Highlights From Toronto IMATS

Makeup lovers crowding around brushes and makeup accessories

Yes, IMATS (International Makeup Artists Trade Show) has come and gone in Toronto and my post is over a week late. Better late than never?

I miss doing makeup. I miss the smiles and the happiness my beautiful clients would exude after I was finished their makeup. Life has a funny way of working, but I believe everything happens for a reason.

IMATS was an event I definitely could not miss. Being amongst makeup artists and some of my favourite beauty brands was exactly what I needed. As soon as I entered the building, I was hit with a buzz of creativity, excitement, and community. It was like I was seeing an old friend again. We picked up exactly where we left off.

Highlights:

Messy me with cutie Hung Vanngo

One of my main reasons for going to IMATS was to meet celebrity makeup artist, Hung Vanngo, who I've admired for many years. We sent each other random emails here and there, but had never officially met. He was exactly how I thought he would be; super sweet, gracious, and utterly adorable!

Makeup gurus Jackie Shawn and Hung Vanngo

To top off the night, celebrity makeup artist, Jackie Shawn, was sitting right beside Hung! I totally scored. Seriously, I get more excited meeting makeup artists than I do Hollywood celebrities! Jackie was so down-to-earth, super bubbly, and had amazing skin!

Yay! Self-shot with Jackie!

I'm a year late, but I've finally joined the Twi-hards as lame as that sounds. It was just a few weeks ago that I decided to see what all the fuss was about - Robert Pattinson. I'm not normally into extremely pale, blood-sucking men, but his mysteriously enticing character, Edward Cullen, made me want to give up my soul if only for just a moment.

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

Meeting Norma Hill-Patton, makeup department head for New Moon, for some reason made me a nervous, blubbering fool! Maybe it had something to do with her touching the face of a certain dreamy pale face. Yes, she would be the closest I would ever get to touching Robert Pattinson. Thankfully, she politely looked past my stuttering and blabbering and smiled for the photo anyways.

Nervous me with New Moon makeup artist, Norma Hill-Patton

There were mixed reviews of IMATS with some feeling more underwhelmed than anything else. Many expressed that IMATS seemed smaller compared to last year's Canadian Makeup Show and not enough vendors were present. Despite these details, I felt renewed and energized again. As much as I love makeup, this year's IMATS was more about reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.

The fabulous Debbie Bondar, founder and CEO of FACE atelier Cosmetics

Me (excuse the messy hair) with yaby Cosmetics owner and makeup artist, Liz Yu

Cityline's Derek Selby and makeup artist and International Communications Director, Wanda Longo both for Cover FX

Left, Monica, founder of BeautyParler.ca and Cover FX PR rep, Melissa

Old makeup artist friend, Lucien, from my Red Earth days

Stay tuned for my in-depth makeup reviews from yaby, Eve Pearl, Cover FX and many more (not to mention my makeup haul)! Read more about Toronto IMATS from around the blogosphere!

www.beautyparler.ca
www.lipstickrules.com
www.facesbyfarah.blogspot.com
www.anjalihanda.blogspot.com
www.jessicajeanmyers.blogspot.com

Beauty Feature: Joy's Top Ten Makeup Products

I was asked to list my top ten makeup products on the official ChickAdvisor blog, Chick Lit. Being a guinea pig has its drawbacks (like horrible outbreaks!), but it's all worth it when I fall in love with some really great beauty finds. Here are my daily go-to products that are overflowing my makeup bag! Click here to read more.

What are your top ten makeup products? Did any of my top ten's make your list? Makeup Junkie wants to know!

Beauty Review: Joe Fresh Beauty

Makeup Junkie always loves a good deal when it comes to makeup. If you’re looking for affordable yet quality makeup products, Joe Fresh Beauty is worth checking out. Read on to see which products we tested and what we think about them.



Cheek Tint ($4 CDN): Creamy cheek tint blends easily, leaving your cheeks with the perfect hint of color. Available in berry, bronze, nude, cherry, peach, and pink.

I tried these in Cherry and Nude. I love both colors. Cherry appears to be a very bold red at first glance but when applied it’s actually pretty sheer. It’s great if you want that nice rosy glow on the cheeks. Nude is a beautiful shimmery natural color and is also pretty sheer. I’ve been using Nude as a highlighter above my cheekbones to add more definition to my face. It really makes my cheekbones pop!


Matte and Sheer Lip Crayon ($6 CDN): Matte or sheer lip crayon formulas glide on smoothly for a dramatic or sheer finish. Available in pink, candy, apple, bare, berry, brick, cherry, cinnamon, malt, bordeaux, plum, and wine.

