How You Can Get Fabulous Golden Globes Gifts

Celebrities: they really are just like us! And nowhere is that more evident than in the Secret Room Gift Lounge Honoring the 2016 Golden Globes at the SLS Hotel. I mean seriously, no one, be they famous or unknown, rich or poor, pretty or plain, can resist a great jar of face cream, a cute shirt, or conditioner that promises to make your hair shinier and more manageable.

What I love about the Secret Room Gift Lounge and the fabulously stuffed, sturdy L.L. Bean gift bags that go along with it, is that by presenting great products to stars and journalists, the rest of us are made aware of great new must-haves too–and we might not have access to those particular products otherwise.

For example, I’m a big fan of Rails shirts, but I’d never heard of similar styled Beach Lunch Lounge tops until I received a couple in my gift bag. They were so soft and gorgeous that I, along with the rest of my family that includes females from 18 to 80, absolutely HAD to look them up on line immediately. We gathered around the computer and found that not only did they have a fabulous selection, but EVERYTHING ON THE SITE WAS ON SALE at 60% off! We all found several we loved. Seriously, drop what you’re doing right now and log on. You’ll thank me later.

Speaking of my family, I have myriad nieces and nephews, and the Secret Room enabled me to maintain my “Cool Aunt” status by introducing me to “Sculpey” products from Polyform, something the rest of the fam has known and loved for ages. When I told them we were going to have an arts and crafts day, making figures and jewelry from the colorful clay that you pop in the oven, they came from miles around. It’s the perfect way to bond with a child, whether you’re babysitting, visiting, or just wanting to be a hit.

Even young actress Alyvia Alyn Lind, who has starred in everything from The Young and the Restless to Transparent to Masters of Sex to Revenge, takes time for Sculpey from Polyform.

A few other products that made me, and could make you, a super hit with the family? My niece Nikole was so crazy about the black and pink Capelli New York backpack that she stopped dancing around long enough for me to take her picture with it. My niece Ella loves two things above all others: purses and mermaids, so she was thrilled with the pink mermaid purse from the Pirate and Mermaid shop. And my little nephew Asher is only a week old, so he wasn’t able to voice an opinion of the sweet, soft, floppy bunny contributed by the Manhattan Toy Company, but judging by the way he cuddled right up to it, I think he approved.

For the adult kids, there were great hair products like Fuel Hair’s fabulous new Foundation Hair Spray and Cutting Mist — Porscha Coleman, (left) whom you’ve seen in TV shows from Switched at Birth to Silicon Valley, New Girl, Entourage and The Closer, loved it, and took time to pose with  with Fuel Co-Founder & VP of Strategy & Marketing Richard Strom. I’ll tell you more about them soon, when the Frizz-Free Shine Mist they were previewing is available. Kusco Murphy Australia, in conjunction with Kshok Distribution LLC, USA also gifted some delicious smelling Dry Leave-in Spray and Lavender Creme for hair. There were also brushes, combs and other hair accessories from Denman. Yes, that’s me in the photo below at the right, sneaking a brush for myself right out from under the nose of Hulky Lou Ferrigno and his wife.

Some products that I CANNOT WAIT to use are the very clever items from the Travel Org, run by the ingenious Collyns family, who came all the way from England to unveil the best travel organizer I’ve ever seen. Whenever we go on a trip, my husband composes a three ring binder with maps, itineraries, destination details, etc., and while it keeps us organized, it looks a little cheesy and there’s no place for money, receipts, parking stubs that tell you where you left your car, etc. I received a bright tangerine colored portfolio that incorporates places for all those things and more. If only I’d had it when I went to Ireland! Oh well — I guess I’ll just have to take another trip soon!

Betty Boop, or at least her reps, were on hand with some major branding efforts for their icon emblazoned products. Who wouldn’t want a Betty Boop T-shirt and breathments? The ethereal, Golden Globe nominated Sarah Hay (right), who stars in the remarkable ballet series Flesh and Bone, was among those who did. Watch this one, friends, she’s going to be a huge star (both Betty Boop and Sarah Hay).

There were all sorts of great skin care products, both in the Secret Room bags and on the SLS ballroom floor. Among them Derma e, which I love because they’re top quality, yet you don’t have to go to a department store to find them — you can even pick them up while shopping at Whole Foods! They were featuring their new products with activated charcoal that actually absorbs and washes away toxins.

