It's electric! The Chevrolet Volt, available later this year, made a flash appearance on the celebrity gifting circuit.

Shiny gold statues aren’t the only things handed out to Hollywood’s elite during Oscar season. For stars, stylists and members of the media, the week leading up to the big night is a whirlwind of gift suites and exposure to fun new products. We had the chance to check out the wares, which included one big-ticket item no one was taking home: a Chevrolet Volt, GM’s new electric car, on sneak preview at the Global Green event.

How it works: You plug the car into your house current for three hours to get 40 miles of travel, plenty for most commutes; after that, the gas engine kicks in. The Volt is a roomy hatchback with lots of head- and legroom that will be available in late 2010, starting in California, Michigan and Washington, D.C.

Eco-consciousness was a major theme everywhere, with green products or entirely green gift lounges designed to appeal to environmentally oriented celebs. At the Eco-Oscars Green Carpet Hospitality Lounge, we especially loved the Pure Heat line of hair tools, featuring ceramic, anti-static round brushes in four sizes, made from 50 percent recycled material, and the Ditto hangers, made from recycled waste paper and sold in packs of 10 at Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

At the Alive! Green Expo, we snapped up anti-aging skin care products from Lavanya and samples of Yonka cleanser, lotion and masque, which, we hear, are favorites of Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Vanessa Williams.

There were more skin-care goodies at the GBK Oscar Suite, where the EGF Reactivator line impressed Marissa Jaret Winokur of Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off, and Sprout watches, made from sustainable and biodegradable organic cotton and bamboo and available at Nordstrom, were a hit with The View’s Sherri Shepherd. Also on the sustainable end, R.E.U.S.E. Jeans reweaves denim from recycled fabric, and we hear that Eva Longoria Parker is a fan.

Visitors to the Platinum Oscar Suite at the House of Blues got waterproof digital watches from Deuce Brand, pretty underwear from Biatta, and our favorite item, a bag of goodies from Fashion Forms including adhesive breast “petals,” tape for affixing to low-cut tops and dresses, disposable adhesive under-breast lifters, a copy of The Bra Book (a very cool guide to finding the perfect fit), a handy tape measure, and a set of gel shoe inserts — just the thing for red-carpet high heels!

Which product are you most eager to try?

Photo credit: © GM Corp.

Ten percent of February proceeds from Np2's Elemental (shown) and other red shades benefit the American Heart Association.

We love a bold, red nail color — especially when it benefits a worthy cause! In honor of American Heart Month, 10 percent of February proceeds from Np2 red shades go to the American Heart Association. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the association’s mission is to reduce coronary disease and stroke by 25 percent. Every Np2 chip-resistant nail lacquer ($22.50) includes a separate topcoat of nail hardening and nourishing treatment, and the two bottles snap together for easy storage.

Np2 shades that benefit the cause include sparkling red Elemental, wine-hued Electric Charge, cherry-colored Multiplied, red-orange Solar, garnet Infinity and cranberry Momentum. To select just the right shade, check out Np2’s Virtual Manicure, where you can choose polish based on your skin tone and nail shape and length, and get an idea of how it might look on your own hand.

We like when beauty products make us feel great on the outside and inside, knowing we’re helping a good cause with our purchase. Are you more likely to buy a product if it benefits something you believe in?

Aveda lead stylist Odile Gilbert created a chignon for Jason Wu's fall 2010 show.

Fashion Week is all about the clothing, but we also love seeing the hairstyles the models sport for each show. (Our own hair during Fashion Week was a bit damper than we would have liked, thanks to wet snow blanketing New York City.) Luckily, the hair gurus at Aveda invited us to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the runway looks created by legendary French stylist Odile Gilbert and Antoinette Beenders, global style director for Aveda.

While youthful looks were the focus of Aveda’s styling for Organic by John Patrick, Sophie Théallet and Rodarte, we were especially inspired by the sophisticated updos on display at Christian Siriano and Jason Wu. At the Siriano show, 1960s Parisian glamour informed Beenders’ wave updo, a chic nod to Veronica Lake that was meant to complement the romantic silhouettes and structured coats and cocktail dresses in Siriano’s fall 2010 collection.

