch) and took me on a personal tour of the property then escorted me to my room. The room was cozy and well appointed and I was greeted with this lovely welcome gift courtesy of Clarins and Miraval

This was such a classy touch and I loved that Clarins gave me travel sizes of some of their cult fav products which perfectly enhanced my stay like Beauty Flash Balm (My latest obsession), One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, HydraQuench Cream, Moisture Rich Body Lotion and UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40. And then a copy of the new Mindful Eating from Miraval Spa so that I could take their beautiful and healthy food suggestions home with me to enjoy (FYI Their healthy peanut butter which is half peanuts and half carrots is kinda addictive!)

After settling into nirvana, we had a meet and greet gathering with the Clarins team and other bloggers on the trip, and then I enjoyed my first of many meals at Miraval. The foodie in me loved the meals at Miraval because they maximized flavor, texture, seasonality and health! Here I am dining with two of the FABULOUS bloggers on this trip: Patrice of Afrobella & Julia of Brush Beauty Love

After my belly was satiated, it was time for some relaxation and pampering at the Clarins Life in Balance Spa for a Miraval/Clarins 80 minute Signature Facial and I adored every second of it. From the moment it started with a Eau Dynamisante Invigorating Fragrance wipe down, I knew I was in for something special. This refreshing aroma moisturizes, firms and tones with essential oils of Lemon, Patchouli, Petit Grain, Ginseng and White Tea and immediately transported me to luxurious European spa. From there, the esthetician used a multitude of Clarins products to hydrate, revitalize, lift and rejuvenate my skin. Honestly, it was a slice of heaven, my skin loved the products and the service was exceptional. My skin was glowing afterwards, take a look

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As you already know, I have been a busy bee this summer with lots of travel and more coming up soon (Stay tuned for my tweets & updates from #cosmoprofna & #BlogHer12!) Being the beauty maven that I am, it is critical to my sanity that I surround myself with the right beauty products while I am traveling and have such a busy schedule. For me, having the right mix of products when I travel makes all the difference in world in terms of my comfort and relaxation. My beauty regimen makes me feel happy, pretty and comfortable. Following are ten products that I am currently loving and they have been staples in my beauty travel bag this summer:

1)   Clarins Beauty Flash Balm Instant Radiance Booster ($45)

I am OBSESSED with this long time cult favorite product from Clarins that I recently became acquainted with. This is an instant skin fix and radiance booster that diminishes the signs of fatigue in moments! This miraculous product instantly moisturizes, brightens and tightens your face so that you look refreshed in the morning. It contains olive and witch hazel extracts to help tighten and promote radiance, algae extract to revitalize, and bisabolol to soothe, soften and make your skin glow. This product is magic in a bottle for me! With my crazy travel schedule, lack of sleep and different climates, Beauty Flash Balm instantly revitalizes my skin and gives it a gorgeous youthful glow. I LOVE it!

2)   Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 40 Day Screen Tint ($40)

This is another Clarins’ cult fav product that recently made itself even better by being offered in three skin-perfecting tints. UV Plus protects your face from sun damage with 100% mineral filters, defends against the elements with a patented anti-pollution complex and fights free radicals with Clarins’ powerful anti-oxidant from Provence (made with organic cantaloupe.) I adore this gorgeous silky tinted moisturizer because it gives my skin a beautiful feel and finish while offering long lasting protection. I would describe it as a lightweight BB cream because it protects, covers and treats your skin. Totally addictive!

3)   Pixi Eye Bright Primer ($18) & Catching Shadows Crayon ($18)

I am loving this dynamic duo from Pixi! Eye Bright Primer is a long lasting lightweight crease-proof primer base for your eye lids. It neutralizes oil on your lid, evens out skin tone and brighten the eye area. It also contains vitamin E and chamomile to soothe the eye lid area. Catching Shadows is a cream-to-powder eye crayon with light reflecting pigments that gives  your eyes an inner glow. I use these magical products together to brighten my tried eyes, give them a visible lift and radiance. I love using Catching Shadows in the inner ‘v’ of eye for instant vibrance.

4)   Benefit Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss ($16)

Sugarbomb is a silky lush lip gloss that beautifully glides onto your lips and gives your lips the perfect shimmery pink nude summer pout. Benefit has five other fabulous Ultra Plush glosses in this new collection that pair perfectly with Benefit’s bestselling box o’ powders. I loved this gorgeous gloss right off the bat because of its silky glide, yummy fruity taste and the perfect flirty pink nude shimmer. MWAH!

5)   bareMinerals READY Bronzer in The Skinny Dip ($24)

Skinny Dip is a light golden bronzer that gives your skin a beautiful luminous glow. It contains bareEscentuals proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral Complex with antioxidants and cold-pressed carrot oil which gives this bronzer longevity and anti-aging benefits. I love the smooth buildable color of this bronzer and especially like how it imparts a gorgeous summery glow, wears beautifully and is totally skin loving.

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