Romy Raves

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.

In the month of December, just in time for the holidays, I am planning to share great new products and brands that will make wonderful gifts for the special people in your life. First up is Melvita, a delightful French Organic line that has earned ECOCERT certification, which means it must follow the strictest guidelines to be classified as organic. Melvita products use the finest ingredients from organically farmed and responsibly harvested sources, the brand does not test on animals, and all packaging materials are completely recyclable. Melvita takes organics very seriously and it is committed to sustainable development and environmental beauty, and they make every effort to promote ethical, humane, and fair-trade partnerships. With all these high standards and ethics, I was very intrigued by this beautiful green line.

Following are a couple of Melvita products that impressed me and caught my eye for gifting this holiday season:

La Petite Ruche Gift Set - $18 (Limited Edition)

This is an adorable limited edition gift set with a trio of fabulous organic products (BTW La Petite Ruche means “the little beehive” in French, tres chic!) I love the little house box packaging) I think this set will make the perfect stocking stuffer, secret Santa gift or a treat for you! This affordable gift set contains :

• Apicosma Extra Rich Hand Cream: Formulated with three honeys which nourish and sooth dry and  damaged  skin. It also contains Royal Jelly to help regenerate and Shea and Cocoa butters to nourish and repair dry hands. This lovely organic cream will leave your hands feeling soft, supple and comfortable immediately after application.
• Apicosma Skin Softening Body Milk: This is a soft and velvety body lotion that also contains the Melvita patented trio of three honeys and has a delicious fruity scent. It also contains nourishing Macadamia oil, revitalizing Chestnut extract, and fortifying flower pollen to protect your skin. It absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling soft and supple.
• Apicosma Lip Balm: This is an ultra-nourishing, repairing lip balm that restores your dry parched lips. It contains Shea  butter, Argan oil and Beeswax, all fabulous ingredients that help repair and protect your pout.

APICOSMA Body Balm - $28

This is a fabulously rich, creamy, deliciously-scented body balm which is also formulated with the Melvita three honey trio and it provides intense moisture for very dry skin. It combines the amazing regenerating properties of Royal Jelly (the exclusive food of the Queen Bee) with nourishing Cocoa Butter and moisturizing Stevia leaf extract, to leave skin feeling incredibly soft  and comfortable. This is a luscious, rich yummy treat that is perfect for the dry winter months and your skin will drink it up. It will make the perfect gift for that special greenista in your life.

You just know it’s gonna be FAB and the gorgeous trio of products created by beauty maven, Elizabeth Dehn is no exception!

By Elizabeth Dehn is a delightful collection of skin-perfecting products that harnesses the restorative and anti-aging properties of 100% natural ingredients and is free of preservatives, synthetics, and the other harsh chemicals. Sounds good, right?

First, take at look at this beautiful woman, who has the most gorgeous, even toned radiant skin (I’ve seen it IRL and it really looks this good!)

Well here’s her story: After more than a decade of slathering, schmearing, and sorting out other people’s products, Elizabeth set out to create her own (and beat me to the punch cause it’s a dream of mine to create my own products someday J.) So based on her vast experience with products, Elizabeth knew what she didn’t want (chemicals, cheap fillers, false promises) and what she did (nutritious ingredients, effective formulas, pretty packaging). The result is a trio of three skin loving products that I have been testing out over the last few months and I can honestly say that I am hooked! They are gentle, nurturing and really effective. Plus I adore the very feminine vintage boudoir packaging, super cute! Let me tell you a little more about the products in the line:

FACE SPRAY

The Face Spray is a refreshing alcohol-free facial mist that infuses your skin with antioxidants and preps it for moisture. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for dehydrated skin or to refresh your makeup. The Face Spray contains organic citrus essential oils which smell deliciously refreshing and they instantly energize your skin and help increase circulation giving your skin a healthy glow. This is my favorite product in the line and I have been totally addicted to it this summer, my skin adores it! This spray instantly wakes up my skin and the smell puts me in a good mood.

THE SERUMThe Serum is a super-potent yet lightweight serum that does it all: feeds, hydrates, and gives your skin a gorgeous rosy glow. It contains a luxurious blend of plant oils and essential fatty acids that restores moisture and elasticity while vitamin C and E help reverse sun damage and protect against free radicals. For my skin, this serum is the perfect night time replenisher and it will be perfect when my skin gets drier during the cooler Fall and Winter months. You can also put a small drop of this serum over your makeup for a dewy glow or midday moisture boost.

SHEA CREAMThe Shea Cream is a luscious velvety soft cream that instantly replenishes and restores your skin without clogging pores. It contains wildcraft harvested shea butter which is rich in vitamin A and helps reverse sun damage, diminishes fine lines and wrinkles, and protects against free radicals. It also contains rosehip seed oil to rebuild collagen and elasticity as well as calendula to calm irritation. This fluffy yummy smelling miracle cream is packed with so many healing ingredients that it helps treat acne, eczema, skin allergies, sunburn, and chapped skin. This is the perfect product to heal your skin after spending the summer in the sun or when your skin needs a little extra TLC. I love it on my lips and dry patches too.

Thank you Elizabeth, my beauty blogging sista, for paving the way and creating such a beautiful trio of products to indulge and pamper women’s skin! I’m totally a fan!