To adapt the look for a night out on the town, Beenders recommends blow-drying hair smooth, then curling it in one-inch pieces to help create volume. Brush curls through, spraying with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray ($24) for workable hold. Pull hair back tightly and wind it into a twist, pinning it against the head with bobby pins. “Finish the look by backcombing the front section of hair, brushing it through and twisting it back,” Beenders says. “Pin in place to create ultra-volume and a glamorous, retro effect.”

For a more relaxed, everyday ‘do, we plan to try the flat chignon flaunted at Wu’s show. Wu and Gilbert were inspired by Holly Hunter’s beach scene in The Piano. “It’s very young and innocent, with a clean part and loose hair in front — yet there is an element of sophistication with the braided chignon,” Gilbert says. “The look is soft and romantic.” Check out the backstage footage and instructions that follow to create the look at home.

1. Prep damp hair with Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener ($21) for added shine and straightness, and blow-dry smooth with a flat brush.

2. Use a comb to create a clean part — either in the center or wherever hair parts naturally. Then pull hair into a loose ponytail at the nape of the neck, allowing hair on either side of the ponytail to cover the ears and rest at chin length. Spray with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray.

3. Wrap a 10-inch bungee elastic around the ponytail, crisscrossing it from top to bottom to create a braidlike pattern. Tie securely at the bottom and set with hair spray.

4. Wrap the faux braid into a flat chignon at the back of the head and secure with hair pins.

5. Allow a few loose pieces of hair to fall naturally around the face. The sides should be loose and romantic while the chignon is more tightly secured in place. Finish the look with spray for lightweight hold.

In addition to coming up with fresh hairstyles, all of the designers who partnered with Aveda incorporated eco-friendly practices, such as replacing bottled water with tap water in Earthlust bottles, eschewing fur and serving organic, locally sourced food backstage. Aveda Catwalks for Water teamed up with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to provide tap water at six locations during Fashion Week.

We loved the eco-conscious theme and inspiring looks. Do you think you’ll re-create any Fashion Week coifs?

Renowned stylist Oscar Blandi has designed a new color pen for root touch-up.

Years ago, when we spotted our first silver hair defiantly sticking up, a fellow brunette told us she colored her sporadic grays with a Sharpie. Deterred, however, by the threat of marker fumes, we plucked each one instead and named them for their potential causes (Mortgage, for example, was joined by Company Downsizing and Health Insurance Dispute).

Now that we’re older, wiser and more gray, we let a colorist handle it — but in between appointments, that Sharpie looks pretty tempting. Thankfully, the new Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Pen Root Touch-up & Highlighting Pen ($23) is designed precisely for this purpose — to cover stray grays and unsightly roots.

Select neutral brown, beige blonde, light golden blonde, dark brown/black or warm reddish brown and twist the end of the cap to release the color. Then pull the hair taut and paint over roots with the brush. The temporary color is designed to stay until the next wash and dries fairly quickly — just wait a few minutes before running your hands through your locks. (We’d also advise a thorough rinse before resting your head on your favorite ivory sheets, just to be safe.)

The color is free from ammonia and peroxide, so it’s safe for pregnant women and doesn’t have a strong smell. The pen, available at Sephora, is one of the latest products from New York City stylist Blandi, whose client list includes Faith Hill, Salma Hayek and Renee Zellwéger.

We’re usually not too self-conscious about our roots, until we feel someone staring at them. Now we can postpone a trip to the stylist for a week or two; a sticker on the box also notes that the pen is a recession-friendly product. Do you know of any other effective cover-ups for roots and grays?

Maria Conchita Alonso, pictured at a luncheon held last month, came by the recent Valentine suite at Café La Bohème, cane and all.

