IMATS 2010 coverage + Highlights

 I had one of the greatest weekend ever! Full of bloggers, vloggers, make-up & seminars. An IMATS Toronto weekend!

This year I went on both Saturdays and Sunday and I'm so happy because I have no regrets. I made great purchases both days and met amazing people.

Day one started off great I got there early and made my way to join the ever growing line.

As soon as the doors opened girls started to bolt to the Makeup Forever booth. Yes you heard me "bolt" rumors of long line up triggered me to join in on the action. I researched online and knew exactly what I wanted.

This year the venue was much better and the deals were pretty good....but I still shopped around to find out what booth had the better deals.The best brush selection & prices in my option was Royal & Langnickel for brush sets. The variety in the sets were a steal for the price.

For individual brushes the most popular booth was of course Crown brushes. I think the main reason for the is the gurus & bloggers who rave about them!

New to IMATS this year was NYX. They had a massive booth right in the middle. It had great selection and the individuals who worked there were quite helpful.They had a few males there who knew the products better than I did.

I was very excited to see the OCC cosmetics booth. I have been dreaming about lip tars since seeing them in YT videos & blog sites. I'm happy that I got to swatch them and play with the different colors. There is no way to describe them other than pigmented. Also a little bit goes a long way.

Through out the whole day I saw girls who were sporting pretty glitter liner. I inquired where they got it and I was directed to Eye Candy Cosmetics! Yana and I decided to get our eyes done.

I met Debbie from FACEateiler last year at IMATS. This year she gave me a sneak peak of the products that are coming out in 2011. I`m very excited for a blush called tangerine which she demonstrated on me! Definitely WOC friendly.

I got my first airbrushed face from Dinar. Loved it!

As a makeup artist I am always looking for ways to refine and improve my technique. IMATS had a lot of great seminars. This year I made sure I attended more than one.

Kevin-James Bennett gave us get tips on brushes & products for our kit. My favorite tip I received was about how he uses primers to reduce the consistency of cream foundations! Brilliant. Watch the video below for highlights.

Nadine Luke from MAC gave us a back stage pass on fall/winter trends. The model she used was extremely gorgeous and the gloss look is fab.Watch the video below for highlights.

Wanda from Cover FX talked about the art of concealing! Concealing is important if you want to be able to work with a flawless canvas. If your unfamiliar with Cover FX, click here to learn more.

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Through out the day I had the chance to meet these amazing people!

This post is long, so I will post my haul in another post! Overall I had a great time and I can't wait until IMATS 2011.

Helpful IMATS Tips!

IMATS is here!! November 6 & 7 at Toronto Congress Centre.
This is my second time going and I have some helpful tips that may help a newbie!

Quick Navigation:

Click here for Tickets

Click here for Exhibitor List

Click here for Travel Help

Click here for Schedule

IMATS Tip 1:

Shop your stash!
Find out what you need and want to get before you go. This eliminates coming home disappointed.

IMATS Tip 2:

Bring Cash!
This helps you to budget your purchases and save!

IMATS Tip 3:

Follow MakeupArtistmag & other exhibitors on twitter/facebook!
They usually tweet/facebook the deals their bringing to IMATS. Perfect for planning head!

IMATS Tip 4:

Know the schedules of the presenters.
Last thing you want to do is miss an presentation! I'd advise you to print it out or save it on your phone.

IMATS Tip 5:
Have fun and meet new people!
Last year I met some amazing girls and I know I will again this year :)

Burt's Bee Skincare Haul + New My Skincare Regime

Right now my skin sucks. It goes to periods where it's clear for two weeks then a hot mess for the remaining two weeks. I really need to control this because everyone knows bad skin is definitely a confidence breaker :(

I started to breakout at 21. My teenage years were pimple free but I wish this was something I skipped altogether....


After a few weeks I decided to get the whole Burt's Bee Anti-Blemish Solution a try. The important ingredient is the Willow Bark Extract: This extract contains natural Beta Hydroxy Acids, which work as a natural skin exfoliants to help unplug follicles and pores.Salicylic Acid occurs naturally in the bark of the Black Willow tree (Salix nigra).


