Romy Raves

I am weepy about summer coming to a close because it truly is my favorite time of year. Lazy days, the beach, sipping sangria, lots of maxi dresses, warmth and the gorgeous summer sun. While I adore this season, I am also hyper aware of how potent the sun is during this time of year and how diligent I need to be about protecting my skin with skin loving SPF products. I am really excited about the inspired, active, and innovative products to come down the SPF product pike this summer season. So I thought it would be fitting, to do an end of summer round up post about the sunblock products that I have loved and obsessively used this summer (and plan to continue using this Fall), all in an effort to keep my skin healthy, even toned and radiant (FYI, I just had another fabulous Vi Peel in an effort to even out my skin, so you know that I am dedicated to this protection effort.)

NIA24 Sun Damage Prevention UVA/UVB Sunscreen SPF30/PA+++

This is a skin-fortifying, sheer sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection that fends off aging and the sun’s burning rays with 4 different types of sunscreens. This potent anti-aging sunscreen contains Pro-Niacin to help strengthen your skin’s barrier, mango butter to moisturize your skin, and antioxidants and ceramides to promote healthy skin and protect from environmental damage. What do I love about this sunscreen? It absorbs instantly, smells light and slightly floral, offers excellent multi-faceted sun protection, and most importantly I love that this is an active anti-aging product that noticeably changes my skin. After continued use of this product, I have noticed that my skin is more luminous and smooth.

StriVectin-SH Age Protect SPF 30/PA+++-

This is a daily treatment moisturizer that delivers a patented wrinkle fighting ingredient plus broad spectrum protection from the sun’s UVB and UVA rays. This sunscreen also contains Niacin which rebuilds your skin’s protective barrier,  multiple UVA/UVB shields, botanical antioxidants like blueberry and goji berry to protect against free radicals, and vitamins B5 and E to revitalize your skin. What do I love about this sunscreen? The fresh clean smell, the sheer non-whitening formula and that it is a results oriented multi-use product which both prevents sun damage and works to undo prior sun damage.

Kerstin Florian Multi-Vitamin Day Creme SPF 30

This is a multi-benefit day creme that contains broad spectrum sun filters, antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals to soothe and support your skin’s structure. It is a lightweight, hydrating and nourishing moisturizer that protects against premature aging and loss of moisture in your skin. What do I love about this creme? Well first, I totally adore Kerstin Florian products because they are high quality, beautifully made with the best ingredients from nature and science and my skin responds wonderfully to this line. Secondly, this is a yummy daily moisturizer that my skin drinks up because it offers the perfect amount of hydration, sun protection and skincare benefits. Definitely a new fav!

Colorescience Pro Sunforgettable Powder Sun Protection SPF 30

This is a lightweight mineral powder in a self-dispensing brush that delivers lovely sheer coverage and UVA/UVB sun protection. Sunforgettable’s minerals provide a wonderful combination of sun protection and coverage all in one product. What do I love about this product? That it is a two-for-one product (makeup and sunscreen) that delivers a nice subtle amount of coverage and color, and I adore the brilliant portable dispenser that you can take with you and reapply throughout the day.

Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25/PA++ & Dr. Jart+ Premium BB SPF 45/PA+++

These are all-in-one skin perfecting balms that moisturize, provide sun protection, and a treatment serum in one innovative product. Beauty Balms are all the rage in Asia right now (known as BB creams) because they quickly hide skin imperfections, minimize the need for foundation and protect your skin from environmental stessors.  The Water Fuse BB is made with 50 percent water which delivers excellent moisture and gives your skin a  fresh dewy look. The Premium BB contains advanced brightening properties which help hide imperfections as well as antioxidant bio-peptides which help restore firmness and elasticity. What do I love about these BB Creams? One-stop-shop products that do it all-I really like the flaw minimizing coverage and the way the it makes my skin look and feel. I also prefer the lightweight Water Fuse formula for summer and the slightly heavier more active Premium BB for the the Fall and Winter months. I am definitely addicted to these products!

Aveeno Hydrosport Sunblock Spray SPF 85

This is a lightweight, non-greasy UVA/UVB sunblock spray that contains a Natural Lotus Complex that repels water and clings to your skin even when it’s wet. What do I love about this sunblock? The fresh floral lotus scent, lightweight formula, even spray, and that it is the best of the new ‘apply when wet’ sunscreens that came out this summer. It has been my go-to all over body sunscreen this whole summer. 

Eminence Persimmon & Cantaloupe Day Cream SPF 32This is a yummy smelling lightweight moisturizer with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It contains persimmon, cantaloupe and aloe vera juice, zinc oxide, and a proprietary firming ingredient all which deliver antioxidants, vitamins, hydration, healing and firming. What do I love about this cream ? Eminence products smell so good you want to eat them (but don’t!) and they contain mostly all natural ingredients to treat and protect the skin. This day cream feels great on my skin and the divine smell makes me smile whenever I use it.