I tried these in Apple and Plum. Apple is a sheer lip crayon but the pigmentation is amazing. I love that it’s creamy which is great for hydrating my dry lips. I would recommend using this alone and not as a base for lipstick. Plum is a matte lip crayon and not as hydrating as the sheer crayons. The pigmentation is also amazing and it goes on smoothly as well. This can be used alone or as a base to your lipstick. A great color for the fall!

Brow Powder ($6 CDN): Shade and shape your eyebrows with powder that allows for soft, natural looking brows! Available in blonde, auburn, brown, and black.

I love powder when I fill in my eyebrows but I found that this was a little too chalky for my liking. You may experience a little bit of fall-off when you put it on. The pigmentation was really good and I did find that it made my eyebrows look soft and natural. This can also be used as an eye shadow. I'll admit, I’m a little on the fence with this one but for $6 you really can't go wrong.

Have you tried Joe Fresh Beauty? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Makeup Junkie wants to know!

Check online for a store near you!
www.joe.ca

Beauty News: IMATS Comes To Toronto!


Makeup pros and lovers will have the chance to attend Toronto's first ever International Makeup Artist Trade Show (IMATS) this weekend November 21-22. The makeup event of the year will be full of industry pros, resources, classes, and lets not forget...MAKEUP!

You can be sure Makeup Junkie will be there giving you the 411. If you'll be attending the show this weekend, Makeup Junkie highly recommends the following:
  • Alcone: Loved by many in the industry, Alcone is a makeup artist one-stop-shop. What we love: Alcone Non-Latex Sponges and Alcone Makeup Remover Cloths.
  • Beauty So Clean: Makeup and hygiene go hand in hand. We've tested this spray on our powders and lipsticks and we are loving the results so far. Looking forward to learning more about this brand.
  • Cover FX: If you have problematic skin, Cover FX is the brand to turn to. Amazing coverage, doesn't clog pores, and offers a wide range of colours.
  • Crown Brush: Makeup Junkie discovered this line of brushes at last years Canadian Makeup Show and we fell in love! You'll find every brush you can think of at unbelievably affordable prices!
  • Eve Pearl: We'll be honest, Eve Pearl Cosmetics doesn't really appeal to us. But we sure love the makeup artistry genius of Eve Pearl!
  • FACE atelier Cosmetics: If you've been a reader of this site for a while then you know Makeup Junkie is a huge fan of Canadian brand FACE atelier Ultra Foundation! Not to mention, CEO and founder, Debbie Bondar, is a super sweetheart!
  • Make Up For Ever: Need we say more? Backstage members will receive 40% products!
  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics: We are dieing to get our hands on OCC's Lip Tars!
  • yaby cosmetics: Makeup Junkie actually hasn't tried any products from Canadian line yaby, but we've heard rave reviews from makeup artists all over!
Must-See Key Note Speakers:
Hung Vanngo, Saturday, Nov. 21 4-5 pm Main Stage: We've had a little crush on Hung for quite some time (click here to read why). This Canadian celebrity makeup artist is now based in NY and his work has graced the covers of Allure, Glamour, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, InStyle, Interview and most recently i-D Magazine!




Make Up For Ever presents Kevin-James Bennett, Saturday, Nov. 21 12:30-1:30, Main Stage: Durable Beauty - Creating Looks That Last.









Norma Hill-Patton, Sunday, Nov. 22 10:30-11:30, Main Stage: Twilight fans will be running to the stage to hear her experience as makeup department head for The Twilight Saga: New Moon (opens tonight at midnight!).








Details:

Where: Heritage Court inside the Direct Energy Centre, located at 100 Princes’ Blvd.
When: November 21 and November 22
Time: Saturday, 8:30-5 pm, Sunday, 10-5 pm
Ticket Information

www.imatsshow.com

Beauty Review: Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm

Zoya is famously known for their wide selection of nail polishes and we at Makeup Junkie are huge fans! Now I've fallen for Zoya's Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balms and all I can say is that they are the bomb! There are 50 different shades to choose from and they come in these cute short fat tubes.

The only thing I didn’t like about the packaging was the round applicator at the end of the tube. I would have preferred something a little more angled. If you want even coverage then I would recommend using a lip brush.


The colors I tried them in were Resolution (raspberry red), Wink (light copper), and Paparazzi (shimmery nude) and all I can say is that I was very pleased with them. The coverage is pretty sheer but you can build it up by layering and applying more. I have pretty dry lips but once I applied this on, right away they became moisturized. The gloss is long lasting and throughout the day I found my lips to be more soft and hydrated. The gloss is also slightly sticky but not so sticky that it feels like gunk on your lips. These are worth checking out and stocking up on!

Have you tried these uber cute glossies? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Makeup Junkie wants to know!

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm retails for $6 USD.
www.zoya.com