Sleek Skin: Spa Sciences Exfoliation System is the latest in microdermabrasion at home. Features a “patented” head that oscillates in a specially designed movement (instead of vibrating back and forth), a sponge applicator, a dual-speed exfoliating tool, patented Crystal Exfoliation Cream and Soothing Botanical Cream. Only $29.95 at Target, Eckerd, Ulta and Harmon stores. www.spasciences.com

Relax, Refresh : This sounds like a fun place! The new Ulta in West Hollywood (7100 Santa Monica Blvd.) is a new beauty store combining cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, haircare and salone services


Men From the Boys: GrowUp is a new haircare line for kids that “encourages boys to take that extra interest in their appearance while being the man they want to be,” touts the press information. The six products in the line include “Imagine Rockstar Daily Shampoo,” “Always Strive Skateboard Moisturizing Shampoo,” “Make A Splash Waterpolo Clarifying Shampoo,” “Chill Out Hockey Leave-In Conditioner,” “Stand Firm Karate Hard Hold Hair Gel” (watermelon scented), “Blaze a TrailBMX Styling Stick.”


But GrowUp didn’t forget girls, offering up seven hair products for “Style-Conscious Girls.” The line includes three shampoos, a leave-in conditioner, a detangler, a finishing spray and a shine serum.


Shiny Skin: Skingenious, a Florida-based company offers “10 Years Younger!” to promote supple, youthful skin – Tyra Banks and Mandy Moore own the line, which includes, in its ingredients, L-Sodiumn Hyaluronate & L-Sodium PCA, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, D-Quercetin & D-Boldine, Cassia Betaglycan, Borage and Black Currant Oil, L-Superoxide Dismutase, D-Beta Fructan, D-Beta Glucososamine & Panthenol, Polydatin & Reservatrol. Whew. Retails for $175 for 1oz. www. Sinkgenious .com


Cute Case: Bungee, the latest from Umbra (and out this month), is a unique card case that comes in red, orange, blue and green. The pocket-sized case holds small personal items, from credit cards, photos, money, keys, candy, whatever you like. It recently received a 2003 Good Design award by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.


Attention Shoppers: If you live in Los Angeles, There’s a Sample Sale at the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center (323-663-2255) featuring Tree, Nom, My Tee, Bella Dahl, Bartack, Frankie B., XLarge, American Apparel, Sue Wong, Development, Petro Zillia, Monah Li, California Waves, Endless Sun, Ernsdorf, Lilky McNeal, Silverlake Kids, Queen Bee, and more. June 5, 2004, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (presale $10 from 8 to 10 a.m.)


Celeb Owned Clothing Auction!: Jennifer Noonan of NOM is auctioning off the only other Gwyneth Paltrow Vintage Tube Tee in existence to benefit The Pregnant & Clean Project Plus. Go to http://www.naissancematernity.com/catalog/auction_vintage_tube.html.

Willie Gets Well: Willie Nelson has successful surgery to relieve Carpal Tunnel and resumes touring July 3rd. Attempts at rest, splinting and medication to relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel earlier this month were not as effective as hoped, and last week Willie Nelson had an endoscopic carpal tunnel release operation to his left wrist. Norman P. Zemel, M.D., the orthopaedic hand surgeon at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles says, "the operation was
successful and he no longer has numbness and tingling in the fingers of his left hand."

Taking some time off from touring to fully recover, Willie will be on the road again resuming dates starting on July 3rd in Roswell, NM. The next day the music legend will host his annual 4th of July Picnic concert event at The Stockyards in Ft. Worth, TX. For information on rescheduled dates please check with local venues or Willie's website www.WillieNelson.com.


Designer Finds New PR Home: Tiffany Alana Joins Couch Nobelius Popular contemporary designer Tiffany Alana Wolff's latest collection of stretch tube tops, skirts and dresses is now available for viewing in our in-house showroom. Since the launch of her eponymous TiffanyAlana line in 1998, Tiffany's signature shoulder-baring styles, each embellished with one-of-a-kind brooches, have struck a chord with fans including Cameron Diaz, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Brooke Burns and Jennifer Lopez. The figure-flattering bias cut and uneven ‘handkerchief’ hemlines of her designs can be found in Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s New York, Nordstrom and Fred Segal - as well as more than 200 fashion-forward boutiques across the US. Another new arrival to Couch Nobelius – ChiaraKruza maternity wear. They’re working with this Los Angeles-based label (best known for their stylish stretch basics) to launch their high-fashion maternity collection that accentuates the innate sexiness of the mom-to-be with sensuous fabrics and chic, body-conscious designs.