I start off my day by using the Purifying Daily Cleanser:

This cleanser is clinically proven to help wash away blemish causing bacteria, excess oil and impurities without over-drying or irritating skin.

This cleanser is very "watery" not thick but it lathers up nice.

Two to Three days a week I use the pore refining scrub.

This deep cleansing scrub is clinically proven to exfoliate dead skin cells while refining the appearance of pores without over-drying or irritating skin.

I use the Targeted Spot Treatment instead of the toner.

This natural spot treatment is clinically proven to help reduce and improve the appearance of blemishes without irritating skin.

Daily Moisturizing Lotion

This natural light weight lotion is clinically proven to protect against blemishes without irritating skin.







Hopefully, my skin will clear up soon after using this regime. I will be updating you all on my progress.

OOTD: Simple but Flashy Casual Wear

I had to come up with a random title that explained this outfit. I think Simple but Flashy Casual Wear will suffice...LOL

Breakdown:

Sweater H&M $7.00 (sale)

Rose Ring Ardene $3.33 (sale)

Jeans Marshalls $9.99

It's freezing outside! I think everyone's first priority is to stay warm but there's always fun ways to do it. Simple but flashy sweaters allow me to stand out and apart from boring sweaters.

Oh yea here is a close up of the jeans. I like the contrast of the yellow thread on dark denim.

I promise to post more OOTD. It's just difficult because I don't have a photographer.. just a tripod lol.

IMATS Free Shuttle bus for Toronto

 Hi Ladies,

IMATS Toronto is coming up this weekend. I'm excited to see my new and old TBB faces. Also some beauty bloggers from U.S.A and other parts of Canada will be in attendance. After speaking to a few girls on twitter, I realized that transportation is an issue.

IMATS came up with an amazing idea to have a  free shuttle bus from Union station for both days! You can get to Union station using the TTC and GO Transit.

The Manhattan Livery Service shuttle will pick up in front of The Fairmont Royal York hotel (100 Front Street West), across from Union Station, and drop you off at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Sat., Nov. 6 Shuttle Service
From Fairmont Royal York to Toronto Congress Centre: 7:45 a.m. and 9 a.m.
From Toronto Congress Centre to Fairmont Royal York: 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 7 Shuttle Service
From Fairmont Royal York to Toronto Congress Centre: 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
From Toronto Congress Centre to Fairmonth Royal York: 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

I will be on the 7:45 shuttle bus on Sat. Nov 6 : D, So please say hi if you see me.

Spiced Beauty 600+ Followers Giveaway! CLOSEDDD

As promised here is another great giveaway for you all. These are actually back ups which I probably will not get to...sooo why not give it away to my amazing readers. All of your great comments and support is the reason why I continue to blog  <3
My 2 year bloggerversary is coming up in Dec :D So the giveaways will keep on coming!

You can win 3 brand new limited edition MAC products!

• MAC Slimshine in Gentle Simmer
• MAC Dazzleglass in Roman Holiday
• MAC Iridescent Powder in Belightful

Contest rules:
* This an INTERNATIONAL contest!
* One Winner will be chosen
* You must be a follower of my blog
* You must be 17+

Contest ends: November 21, 2010 @ 12:01 AM


* Don`t forget to press submit to make sure your info goes through!

My Nail Army: OPI, China Glaze & Color Club

It took me years to form the perfect nail army. I was a victim of chipping and smudged nails after my mani's but now I'm saved!

First I start with Color Club nail polish as a base coat.
After applying my color, I seal it with China Glaze No Chip Top Coat. I this a durable top coat that lenghtens my nailpolish wear.
Lastly I spray my nails with OPI Rapid Dry. This makes them dry much faster!

So that is my routine! What is yours?

How I get long luscious lashes! What is your favorite mascara?

Ever since I was 13 years old I was obsessed with lashes. I got my free AVON mascara and never turned back! I have to add that after 12 years of mascara wearing I still have healthy, full & curly lashes that I'm not embarrassed to sport with without mascara as well.

