IMATS 2011- Haul

It has taken me forever to post this blog! I’d like to think of this as “the mother of all hauls” IMATS style. I went crazy, but I’m very happy with all my products. Also, I had fun doing a photo shoot for the products! I split the products up by company for the shoot. If you have any questions regarding any of the products  please leave me a comment below. Enjoy!

TaDaaaaaaaa!

Too Faced, products from left to right: Tanning Bed in a Tube, Glitter Glue, Poolside Primping (it's a gift for my friend! I hope she doesn't see this before I give it to her. haha), sample of Primed and Poreless, Starry Eyed Glitter eye liner, and Shadow Insurance 

I haven't bought any of these products before so I'm very excited to try them out. I actually do have the poolside primping myself, and I really like all the products that comes with it. Most of the products are full-size, and I thought this would be a perfect gift for my friend. I hope she likes it!!

How I will use some of the products:

• Starry Eyed Glitter: It's such a pretty blue glitter and it stands out a lot more by topping it on a color liner. I bought from Stila that would be perfect (scroll down to check out the Stila liners)
• Glitter Glue: I want to try it on its own with globs of glitter placed on top OR topped on an eyeshadow with glitter to add some sparkle to the look.  

Sadly, Sigma was not selling products at the show, but they were passing out a coupon voucher and a deluxe sample of their new eyeshadows, LOVE them! The ladies at Sigma are so sweet.

NYX cosmetics: glitter eye liners on the sides and glitter shadow palette (center) I still need to play around with the palette

How I use the liners: I've been topping them over my liner (I usually use black, but sometimes a color liner that pops) and it adds the right amount of glitter without looking too overdone. If you want more glitter add a few extra coats.

MakeUp ForEver products from left to right: lipstick, Uplight #23, Mat Velvet+ #40, Uplight #22, Gloss #6

I use the Uplight by applying under my foundation or mixing it with my foundation. The lighter color I use as a highlighter, usually over my foundation.

Stila products from top to bottom: double ended brush #33, sparkle waterproof liquid eye liner in royal, electric, starry, and bora bora

I use the brush as a concealer brush. It looks big, but it's perfect for me. I apply my concealer with the small end and blend with the larger end.

Silk brushes left to right: 2 Crease #BE17, Super Foundation #C142, Short Liner #C456, LG Smudger #C445, and Contour Shadow #C265 

 Model in a Bottle from top to bottom, left to right (like an L-shape): Eyebrow Sealer, Lash Builder, 2 Model in a Bottle, and Makeup Remover

Check out my post on Model in a Bottle by clicking here.

Eye Kandy Sprinkles Kit: 2 Brushes, Base (in the bag), and Glitters

Sour Grape, Sour Blast, Sour Berry, Candy Coin, Double Bubble, and Tiny Tart

Products from right to left: Miss Adoro lashes #28, SUN self tanning foam, Napoleon Perdis lipgloss, Senna lip liner, Lime Crime lipstick, and Miss Adoro lashes #1

I love everything I got at the show. I don't know why it took me so long to post this blog, but I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any of the products above and use them in a creative way let me know how, I would love to know about it. Thanks!!

IMATS 2011- Events

Part two of my IMATS 2011 trip. There are so many things to do at IMATS. One of the things I really wanted to do this year is get my makeup done by Tiffany D! I have been watching her YouTube videos since about the time she started them. I think she is very talented, informative and I like her different techniques when applying makeup. I’ve always wanted her to do my makeup and I had my chance this year at IMATS! My first to do was to get to the sign up before it filled up. I was nervous since I wasn’t one of the first in line to get into the showroom. IMATS already started and I was still in line to get my wristband. I practically ran over to the Sigma booth for the sign up. I probably looked crazy to the ladies at the booth when I approached because I was nervous I might have missed my chance, but as it turns out I was the first to sign up!! I got my appointment time and I needed to be there 10 minutes early to keep my spot.

This is just a glimpse of how crowded it was. Photo courtesy of Michelle Lim. Thanks Mi!