I recently had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Neil George Salon in Beverly Hills and sitting in the chair of Master Colorist Kazumi Morton who is known throughout Hollywood for her expertise in creating beautifully seamless ombré hair color. Kazumi is an artiste and a seasoned professional with years of experience and hair color is her passion. 

Kazumi’s gift is her ability to transform your hair color while respecting and complementing your skin tone and natural beauty. She has a knack for knowing exactly what colors will flatter your looks, skin tone, face and hair–and for this Allure Magazine (my beauty bible) crowned Kazumi a ‘Brunette Master’ because she creates the most gorgeous sun-kissed highlights for brunettes. Typically, brunette highlights can turn red or too blond, but Kazumi reaches for colors that are more “woody” in tone as opposed to metallic, such as butterscotch and caramel. The challenge is to find a balance between warm tones, which reflects light, and ash tones, which absorb light.  

I instantly liked Kazumi’s energy, beauty (she has the most gorgeous hair IRL) and total confidence in knowing exactly what my hair color needed to look fresher, more modern, youthful and most importantly what color combinations would flatter to my face. She felt my current deep brown color was too inky, harsh and unflattering. She suggested lifting my base color a couple of notches and then adding some warm (but not red) carmel highlights to soften my looks, flatter my face and work perfectly for the summer. I totally loved the sound of that!

I also appreciated Kazumi’s sensitivity to the modern woman’s budget concerns as well maximizing the health of the hair. She told me that her highlighting technique allows the lites to grow out really naturally and which meant that I would only need to redo the lites every 3-4 times (typically it’s every other time), and I really appreciated that because regular highlights can get expensive. I also liked that she was respectful of not damaging the hair (I currently have a Brazilian Treatment on my hair too) and did not use bleach to lift the color so as not to further damage my hair.

In a matter of a couple of hours under the skillful hands of Kazumi, I emerged with the most gorgeous shiny, natural sun kissed highlights on my brunette mane. I wasn’t blond, overly light or red, but rather I was a lightened up, refreshed, dare I say sexier version of myself. I typically don’t get highlights because I feel they tend to wash me out, but Kazumi’s lites didn’t do that at all, instead they really brought out my best features. I instantly LOVED this subtle transformation! And over time (with a little help from the summer sun) it looks even better. Natural, warm, flattering and a nice change of pace! Here are a few shots of my finished highlights (none which capture the color as perfectly as I’d like), what do you think?

If you live in or near the LA area or come to visit, I highly recommend going to Kazumi for the most gorgeous and masterful color experience. You will not be disappointed.

Neil George Salon 9320 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210-3604 (310) 275-2808

Disclosure: I was invited to the Neil George Salon for complimentary highlights with Kazumi, little did I know how much I would love her work nor that would I become an ongoing client.

Greetings My Beauties! I have been a very busy girl this summer with several domestic trips and a slew of lifestyle, foodie and beauty events, my head is spinning and it has been hard to keep up with my posts! But I LOVE and treasure every minute of it and it is my pleasure to share my adventures with you. So here’s a glimpse of what my dance card has looked like these last few of months, enjoy!

DNA EGF Renewal Spa Launch at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village

Nobody loves a fabulous swanky summer party more than I do, and I was delighted to attend an evening under the stars for the launch of the DNA EGF Renewal Skincare Line at The Spa in Westlake, CA. This was a classy top notch party filled with pampering (got a FAB blowout at the Yamaguchi Salon), bubbly, tasty morsels, a gorgeous setting and most importantly the opportunity to meet brilliant and DTE Dr. Ronald L Moy (he is the current President of the American Academy of Dermatology BTW). Dr. Moy is also the creator of the DNA EFG Renewal skincare line which repairs photo damaged aging skin, targets the visible signs of aging, diminishes wrinkles, evens skin tone and improves texture. This product line dramatically makes your skin healthier, firmer, and more radiant—and I should know because I have been using the line’s Growth Factor Serum since late July, and am quite impressed with the results. My skin has never felt better!

Sheer Cover Breakfast with Leeza Gibbons

I had the absolute pleasure of being invited by Guthy-Renker to an intimate breakfast at Chateau Marmont with Sheer Cover spokeswoman Leeza Gibbons. A small group of bloggers were invited to meet Leeza and learn about the Sheer Cover Mineral Make-Up line. Leeza is an absolutely authentic, beautiful, passionate woman and it was truly delightful to get to know her better. Aside from telling us about her love for this make-up, we chatted a bit about her experience on Dancing With The Stars and how difficult and transformative it was. I also enjoyed learning about the Sheer Cover mineral makeup line which is 100% natural, infused with skin soothing botanicals, sun protection, and anti-oxidant green tea. I have been trying out these minerals all summer and am impressed by how natural it looks, yet how well it conceals flaws.