The new Adore shop in Topanga Village (the valley’s new version of Rodeo Drive) was also represented. I’ve been using their rejuvenation products made from organic plant cells for about a year now, and absolutely swear by them. I was also introduced to a new skin care favorite, Scentuals. Company president Mai Mowrey (with Anthony Anderson, left) told me how they use natural products in their anti-aging serums, soaps and lotions that smell so divine and fresh I want to have them on my body at all times. Brevena luxury skin care, known for products that heal, makes the best foot care cream ever and induced some celebs to remove their Manolos and try it right there on the spot. Tanya Renee Banks of Little Women L.A. (below) appreciated Brevena’s Daily Hydration Moisturizer as well.

Another interesting new product was MyntSmile’s Diamynt, the first and only toothpaste exclusively formulated for porcelain veneers, crowns and bonding. Talk about presenting your product to the right crowd! The room full of Golden Globes nominees  couldn’t seem to get enough from savvy CEO & Founder Lisa M. Kao, RDH, BS.

I was also impressed with the resourcefulness of the folks from Twisted J Ranch, who are branding their ranch in the Fort Worth area with Native American-styled t-shirts, hats and bags. Needless to say, they were the only premiere equine facility represented at the event, and they definitely made an impression. It never hurts to have a foothold in Hollywood.

I was intrigued by the woven bowls and vases from Eve and Nico, a woman-founded company that empowers African women to support themselves and others by creating beautiful home accessories. You’d never know these colorful items were made of telephone wire! The glorious Saffron Burrows, star of Golden Globe winning TV series Mozart in the Jungle, was fascinated by their products as well (below), as was Golden Globe nominated Anthony Anderson from the comedy Black-ish (right).

Photo: JC Olivera–GlobalMediaImages.com

California’s beautiful central coast, as in the Santa Barbara region, was well represented, with healing lip balm and cold soar remedies from Oleavicin. The people who used to bring you the delicious Santa Barbara Olives are now making medicinal products from the leaves of the olive trees, and do they ever work! Visit Santa Barbara was giving out information on the fabulous weekend destination right up the coast from Hollywood, and gifting bottles of the delicious, limited edition Santa Barbara Red Carpet Red Wine, from Ampelos Cellars, the first winemakers in America to be certified organic, biodynamic and sustainable. Both Judy Tenuta (left) and I are big fans.

I think the item with the most interesting name goes to “Pretty Woman” perfume by Barbara Orbison. And the most ambitious and unusual products in the gift bags? That designation goes to Veeda, which inserted a box of 100% hypoallergenic cotton tampons. Sorry — I couldn’t resist.

Here’s a complete list of sponsors:

Platinum sponsors In the Secret Room Style Lounge

Derma e

Eve and Nico crafts & home décor

Ruffle girl Inc

In the SLS ballroom, guests were introduced to exciting new products from:

Visit Santa Barbara

Live Happy Magazine

Santa Anita Park

Nadri Jewelry

Lilach Adoni

Frency and Mercury

Betty Boop

Cure

Eddie Scandinavian

City Color Cosmetics

Aspen Tea Company

Brevena Luxury skin care

Denman

Kristals

Tesla motors, inc

Polyform products Co. INC

Biola Organic Cosmetics LTD

Scentuals

Pretty Women perfume

Oleavicin LLC

Fernanda Japan

Myntsmile Oral Health

Sanada Adler Luxury real Estate

Derma e

The Travel Org

Fuel

Twisted J

Secret Room Events always has the best selection of exotic trips and getaways for celebrity nominees. This year’s amazing trip is: 7 days in Bora Bora, all inclusive and accommodations at Langham Place, New York, Fifth Ave.

As guests left they were gifted a sturdy gift bag from LL BEAN packed with goodies from the following gift bag sponsors:

Rushmore Essentials

Elysee Cosmetics

Coco Libre

Zacasha

Chap Stick

Betsy White stationary

Jon Reyman’s Spoke & WEAL salon

Veena

Marina Cottage Soap CO

Viabuia bags

Celebrity Pet Toy Company

Nailtiques Cosmetic Corp

Threeworks.com

Makeupartistchoice.com

LL BEAN

Dog sport

Sydney Candle Co. LLC

I ring

Ukies LLC

Winkniks

Kusco Murphy Au

The Manhattan Toy company

Edifier A Passion for Sound

Kurtooo’s

Crumb Artisan Crafted Crumb Cake

Imagination Creations

Fifty Fifty

Jennie and Vera’s cookies

Capelli New York

Judicakes

Lifeline First aid LLC

Funky Chunky

Beach Lunch Lounge

Scentuals Body Care from Nature

UUnique

Waka Waka

Jasongarner.com

Kidville Brentwood

Southern Okie Gourmet spreads

No cosmetics

Dedo kids

Thera Cane CO

How You Can Get Fabulous Golden Globes Gifts