Lots of people

As my appointment time approached I made my towards the Sigma booth and it was so crowded. Everyone was there to see Tiffany and take pictures. I checked in and I was about five minutes early. When I was introduced to Tiffany she was absolutely sweet and it was so nice talking to her. She did a purple eye look on me from Sigma’s new Flare palette, which I need to get soon. I loved the look and I was so happy I got to meet Tiffany. Below are some of the photos my friends took during the makeover.

Makeover time!

Tiffany applying the new Sigma shadows!

Adding the finishing touch. Photo courtesy of Mimi!

After the makeover! Photo courtesy of Mimi

Later I was walking by a company Sun Laboratories and I wanted to buy some of their tanning foam. They were spray tanning people and I really wanted to get it done, but I was wearing pants. I wasn’t about to take them off for a spray tan! This year, I wore shorts and it worked out great. When I was getting ready to get sprayed I asked the woman, “Should I take off my sandals?” Her reply was that it wasn’t necessary. When I show you the pictures below I’d like to know what you think. Was it necessary or not to take off my sandals? The spray tan developed throughout the day and to be honest by the end of the day, I thought I couldn’t see a difference. The color on my leg was my natural color. My friends kept telling me that I looked really dark, but I didn’t believe them. It wasn’t until I lifted my shorts a little to compare the bare part of my leg with the sprayed part. It was night and day. It was as if the bottom portion of my leg went on a vacation somewhere tropical and sunny and the upper portion went somewhere in the arctic. I have to say I really liked the tan color, and I’m glad I purchased the tanning foam.

Getting sprayed, it's cold

Remember she told me to it wasn't necessary to take off my sandals.....

I think maybe I should have taken them off. hahaha!

I have been really obsessed with glitter lately and I got my fix at IMATS this year. Eye Kandy was demonstrating their product on everyone who wanted it. They had so many different colored glitters, it was amazing! I decided to get a purple glitter as my eyeliner to go with the purple shadow I was wearing. It was such a pretty color and I ended up getting six glitters. I’m so excited to use them all.

Swatches of the glitters

Close up

After IMATS my friends and I went to the Beautylish event at the Sheraton Hotel. The theme was a cupcake meet and greet. How cute is that?!?!? This was my first Beautylish event and it was awesome! I’m actually very shy and this experience made me feel so comfortable and I talked to everyone around me. The event was the perfect end to a perfect day!!

Cuteness! Photo courtesy of Mimi!

The signing board

My contribution, & I really do love Beautylish!!

YUM! It was AMAZING!

These are just a few of the things that are at IMATS. There is so much to do in one day, but I did everything I wanted and I’m so happy I was able to meet Tiffany, get an instant tan, embrace my glitter obsession, and enjoy a cupcake with beauty lovers.  

IMATS 2011- Highlights

I’ve decided to breakdown my IMATS trip into three posts. The first (this one) will be an overview of everything that happened with lots of pictures. The second will include the events the booths were doing (makeovers, new product demos, etc) and I took part in. Finally, the third will be a haul post of all the products I got at the show. Hope you enjoy them all!!

A quick rewind… If you read my post on past IMATS shows you know I have been anxiously waiting for IMATS 2011 to come. Every year I have so much fun trying out new products, seeing what is new in the beauty world and taking pictures of all the makeup looks around me. It’s really nice to have a weekend dedicated to cosmetics and makeup artistry. It’s a weekend I look forward to every year, and this year was no exception. Every year I try to have a game plan with my friends to ensure we get to do everything we want to do. Some years a game plan helps, while other years there is no point in having one. I hope these pictures give you an idea of the excitement at the show. If you were there tell me about your experience in the comments below!!!!     

Testing out some of the aqua liners from Stila & Makeup Forever before the show

AHHHHHHHH!!! IT'S HERE!!!!!

Crowd walking into the showroom

Line for Makeup Forever, I think

Too Faced 2011 fall collection, I can't wait!

