New Youtube Video: IMATS Haul

Charles Fox 

Love-Makeup.co.uk

 Stargazer

Royal & Langnickel

Crown Brush

My IMATS London 2013 Experience

Source

Since becoming a Makeup Artist going to Imats has always been something I wanted to do.  After watching all the vlogs and reading all the blog posts from London Imats 2012 I blatantly told my best friend and fellow MUA Amy that nothing was stopping us going in 2013. This year they decided to to move the show to June as the snow in January 2012 was horrendous. Me and Amy had to wait a whole 18 months for the show it killed us!

Our day started at six o'clock Saturday morning (well mine started 12 hours before that but if I talk about that it will turn into a rant.) Me and Amy had decided to fly over in the morning and fly back in the evening to give us more money to play around with shopping. We flew into Gatwick Airport at half nine and headed straight into the train station. The station is in the airport so pretty simply to catch the train. I had pre-booked our tickets online so I had our whole journey planned our prior to arriving. We had to get a train to Clapham Junction and then from there to Kensington Olympia. Clapham Junction is Crazy confusing with 17 different platforms trains arriving every minute enclosed underground tunnels, you think Connolly station is busy you have seen nothing yet. With a quick pit stop to the shop for some energy drinks and oaty breakfast bar we hoped on the train to Kensington and 10 minutes later we were at Imats.

There was a little queue outside when we got there as even though we had our online tickets you still had to register at the door. When we arrived there at 11am the show was in full swing and the hall was quickly filling up. We had a little walk around first, got lay of the land a bit and decided to head to M.A.C first as it looked quite busy.

M.A.C had one of the biggest stands in the centre of the room. Each side had a till in the centre and the corners had 4 mini stands. Each stand had 4/5 sales assistants standing by them. The mini stands each had different products. One foundation, one lipstick and lip pencils, one eye shadows and blushers and one with all their other products. Amy had a long list for each section. Me myself only wanted some foundation so I left her to it. I headed straight to its mini stand and was quickly served by a very friendly lad with floppy hair and a tan. He popped my foundations in a bag and gave me a ticket and to go stand in the till queue.

The queue was atrocious there was only 15 ahead of me but it took an hour to get to the top as they were handling Mac Pro card applications at the till. Frankly I think they should of had a separate till for it as it just held things up significantly. During this time the hall got even busier and the heat got unbearable.

From there we went onto Love Makeup I could not get into to see anything so decided to pop back a while later. We headed to Inglot only to find it was basically cheaper to shop at home with our pro discount. I picked up one thing but only because I needed it ASAP. Otherwise we both left disappointed from Inglot.

We then headed to Stargazer. They had a great selection of products and some good bargains so I scooped up a few things. From there we headed to Makeup Forever.

I did not need anything but Amy had a little list, unfortunately she did not have a great experience here. The stand was pretty busy but the customer service was not up to par. I stood away from the stand but could see the sales assistants standing in the middle of the stand having a chinwag and poor Amy been one of many trying to get their attention. After 25 minutes she left the stand with no products and in the height of it.

We headed to Crown Brush one of our favourite stands at the Irish Beauty Show. We both wanted a palette and I picked up a few brushes even though I have near 200, can never have enough!

Next onto Royal and Langnickel where Amy picked up a brush set for herself and I restrained myself and only got one brush.

I headed back to Love Makeup and picked up some Lime Crime goodies. I really wanted a Pigment from Sugapill and the powder brush from Real Techniques but they had sold out of both. Can I just say the women that served me was extremely friendly and helpful and got me the last Lime Crime lipstick in the shade I wanted.

I then went onto to Charles Fox and picked up some Special Effects goodies. Their prices were super and the stand was not to packed either so I was in and out in a jiffy.

Amy hit a few more smaller stands to pick up stencils and paints and I had a look around some other brush stands looking for the perfect powder brush but alas I had yet to find one that matches my LA Makeup one. 

The hall was extremely crowded now and me and Amy had small wheelie suitcases. This seemed to annoy some other fellow shoppers even though we tried really hard to manoeuvre where the crowds were dense and if we had to squeeze through people we lifted the cases. We decided to head back to Makeup Forever so Amy could give them another go hoping for better service.

I stood to the side and waited 40 minutes for her to reemerge during this time I caught glimpses of Fleur de Force, BeautyCrush and Sprinkle of Glitter. I was a bit star struck and did not go say hi which I am kicking myself over. Crowds of young girls crowded around them for pictures and chats. I barely saw them move in the 40 minutes they were close to me every time they tried to approach a stand they were quickly surrounded by another group of girls. I kind of felt for them in a way.