We recently joined the stars in search of Valentine gifts, awards season outfits, accessories and the latest gadgets at the Valentine Romance Sneak Peek Oscar Suite at Café La Bohème in West Hollywood. Yummy food, an open bar and free stuff? Not even a torrential downpour — or worse — could keep celebs (or us) away from this party. Actress Maria Conchita Alonso, who broke her ankle six weeks ago, even showed up with a cast and cane!

Attendees had the opportunity to give back by donating new or gently used footwear to Shoes for Africa via The Ashé Foundation and then replacing them with dressy heels from Menbur or trendier kicks from Shiekh Shoes. The chic gowns and dresses from Scala were a hit with Sofia Milos of CSI: Miami, who ordered two, and picked an eye-catching onyx and silver bracelet and earrings set from Amadika.

Alonso, who’s developing her own skin cream and fragrance line, was keen on trying out the Skinn cosmetics and CellCeuticals anti-aging products, developed by plastic surgeon Garth Fisher, M.D. The unusual Rocks jewelry made from stones set in concrete caught the eye of Dexter’s Lauren Vélez, who wore her new ring home, and actor Gilles Marini, who chose dog-tag style necklaces for his wife and himself. Marini, who returns to Brothers & Sisters Feb. 21, was looking forward to taking his Mrs. away for a romantic weekend to celebrate Valentine’s Day. “She’s more than my rock, she’s my everything,” he confided.

Celebs could also take home organic cotton tees and tanks from Live Life Organics, quick-drying nail polish from Dazzle Dry, bath products from Herban Body Care, calendar keepsakes from Not Just Any Old Day, and cool gadgets like Plantronic headsets and Pineapple in-ear speakers. There was even a product for those wanting to shape up for awards season: My Spin Gym, a compact resistance-training tool for sculpting arms, chest, back and shoulders.

But for those who just wanted to relax, the cozy pullover robes and loungewear from FreeBeneath were a big hit. Bachelor host Chris Harrison zeroed in on those, with his wife in mind. Planning to celebrate a low-key Valentine’s Day at home with a bottle of wine, Harrison is well aware that high heels and lingerie are really for the men. “After 16 years, I know what she really wants,” he told us. “A night away from the kids and a comfortable robe.”

What’s the best Valentine gift you ever received?

Photo credit: Stefanie Keenan/WireImage

Aromachology can blend a custom fragrance, based on a short questionnaire.

We’re always on the search for perfumes that can become “the one” — our signature scent that meshes with our personality. But, like that perfect pair of jeans or little black dress, we have to try quite a few to find just the right fit. So we were intrigued when we heard of Aromachology, a Toronto-based fragrance line that not only offers five scents to match various moods, but also has a create-your-own fragrance option based on a personality questionnaire. Your answers match you with one of the five bases — Sophisticated & Sensual, Totally Edible, Exotic & Spicy, Clean & Fresh and Bold & Brisk — and then three top notes also are selected from a variety of 15 for a custom blend.

“Like any other accessory, perfume is an expression of yourself,” says Kirsten Menkes, who founded Aromachology with Ashlee Firsten. “We all want to be a little different sometimes — own something one-of-a-kind. And now with Aromachology we’re making it much more accessible for people to do that with their scents.”

The short, multiple-choice Scent Profiler includes questions such as, “Your ideal vacation consists of … ” and “The outfit that completes you is your ….” Rather than a typical fragrance description, we think each base explanation reads like a fun astrological chart. Sophisticated & Sensual, for example, begins with, “Like the soft and feminine petals of a flower, you move with grace, dignity and enthusiasm throughout life. You appreciate all aesthetic pleasures; like finding the brilliance that flowers and candles can bring to any room or being inspired by music, dance or art.”

The Scent Profiler also asks you to pick three answers to complete “I aspire to be … ” with such choices as creative (juniper berry and carnation), inspiring (orange and lemon), courageous (frankincense and ginger) and open-minded (orange blossom and vanilla). Menkes and Firsten, who has a background in chemical engineering, launched with a pop-up store in September 2009 during the Toronto International Film Festival, drawing the attention of Sherri Shepherd and the Jonas Brothers. The fragrances are available at Henri Bendel’s New York location or online (a five-base sampler is $60, bases and custom blends are $160 per 100 mL bottle or $70 per 5 mL travel size).

