What does a typical day for a Greek-Australian living in California’s Bay Area look like? For actor George H. Xanthis, it’s a daily routine of staying true to his roots.
”Shower. Sh*t. Shave. Is that just an Aussie phrase? Anyway, we all do it. But let’s focus on the shower part. I never used any ‘beauty’ products before getting into the film industry, but I was in dry, arid conditions on The Chosen and hydration was a must. I’ve played around with a few things, but settled on a brand that my wife used during her pregnancy: Australia’s very own MooGoo. The Skin Milk Udder Cream makes me feel like I’m washing my face with a sweet-scented cream dessert.”
”For hair care, the story is both interesting and boring. My wife and I found our favorite brand of hair products while staying at a fancy island resort. Coming from an entirely Greek family, my wife and I honeymooned across the Greek Islands to celebrate our Big Fat Greek marriage. Whilst in Crete, a brand called APIVITA was the product used at our hotel. It smells amazing and left my hair feeling clean and fresh after a salty day in the Mediterranean. Greek exports are few and far between, and when I saw suppliers carrying APIVITA in the United States, we stocked up. Go Greece!”
“I usually do my hair and make sure my lips aren’t dry, especially during filming. The lip balm I use is apparently famous worldwide, and it’s another Aussie product: Lucas PawPaw ointment. It was the ‘Windex’ of my household growing up in Sydney. Insect bite, sunburn, cracked lips—just rub some PawPaw on it.”
“Uppercut Matte Pomade is a cheat code for people with curly, wavy hair like myself. It’s not too oily—it sets in a ‘dry’ look—but it’s also very malleable and easy to apply. A neat little trick with curly hair is to apply a small amount of this very water-soluble, matte pomade to your hair and then rinse with water immediately. The residual oils from the pomade leave the hair bouncy and dense—perfect for that beachy, ‘Alexander the Great’ look. It is an Aussie fave, and it’s used by every fancy barber Down Under.”
”Now that I look half decent, it’s time for a coffee. Scratch that, a ‘barista- style’ coffee. Luckily my barista-trained wife worked in one of the coffee capitals of the world: Melbourne. We both lived there while I was filming the Aussie sketch series Open Slather.”
“Anyway, a good day starts with a good cup of coffee, and she taught me the art of making a great, Aussie-style flat white. We bought the same Aussie coffee machine we use back home in Oz, a Breville Barista Touch. It’s easy to use, even for a layman like me.”
“Don’t blame the tradie, blame his tools. A good coffee machine needs good coffee beans, which is why I always seek out fellow Aussies for the best coffee beans to grind. Bluestone Lane brought Aussie, Melbourne-inspired coffee to New York, and while I was visiting my best mate of over 25 years— he’s also my entertainment lawyer; #squadgoals—his apartment was walking distance to a Bluestone Café, and we both became obsessed. Luckily, they’ve expanded operations to California. So, when I need coffee beans, I’ll drive an hour into downtown San Francisco to restock my supply. And if I’m in LA for work? There are plenty of Bluestones to choose from. They even serve Aussie-style wedges with sour cream and sweet chili!”
”If the caffeine is getting too crazy, I’ll indulge in a zesty, carefully steeped South African–style Rooibos tea, usually housed in my Sydney-inspired T2 infuser mug. T2 is another Melbourne- based company, which specializes in tea leaves and teaware accessories. My wife is South-African so rooibos tea is a must in our household. It’s so sweet and creamy! No need for sugar—just a splash of milk and you’re ready to rumble.”
”Snacking is very important on set, and the best snack you can get is that true-blue Aussie Vegemite. It’s high in protein, low in calories and packs a salty punch that will drive away your hunger when those long shoot days take their toll. It is so tasty, and makes my Californian apartment feel like my childhood home.”
”Finally, It’s time to wind the day down with a bottle of wine. While in the Sonoma County/Napa region, I was shocked to stumble across a wine maker with a familiar name, Levendi, which is a term of endearment in Greece. Lo and behold, the owners were Greek, and before long, I was enjoying excellent Cab Savs and learning about a successful and touching Greek immigrant story. The wine pictured here is their Mazaika range of Cabernet Sauvignons—rich and refreshing, yet bold and true.”