IMATS 2011 Recap

So IMATS happened in Toronto this past weekend.  For those that don't know it's an International Makeup Trade Show that comes once a year.  For the past couple of years I've worked the Yaby booth w/ creator Liz Yu and fellow makeup/hair artist Ashley Readings.  This year I could only work the Sunday b/c I had a wedding on the Sat. but it was still a great time, I got to meet some great ppl (nice finally meeting you Delia, Roshar & Angie!) and of course do a little shopping!

I'll be honest I really didn't buy that many "exciting" things when it came to makeup this year.  Actually I  know this is sad but I don't buy too many "exciting" makeup products in general anymore :(  These days I find myself mostly just stocking up on supplies and replenishing my kit.

From Yaby I basically just stocked up on some of my fav/popular Powder Foundations, Liquid Foundations, Concealers and Highlighters...the only thing I did get that was "Fun" was some new lipsticks lol!

From Alcone I got my usual big bag of sponges that I try to make last for at least most of the year.  I use to use a lot of sponges while I worked...I'm trying to cut down on this now lol.  I use to always get all my disposables from the booths at IMATS too but now I just get things on ebay...God I LOVE ebay lol!

I of course stocked up on my fav. go to moisturizer - Embryolisse .  It's a makeup artist staple and I've been using it for the past couple of years now.  I also picked up a new moisturizer they have designed specifically for Oily skin (key ingredient being cornstarch) - Emulsion Hydra Matt.  I couldn't resist after Vicki Millar stopped by the booth to tell me about it!

I was also lucky enough to get the LAST newly designed brush cup from MUFE!  My old one has def. seen better days and when I saw Roshar w/ the  new one I knew I had to get it!  At first they thought they were out but at the end of the night they found one misplaced and were nice enough to come find me at the Yaby booth so I could buy it!  So nice of them!  The new one is more rigid then the old one which is great b/c I was having trouble getting the old one to stay standing all the time.  The best part is it's bigger...def. a BIG plus for me!

The other stuff I bought at IMATS this year was Airbrush stuff.  I've been doing airbrush a bit in the last year but I really want to focus in on it a bit more and I def. needed a wider range of foundations and brands b/c previously I only had OCC.  So I bought a couple of Graftobian airbrush foundations (unfortunately they were out of a lot of them so I just got the two colours I use the most in my cream palettes - Vixen & Ingenue).  I also got a starter set of S/B foundation, Adjusters, Primer and Airbrush Cleaner from Temptu b/c again Vicki Millar always raves about it!

One of the things I was most excited about for the show this year was the fact that Roshar was guest speaking for Yaby! Roshar is a huge inspiration to me and you know what so NICE in person!  Seriously, really friendly...sometimes you're let down when  you meet someone you admire in person.  He did an amazing look for the Yaby seminar...I only wish I could have actually seen it!  That's the only downside to working the show is you never get to see any of the amazing seminars that are held!

Liz, Roshar & Demo Model (Don't you just LOVE the new Yaby pic in the back!)

Ashley, Roshar & Myself

Ashley and I tried on the wig from the demo...not our best looks lol!

 

Yaby Booth - Busy Busy!

Liz had new display tester units designed - So Much Nicer, Cleaner & Easier for EVERYONE!

Ladies Hard At Work Filling Orders!

Overall, the show was a great success IMO and I def. think it was busier this year on Sunday then last year!  I'm also so excited for Liz and to see how the brand is growing in recognition EVERY year!  Hopefully the show will just keep getting bigger and better!

IMATS Toronto 2010

So this past weekend brought IMATS to Toronto!  Always an exciting time of year when I get to stock up on all the supplies I so desperately need at really good prices.  Like last yr I was working w/ Liz Yu and Ashley Readings at the Yaby Booth. 

As you guys all know I LOVE Yaby Cosmetics and really believe in the brand and know a lot about it so it's really easy for me to work at that booth and talk about the products.  Plus Liz is so easy going that it basically feels like friends just hanging around and talking.  It was also really great b/c I got to meet some readers which is always so much fun!

As per usual Sat. was insanely busy at the show while Sunday was a lot calmer and more relaxed.  What I always find funny is how "done up" some girls are when they go to a trade show...like more then club done up and this is at 8:30 am...there was a huge line up just to get in at 8:30!  I'm also always amazed at how much BAD makeup I see at a makeup show...and I mean BAD!  Seriously, sometimes all it takes is an extra 30 secs to blend out that eye and it makes a world of difference!  I know it's mean to say but it goes to show just b/c you love makeup doesn't mean you're good at it or have a good eye.  I mean I love to sing but no one is EVER going to pay me to do it lol!

The one thing that is disappointing about working the booth is I never get a chance to see some of the great demos and talks that happen on the main stage but what can you do. 

So this yr was a bit different then other years for me when it came to purchasing.  In the past it was a lot about building my kit and buying new products while this year it really wasn't so much about buying new products as just replenishing my old supplies and products.  Which is exciting b/c that means I'm actually working enough to have to replenish things lol!  One of the big things I wanted to replenish was sponges.  Every year I go to Alcone and buy a giant bag of sponges.  This year I wanted to buy 2 but they didn't bring any!  This literally was one of the biggest things I wanted to buy!  Thank god Embryolisse was there so I could at least buy my moisturizer!  I also bought a couple of new brushes, mascara wands, brush cleaner and a Graftobian HD Foundation Palette Warm #1 (my other one was almost done)...nothing really exciting I'm sorry to say.  Oh wait I also bought 3 new lip tars from OCC...that's pretty exciting lol!

Plus for working Yaby I also got a shit load of products which is always fun and exciting!  I practically have EVERY Yaby product at this point but there were definitely a few favourites I needed desperately to restock on like Powder Foundations from the Med. Palette - LOVE!  Some Yaby Powder Highlight shades, Liquid Foundations, some eyeshadows and lip colours.  Plus I actually bought a bunch of stuff for myself to make my own palette to take w/ me for the gym and stuff. 

I NEVER actually buy makeup for myself anymore beyond mascara I swear.  I always just take my cast offs that I don't want to carry in my kit anymore so to actually make a little Yaby palette just for me was actually pretty exciting lol!

Here's some pics from the Yaby Booth as well as "My Makeup Haul"

Ashley striking a pose at Yaby!

 The Crowd on the much less busy Sunday!

 Liz working the booth!

 Ashley & I - Btw I'm wearing my new Lip Tar in Pageant!

 Me being silly...and slightly perverse lol eating one of the yummy Korean cucumbers Liz brought us to snack on!  Btw the lip tar lasted all day!  I even ate an apple and it stayed!

 My Haul!