LA Film Festival with Dove Nourishing Oil Care

Dove Hair Care invited my hubby and I to attend the Los Angeles Film Festival for an insider’s screening of the poignant film Terri starring John C. Reilly. Dove Hair Care was a premiere sponsor of the festival and was celebrating the launch of their new Nourishing Oil Care Collection, which dramatically smoothes hair frizz. I was sent the collection of these new products to get red carpet ready and was very impressed with how smooth and shiny these products made my hair. In addition to the pre-event goodies, car service was also provided and we had exclusive access to the Jameson Filmmaker Lounge as well. It was a fun night and I was delighted to share the evening with two of my favorite bloggers, Amber of Beauty Junkies Unite and Andrea of Savvy Sassy Moms.

COVERGIRL Queen Collection BET Awards Beauty Lounge

Earlier this summer, my favorite budget friendly make-up brand COVERGIRL, invited me to an intimate  interactive beauty session, hosted by the very talented celebrity makeup artist, Ashunta Sheriff, and up-and-coming It girl, Tika Sumpter  (from Gossip Girl). I was privileged to get an up close and personal behind-the-scenes look at Ashunta giving Tika a full glam COVERGIRL make-over before walking the red carpet at the BET Awards.  It was amazing to watch this artiste at work and we learned some great make-up tricks along the way. After Tika was glam and gorg, the bloggers were invited to get glam ourselves with custom hair services and COVERGIRL inspired makeovers. I loved channeling my inner diva J We were given an assortment of CG products to take home and I am personally LOVING the Queen Lipstick Collection, the nude colors are totally up my alley!

California Strawberry Commission Paint Los Angeles Red Event

Sugar Jones, bloggess of Sugar in the Raw, recently invited me to this strawberry inspired event to learn all about bringing the gorgeous vibrant California strawberries from farm to table. We nibbled on variety of strawberry-inspired appetizers like a fresh Strawberry Gazpacho and Strawberry Caprese Salad (yum!) and sipped a refreshing Strawberry Basil Balsamic Mojito. While our senses were amused by all things strawberry, we learned about the nutritional benefits of this red super fruit and also about the heart that goes into growing CA strawberries. It’s was a ’berry’ good time!

Angeleno Magazine Poolside Beauty

Angeleno magazine recently invited influencers to the uber chic L’Ermitage pool in Beverly Hills for a summer Poolside Beauty Event in order to experience an assortment of summer beauty must-haves-Totally up my alley! We sipped refreshing cocktails and connected with coveted brands like LaRocca Skincare, Ipanema Flip Flops, Joico, and Votre Vu to name a few. We sampled their latest product offerings and took home a bag of impressive SWAG to keep pampering ourselves at home. Super Fun!

Yoplait Light Summer Swap Event

Last week, I was invited to the swanky SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills to attend this fun Summer Swap event with the adorable and accessible Alison Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser. Alison has teamed up with Yoplait Light to show women that small changes can make a big difference when watching your weight and she’s encouraging people to swap one thing a day for a Yoplait yogurt. A handful of bloggers enjoyed an intimate roundtable lunch with Alison and swapped creative healthy food tips with her, and then Ali demonstrated an easy Red Velvet Parfait using Yoplait Light, berry jam and a sprinkle of crushed chocolate cookies, tasty! We also met the vivacious Jeannie Mai celebrity fashion expert, who shared her easy fashion swaps with us and even gave us some fun shoe bling.

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!

All of this gorgeous summer sunshine, makes me hyper-aware of how important it is to be very diligent about protecting your skin during the summer months. Along with being conscious about protecting your skin, comes the importance of proper and regular skin cancer screening and AVEENO is making that fun and easy by offering the Road to Healthy Skin Tour Screenings in cities all across America this summer!

The Healthy Skin Tour RV is a mobile experience where you can drop by for a free skin cancer screening and have the unique opportunity to speak with on-site top notch board certified local dermatologists and ask them your pressing questions about skin health. Here are the deets on this very worthwhile event:

WHAT: The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by AVEENO and Rite Aid, will be stopping by your area in the Tour’s 38-foot customized RV to offer free full body skin cancer screenings and the latest skin cancer information to the public. AVEENO sunscreen samples, coupons and complimentary copies of Fitness magazine will also distributed. Screenings are first come, first serve. Local dermatologists that have donated their time will be available for questions, consultations and advice.

WHY: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 3.5 million cases diagnosed annually across the country. Skin cancer is also one of the most preventable and curable forms of cancer if it is detected early. The goal of the tour is to save lives by detecting skin cancers early on, and educating the public about skin cancer prevention by means of sun protection and the need for prompt, effective treatment.

WHERE: The Road to Healthy Skin Tour will be in Los Angeles this week and will be stopping at two different Rite Aid locations in Santa Monica on August 10th and 11th, 2011. I am planning to stop by, how about you? Do your skin a favor and take advantage of this worthwhile opportunity, how can you afford not to? Click on the link below to find out specific times, locations, and when the tour will be stopping by a city near you: