An audience with her royal Goopness: Gwyneth Paltrow fans gather to bask in her glow

Her royal Goopness, Gwyneth Paltrow,just swept through Torontoanother stoponherCanadian-friendly summer tour.This visitwas all business, but really,aren't they all?

The actor-turned-lifestyle-guru held court at luxury retailer Holt Renfrew's flagship location Thursday afternoon for a carefully moderated talk (no questions from the audience, no broadcast video cameras allowed) about her newest venture: an organic beauty product line.

An assorted group of bloggers, fans, curious onlookers and store employees gathered for a glimpse of the star behind thelifestyle blog Goop (a play on her own initials). We tagged along to see what an audience with Gwyneth is like.

4:30p.m. Alow key set-up

There's just one small poster at the entrance advertising Paltrow'sbeauty talk.We'reushered to the third floorwhere a subdued,mostly female, crowd filtersin. People(of all ages) starttaking their seatsas servers pass outfresh-pressed juices and gluten- andsugar-free snacks.Make-up artists demoPaltrow's Juice beauty products in the back.

OnlookerClaire Kerr is scrolling on her smartphonesnappingphotos of theevent and the crowd, we figure. Nope. Turns out she'splaying Pokemon Go.Still, she'sdefinitely thereto see Paltrow.

"I will be buying her lipstick...I didn't come here to pray," she quips, making a reference to celebrity-obsessed gawkers.

Robin Jun, alongtime fan of Paltrow's lifestyle brand, thinks the staris inspiringbecause she seems to be able to "do it all."Still, the devotee muses, "We never see her staff in her Instagram photos."

Jun's here today "because I want to see her in person, rather than when she is edited or scripted on Instagram."

4:50p.m. Her RoyalGoopnessenters

Suddenly, there'smovement by the front podium. Phones are held up and people take their final positions in theirseats or by the stage.

Paltrow arrives in head-to-toe pink. There are murmursabout her outfit, which brings to mindthe famed Calvin Klein dress she wore for her Shakespeare in Love Oscar win areminder thatshe used to act before she becamea lifestyle brand.

Introductions are made onstage:Paltrow along with Juice BeautyfounderKaren Behnke and Emily Dougherty,the beauty director ofEllemagazine in theU.S.Doughertywas pickedto helm thisheavily moderated conversation aboutthe new line (noquestions from the audience, no broadcast video cameras allowed).

4:55 p.m. All eyes on Paltrow

The crowd is rapt, apparently drinking in "Juice." All eyes are on Paltrow.

Dougherty is adorable in her gushingadmiration for the star.Meanwhile, the object of herfawninglooks blas.

5:00 p.m. The P word?

Is Paltrow, as rumoured, a perfectionist?

Behnkesaysshe prefers the term "striving for excellence."Paltrowresponds with a smirk before going on to say shedidn't want to create a sub-par product and that the non-toxic new beautyline has to be as good or better than what's out now.

There is a lot of detailed discussion about the ingredients in the beauty products.Paltrowgoes into a vague explanation about what makes an organic productsomething about a super-strict organics board inCalifornia.

Nomention about organic productregulations in Canada.

5:15 p.m. Don't ask about the cream blush?

We're havingsome serious issues with themicrophones:theybuzz and crackle and give off high-pitched noises. Paltrowdoes not look impressed. Dougherty tries to ignore them, which is difficult,so she makesjokes.

Dougherty has heard Paltrowloves the cream blushapparently her favourite product in the lineand asks her about it.

"Isn't there anything more important in the world than cream blush?" There is an awkward pause. The crowd isn't sure if she is joking or not.

Isn't there anything more important in the world than cream blush?- Gwyneth Paltrow

Dougherty quipsher way out of the moment, making lightofhow hard it is to be a beautify editor.Shejokingly asks Paltrowto give her a break.

"You just looked so seriouswhen you were asking me about blush!"Paltrowqualifies.

Eventually though, the star gets serious. She admits to fighting with her make-up obsessed 12-year-old daughter Apple about the "toxic" beauty products the pre-teen orders online. That's partly why Paltrow wanted to create the beauty line; so her daughter and others could have options.

5:25 p.m. It's a wrap

The talk wraps up with Dougherty askingtwo questions "from the audience."They are somethingabout beauty and make-up. She subsequentlythanks Paltrowfor letting her "be a nerd."

Paltrow rises and a crowd politely forms around the podium to take photos. Then, she's whisked away. As Dougherty also leaves the podium, she looks like she may pass out.

The crowd thins out fast.A few remain to try some product. Robin Jun runs up to flaga few inaccuracies about the actual health benefits of organic fruit and vegetables (versus non-organic) madeduringthe talk.

5:35 p.m. The verdict?

KeshavBajajwanted to see Paltrowup close and in person.The beautyintern at Fashion Magazineencounters celebrity-endorsed products all the time,but many stars aren't really involved.Hewanted to know:was Paltrowfor real?

His takeaway?Bajaj thought Paltrow was authentic and seemed focused onmaking sure her brand, and the philosophy of her brand, was correctlypromoted a model he thinks othersshould follow.

Still, thetalk was a bit awkward, he says. Itseemed like everyone was here to bask in her glow, he adds, as he returns toadmiringthe lipstick he'strying.