Amy soon emerged and we decided to leave we were tired and extremely warm and needed some food. It was only past 3pm. I did not attend any talks which I am a bit disappointed about but I missed the one I really wanted to go to waiting at the M.A.C stand and my concentration was gone for the later ones.

Me and Amy's plan is to head to Canada next year on a work visa so London IMATS is not on the cards but we do plan to hit the Vancouver one in Canada except this time we will plan to do it a little different. We plan on on getting our Makeup Artist Gold Pro card which entitles us to head to the Pro only event. Which means easier more relaxed shopping and not so many people.  Also I am going to write a better list heading to the busy stands i.e M.A.C with a list means faster service as the assistant takes your list and gets your products.

I did not take many pictures but here is a few I did take of the amazing work created at IMATS.

Karla Powell and Assistant at the Crown Brush Stand recreating her Pop Art inspired look.

At the Makeup Forever Stand

This was at the Mehron stand it was my favourite of the day till I saw the one below.

This was at the Makeup Atelier Paris stand. Not only did she have 3d skulls on her buttocks and breasts she glowed in the dark it was just fantastic.

I nearly forgot to mention I met the fantastic Laura from All Made Up 21 on the day. It was great to see a fellow blogger over there and I know she got some goodies while she was there so keep an eye out  for her haul.

My Haul will be appearing on my Youtube Channel probably Monday or Tuesday so keep an eye out its a big one!

Beauty Show Haul

Eventually made it to the beauty show today, I was supposed to go on Sunday with my friend Amy but I started to feel ill in work on Saturday night and woke up Sunday morning with a god awful flu. Got up this morning and even though my throat felt like razors I really did not want to miss out.

This year I did not go too wild and only picked up a few necessity's.

I got these packs of lashes at 1 euro each, yes that's only 50 cent a lash total bargain. It was just from one them no branded stalls and they were in a basket on the floor. If they had of had any more styles I would have taken the lot.

Picked up 3 small nail glitters for 2 euro each just for some experimenting.

Was in need of new individual lashes and especially with the birthday coming up got short medium and long they were 3 for 2 so got the lot for under 8 euro.

Opi was there and you can not bypass their stall with out picking something up. I got the top and base coat at 6 euro each and the shade The Living Daylights from the Skyfall Collection for 4.50. Its glitter I could not say no

As always a trip to crown is needed I picked up 3 eyeliner brushes at 3 euro each and also a smaller blusher brush for my mam for mothers day at 6 euro. Did not go too wild as they will be at imats in London in June and I will be heading there with a long list.

This was my only kind of spur of the moment buy of the day. Back in September my sister bought me sleep in rollers for my bride maids duties at her wedding. (Subtle hints were left) I have yet to do a review on them due to the fact I was slightly dissapointed in the I was not getting the curl I wanted from them. So I headed over to the sleep in roller stand to see if I was doing anything wrong. Low and behold I have now own a Sleep in Roller  Hairdryer Hood which set me back 15 euro. Now I am trying not to get my hopes up to much but I will do a review on the whole set in the next coming weeks. Fingers crossed I will have Big Bouncy Curly hair!

River Island Earring Haul

OK starting back nice and easy here. My absence has been noticed by quite a few of you, so its great to know I have not been forgotten about. My sincere apologies and I am here to say I am truly and completely 100% back into the blogging world my YouTube will be back in a week or two as I somehow forgot my tripod in Portugal and now have to invest in a new one.

So some of you may or may not remember a haul video I did back at the start of April where I had got a new River Island purse from vouchers my best friend Sarah had given me for my 22nd. Well I still had a ten euro voucher taking up space in my purse since then and I had no idea what to purchase with it. Through the grapevine as I have had no Internet till all of 5 minutes ago I heard that River Island were having a sale. On one of my many job hunting excursions to town I had a little browse in the sale section nothing really caught my eye and was mostly summer stuff and by god there ain't no summer in Ireland. 

So I popped up to their accessories section and decided some earrings would be just what I needed to cheer up my wintery blues since leaving the sunshine. And free earrings make a girl even more happier!

Rose Gold Crosses

Since spring Rose Gold and Crosses have been everywhere so these were a must have and will go with everything.

Hedgehogs!

How cute are these little guys they made me smile and for two euro how could I turn them down!

