Holiday Giveaway: Get Your Beauty Shop On With ebeauty.ca!

With the holidays just around the corner (I know right? Already?!), avoiding the shopping madness and doing it all on-line sounds better and better (and with free shipping it's a no-brainer)! ebeauty.ca is Canada's newest online shopping destination for anything beauty! You can finally get niche brands that are hard to find in Canada at ebeauty like Becca Cosmetics, Julie Hewett, Paul & Joe and many more. Add this shopping destination to your list - you'll find amazing products for that beauty junkie in your life! Stay tuned for my review of some lovely products from ebeauty!

To celebrate the new launch and to kick off the holidays, ebeauty.ca is sponsoring a lovely giveaway valued at $218! This awesome beauty bundle includes:

• Becca Pressed Shimmer Powder in Gypsy
• Caudalie Vine Body Butter
• CARGO Oil-free foundation
• Kronos Duo
• RAW Natural Beauty Lush Lash in Black
• LAQA & Co Nail Polish Remover Pads

To enter: 

• Be a Canadian Resident
• You must like ebeauty.ca on Facebook  and on Twitter
• Leave me a comment telling me what your favourite brand from ebeauty.ca is, your name and your email.
• Leave me a separate comment telling me you 'Liked' them on Facebook.
• Leave me a separate comment telling me you are following ebeauty.ca on Twitter.
• Each comment increases your chances of winning!

The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on December 7 at 12 pm. Good luck and have fun! Thank you to ebeauty.ca for sponsoring this giveaway!

www.ebeauty.ca

UPDATE :Beauty News: Black Friday Deals In Canada??!

UPDATE: Beaute Cosmetics is also doing Black Friday deals! 30% off!

UPDATE: A Canadian favourite, Face Atelier is also giving a Black Friday discount of 30%!

Who's shopping Black Friday deals tomorrow? You no longer have to drive across the border to score some amazing deals - well at least for beauty products. Sephora Canada is letting us beauty junkies indulge in their Friday-only deals! Purchase your favourite products for only $12! I know right? Limited quantities only and I'm not sure if it's only on select brands.

I can just see the line-ups now...fortunately for me I can't stand line ups. Do I really need anything? No, but I have been wanting tarte's Lip Service LE LipSurgence collection - anyone in Toronto want to pick it up for me??

What's on your list?

www.sephora.com

Fall Beauty Review: Now My Baby and I Have Something In Common - Baby Soft Skin!

Dry, flaky skin can give me a pouty face - okay, my baby and I have two things in common. It's starting to get nippy out which means snow season is rearing it's blustery head. My skin is typically dry and flaky in certain areas and mostly dehydrated. To avoid the sometimes uneasy transition from summer to winter, I've been one step ahead prepping my skin since the summer time. Besides trying to down gallons of water a day, my moisturizers have been my skin savior.

I've been really loving skincare products from Biotherm. In the summertime, I used Biotherm's Aqua Source Deep Hydration Replenishing Gel For Normal to Combination Skin ($45 CAD) religiously. I just loved how light-weight it felt and how fresh it left my skin. It was hydrating enough to keep flakes at bay and even added radiance. It's perfect for skin that is dehydrated, but I felt it worked really well for oilier skin types. It is very hydrating, but if use an appropriate amount works great for oily skin. It doesn't feel heavy and gives you a clean feeling. I even used this on Monica from Beauty Parler on her wedding day! She chose this over my usual Embryolisse which she felt too heavy for her.

As your skin transitions to the colder months, you should always switch up your skincare to something a little heavier. My skin can't get enough of the newest moisturizer from Biotherm. Skin Vivo Uniformity SPF 15 Renovating Anti-Age Moisturizer ($70 CAD) targets all skin irregularities that can make your skin look older (amen!): dark spots, redness, dull tone, roughness and loss of elasticity while protecting skin from harmful UV rays. The texture feels so luxurious on the skin and literally melts into it. At the same time, it doesn't leave a heavy residue. I love how luminous and smooth my skin looks after. I gotta toot my horn a little - my skin is looking fantastic! Really it is! I never have to worry about flakiness popping up throughout the day.

Ever heard of needing your "beauty rest"? If you didn't know, sleep time is your skin's time to repair itself. That's why at night, I don't mind lathering my skin with a richer moisturizer. Clinique's Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer ($44.50 USD) is a creamy yet light-weight moisturizer that gives your skin a healthy radiance. You wake up with your skin looking smoother, luminous and pores seem visibly smaller! I really love it. It claims to make your skin smoother over time. I've been using it since August and it really does.

Keep in mind, these are creams in a container so to avoid bacteria from mixing into your moisturizer use a spatula instead of your finger. Obviously all are more expensive than your drugstore brand but I believe in investing in good skin care. Makeup is only one aspect of making your skin beautiful!

