Kosmetik: The Skincare Range from Romy

I recently introduced you to the Romy range, a toiletries range that was previously only available in hotels but is now being sold to the public. I had discovered this brand whilst holidaying in Palm Cove. The hotel I was staying supplied the Eucalyptus and Lemongrass range and I was shocked at just how nice it was - hotel toiletries are never nice!

What I didn't know at the time was that Romy also has a skincare line called Kosmetik. Each product in this range contain extracts from the Australian botanicals Quandong & Lilly Pilly. According to New Directions, Quandong fruit has a very high vitamin C content (higher than oranges) and so was also used for its medicinal properties to treat skin sores, boils and aid in the affects of rheumatism. In particular, Quandong extract was well known for its anti bacterial properties. Lilly Pilly is also high in vitamin C and has traditionally been used Lilly Pilly for its great healing and anti bacterial properties. In addition, Lilly Pilly has good astringent properties that improve firmness of the skin, while its high vitamin C and fruit acid content create great anti-ageing effects to keep skin looking radiant and youthful.

When I trial this range I used all products together (although alternated between using the cleanser or scrub).


Kosmetik Facial cleanser RRP $14.99 50ml

What they say: ROMY Facial Cleanser leaves skin feeling soft and supple. Its gentle formula is suitable for all skin types. The Pomegranate extract acts as a powerful antioxidant known to reduce the signs of aging and protect the skin against UV, particularly UV-B rays

What I say: I was a bit surprised by the size of the cleanser, with it being only 50ml. Cleansers usually come in larger volumes than this. However, as soon as I used it I realised this wasn't going to be a problem - this is the thickest gel cleanser that I have ever used which means that only a tiny blob is needed for each use. I actually always use this cleanser with my Konjac sponge (review to come) so I only needed to use a pea sized blob. I found that it cleansed my face effectively yet did not dry it out at all and there was no hint of tightness or squeekiness after use. It has a very pleasant, yet subtle herbally scent. I really enjoyed using this cleanser.

Kosmetik Exfoliant RRP $15.99 50ml

What they say: ROMY Exfoliant uses the crushed stems of Bamboo to gently exfoliate the skin. The Jojoba Seed Oil helps to cleanse the pores and the Macadamia Nut Oil soften the skin. Quandong and Lilly Pilly extracts further enhance this wonderful exfoliant.

What I say: This is a very gentle scrub suitable for daily use. I generally prefer my scrubs to be more scrubby - ie I'd rather use them once or twice a week and have a more intensive scrub experience. This would be perfect for someone who needs something with more oomph than a standard cleanser. The creamy based is lovely and the scrub particles are smooth so they don't scratch the skin at all. After using this exfoliant my skin felt thoroughly clean, beautifully soft and supple. Again, this is not at all drying.

Kosmetik Facial Toner Spray RRP $15.00 50ml

What they say: Romy Facial Toner refreshes, smoothes and illuminates the skin. The natural astringents clean the residue, dead cells and oil, improving tone, circulation and reducing the impact of fine lines. The natural extracts including Chamomile and Pomegranate heals and soothes.

What I say: I have to admit that that I am not much of a toner user. I personally don't see the point of them. My toner aversion aside, this is actually quite a beautiful spray. It smells lovely - kind of delicately floral with faint herbal hints. The spray nozzle is absolutely perfect for giving a light spritz to the face. For the purpose of the trial I did use it as a typical toner - I spritzed it onto a cotton pad and wiped any cleanser residue off. It felt nice doing this and it wasn't at all drying or stingy like some toners can be. However, I can see myself getting more use out of this as a hydrating spritzer throughout the day rather than a toner. I will keep it beside my computer to give my face a moisture boost when I am spending long hours on the computer.

Kosmetik Day & Night Cream RRP $39.99 50ml

What they say: ROMY Day & Night Cream is a rapidly absorbing moisturizer. Its active ingredients include Vitamin B5, which conditions and repairs, and Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and is thought to have anti-aging properties. The Day & Night Cream also contains Quandong & Lilly Pilly extracts for their Vitamin C benefits and Nettle extract known for it's nourishing and toning qualities.

What I say: This was a rapidly absorbing moisturiser - within minutes of applying it, the moisturiser had completely absorbed into my skin. It was non-greasy and left my skin feeling well moisturised and also firmer and tighter - in a good lifting kind of way. It doesn't contain SPF so I had to apply sunscreen on top, but the plus about that is it meant that the product could be used both day and night. This is a very nice moisturiser that really suited my normal to slightly oily skin.

Kosmetik Eye Serum RRP $35.99 30ml

What they say: ROMY Eye Serum is for frequent use and contains Chamomile and Aloe Vera, which gently cool and soothe the sensitive eye skin. Quandong & Lilly Pilly extracts included in the formulation contain high concentrations of Vitamin C that can promote healing and skin regeneration

What I say: I loved this eye cream! Actually, it really is an eye gel. It felt very refreshing to apply and then instantly firmed up my under eye area. I used to have great skin tone around my eyes but between feeding Kiki during the night then dealing with The Crazy Kid during the day I am the tiredest that I have ever been and it is really showing in my eyes. I can't say that this serum completely eradicated my (not so) fine lines - only 15 hours of uninterrupted sleep will do that - but it definitely left the area feeling firmer and refreshed and it did make me feel more awake after I applied it.

 

 

 

I enjoyed using the Romy Kosmetik range. It left my skin feeling firmer, tighter and refreshed, and in my currently sleepy haze it is exactly what I needed! This range can be purchased online from the Romy website.

 

 

What do you use to give the illusion that you are not chronically sleep deprived?

 

 

All opinions are my own and I received no remuneration for this post. These products were provided for consideration.

An update on Kiki & Crazy + posts you might have missed

I have never quite been able to work out how to mix personal news into my blog. I know that it is my blog and that I can write about whatever I damn well want but I keep telling myself that my readers are here for beauty articles and not baby news. I think I might have found a solution...I am going to smuggle in my personal news in with my Sunday review post - beauty during the week and the weekends are for whatever I feel like writing about!

Kiki turned 3 months last Monday and I am shocked by how quickly it is going this time around. I think that Crazy is keeping me so busy that Kiki is growing up without me noticing. So, far she has been a really easy baby so that is making the transition easier for all of us, and especially Crazy. Apart from when she needs a feed, she is pretty contented although when Crazy is occupied and we are able to actually give her some attention her face lights up and she is all smiles and giggles - this makes me feel a tad guilty as it seems like she is craving attention. Ah, the trials and tribulations of a second born!

Kiki at 3 months

All smiles (because Crazy is asleep!)

Crazy and Kiki telling secrets

Now, back to beauty! Here are a few posts you may have missed from the past few weeks (I am feeling uninspired so no theme to the posts this week!).

Have you entered my HUGE Alpha-H giveaway? Plenty of Liquid Gold goodies to win.

I have been working my way through a stack of reviews on gorgeous products from The Jojoba Company. These include their Botanical Hydrating Face Mask, their 100% Natural Makeup Remover and their Australian Jojoba Oil. If you are wondering why Jojoba is so good for your skin then it is all explained here.

I found out that a gorgeous Aussie brand that I had previously experienced in a hotel is now available for purchase by the general public - hooray! If you haven't already heard of Romy then they are definitely worth further investigation!

Finally, in case you missed it, Lancôme have release a follow up product to compliment their hugely successful Visionnaire [LR 2412 4%] Advanced Skin Corrector serum, the Visionnaire [LR2412] Correcting Polishing Cream. This hit shelves in Australia and Asia on 29th July, 2012.


So, do you have any news that I missed over the last week? 

Join the Aussie gold rush and win gold (liquid gold, that is) thanks to Alpha-H

Well, the Olympics are in full swing now so I thought that I would have another competition, one where you can win gold...lots and lots of lovely liquid gold. That's right, Alpha-H have kindly sponsored this competition and have provided a whole bevy of Liquid Gold prizes for you to win.

There are two parts to this competition - a random drawing from all entries and then, if you are feeling particularly lucky or creative, a prize for the best answer. You can enter both parts or one or the other, it is up to you. If you enter both then you have the chance of winning two prizes.

Part 1: Two winners will be randomly drawn

You can get up to 6 entries into the random draw - one entry for completing each of the following:

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect
• Follow me on Facebook
• Share this competition to your Facebook wall
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet the following 'Join Join the Olympic gold rush and #win lots of Liquid Gold thanks to @AlphaHQ and @skretchs http://nblo.gs/ArZaA  #giveaway'
• Follow me by email

If you would like to enter the random draw then let me know in the comments section which of the above you have completed (and please include your Facebook and Twitter names so that I can follow up). The prizes:

1st Prize: Liquid Gold Skin Perfecting System RRP $99.50

The first randomly drawn winner will receive Alpha-H's Liquid Gold Skin Perfecting System.
Alpha-H has spent a decade developing a system of therapeutic cosmeceuticals which target the key factors of ageing as they manifest in the different layers of the skin. These formulas are now available for the first time in a unique three-stage course of night time treatments.... the Liquid Gold Skin Perfecting System. Each formula: Liquid Gold Prep & Prime, Liquid Gold Original and Liquid Gold Radiance harness the unique corrective effects of pharmaceutical grade Glycolic Acid, herbal extracts and antioxidants to provide overall renewal of the skin. Liquid Gold products are free from detergents, parabens, kojic acid, hydroquinone, artificial fragrances and colours.