Billionaire Babes Sample Sale: Dubbed "the sample sale to end all sample sales," billion dollar babes returns next week to the Hollywood Palladium featuring designer clothing and accessories for men and women from more than 60 labels, all at wholesale prices and below. Labels at this event include: Adriana Caras, Black Halo, Catherine Malandrino, Custo Barcelona, Da-Nang, Eberjey, Ella Moss, Gsus, Joie, Louis Verdad, Oliver Peoples, Petro Zillia, Rebecca Taylor, Tocca and Yanuk. There’s an exclusive VIP pre-sale for invited members, media and VIPs on Friday, June 4, and the sale is open to all other registered guests from 8am-6pm on Saturday, June 5. http://www.billiondollarbabes.com/eviteLAjun2004/saturday.html

Plastic Surgery News: The Discovery Health Channel, a preeminent source of credible quality science and medical programming, chose this month to feature the work of world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr Stanley Frileck in Operation Reconstruction, the latest episode in the series Plastic Surgery: Before & After. In Operation Reconstruction, Dr Frileck performs life changing facial reconstruction surgery on an entertainment industry executive. Dr Frileck's reputation for subtle aesthetic enhancement extends worldwide with patients including celebrities, heads of state and international royalty.

More on Funny Man Dan: the dan band
(last show before they go to NYC until august...) friday june 4th Avalon 1735 N. Vine Street (north of hollywood blvd) doors at 7:30/show at 8:30 for tickets email: thedanband@avalonhollywood.com

Alert for Toby Keith Fans: Toby Keith is set to embark on a USO tour to Italy, Germany, Kosovo and the Persian Gulf. Once there, two-time consecutive winner of the “Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year” will perform free shows, “meet and greet” service men and women, and tour a variety of job bases. Keith is bringing along Ted Nugent. www.uso.org.

Reba’s Really Nice Jewels: Reba McEntire was the mistress of ceremonies for Wednesday night's 39th Annual Academy of Country Music Award. She paired Chopard's jewelry with her two evening gowns. To coordinate with her black plunging v-neck gown she selected Chopard's oval diamond Riviere necklace featuring more than 35 carats and worth in excess of $500,000. For her change to a champagne tulle-over-satin slip gown, she paired Chopard's yellow radiant diamond ear studs comprised of 4 carats each and valued at $390,000.


Saved! Star Mandy Moore visited MTV's "TRL" -May 27, 2004 and showed up her cropped brown hair, with subtle highlights of red and pink. She also wore giant circle gold dangling earrings. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out “Saved!” which is wholly enjoyable and ultimately a movie written by believers. Especially and notably brilliant is Susan Sarandon’s daughter Eva Amurri – a really great performance (much more significant than her work with her mum in “The Banger Sisters”). Macualay Culkin is very good as the “abled” brother of bad girl Mandy, who plays Hillary Faye. Moore has a hilarious moment where she tosses a book at the back of Jena Malone’s Mary’s head and screams that she’s filled with Christ’s love. All-in-all, a great film – and you can’t forget Martin Donovan and Mary Louise Parker who are also brilliant.

Peace Delegation: Musician, activist and poet Michael Franti will join a delegation of peace workers, musicians, artists and film makers who are traveling to Iraq and Israel from June 2nd through the 15th. The intention of the trip is to see first-hand the affects of the war on all those involved from Iraqi civilians to men and women in uniform. Although no concerts are planned for the trip, Michael and the others are planning on meeting with as many Iraqi musicians and artists as possible as well as students and other youth organizations.

“I have been speaking from my heart about the futility of war since I began making music,” Michael says, “and having spoken to many men and women in the U.S. military about their experiences in Iraq, I felt that it was time for me to go there myself, so I can see first hand what it is we are facing in the years to come as Iraq goes through the painful process of healing herself.”

With regards to visiting Israel, Michael notes that he has “always been concerned about the situation in Israel with the Palestinians and hope that through learning more about the crisis from both sides I can better serve as a voice for change and peace to those who only hear about the region on the nightly news."

As far as his goals for the trip, Franti’s intention is “to go there with an open mind, an open heart and a guitar, to experience as much as I can in our limited time. I hope that upon our return all of us on the trip will become more effective communicators for those whose voices are going unheard.”

Michael and the rest of the delegation will be creating a documentary film about their experiences in the Middle East and are looking for donations to help cover some of the costs of the trip as well as the production of the film. Anyone who believes in the spirit of this project and wishes to make a tax deductible donation can do so through Spearhead's non profit organization, the Power To The Peaceful fund.

More information is available on the newly designed website http://www.spearheadvibrations.com.
July 13 will see the release of a new acoustic collection from Michael Franti titled Songs From The Front Porch. Spearhead and Franti will spend the rest of the summer touring worldwide including dates at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival and the US’s Lollapalooza Festival. September 11 the band will headline the annual Power To The Peaceful Festival that Franti co-produces with his management. The free event will take place at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.