What do you use to get your skin baby soft? Have you used any of these moisturizers?

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

And the Top Box Winner Is...

Simone Clarke!!

Congratulations! Enjoy your December Top Box! Can't wait to see what you get. Thank you to everyone that entered the giveaway, but never fear I'll be announcing more giveaways later today! 

The winner was chosen using Random.Org. Thank you TopBox.ca for sponsoring this giveaway! Be sure to visit their site and sign up for their monthly beauty boxes!

What I'm Wearing: Fall Fragrances To Love Right Into Winter

When your pregnant, perfumes can do all sorts of bad like make your head spin to the point of up-chucking. Yup, not a pretty picture. So, my favourite perfumes sat on the shelf being ignored and unloved. Now that baby is here, I can spritz without feeling nauseous! Hooray! 

Fragrance is such a personal thing. The scent of a woman can reveal a lot about her sense of style and who she is. My signature scent is something that is exotic and sultry. My body chemistry just compliments muskier scents better. Anything too floral or fresh smelling gives me a headache.

These 3 perfumes have been on rotation and all will take you right into winter. Every time I spray them, I get a feeling of warmth and coziness!

Jo Malone Vanilla and Anise Cologne ($55 USD, 30 ml): If I'm going to do a floral, it has to have some spice to it. This is one of my favourite scents. It works beautifully in the day and for a night out. Jo Malone scents are also long-lasting. It wouldn't be hard to go overboard with this perfume so spritz lightly. At first spray, it can smell strong but once it settles smells just divine. Jo Malone is a luxury brand so if you feel like splurging this is one to get! A full bottle goes for $100 USD.

Top Notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Tunisian Neroli, Wild Fennel Flower, Star Anise

Heart Notes: Oleander, Tuberose, Frangipani, Purple Vanilla Orchid

Base Notes: Clove, Tonka, White Amber, Creamy Musks, Vanilla Bourbon Absolute, Vetiver Haiti

Marc Jacobs Lola ($22 - 88 USD): This one is an oldie but a goodie. Another floral yet musky scent. You'll notice a lot of the scents I adore have vanilla, creamy musk, and amber undertones. I love Marc Jacobs and my love affair with his scents began with original perfume titled after the genius himself. Lola is more playful and flirty and I absolutely love the design of the bottle. Some have said they find the plastic-rubbery top kind of cheap, but I think it's very hip and cool. It's a scent that again works for day and night. 

Top Notes: Pink Peppercorn, Pear, Ruby Red Grapefruit

Mid Notes: Rose, Fuchsia Peony, Geranium

Base Notes: Vanilla, Warm Tonka Bean, Creamy Musk

Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose ($58 - 94 CAD): My love for Lancome perfumes have surprised me. I first fell in love with Tresor in Love - reminded me of a scent only to be worn in a getaway to Paris...ahh to dream. Midnight Rose is like the older sister who is a little naughty and mysterious. I also love the purple rose detail with the black leaves. It's really a pretty bottle. Even as a floral, it has a more exotic scent thanks to sweet smell of Black Currant. Some of you may prefer this only at night, but I love it during the day. I only spritz my wrists so it's not overwhelming.

Top Notes: Raspberry and Black Currant

Middle Notes: Rose Absolute, Jasmine, Peony

Base Notes: Vanilla, Musk, Cedar

What's your signature scent? Have you tried any of these lovely perfumes?

On a side note, wrapping up my Fall favourites and will be featuring my holiday gift guide soon! Stay tuned!

Lancome and Jo Malone perfumes sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Fall Beauty Review 2011: Give Yourself A Gift Every Month With Topbox.ca and a Giveaway!

 

(Scroll to bottom to read giveaway info.)

Love treating yourself to something new every month? Shoes and purses can get expensive, so why not indulge in a new gloss or moisturizer for a small price of $10 a month! Topbox.ca is joining the likes of Glymm, Loose Button, Luxe Box, and Birchbox by bringing you beauty enthusiasts deluxe size samples right to your door. What's so different about Topbox.ca right?

I had done a review a while ago about Loose Button. Overall, it's a great program if you love trying new products without committing to a full size. Since I receive samples for my blog, it wasn't for me plus I was a little underwhelmed by the products that were sent to me.

Topbox, like all the other brands, chooses top brands to include in your monthly box. Where I found they did differ is that in November's Topbox, 2 full size samples were included! That alone makes the $10 fee worth it plus shipping is free. Full size samples are not always offered - it really depends on the brand. I received:

• Full Size Deborah Lippman Nail Polish in Some Enchanted Evening (pink salmon glitter) $19.50 CAD
• Full Size Cake Beauty It's A Slice Velveteen Hand Cream $18 CAD
• Deluxe Size Dr. Brandt Time Arrest Eye Serum $85 CAD
• Deluxe Size Stila Lip Glaze in Raspberry $22 CAD

 

I was so stoked to receive the Deborah Lippman polish. I've been wanting to try this line for a long time, but could never justify the price for a nail polish. I just love her sparkly glitter polishes. The mix of fine glitter and round glitter make the polish look so fun and whimsical. 