Gold spike ear cuff

Instantly had to have it when I saw it and for four euro complete steal, as you know I love statement jewellery and my snake earring still is my go to piece but I think this piece could find its way to the top of my go to list of accessories over winter.

Glad to be back and hope you guys are glad to have me back!

xxxxx

Returning Items and Rimmel Lipsticks

Why do we Irish have such a problem with returning items? The fear comes over us when we realise somethings needs to be returned and the feeling of dread looms over us until we pluck up the courage to bring it back in!

Lets take the weekend just past as an example while shopping for birthday presents for my friend Sarah I decided to take advantage of Boots 3 for 2 for myself. Now if I could have I would have picked up some Real Techniques brushes but for some reason Boots decided to put them in Gorey Boots ( which is 40 minutes away) instead of the main Wexford Boots. So I picked up some hairspray and pots for my pigments and haircare stuff as well as some Rimmel Lipsticks.

Everything was fine and dandy till I went to do pictures for a blog post on Sunday and I removed the sellotape off the outside of the packaging and the lipsticks were destroyed inside. Pink Blush had been completely attacked with a women's nail and then had been spread all over the inside of the packaging! Then I remove the sellotape on the second lipstick, Coral In Gold , and this is half the size its supposed to be and all mushed up in the lid. My blood was boiling and the blog post went totally out the window! Why can people not use testers!

Then it struck me I had to return these, and the whole scenario played out in my head and it was not in my favour! I could just imagine the store assistant giving a look from head to toe that says "I know you did not buy these like this"! And then question after question about when you bought it, who served you, was the sellotape on? are you sure the sellotape was on? It just fill me with dread every time, its the same with returning anything!

Maybe its due to the fact that were not allowed return items once we try them at home, unlike our American counterparts who can just walk into MAC and say "This foundation does not suit me I want a different one!" if we did that in Brown Thomas we would just be laughed at!

So how did returning the lipsticks go, well; SA= Store Assistant
Me: Hi, I would like to exchange these lipsticks?
SA: You know you can not return makeup?
Me: Yes I know that, but I have not used them, because when I opened the packaging they were destroyed inside.
( At this point she gave me the stare!)
SA: When did you buy these?
Me: Saturday
SA: It's Tuesday now!
Me: Yes, I know its Tuesday I have not been in town since Saturday  and I only opened them Sunday!
SA: Are you sure the sellotape was on them?
Me: I would not have bought them otherwise!( I am getting really annoyed at this point!)
SA: Ok wait here!
SA:  (5 minutes later)Are you sure the were not opened? You can only get the same color if I exchange these!
Me: Yes I am sure and I only want them colors!
SA: Ok well we do not have Pink Blush anymore so you have to choose a different color!
Me: Ok I will choose another one! ( In my head: What was the point of explaining I could only have the same colors if you knew you did not have Pink Blush!)
SA: We made an exception for you, we would not normally do this!
Me: Eh, thanks!

Now you see why I hate returning things!

Now for the lipsticks I actually ended up with:

I ended up with Amethyst shimmer as Pink Blush was out of stock, but I was able to replace Coral In Gold, no for one thing I hate the packaging on Rimmel's ordinary lipsticks( not Kate Moss lipstick), it is just so cheap looking and the lids never sit right on the lipstick.

But the formulas are great and they so have a great color range and are really pigmented!

Now excuse the uneven lips, I just slapped these on for picture purposes!

As you can see Coral In Gold is not orange orange but actually a gorgeous coral shimmer you can apply another layer or two to get them more orangy if you want some stand out lips!

So does anyone else have some returning nightmares? Do you feel the same dread when you have to return an item? Would love to hear!

Jewellery Haul- New Look

Only a 3 piece haul but I feel these are key pieces for the summer. New Look at the moment are having a buy one get one free on jewellery at the moment so there's good saving to be made.

Firstly I picked up this gorgeous Aztezish necklace that something I would usually wear but I am trying to branch out and try new things I think this would look great with a black or white shirt and this under the collar.

I picked up these free then as these were the cheaper item. Again Aztec inspired and their a match to the necklace. There was also another pair that matched the necklace but they had too many diamante on them.

Lastly I got these free as I picked up some pink feather earrings for part of a friends birthday present. Feathers were all in last summer but their still hanging in there and will be all around this summer too. I really choose these ones because of the spikes and I  might even pull off the feathers after the summer, as I find they can get dirty and limp looking after a while.

So there's my mini jewellery haul, what do you all think? Do you like New Look jewellery?