Eye Kandy glitter sparkle eye liners

Bird woman

Artist at work

This was the student competition makeup area

Student competition, this year the theme was Tribal Beauty

Another makeup creation by an artist

Another artist at work

This looked so creepy in person

Dull face and body makeup with prosthetics

I zoomed in on the hand, it looked so creepy

One of the student competition entries

Sadly, they did not place, but I really liked this look

JOKER!

Beetlejuice

He looks so proper in this photo

Body airbrushing

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, please tell me what you think. I had such an amazing time at IMATS this year. It's only been a few days, but I can't wait until next year!! The countdown begins....

Model in a Bottle: A love story

I have searched far and wide for a product to help my makeup last all day. A few years ago I tried a setting spray from Cinema Secrets. It was very easy to use. You simply misted your face with the spray, let it dry, and Voila . . . you were ready to go. At first the formulation seemed perfect, but the more I used it, the more I began to notice its imperfections. The spray would feel heavy on my face, and during the application process, instead of spraying out of the bottle as a gentle mist, it shot out like a laser beam. . . you could imagine the danger I put myself in every time I used it. Another issue that came up was the fact that my makeup would look really blotchy anytime I had to touch it up. Not a good look! The idea of a setting spray was appealing, and I wanted it to work, but I found myself back to square one on discovering the perfect product that would help my makeup last all day.  

It's a 2oz bottle, and it holds over 300 sprays per bottle. With camera flash. 

You can see the packaging a bit better in this one. Without camera flash.

It was not long after that I crossed paths with perfection. Every year I go to IMATS Los Angeles, and if my memory serves me correctly (I usually like to add a little drama & pizazz to a story) this is how I was introduced to Model in a Bottle. I was walking down an aisle at the convention aimlessly and as I looked up past some vendors there was a light beaming on a particular booth and a choir singing right next to it. I thought to myself, "I wonder what that is," and I felt the sudden urge to run over to the warm and captivating booth. As I dashed over to the booth it was like I warped into another world: the world of Model in a Bottle. My outfit was transformed into a beautiful ball gown; my hair and makeup were flawless. I was greeted with a spritz of Model in a Bottle on my face to help my flawless look last all day. As the fine mist landed on my face, it didn’t feel heavy, and it had a lovely scent. So many things were happening all around me; I couldn't help but be fascinated. For example, they served cupcakes that were ZERO calories and other tasty treats and offered champagne that flowed from a fountain. Every person that walked by had flawless makeup that looked like it was freshly applied. I knew it had something to do with the magical spray! Then finally, there it was on the display, Model in a Bottle. Once I had it in my hands I could feel it was special, and it really was! I’ve been using it for the past 2 or 3 years and I’ve never looked back. The real story of my introduction: I walked up to the booth and decided to try it and I fell in love.

This is my makeup at the end of the day. I did NOT touch up. Although, maybe I should have applied at least a little lip color. I did use paper blotters to take some of my shine away. Also, it was a warm day, and it lasted.

My eye makeup didn't crease at all! I did have on more blush, but the flash from my camera washed me out.

What I love about it:

·         Helps my makeup last all day

·         The mist is fine, and settles nicely onto the skin

·         I do touch up, but not nearly as much as I did before I started using it

Tips:

·         If it does happen to leave droplets on your skin, a quick fix is to lightly blend using a tapping motion with a duo fibre brush.

·         Apply it once your makeup is done and your mascara is completely dry and keep your eyes closed when you spray it

·         I usually do about two to four sprays for my whole face

Perfect for:

·        Everyday use

·         Traveling, I always take mine when I travel, it’s a must

·         Weddings or any special occasion

·         Clubs or lounges or just going out

Quick note: I know to some people the scent is strong (it’s a fresh/clean scent), I really like it though. Also, before I forget, if you have sensitive skin they make a sensitive skin formula of Model in a Bottle. If you go to their website they have a list of retailers that sell Model in a Bottle, just type in your zip code. Check it out, Model in a Bottle. If you’ve tried it tell me what you think in the comments below.