The International Make-up Artist Trade Show (IMATS)

As an avid  youtube viewer, I often came across IMATS videos. Makeup Gurus would rant and rave about deals, steals and the great networking opportunities. I always wanted to go but my work schedule never allowed it. Imagine my glee when I saw this year's dates for IMATS Los Angeles and realised I would finally be able to go.

The IMATS LA was in Pasadena California on June 25th and 26th and it was all I had hoped for and more.  The Exhibitor List provided everything from glam to ghoulish for makeup artists and  makeup enthusiasts. 

Thanks to two major flight delays I landed 12 hours later than expected ..so I obviously I had some catching up to do. I threw myself head first into the shopping!! You can get everything from pointed q-tips to prosthetic noses. I had my fingers in them all. INGLOT, MAC, NYX, Crown Brush,  Sugar Pill ..this list just goes on and on.


If you go to the IMATS, don't spend all your time testing the limits of your credit card, try to get some knowledge. Yes I said it, try to pry yourself away from the 40% discount at the Makeup Forever booth and make sure you sit in on some of the exciting classes that are planned with the makeup lover in mind. Throughout the day the some of industry's best can be found in classrooms and stages throughout the IMATS sharing their knowledge. Kevin James Bennett, Valente Frazier, Romero Jennings , Koren Zander are only a small fraction talent present at the show who are willing to answer your questions and even pose for a photo.

lilpumpkinpie06 of youtube

Makeupgameonpoint on Facebook

eyeluvmakeup  from youtube

http://www.youtube.com/user/eyeXluvXmakeup 

Sindy doll MUA

http://www.youtube.com/user/GUATEMALANHOTMAMA

Lauren

The Queen of Blending

Kandee Johnson

Had to take a pic here !

Lessha aka xsparkage

Kevin James Bennett

Judy of ItsJudyTime on yt

Judy, Me, Iris, JulieG713 (youtube gurus)

Koren Zander of Enkore Makeup

Lisa Nunez 

twitter : @LMNmakeup

David Klasfeld

CEO and Creative Director of New York based professional makeup line,Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

Missy Lynn 

www.start2finishmua.com

Valente Frazier 

www.valentefrazier.com/

Sonia aka Sccastaneda on fb, twitter and yt

 Elessa Vovan aka Pursebuzz

Some of my tweeeps 

Purely Cosmetics, me , lvmakeup and LMNmakeup

Surrounded by gurus

Jazziebabycakes, Petrilude and MacNC40

The amazing Christina of Beautylish

 signing the board at the Beautylish Cupcake Event 

The After Glow Party at the Sheraton Hotel

Krissy90220  http://www.addictedtoallthingspretty.com

  Tatiana aka Beatfacehoney

http://beatfacehoney.com/ 

Simone of Sigma makeup

Romero Jennings of MAC Cosmetics

http://romerojennings.carbonmade.com

Maxi from Blush Reality Show  twitter @maximaximaxi 

http://maxihairandmakeup.com

MY HAUL

I had a blast at the IMATS and I WILL  return!

The Girl Next Door : Typhany

Typhany came as an open book. She was willing to try any makeup look, but I could see diva written all over her. No shrinking wall flower here, so I gave Typhany  a look she  could rock to any one of her favorite party spots. I used my go-to blue shadow Mac's  Sea and Sky . For me, MAC can just sell the sea and forget the sky part , the deep cobalt blue is to die for. I gave Typhany  a wind tunnel eye, smoldering in the beginning and elongated at the end. Pairing this with a soft bronze highlight allows the blue to stand on its own.

As I am applying blush Typh says "I thought I was too dark for blush!!!" Too dark!!!! Oh darling, there is no such thing. Placing a bright pink blush high on her cheeks I proved Typhany wrong and made her smile all at the same time. A two-fer if ever there was one.
With all this action on her face a simple bronze lip made Typhany sultry and party ready.

Typhany Before

Typhany After

All photos below by Risee Chaderton

Tip.  You can pair high voltage eye makeup with a nude or more subtle lip to achieve balance in your makeup looks.

Behind the Scenes 

Lots more Girl Next Door (GND) to come. 

:-)

Fun in the Sun: A Quest for Oil Control

Whenever Rally Barbados comes around I know that summer action and Kadooment is not far behind!! I know for the rally, girls put on their bikini tops and shorts ...I am not one of those girls. I know girls fight the heat by wearing their  hair in modest heat-sensible hairstyles ...I am not one of those girls. I've even heard that some girls go  the entire  two days wearing only sunglasses and a smile on their face .... I am sooooooo NOT one of those girls.
So big hair : check
Makeup :check

This time around I decided to use the rally to test a product.I  decided to tackle a question I am asked all the time . What can I buy to combat oil on my face during these summer months.  The list is exhaustive ...if you live in Miami. But with the nearest Sephora being miles away I decided to take a look around the local scene for an option.
I found very few oil control primers and as usual had to make a bee line for Cave Shepherd straight to MAC Cosmetics.

I would use MAC Oil Control  Lotion and would observe the changes to my makeup look over the hot days ahead...oh and watch the rally too.