Haul- NYX,Sleek, Avon and Snake Earring

God I hate YouTube thumbnails! Moving on, new Youtube video, this is a haul video on just some things that i got over the last few weeks. Alot of you been asking where I got my earring also so you will find out in this video. Enjoy and do not forget to subscribe!HERE!

Do not forget beautyemporium.ie have 15% off all NYX products all weekend using NYX15!

OOTD- Wind Blown

Last week I was announcing the Irish summer on the blog as I said it lasts a week and then were back to crappy weather. Well its now snowing in parts of Ireland I know crazy rite? 

There was like gale force winds this morning so my very pretty doughnut bun got destroyed in the winds, so excuse the hair! Got a tripod for my new camera yesterday and I am still trying to figure it out hence the tilted pictures and still trying to figure out the camera hence the closed eyed pictures but I took a few and these showed the outfit best.

Top: Penneys

Grey string top(underneath): Forever21

High-waisted jeans: Vila

Scarf: Penneys

Sunglasses: Dunne Stores

Picked up this scarf for 1 euro during the week BARGAIN!

Another Bargain from Penneys got this at Christmas for 0.50cent

 This arrived on Monday I am so in love with it will hopefully have a haul up on Friday so I'll tell yous all about it then!

Face of the Day!

Mac Face and Body C1

Makeup Artelier Concealer Palette

MUA Pressed Powder Shade 4 (contour)

Rimmel Pressed Powder Clear Complexion in Transparent

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Eternal Gold

Inglot Gel Liner in 77

Avon Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde

Avon SuperExtend Extreme Mascara

17 Lip Pencil in Valentine

Maybelline Lipgloss in Freshly sliced

MUA Blusher in 2

Harrods Glossybox and Beauty Show Haul

 The March Glossybox arrived on Monday morning and all Glossybox's sins have been forgiven! This month was the limited edition Harrods box. Harrods is the English version of Brown Thomas except better!

In my box I received:

• Fendi- Fan di Fendi Eau De Toilette 4ml
• Ojon - Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum
• Erno Laszlo- The Hollywood Collection : 5 Piece Cream Gift Set
• Burberry Beauty- Miniature Lip Cover Rosewood N04
• Clairins - Extra Firming Body Cream

As you all know I went to the Irish Beauty Show on Monday, I went with a list so I would not over spend and I got mostly what I wanted  and what I did not get just was not available or sold out.

They had such good deals on Opi at the show most polishes were 5.75 and some old seasons been just 3.00 euro. I picked up 4 polishes, one will be revealed later in the week, for 14.75.

L-R Mod About You, Muppets collection Excuse Moi!, Moon over Mumbai

 Wayne Goss raves about Makeup Atelier any chance he gets and is always using this concealer palette. So when I saw they would be at the show this went on my list. It cost 28 euro.

 Lashes were on 3 for 2 so I picked some up for my kit as you can never have enough!

 Boring Stuff! Got two empty spray bottles for water and surgical spirits, some wooden sticks for cuticles and some nail gems. I paid 10.95 for them gems, was soo annoyed when I realised because they were so much cheaper at other stands. You live and learn!

 Crown brush was the first place I hit when I got in. It can be the first stand that gets over crowded so its best to get to it early. Now technically I did not need anymore brushes I think my collection is hitting over a 100 now but I just could not help myself and I have an excuse for every purchase! Firstly I got 4 eyeliner brush. I already have two from Crown which I love but one is completely stained with eyeliner now so i just keep that for personal use. So I needed these! They were 3 euro each

 Next I got two lip brushes, when I am working these are the first thing that I tend to run out of and need to spot clean so having more is never any harm!

Ok this one I have no excuse for I already have 6 fluffy brushes and I do not need any more but I love them and their so soft. I had to hold myself back and not get any more! I also picked up a foundation brush for my sister and a eyebrow brush for my mam which are in the haul picture all the brushes came to a total of 35 euro.

Lastly I picked up my beauty box, I sometimes work next door at the local salon and carrying my whole case over there can be such a nuisance and get in the way, so I started to bring a smaller kit bag but the zip broke on that the other week so I invested in a box. They can get pretty heavy at times and are not suitable for carrying all over the place. But for short distances or going to a clients help can just make your kit look more cleaner and professional. Alot of the boxes at the show were leopard , zebra and snake print not my cup of tea at all. This one was the nicest I had seen and had the best drawers.All the separators are removable.It was only 50 euro.

What did you think of the Harrods box??