In case you haven’t noticed, summer is in full swing, the days are longer and hotter, fruits and veggies are gorgeous, clothes are skimpier and we are all more self conscious about how we look. So the timing couldn’t be better for me to test out the RITUAL CLEANSE, a 100% organic raw juice cleanse designed with special formulations that allow you to workout while cleansing.

I was more than delighted to have the opportunity to try out the three day Seasonal Reset Cleanse along with one day of Shred juices added on to my cleanse. The Reset Cleanse consists of six fresh pressed pure vegetable, fruit, and nut juices that deliver superior nutrition and Shred is pre and post workout juices specifically formulated so that you can still workout at your regular intensity level while you are on the cleanse.

The Seasonal Reset Cleanse consists of six freshly pressed 100% organic juices that you drink throughout the day for maximum energy and nutrient absorption. With the Seasonal Cleanse, one of the juices is formulated with a blend that captures the best produce of the season.

Each day of my three day cleanse started with warm water and a squeeze of lemon juice to kick start my system, followed by a refreshing green veggie and fruit juice (Kale, cucumbers, celery, green apples etc), then the seasonal juice (mine was watermelon, strawberries & young coconut water), then another green juice with slightly different fruits and veggies, then the lemon, cayenne, agave drink, followed by a third and final green juice and the last drink of the day was a cashew nut milk. 

The two add-on Shred Juices added a unique twist to this cleanse. These inpsired juices are designed to fuel intense workouts and repair your body post workout while still cleansing. The Pre-Workout Shred juice contained lots of high frutose juices like beets, carrots, pears, celery and apples to give you a boost of energy to fuel and sustain your workout. The Post-Workout Shred Recovery juice consisted of almonds, water, agave, vanilla and cinnamon, the perfect protein and tasty flavors for proper muscle recovery.

Happy Holidays Beauty Mavens and Fashionistas! I am totally in the festive mood, how about you? So in the spirit of the season, today kicks off the first in a series of Rave Worthy Holiday Gift Guides for 2010. Over the next couple weeks, I will be sharing a selection of fun, inspired, and unique holiday gift ideas that I have recently discovered and found to be ‘Rave’ worthy. I hope you find them helpful and hope you discover some new and different!

Today’s gift guide is focused on all things GREEN, eco, better for you and better for the environment. These are inspired suggestions for that Green Goddess in your life, you know the type: only eats organic, checks every label for toxins, recycles, composts, has solar power at her house etc. So, if these attributes sound familiar, these gifts might be just what you have been looking for!

Redhanded Eco Bags are fashionable, high quality, green, vegan, sweatshop free handbags and computer bags. I love these inspired whimsical bags because they are cruelty free, fun, and eye catching. Plus, the company is run by a warm and passionate husband and wife team who really care about the environment, but do not want to compromise fashion or style. They were kind enough to send me some of their bags to enjoy this summer and I have been loving the Zinnia Petite clutch purse. I especially love it in black, adore the fun floral liner and have noticed that this purse is so well made that it still looks brand new! And they just came out with the most FAB CowPad computer bag that I am totally coveting, so fun and definitely a show stopper! And Romy Raves followers get 20% off all RHB from now until 12/31 with the code blogbuyer.Envirosax are beautifully designed, chic, inexpensive and compact re-useable shopping bags. They are durable, hold up to 44lbs, fully washable, the colors won’t fade, and water-resistant. These are super fashionable, artistic and fun, and don’t look like your typical reusable bag. I just adore the bags in their Graphic Series especially the Bloom Collection. 

Scotch Naturals Nail Polish is a safe, chemical free, eco-chic alternative to conventional solvent-based nail polish. It is made of a revolutionary water-based formula that nourishes and conditions nails, delivering long lasting, salon-quality color. I just discovered this polish brand last week and was so blown away by it, that I just had to include it in my eco holiday gift guide. The colors are hip and fun, it doesn’t smell, you don’t need a basecoat or topcoat and it dries almost instantly with a glossy finish (I did my nails before bed  last night and this morning they were shiny and smudge free-unheard of!) I think the Green Goddess in your life is going to love the Scotch Cocktail Trio which includes your choice of 3 colors, their special gentle remover and a buffer. I am wearing Ceasefire (a khaki green with yellow undertones) right now and LOVE IT! Romy Raves readers get 15% off any individual bottles of nail polish or free upgraded shipping on the Cocktail Trio with the code RAVES15.Organic to Green Is a lovely locally based company, run by a Green Goddess named Rianna. All of her body and skincare products are handmade out of the finest certified organic and natural ingredients, and when available, packaged in recycled glass bottles. She also donates a percentage of her annual profit to Greenpeace International-that’s a whole lotta Green Love! Checkout the delightful assortment of organic gift sets HERE.

Nissan LEAF As an added bonus and in the name of all things GREEN, I thought I would include a video I recently did at the LA Auto Show on behalf of Nissan, sharing my impressions of the 2011 Nissan LEAF. It’s the Ultimate Green Car because it’s 100% electric and the majority of the interior is made out of recycled water bottles-so cool! Check it out:

Disclosure: I was given samples of all the above products, but did not make any promises to include them in my gift guides–but I when I love something I always want to RAVE about it and share it with you. I was also paid by Nissan to host this video, but the opinions are totally my own, and I was not paid to promote it.