Some Enchanted Evening is a pink salmon glitter on a clear base. The shade makes me want to throw on a ballerina tutu, not that I have one (wish...). I still had Sephora by OPI's "I'm With Brad" on so I layered Some Enchanted Evening on top. I really like the mix of pink and chocolate brown. On it's own, it's really soft and feminine. I think I'll do this when I feel like going more subtle on my nails. You need a few layers though to really make the glitter less splotchy looking.

I love Cake Beauty anything especially their hand creams. I own the original one and Vanilla Snow and I always get compliments on them. It's A Slice's mango scent is just as delicious and my new favourite!

Stila Lip Glaze's are a cult classic and I've owned a few in my time. They are a bit tacky, but the shine lasts for a long time. Raspberry is a sheer pinky-red and would work for a lot of skin tones.

I actually have the full size of Dr. Brandt Time Arrest Eye Serum. I find under makeup it starts to pill into a ball. I've tried even using the smallest amount and it still does that. I would save this for night time as I did like how radiant it made my under eyes look.

What I love about Topbox is that the brand is conscious of the environment. A lot of the other companies do send you the products in boxes that are way too big and often shipped in an additional box. Topbox's products are shipped in a sturdy round cylinder box which cuts down on the packaging. Another reason to love them, is that the cylinder doesn't have their logo on it so you can reuse this pretty box for whatever you desire! I think I'm going to be using this as a brush holder - how cute would that be? I'm going to put something in the bottom so my brushes won't sink to the bottom.

Now for the giveaway! One lucky Makeup Junkie reader will win December's Topbox which is already sold out! So you know it's something real goood! To enter: 

• You must be a Canadian resident.  
• You must 'Like' Topbox.ca on Facebook.
• Leave me a comment telling me you 'Liked' Topbox.ca on FB and what products you're hoping will be in December's box.

Good luck! The winner will be announced on November 22nd at 12 pm.

http://topbox.ca

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love it.

IMATS Toronto 2011 Part 2: The Experience

Like many makeup junkies, I look forward to IMATS like it's Christmas. For a makeup artist and anyone who is interested in makeup and artistry, IMATS is makeup playground. It's the perfect opportunity to build your kit if you're just starting out or to replenish things like sponges, wands and other accessories. It's also a great event to score some amazing deals on foundations. I always stock up on foundations because the prices and packages are usually phenomenal. IMATS also hosts an amazing line up of key speakers where you can learn a thing or two from top industry artists. You'll also see models walking around painted in the most fantastical and eye popping designs. 

 Crazy right? I love it! This makeup artist from Make Up For Ever is amazing!

 Nigel's had 15 lashes for $20, cheaper sponges, and mascara wands plus the ZPalette was $4 cheaper than at Alcone's!

And of course there are the amazing vendors which keep getting better and better each year. The vendors that do really well are the ones that offer amazing discounts and promotions. I'm always surprised at brands that offer wimpy discounts or no promotions at all. I also found that you really have to comparison shop before purchasing. I was really disappointed that I purchased sponges and brushes from Crown when Nigel Beauty Emporium and bdellium were offering much better prices.

Another reason to attend is to meet up with other makeup artists and beauty bloggers so if you run into any don't be afraid to say "hi". My friend and I attended the show in the afternoon so I sadly missed out on seeing some of my blogger friends. But I did run into Arianne (The Glitter Geek), Anjali (Rock That Look), and Naomi (Styleyes). I was talking to someone else about how the blogger presence didn't seem that big this year, but maybe that's because we were all dispersed or came at different times. It would have definitely felt weird if I didn't see a single blogger.

I love meeting new vendors. I snapped a photo with Edward from bdellium tools. Edward and his business partner (forgot his name) were such nice guys and very helpful. I'm really excited about my brushes and look forward to seeing them again next year! I'm thinking of selling some of my current brushes and stocking my kit with bdellium! I know their Maestro line is a tad better because of the nickle-plated brass ferrule (lasts longer), but I adore the yellow handles! Maybe I'm just bored of all black - shocking!

It felt kind of odd not buying anything from Face Atelier this year even though I wanted to pick up their new Facade lip and cheek stain. I swore I would not get any colour cosmetics and I'm glad I stuck to my plan! But I still had to stop by the booth to see my girl, Eunique, working her magic! 

