From there, I moved on to the Alive Expo at the London
Hotel, where there is always something enlightening to be found,
including a good local charity recipient (Project Green, www.projectgreenusa.com).
Offerings included steaming hot cups of coffee from OrganoGold.com
with a healthy secret ingredient, ganoderma mushrooms (no, it did
not taste funny!) followed by ice-cold bottles of MetroMint water
(www.metromint.com). There were simple but rare ingredients for
salad dressings by Olive Oil and Beyond (www.oliveoilandbeyond.com),
including lush truffle olive oil from Australia and an 18-year-old
violet-infused balsamic vinegar. Dragon Pearl (www.dragonpearltea.com),
served delicate teas, including a green tea energy shot which
provides a delicious boost without Red Bull’s unpleasantness.
The cocktail set, meanwhile, could indulge in Rock
Sake (www.rocksake.com) made
domestically from California rice and mountain spring water. After
sampling their crisp, clean sake, I lingered on a pale pink cocktail
made from sweet passion fruit juice and unfiltered niguri sake.
Given that HBO’s Temple
Grandin, starring Claire Danes, also took multiple Emmys later
in the weekend, Body Ecology’s (www.bodyecology.com)
presence was particularly poignant. While the company’s products
and well-received book have helped dieters restore their energy,
immune system, vitality, strength and appearance, nutritional consultant
Donna Gates’s recipes and supplements have also benefited children
affected by autism and ADD. With increased
awareness of both disabilities, and the innovative solutions of
founder Gates and her team, this is one organization worth watching.
The real star of Debbie Durkin’s fourth annual Eco
Emmys Celebrity Château was the eco-friendly Hollywood Hills
mansion housing the event. Thanks to solar panels and a sophisticated
computer network, every gadget tied to the event was running on
some form of clean energy. Two fine charities benefited, including
the American Red Cross and the environmental group Green
Wish (greenwish.com)
endorsed by Rachelle and Ed Begley, Jr.
Debbie’s focus and execution were flawless, especially
with her culinary line-up of DelBondio Organic Wines and Derrick
Sky Vegan Chocolates (www.derricksky.com).
I was so knocked out by their texture and flavour that I saved a
few cookies for my lactose intolerant husband. He found them so
sublime that he had trouble believing not a single drop of milk
went into their production. Though Derrick’s slogan, ‘Handmade by
humans who care for your health’, is memorable, anybody who can
make healthy vegan treats not taste like health food will have my
continued business.
After enjoying a classic margarita featuring organic
Castle Brands’ Tequila Tierra, I headed off to the pampering
room. There I met Dr Celedonia Yue, a board certified Family
Physician whose practice integrates alternative and complementary
therapies, women’s health care issues, pain management, fitness
and nutrition, and age management. Attendees enjoyed complimentary
acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and a nice massage. Upstairs
in the Eco-Spa, make-up artist Stephanie G. was using her new natural
cosmetics line to help celebrities look their best, while Janelle
Varada, founder of the formaldehyde-free Beverly Hills Brazilian
keratin treatment, was promoting a non-toxic way to straighten unruly
hair.
Fashions at the Eco-Château ranged from the
purely practical to pure luxury. A very attractive mannequin wearing
RibbedTee.com underwear caught my eye, and I learned about the innovative
deodorant stain remover from DeoGo.com. I admired Austrian fine
jeweller Frey-Wille’s collection of gold and glass wearable art
that combines the psychedelic sensibility of Peter Max and flowing
shapes of Pucci (www.frey-wille.com).
GBK teamed with It Girl
Public Relations and classic candy Tic-Tac to transform the SLS
Hotel’s modern garden terraces into a late summer wonderland that
attracted some impressive talent, including Mary Kay Place, Seth
Green, Adrian Brody, Alex Trebek, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Neil Patrick
Harris, Blair Underwood, Beau Bridges, Alan Cumming, Jesse Tyler
Ferguson, and Fred Willard.
Though I arrived a little late in the event, there
were some wonderful finds in full bloom, including Peter Lamas’
botanical-based hair care line (www.lamasbeauty.com)
with different collections tailored for different textures, ages
and styling needs. Alicia Silverstone, Gloria Estefan and Gisèle
Bündchen are fans of his Chinese herb-based line, which helps
promote hair growth without harmful chemicals. There were also bottles
of all-natural Hairfinity vitamins to encourage hair growth, and
TC Intimates (www.cupidintimates.com/tc-fine-intimates)
delivered shapewear that does everything but pinch and ride up.
Even their sensual leopard-printed camisoles offer extra support
when needed.
Pin Up Girl Clothing (www.pinupgirlclothing.com),
meanwhile, was a Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe inspired fashion
collection with attitude—a positive attitude. I was enthusiastic
about the real women appeal of the clothes and the fact their glamorous,
sexy silhouettes were also available in plus sizes. They even offered
necklaces made from brass knuckles, lest you forget that ‘Bitches
Get Stitches’. Family-owned Lombardi Limonata (www.lombardicompany.com)
quenched the collective thirst for refreshing late summer cocktails
with its decidedly adult take on lemonade. While there is everything
to like about their limoncello, straight or mixed, cream of limoncello
was lemon meringue pie in a glass and every bit as luscious as Pin
Up Girl’s satin frocks.
HissyFit foundation, armed with 50-plus SPF
protection, was a treat for the face, while soft, comfortable ‘jeggings’
by Denimocracy (denimocracy.com) resulted in a skinny jean that
hits and slims in all the right places. Elena Segal (www.elanasigal.com)
offered unique jewellery bridging classic and modern uses of stones,
pearls, and African trade beads. While fine jewellery purveyor Nehita
was on hand for red carpet loaners, and Manu Jewelry featured attention-getting
cocktail rings, LoveLinks America (www.lovelinksamerica.com)
made a powerful statement with its bracelets crafted from sterling
silver and parachute cords. The attractive, unisex design mirrors
survival bracelets worn by soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The company donates $25 per bracelet to wounded veterans and their
families.
By Saturday, I was ready for my own primping and pampering
session. I headed down to celebrity it salon Sally Hershberger
(she of the famous Meg Ryan shag) only to discover the staff couldn’t
have been nicer, more patient and so into the notion that customer
satisfaction is the ultimate goal. The salon is local home to Global
Keratin Hair Taming System.
Though I was sceptical at first, having long accepted
my curly mane, the experience combined with the salon’s wonderful
service put me at ease along with the fact the treatment did not
have that chemical smell associated with other blow-outs. While
I was assured I could go back to my curls, albeit neater curls,
with careful use of my own styling tools, I left the salon with
straight, shiny hair that still had great volume. Besides the compliments
and my husband getting used to having a new woman, it’s
been a real luxury to have my regular morning routine significantly
streamlined.
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Leyla Messian is Lucires US west coast senior writer.
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