IMATS LA 2010

My first time attending the IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) was a blast! Imagine a convention center jam packed with 119 cosmetic vendors and 9,000 makeup junkies. Amazing!

I must admit I was quite overwhelmed by sheer abundance of people when I first stepping into the show. Just check out the crowds!

I love brushes so much which is why the Royal Langnickel Brushes booth was my first stop. Their brushes are exceptional quality and an unbeatable price!

1. Large Kabuki (synthetic) $6
2. Powder Fluff (natural) $10
3. Line & Smudge (natural) $5
4. Dome Powder Pointed (natural) $13
5. Talkon Contour (synthetic) $8
6. Complexion (natural) $10
7. Baby Dome (natural) $8
8. Small Stippler (synthetic) $7

The quality of these brushes is amazing. They are made from sturdy wood handles and soft dense fibers comparable to MAC's. I'm sure they will last for many years.

Then I browsed  through looking at some of the most talked about booths.  I bought a couple things from: Naked Beauty, Miss Adore, Youngblood Cosmetics, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics & NYX.

I also had fun meeting the popular YouTube Makeup Gurus like:

Cute sisters Blair & Elle! Check out their channels here and here.

The very fun & talented Kandee Johnson!

 And the very creative Julie G!

These talented young ladies were all so nice and boy were they popular!

Overall the show was much more than I expected. My favorite parts were taking advantage of the discounts at the booths and the fabulous fashion show.  Needless to say I will be attending the IMATS again next year!

LOVING - Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars

Blending different colors and textures is absolutely one of my favorite techniques to use on clients. I love to mix it up! The Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars are perfect for blending with your favorite lip products.

 Lip Tars in Cha Cha & Hush, $12.50

What I love about them:

• Formula: 100% vegan, contains Vitamin E, Hemp Oil & Peppermint Oil
• Texture: the perfect balance of light & creamy 
• Benefits: intense color which means a little goes a long way
• Versatility: wide range of colors that are perfect for color correction & enhancement

Bellisima!

Sunday I participated in my first bridal show-The Bellisima Bride Bridal Show at the Hyatt in Valencia. Since this was my first, I didn't know what to expect but I knew that it would be a chance for me to expose my company to a lot of excited brides. It was so fun to meet all the bride to be! My business was well received and I'm excited about all the connections I made. Check out my setup and a few pictures from the day!

Special thanks to my wonderful husband for running out to Kinko's at midnight to get my sign printed! I couldn't have done it without him!

I raffled off a free makeover and consultation!

Thanks to my friend Tiffany for connecting me with the show through her job J&M Entertainment!

 The President of J&M Entertainment Jorge Lopez

Pictures of My Weekend

This weekend was full of errands in preparation for my first bridal show-The Bellisima Bride Bridal Show in Valencia. Although I had a lot of things to accomplish in a short period of time I still managed to have some fun along the way.

 My best friend kept me company while I was driving around picking up supplies and we stole a chance to get a mani/pedi. I tried a new color by Essie called Turquoise & Caicos. Love it!

A glimpse of my Bridal Show display! (more to come)

After the show I had a late lunch at the mall and snagged a couple necklaces at Forever 21!
A little bling for $10.80!

This adorable elephant for $6.40!

A bridal show post will be up soon!

Bridal Makeup: Sonia Gutierrez

I had the pleasure of meeting Sonia Gutierrez when my good friends over at Digishots Photography referred me to her. Nate & Samantha Hines are the husband and wife team that own Digishots. They have over 20 years of experience photographing weddings. It is always a pleasure to work with them - Nate is a riot! I'm so excited to share the beautiful photos  they took of Sonya! She has a wonderful and sincere spirit that radiates through her smile.

Love that smile!

Want to know what I used to get this look? Check out the list below!