This is the MUFE booth later in the day. The crowd around them finally died down!

I love their Aqua Creams and wanted to pick up a few more, but I restrained myself. I'm not in total need of any, but wanted to pick up a few of the lip/cheek shades for my bridal kit. These work amazing in the humid heat!

These are the gorgeous founders and creators of my new favourite faux lash brand, Velour Lashes. Mabel and Angela were absolutely sweet! If you have a friend that loves faux lashes as much as you do, these mink fur lovelies make a perfect gift for the holiday. Or better yet, splurge on a pair (or two) for yourself!

This year, it was all about the shopping for me and my friend. With two kids each, it's hard for us mamas to get out and shop! I've made a promise to myself that next year I will do much less shopping and go to all the seminars and workshops. I usually miss out because I'm too busy shopping! Thank you to Makeup Artist Magazine for putting on another terrific IMATS! Until next year!

Check out more IMATS posts from these blogs! If you missed my IMATS haul click this link!

Glitter Geek

Makeup by Donna Marie

Loretta 
Spiced Beauty

Toronto Beauty Reviews

IMATS Toronto 2011 Part 1: The Haul

I was determined to stick to the list at this year's IMATS. For the most part, I stuck to it but added a little extra! I skipped purchasing colour cosmetics and restocked my tools instead. IMATS is great for replenishing things you don't really want to buy and most come in bulk. I thought I would do a quick post of my haul because I'm sure that's what most of you want to see. In part 2, I'll talk about IMATS in more detail because it's not only about the shopping right?

bdellium brushes: I had checked out this brand prior to IMATS and I was immediately intrigued. A few days before IMATS, I got a Twitter message from bdellium to come by their booth and I'm so glad I did! By far one of my favourite purchases! The yellow handles really caught my eye. And once I brushed the hairs across my skin, I was in love. I think it's great that there is an anti-bacterial component in them because that is essential for your own skin and my client's skin. bdellium definitely beat out an old IMATS favourite, Crown Brush, in quality and price! I love my complimentary travel set - my favourite brush is the Duet Fiber Foundation Face brush! Blends foundation beautifully into the skin. I'll give a more in-depth review on each brush in a later post.

My friend and I checked out bdellium first then we went to compare prices at Crown Brush. I don't know what it was but we somehow got caught up in the hoopla at Crown. I ended up buying a few brushes all of which were slightly more expensive than bdellium but I will still get use out of them. My most disappointing purchase were the sponges - $20 versus $12 at Nigel Beauty Emporium. On the upside, I was able to exchange my 2 pack of 25 mascara wands for their 100 pack which was $1 less (they had run out at the time then replenished their 100 pack towards the end of the day).

Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist and Cozzette Makeup Vessel from Alcone. I've been wanting to get Beauty So Clean for a while and it was on sale for $20. Pretty expensive still but worth it. Alcohol is drying out my cream blushes and cream concealers. I saw the Cozzette Vessel on Donna's blog, Makeup By Donna Marie. She said it is a must-have especially for holding your dirty brushes so I decided to try it out. 

My go-to foundations have always been Face Atelier Ultra Pro, but I wanted to try a new brand. It's always good to have a variety of foundations in your kit. I was ready to buy Eve Pearl's HD Foundation Trios but even though there was a discount, it still seemed pretty pricey at $30 per palette of 3 shades. I wanted the Medium and Dark. My friend convinced me to try Graftobian's High Definition Color Palette. She swears by it. For 18 shades at $75 it was a much better deal. I picked up the palette in Neutral - it has a good range of yellow toned foundations that will work for a wide range of skin tones. I've read some good reviews. I tried it out at the wedding show and it seems to work really well. But I found if you're moving a lot and sweating your skin can look a little shiny. Anyone have suggestions on good primers and powders to use with it? I'll play around with it a bit more. I'm kind of wishing I got the yaby foundation palette...maybe it will be a next purchase! Has anyone tried yaby's? 

Why wasn't Nigel Beauty Emporium my first stop?? This little booth was packed and for good reason! Everything seemed cheaper than both Alcone and Crown. Best deal of the day were the 15 lashes for $20! 

My purchase from bdellium and Velour Lashes tie for favourite purchase of the day! Everything else was for my kit, but these beauties were just for me. Let's just take a moment to admire these made from 100% authentic mink fur pure luxurious lashes. I ran into Arianne from Glitter Geek who had "You Complete Me" on her lashes which looked phenomenal on her! I just had to had them! They were $20 cash at the show, but regularly $59.99! They are on sale for $29.99 on their site which is still amazing so if you didn't get a chance to pick one up visit their site! If you're going to go faux, you can't get anything closer looking to your lashes than mink fur! A more in-depth review to come with me wearing them! 

Here's my old buddy from M.A.C., