Sunday, February 28, 2016

Get that red carpet glow w/Om Aroma & Co.

As you know, my family loves award shows, especially the Academy Awards. We like to dress up in old formal wear (old prom, homecoming, bridesmaid attire, etc.) or as characters from the nominated flicks. We take photos on a red carpet, eat movie-themed food (gotta have potatoes, since Matt Damon's character in "The Martian" grew potatoes on Mars) and cast our ballots (the winner gets to pick what we have for our next Sunday dinner). Since the Oscars is tonight, I made sure to prep my skin with Om Aroma & Co.


Talk about perfect timing, I was recently offered the chance to review a handful of Om products. According to the Om Aroma & Co. website, founder Angela Jia Kim (pictured above; the photo is from the site) started the company after developing a rash from a body lotion she applied just before a performance as a touring concert pianist. That lotion contained 55 ingredients, most of them being chemicals that she now tries to avoid. She then went to work in her Manhattan kitchen, creating chemical-free and preservative-free skincare made from the purist ingredients.

Her initial creams were a hit, due to her thousand attempts to get them just right. She later teamed up with "holistic formulators, aromatherapists and skincare experts to create Om Aroma, a line of organic skincare products (the above photo is also from the Om Aroma & Co. website), free of parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oil and synthetic fragrances. Soon after its launch, Om Aroma won four gold medals at the 2008 Beauty Olympics, beating out some of the industry giants; Om Aroma became recognized for its sophisticated combination of beauty with pure organic 'green' ingredients. All products are made in the USA. 'Sexy green has arrived'."

Who can say no to all of that, and did I mention there's a spa? These products are just what I need to get red carpet ready.

When my Om packaged arrived, it contained this simple chic wooden box. Inside the box, I found a small pouch and the award-winning Om Aroma Detox Manuka Honey Masque.

The Detox Manuka Honey Masque "contains a healing blend of Manuka honey with organic extracts to encourage cell regeneration, revealing soft and radiant skin ... Manuka honey draws impurities from the skin. Papaya and apricot enzymes gently digest dull skin cells to brighten skin."

The masque itself looks like liquid gold, and when applied to your face, its a sheer shine (it doesn't photograph well, which is why I didn't include a pic of me wearing it). It's sticky and sweet from the honey, and spreads better when warmed sightly. You can even use it in the shower (it's probably the easiest way to use it and rinse it off) or with a warm towel to take advantage of the heat and added moisture. Make sure to leave it on 5-10 minutes to reap all the benefits, both facially and from an aromatherapy perspective. The scent (it smells herbal, yet sweet; the sage really stands out to me) is relaxing and energizing at the same time.

This masque plumps and softens my skin. It really does give it a healthy glow. It also has a natural antiseptic quality that helps with minor breakouts.

As a follow-up to the mask, I got to try the new Om Aroma Mini Beauty Serum Trio, which is great for travel. These little serums fit neatly into that small pouch, but they really go a long way. You only need a tiny bit to get the job done, so they should last longer than expected.

Personally, my skin type requires all three serums (it's combination, prone to both wrinkles and the occasional breakout), so I apply each one where they are needed most. It's like multi-masking (applying more than one facial mask to different parts of your face at the same time), but with serums.

I like to start with the Om Aroma Protect Raspberry Serum for dry skin that's formulated to fight wrinkles with deep hydration. "Red raspberry seeds provide broad-spectrum UV-A and UV-B protection and vitamin E fights fine lines." I've been applying it beneath my eyes and on my forehead to soften fine lines. I feel as though it is the richest oil of the three, although it still absorbs quite nicely. The smell is not sweet, but still has a hint of tart raspberry.

I've been using the Om Aroma Renew Pumpkin Serum for Age Spots and Instant Glow on my age spots, of course. I actually have a bit of discoloration on my left cheek that I got from too much sun exposure while pregnant with my kids. "This organic face oil renews the skin through cellular regeneration and provides intense repair treatment with fatty acids, vitamin A, C, E, Zinc." I love the warm, almost spicy scent; it reminds me of fall. I haven't been using it long enough to say if it's having an effect on my discoloration, but it feels nice, softens my skin and gives it a lovely glow.

Speaking of glow, the Om Aroma Glow Carrot Rose Serum for Velvet Soft Radiant Skin gets the starring roll in this trilogy. "Carrot seeds have vitamin A and beta-carotene to nourish and rejuvenate the skin." Formulated for all skin types, I've enjoyed applying this serum to my entire face to enhance my already natural glow. I only need one dropper full to completely cover my face. I lightly dab it all over and allow it to absorb. I've had success wearing it without an additional moisturizer and under makeup (I let it set a bit before applying my makeup). It's light and refreshing. The sweet carrot and rose are a heavenly combination for my combination skin.

This masque and serum trio have my skin perfectly prepped for the evening and ready for our home red carpet. We are dressing up as characters this year. I'm either going to be Alicia Vikander's character from "The Danish Girl" (above is what I'd be wearing for that one) or someone from "Mad Max: Fury Road" (I might have to dirty up my glow for that one). Is anyone else dressing up for the occasion? Let me know on Twitter at @Rawdorable and/or Instagram (also @Rawdorable).

And, if you are looking for a quick sweet treat for the event, here's the decadent Oscar Gold Smoothie I posted on Instagram the other day. It's a "banilla" shake base (frozen bananas blended with almond milk and vanilla) with Trader Joe's Sea Salt & Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds pulsed into it for that sweet and salty crunch. It also has drizzles of crunchy raw almond butter and Philosophie Cacao Bee Honey, and a sprinkling of almond flour and coconut sugar "sparkles." It's garnished with fresh popcorn mixed with more honey and chopped dark chocolate almonds; the combination reminds me of old-school Cracker Jacks. How's that for a movie-inspired snack/dessert?

* These Om Aroma & Co. products were sent to me for review.
All opinions are my own.