2nd prize: The Original Liquid Gold RRP $57.50

The second randomly drawn winner will receive the original Liquid Gold.

Alpha-H’s world renowned skin refining solution. A powerful night time resurfacing and firming lotion for the skin. This exclusive complex jump-starts the skin’s metabolism, tightens enlarged pores, and delivers lighter, clearer and more even skin tone. Also an effective treatment for acne when used in conjunction with our other acne solutions.

Part 2: Tell me your favourite Olympic Memory or Moment

For those of you who would like the chance to win a second prize then I'd love for you to tell me one Olympic moment that stands out, whether it be Cathy Freeman lighting the flame or the standing ovation Eric the Eel received for completing his 100m freestyle race (if you haven't heard of Eric the Eel you must have a read about him here or have a look at this video on YouTube - I thought that it was a real feel good moment of the Sydney 2000 Olympics!). The memory or moment can be whatever you choose, just tell me why you chose it. I will choose my favourite response from the answers and that person will win:

Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear RRP $89.95

Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear is a high performance Hyaluronic Acid rich treatment which attracts and binds precious moisture to the skin; helping to swell surface cells and plump out fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a fresh youthful appearance. More than just a serum, Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear is an instant hydrator and skin illuminator. Microencapsulated bronzing spheres burst on application releasing a blend of mineral pigments and natural light reflecting particles leaving the skin with a radiant healthy glow. Suitable for all skin types Liquid Gold Perfecting Daywear is particularly beneficial for dehydrated ,prematurely ageing, mature, uneven complexion and lacklustre skins.

Rules

Just a few rules to the giveaway:

• the competition will run until 8.00pm AEST on Sunday August 19th
• the winners will be announced on the blog and notified by email
• the competition is open to all subscribers of the blog, both Australian and International.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Hotel toiletries that are actually worth stealing

I don't know about you but every time that I stay in a hotel I am compelled to take all of the toiletries that they provide. I then get home, unpack my wash bag and have a look at my new haul of toiletries only to decide that they are crap and I doubt I'll ever use them, so I end up binning them.

A few years ago something strange happened - the toiletries in hotel I was staying at were actually quite amazing! We were on our first family holiday with The Crazy Kid, who was only 3 months old at the time, and in the mad rush of trying to pack absolutely every baby item we owned I completely forgot to pack any hair or shower products for myself. As I was also travelling with my mother-in-law I just figured that I would borrow her products (or let her buy me some new stuff hehehe - she has three sons so it is my duty to let her buy me beauty products!!). We didn't have time to buy anything on the first day so I had to use the supplied products - some brand called Romy that I hadn't heard of - then the plan was to do a shop the next morning. Well, was I in for a surprise. These products were stunning. The hotel supplied a shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion all fragranced with Eucalyptus and Lemongrass. That combination of essential oils was so uplifting and intoxicating. It was truly stunning. But that wasn't all. The shampoo and conditioner actually left my hair in really good condition. It was soft, manageable and really healthy. Upon returning home I tried to google the brand but couldn't really find anything so kind of forgot about them, until the other day when I saw an article on BeautyDirectory titled From hotels to the home. It was here that I learnt that Romy was expanding from being a line of toiletries found in hotels to one that individuals could also purchase. I was about to be reunited with my beloved Eucalyptus and Lemongrass shampoo and conditioner!

About Romy: Romy is a body care range from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. The products are plant-derived and enriched with aromatherapy oils and natural Australian bush fruit extracts. Romy contains the highest quality ingredients that are good for people and the environment. In addition to the Eucalyptus and Lemongrass range there are also Cinnamon & Cocoa Butter and Lavender & Fir Needle ranges. In each of these ranges are a shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body scrub, lotion, body butter and hand cream. Romy also have a facial skincare range - Kosmetik which has a cleanser, exfoliant, toner, day & night cream and eye serum,.

I now have a whole bevy of Romy products that I will be reviewing over the coming months. I will review the Eucalyptus and Lemongrass shampoo in more detail to see whether it lives up to the wonderful memories I have of it. So far, I have just sniffed the products and they are exactly as I remembered so fingers crossed they are as equally beautiful to use.

Romy can be purchased online from their website.

Have you also discovered any hotel toiletries that are actually any good? Do you compulsively steal hotel toiletries and then never use them?

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with Romy and received no remuneration for my comments.