I personally like layering my mascaras. It's a process that starts off with a light coat of a lengthening mascara. My current choice is CARGO 3 Triple Action Mascara as a base coat. I let it try fully then I apply two coats of Marcelle Power Volume Mascara. Lastly finish off with CARGO 3 Triple Action Mascara on the tips.

It's a tedious process but I achieve lashes that look exactly like falsies! So my question for you is do you layer your mascaras?

The Marcelle Mascara was sent to spiced beauty for review purposes. I wont the Cargo mascara in a contest.

Upcoming Toronto Events:The National Women's show

I often get asked what events are going on in Toronto. So I will start profiling them on Spiced Beauty. If you have a beauty/fashion event you would like posted email: jenn (at) spicedbeauty (dot) com

*** I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO POST ALL**

This November 5,6 & 7 is the The National Women's show. The ultimate girl’s day out!

Shop ‘til you drop at over 450 exhibits and find everything from food and wine sampling, fashion shows, celebrity guests, free makeovers, health, wellness & beauty secrets, cooking demos, home renovation advice and travel ideas!

The show is divided into the following zones: Fashion & Style District, Beauty & Wellness, Fitness, Travel & Leisure, World Of Taste and the Business & Career Centre.

I'm going on Friday and I will surely be in the Fashion & Style district covering the event! Hope to see you there : D

Does E.L.F Brush Shampoo stand up to the test?

During one of my trips to Winners I found the E.L.F Brush Shampoo for $2.00! So I had to try it out on my brushes.

An anti-bacterial brush cleanser for thorough cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time. Washes away traces of dirt, makeup, oil and debris from your brush while conditioning the hair to provide a clean and soft application for every use.

I decided to use one of my orange stained blush brushes. It is soo hard to clean white bristles if you don`t have the right tools.

Cleanse brush regularly by massaging a small amount of the shampoo with water and working it through the bristle from the base of the brush outward.

Rinse thoroughly and gently squeeze out excess water. Reshape the bristles and lay flat on a clean cloth to fully dry before next use.

WOW!!! The brush is really clean. Honestly it looks better than how it was when I used my QUO brush cleaner.

This E.L.F Brush Shampoo gets a definite recommend from me :)

FOTD: No Make up Make up look

As promised here are some  pictures with my bangs and FOTD. One of the first looks I learned in school was in "no make up make up look". I swear in class I always thought I would never use it.. but visit your favorite store and you will see a least one poster with a fresh faced model. My teacher told me that if you can prefect this look, you can build a whole career on it!

My essential no make up look included:
***You can also wear foundation if you want a flawless base, I chose not too"

Concealer- Cinema Secrets palette in foundation palette 11(Cover those under eye circles!)
Mascara- 2 coats of Cargo triple action
Brows- Brow Gel
Blush- Optional but it gives a warm glow. I used MUFE (not shown)
Lips- Annabelle espresso lipliner & MAC stealing kisses lipglass

 This lipglass is my favorite! Perfect for my No Make up Make up look :)

 I can also part the hair in the middle for a cute look... I look 17 in this pic LOL

How do you feel about the No Make up Make up look?

I got BANGS!!!!

I did it yesterday! I'm so happy I decided to try something new :) Also I think the cut makes my hair look much more shiny and healthy!

I didn't show my face because I did a no make up FOTD which I will post tomorrow.

23/10/10 Link Love

Phyrra's Indie Spotlight for October is with Amy of Sugarpill Cosmetics!

Check out this great Splurge vs Steal over at Prime Beauty. Cindy did a look with both palettes--can you guess which is which?

Sophie shows her amazing Sleek Makeup prize package that she won, lots of goodies included!!!

My Lips But Better swatches MAC's upcoming holiday collection, A Tartan Tale.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed checks out new products from Olay Regenerist and wonders if they will be as popular as the last one!

Sarah from IHeartCosmetics shows swatches of her collection of Korres Colour Cherry Oil Lipgloss.

The Lip Print discovers a cheap and cheerful treat for shoppers on a budget.