We loved filling out the questionnaire to determine what kind of scent fit with our personality. And with all the celeb perfumes, it’s about time we have one of our own. What do you think of customized fragrances?

HollyBeth's Lavender Hand Cream is made with natural ingredients and contains sweet almond oil and Vitamin E.

Our plan to simplify in 2010 includes an effort to cut the number of mysterious chemicals in our skin-care regimen. A recent search for natural beauty items led us to HollyBeth’s Natural Luxury, a line of face and body products made with organic ingredients. HollyBeth Anderson had been making creams as a hobby, but decided to launch her business when she moved back to her native Georgia several years ago, after a career spent working abroad for the French government and in Latin America. Anderson’s formulas are inspired by knowledge she gleaned from her grandmother, an avid gardener, and from herbalists she met in Latin America while working for Cartier.

The Grits & Honey Scrub ($23) is based on her mother’s cornmeal recipe for exfoliating. Other products include the best-selling eye cream ($30), Rose & Geranium Face Moisturizer ($30) and Rose & Geranium Toner ($12.50), as well as lip nectars in Lavender Geranium and Honey Orange Mint ($7 each). Anderson’s visits to India and Thailand are the inspiration for the exotic fragrance of Marigold & Sweet Basil Shea Butter Hand Cream ($22). The body collection includes the refreshing Citrus Body Cream ($22), sweet and rich Lavender Hand Cream ($22) and the gentle, foaming Clary Sage Body Wash ($17). HollyBeth’s also makes all-natural soy candles ($20), such as the LIVE Rosemary-Peppermint and LAUGH Citrus, with 10 percent of the proceeds going to breast-cancer research. Five percent of the AMOR Lavender & Rose Geranium online sales go to Atlanta Pet Rescue and Adoption. HollyBeth’s Natural Luxury also supports a variety of charities, and the company is in the process of becoming USDA Certified Organic.

We love natural products with scents that smell recognizable from nature. Do you feel more comfortable with big-name skin-care products or do you try natural products from smaller manufacturers?

Hair Room Service by Michael Dueñas sends stylists and makeup artists to the comfort of your hotel room.

Finding just the right hair stylist is hard enough — and when we’re traveling or getting ready for an out-of-town event, it’s a daunting prospect to find a suitable salon and book an appointment. If you happen to be in Manhattan for New Year’s Eve, ordering up hair and makeup can be as easy as a phone call to Hair Room Service, recently started by Michael Dueñas, who has styled such celebs as Mariah Carey and Regina Spektor. Simply book an appointment by phone or via the website, and Dueñas or one of his stylists will arrive and cut, blow dry, set — or even color — your hair in your hotel room. Men’s grooming and children’s cuts also are available, and Dueñas has two makeup artists on staff.

The idea for Hair Room Service came to Dueñas while traveling, when he overheard a hotel guest asking the concierge for a salon recommendation. Dueñas offered his services on the spot and returned to New York with the idea to offer the exclusive in-hotel salon service. The stylists bring their own supplies and Dueñas says it’s “no mess, no fuss”; in fact, Dueñas also will come to your office and has done home appointments as well.

A cut is $125 ($250 for an appointment with Dueñas), a blow dry or a curly hair set is $85, an up-do or special style is $125, a color consult is $25 and makeup is $125 per hour. Men’s cuts are $85, a cut/beard/facial is $250 and children’s cuts are $125. A 50 percent deposit is required and appointments must be booked 24 hours in advance. Appointments are available daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., though after-hours appointments can be scheduled for an additional $50. Hair Room Service is scheduled to expand to greater Los Angeles in February and to Miami in the summer.

We think this service is perfect for someone who’s on-the-go or needs to look her best for an event. Do you think you would use Hair Room Service?

Professional coloring is worth the splurge, according to celebrity hairstylist Tabatha Coffey.

