I’m spending a few days in Los Angeles for press interviews and to scout the local beauty stores on the West Coast of America. I haven’t been to LA for about ten years – the last time was a trip with GMTV when I was their fashion and beauty correspondent and covered the glamorous run-up to the Oscars. My co-host was the irrepressible Marc Freden, then the Hollywood correspondent and a real industry insider. I’m hoping to catch up with my old friend Marc a little later in the week, but my first meeting was with Los Angeles Magazine – in their stylish offices overlooking the famous white Hollywood sign that overlooks the city. In a town obsessed with youth and good looks, the editor was most interested in our new Superskin Moisturiser, (UK), (US) and the impressive data from the independent tests showing that it dramatically improves plumpness, smoothness and overall skin rejuvenation. Couldn’t be any more perfect for the Hollywood elite as well as mere mortals like me. After many months of using this botanical wonder-cream and seeing the amazing results on my own skin, I certainly wouldn’t use any other moisturiser now.
Back at the beautiful Bel-Air hotel I booked a manicure with their star therapist, Fabiola. Formerly from Iran, Fabiola escaped the oppressive Islamic regime and came to America, bringing traditional beauty skills with her. These include threading, taught to her by her mother, who was taught by her grandmother before her. This natural form of hair removal involves sliding a simple length of cotton in a scissor-like action over the skin. The technique removes hair quickly and (fairly) painlessly, leaving no redness – unlike waxing or plucking. Fabiola asked me if I’d like my eyebrows ‘tidied’ by this technique, so feeling bold, I decided to give it a go. No sooner had Fabiola started on my eyebrows than she was ‘threading’ the rest of my face – whisking off the superfine baby hairs that we all have on our skin. Apparently, this is the latest beauty trick that movie stars use to look flawlessly smooth on the big-screen close-ups. I was amazed to find afterwards that my skin wasn’t red at all, just unnaturally smooth. I have to say that bald skin feels just a little bit weird, so don’t think I’ll be rushing back – although I was impressed with the eyebrow technique and it works very well on sensitive areas such as the chin and upper lip. A few beauty salons in the UK are now offering threading as a natural form of hair removal. With no chemical depilators, resources or waste, (other than a simple piece of cotton thread) I would also describe it as the most eco-friendly beauty treatment there is.