I must admit that when it comes to makeup I have been experimenting with my face from a wee lass. Apparently (and this is according to my friends) I spent my days in Secondary School plotting my escape to the nearest pharmacy or cosmetique where I would spend every last cent on makeup. 
But skincare in those early years was not important. Even now I am sure more money is spent buying shadows than on  a good skin care regime. Sad, I know.

Having said that, after reading reviews I realised it was not enough to take MAC Oil Control Lotion and slather onto your face once, then expect miraculous results. It is an item that should be coupled with consistent use and over time you notice less and less need for dabbing and wiping.

On application the formula feels smooth on the skin and absorbs easily. It doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and taut as some would expect from an oil control. If you like unscented products you may have to look again as this one smells sweet and fragrant. It comes in a cute pump bottle which I like as I am always spilling something. Below is the description given by MAC.

The ultimate no-shine base for oil control. Natural exfoliants help improve texture and clarity. Lightweight and instantly matte, bonds makeup to the skin for fewer touch-ups. Oil-free hydration with natural colloidal minerals and antioxidants. Formulated to keep skin pH-balanced. Use day or night.

And now onto the rally

Over three days ,King of the Hill , Sol Rally Barbados Day 1 and 2 , I saw thrills , spills and an oil slick..the slick being on my face.

King of the Hill

Spent most of the day under a tent but the heat and humidity still found a way to get to me.

Sol Rally Barbados Day 1

In the Morning.

Note my happy smiling face , feeling great, ready to go and virtually oil free.

Still feeling great and the oil control is doing its job.

Evening

Still smiling but OMG look at my face.

Clearly miracles come from above and not from a bottle, no evidence of oil control now.


 Sol Rally Barbados Day 2

Morning

Hmmmm I am starting to believe that the rally may best be viewed from the airconditioned comfort of a vehicle .

Midday

Damaged car and crumpled hair style.

While testing I got a chance to watch the rally.

Evening

After all of this what do I think? I think my quest will continue . Of course I will continue to use my MAC but when I travel this summer, I will be keeping  my eyes open for new products to add to my arsenal.

Do you have any favourite oil control products ? Let me know about them.



Mac Surf Baby Product Launch

Mac Surf Baby Product Launch

Mac Cosmetics’ launches are exciting the world over and Barbados is no different. For large collections I am scouring the web for any glimpse of preview promotional images. I had already decided that my purchases for the Mac Surf Baby collection, if any, would be restricted to the pigment stacks. (Saving for Travel - more info to come J)

I don’t know why, but pigments are my weakness. Strange since no matter  the packaging, I invariably spend more time scooping pigment off my counter than I do placing  product on my face.

Anyone who attends a launch knows that a pre-order is a prerequisite or else by the end of the night you are left holding an empty glass and an empty bag. The reason given is that MAC Cosmetics in Barbados is not a self standing Mac Store and there are always limited quantities of these limited edition collections.  In fact, for some of this collection, only three tubes of some  lipsticks were available for purchase. Those lucky ladies are smiling now, I’m sure.

 The launch also gives me a chance to see the lovers of MAC  who I rarely see unless we are all invited to one of these events.

I arrived promptly at 6 p.m. and was greeted by the sounds of Rihanna  and a lovely beverage with colours  inspired by the  collection.

Terrica the new MAC Barbados Product Specialist  gave a demo using many of the products from the collection.

Terrica

Model Marnise Before

During

  and After

A shocker for me was how small the crowd was. Don’t get me wrong, fighting with a girl for the last of the fruit kebabs is not my idea of a good time, but I wondered if someone forgot to send out the invites. Speaking with one of the Mac reps it seems following recent launches,  they decided to scale back the invites.  This was  a welcome change. I was able to see the demo, talk to reps and  actually touch the display without  poking out someone’s eye.

A very modest crowd

The Mac Surf Baby Collection for Summer 2011 . Available at MAC Cosmetics in Bridgetown. 

This time around there was a wonderful selection of hors d'oeuvres . From tangy meat balls to fresh crisp chicken salad wraps and sweet blueberry confections...YUMOO!

Drinks all around !

Missing on the night, were my friends Lola and Sabrina of MAC Barbados but Mac did not leave the floor empty of representatives as two new ladies have been added to the Barbados team Christine (pictured here) and Christianna.

Christine giving some feedback on the products to an eager customer.

The effervescent and ever-helpful Troy

Patricia, Retail Manager

Also present were the ladies of I Hrt Makeup and Colour Coded Makeup

 I Hrt Makeup

Danielle of Colour Coded Makeup

I tried to find teal in my wardrobe. That's the colour I love most from this collection but that didn't work out. So I settled for green and a gold hibiscus inspired by the collections' colourful  beachy packaging.

Making selections

And now for my haul.............

I can't really call it a haul since compared to my norm this looks like slim pickings but I purchased both pigment stacks although I wondered if the pinky/purple stack - "Summer Stash" looked like the Crushed Metal Pigment Stack 1 that I bought last year with the Color Forecast Collection in February 2010.

They clearly are not the same. The four on the left are Summer Stash and on the right Stacked 1. I love them all ...just love pigments. 

 Summer Stash and Surf the Ocean

Feeling inspired I took my haul to the beach.

My haul on the sand !!!!

After viewing this collection I really plan to show some love to my neglected pigments.

Maybe a post on looks with my pigments .. you never know.