Phyl Clarkemeets skincare guru Ole Henriksen, who treats the Hollywood A-list but doesn't believe in Botox
Mr Henriksen, I presume? I held out my hand to greet the man who I'd heard from reliable sources comes "straight from skincare heaven". Instead of a handshake, I am enveloped in a friendly hug, with a kiss on each cheek, as if it was me alone he had travelled from California to see. Skincare guru to the A-list, Ole's list of clients reads like a who's who of Hollywood - Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Ralph Fiennes, Leonardo di Caprio, Kylie Minogue, Cher, to name but a few. And he seems to inspire such loyalty in a city that can offer the latest and the greatest to the "money-no-object" crowd.
He asks me if I've been to his face/body spa on Sunset Boulevard. I admit that I've only had a fleeting visit to LA, and did not manage a visit. He is very insistent that I not pass his door on my next trip to California and I must "drop in" and see him as his guest. As we are getting on like a house on fire, I do feel it would be rude not to go and see him, as I'm calculating the cost of flight/accommodation in my head.
Although Danish by birth, Henriksen had itchy feet, and it was during a trip to Jakarta that a nasty bout of cystic acne put a stop to his travels. A series of botanical applications brought his complexion back to normal and Ole was so impressed that he went on to study skin care and cosmetic chemistry. When a sceptical Los Angeles Times editor promised to write about Henriksen if he cured her assistant's acne, Ole rose to the challenge and the rest is the stuff of skincare legend. The stars may chop and change about which dress to wear for the big Oscar night, but Henriksen is always on call. Both Renee Zellweger and Charlize Theron had appointments with the facial virtuoso on their big night. He is not a fan of Botox, for in his opinion the face should be able to show emotion. "A happy face will always be a youthful face," he says. Ole also doesn't believe in low-fat foods, insisting that skin needs its essential fatty acids for glowing health.
Although he is now more than 30 years in business, it's only in recent times that Henriksen's wonderful products have been available to buy without the trans-Atlantic air ticket. The range is a divine experience for the senses - and that just testing a little on my arm. Henriksen is happy to tell me about his favourite clients - Renee has been coming to him for seven years, he tells me, Meryl Streep and Lauren Bacall are also customers. Even 90-year-old Kirk Douglas comes twice a month. But when he told me his favourite client was a certain Mr David Bowie I had to be revived with his African Red Tea Face Mist and the interview took on a different slant.
I was informed that a) David has not had any face surgery b) he sings when he is having a facial, and c) is a gentleman to all who meet him. I told my own story about celebrating David's birthday at dinner with my friend Regina, who is also a big fan. When I told Ole that we toasted David (who had joined us via a DVD on laptop), he whooped with laughter and promised to relate the tale to the man himself on his next visit. Now when would that be, exactly, I asked as I furiously made mental plans to coincide my visit - what a column that would make.