Back in the ’90s, we once sported a haircut similar to reality star Kate Gosselin’s — and considering tart-tongued scissor wizard Tabatha Coffey’s take on the style, we know we made the right decision to grow it out. Coffey, formerly of Shear Genius fame, recently landed her own show on Bravo, Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, which airs Tuesdays at 10 pm. The Australian-born hairstylist, 43, gave us some great tips for maintaining our current ‘do.

First, she tells us, you have to know what’s worth paying for and where you can save. “Splurge on getting your hair colored professionally,” advises Coffey, who regularly fixes home-color mistakes. Coffey also recommends using a moisturizing conditioner to protect hair from environmental and heat damage, as well as the restoration products K-PAK Color Restorative Styling Oil by Joico ($19.95) and Phyto 7 Daily Hydrating Botanical Cream ($26), and the anti-humidity treatment Pureology NanoWorks ShineLuxe ($32) to combat frizz.

More worth-it splurges? A good bristle brush and a flat iron. “CHI has one with a coating that protects the hair from the heat,” notes Coffey, adding that professional ionic dryer can smooth hair and dry it faster.

You can save on inexpensive hairspray and wide-tooth combs from the drug store, where Coffey suggests picking up biotin, “a great vitamin that really helps your hair,” and Velcro rollers, good for adding volume, movement and texture to fine or straight hair in creating the ’40s-inspired styles that are big this fall.

According to Coffey, the biggest mistake women make is getting caught in a hairstyle rut. “With a really good haircut and the right products it can be five minutes” to style, she notes, suggesting that long-hair lovers try soft layers. “They’re always flattering and will frame and give lift to the face and movement and bounce to the hair,” she says. “It can be very attractive and age-appropriate.” Coffey also recommends highlights, and not just for blondes. “They add texture and dimension, and if you’re gray it will buy you a couple of weeks to get your retouch done.” Need to cover your roots ASAP? Coffey swears by waterproof mascara in a pinch.

Do you have a great hair care tip? Share it with us!

Photo credit: Brian Kersey/Bravo

Skin-care expert Narine Nikogosian's new book is full of natural, easy-to-make beauty recipes.

We firmly believe in beauty recipes that have been handed down through generations, especially when they produce natural skin-care products that are economical — and that sound delicious. Return to Beauty: Old-World Recipes for Great Radiant Skin (Atria, 2009) from skin-care expert Narine Nikogosian contains formulas for moisturizers, toners, eye creams and face masks made from simple, fresh ingredients such as avocado, egg, yogurt, olive oil, mango and orange. Nikogosian — whose celebrity clients include Charlize Theron, Ellen DeGeneres and Alfre Woodard — also divulges some of her family’s beauty secrets. In Nikogosian’s native Armenia, her grandmother ate a single piece of bread from her World War II daily rations — but used the accompanying pat of butter as moisturizer.

The first section of the book includes recipes for every season for varying skin types: oily, normal-to-oily, dry and normal-to-dry. During fall, for example, dry skin might require the Pumpkin Happy Face Mask or the Tangerine Dream Moisturizer. The second part of the book provides fun recipes based on astrological signs — we discovered that pampering our face with a Simply Strawberries Face Mask will help us with our Libra balance and harmony. The third section of the book is full of simple, quick resolutions for beauty issues such as tired eyes, fine lines, dry or damaged hair and chapped hands.

Following is a recipe for a fall moisturizer, rich in antioxidants for dry skin. Remember that when ingredients are fresh, the product’s shelf life is short, so it’s best to stick to the quantity provided in the instructions.

Tangerine Dream Moisturizer
¼ tangerine, peel and pith removed
1 tablespoon sour cream
½ teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon rose oil (available in drugstores and health-food stores)

In blender, combine tangerine, sour cream, flour and oil. Mix well. Apply this to your face every morning and evening after cleansing.

We love that most of these skin-care items can be made with ingredients found in almost any kitchen — especially after taking a look at the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Reviews. Do you have any beauty recipes handed down by members of your family that you’d like to share?