Eyelining has a look at a rather pretty multitasking marvel from Rituals.

Amy Antoinette organises her makeup collection and showcases her new dressing table.

Has Emma finally found her HG foundation? Head over to BirdsDecorateBranches to see if YSL Teint Resist might just be yours too!

Pink Diva's Beauty Spot loves all of the pink beauty products for Breast Cancer Research month. Check out some of her favourites.

Retrodiva checks out Annemarie Borlind to see if going natural is possible with oily and breakout prone skin.

TheGlossGoss reviews her Haus Of Gloi haul. Halloween themed products -- perfect for the Autumn season!

theNotice takes an early look at Clinique's Strawberry Fudge Holiday 2010 collection (yes, with swatches) and loves it!

Good bye Neutrals, Hello Drama! Jenn spices it up over at Spiced Beauty.

Jeweled Thumb shows evidence that makeup is magic!

Pink Sith says you can't put a price on FEELING pretty. Come find out why she thing Guerlain Meteorites Voyage Compact is the bee's knees!

Are you made for 'Fire and Ice'? Over at The Glamorous Gleam, Mz. More compares the legendary Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire and Ice to other red lipsticks in her collection.


***

Audrey Dao has 2 giveaways going on for the month of October. Check them out now before it's too late....

Mein link: Win a basket full of beauty products from Boot's on Beauty Woo Me.

Daily Polish celebrates reaching the 1 year mark of daily posts of new polishes and manicures with a giveaway where the first prize is worth over £200!

Jellyminx has a spooky giveaway, enter before it closes on Halloween!!

FOTD- Bite of an Apple Blush & Wicked Ways lipglass

Forgive me I can't remember who it was but they asked me about these products on WOC. These were both great buys and as I said in my previous post this collection was worth getting!

The full look
Eyes:
Eve Pearl liquid eyeliner
Cargo mascara

Cheeks:
Bite of an Apple Blush

Lips:
Wicked Ways lipglass

Very quick and easy! I love how the glasses and lippy match but more importantly how white your teeth look with it on :)

Is this a lipglass that you would purchase?

CSN Stores Kathy Ireland Clutch

If you girls remember a while back I held a CSN stores giveaway. 

To refresh your memory CSN Stores has over 200 amazing online stores where you can find almost anything you need like cheap bedroom furniture! 

I've been adoring the Kathy Ireland by Murval City Chic handbag collection.
These bags are gorgeous and perfect for a night out.

My favorite is Kathy Ireland by Murval City Chic Quilted Faux Leather Bicolor Clutch in White / Black

 I would pair this with a pair of heels & a super cute back dress :)

Loveee it! What do you think of the bag?

Woo I won a huge Eve Pearl giveaway!

I won a amazing twitter giveaway from makeupbyrenren.

This is a 15 Piece My Personal Kit:

1. HD Dual Foundation (Dark) – $54

2. Salmon Concealer ® MC (Dark) – $35

3. HD Dual Pressed Powder (Dark) – $42

4. Eye Palette– Diva Eyes – $40

5. Blush Trio (DARK-Sultry Cheeks) – $36

6. Smudge proof Liquid Eyeliner (BLACK PEARL) – $26

7. Mascara (LUSH LASH) – $22

8. Lip Color | 208-Cherry Cola – $24

9. Kohl Lip Pencil & Brush Combo (CARAMEL) – $18

10. KOP Lip Gloss Combo – 104-Moonlight Kiss/Stardust – $28

11. Angle Brush – $25

12. Allover Eye Shadow Brush – $18

13. Smudger Crease Brush– $18

14. Liner Brush– $15

15. Spray Bottle– $3

 

Other than the foundations which will be going into my kit.. what do you want to see swatches or HD pictures of?

I want to thank you 600+ followers on Spicedbeauty

I'm SUPER excited to be at 600 followers. I just want to say thank you and hello to my new followers!

As I always I am open to suggestions an tips on how to make Spicedbeauty better.

Please introduce your self below and leave your blog, so I can check it out :)

P.s I have a small giveaway in the works for you all coming up!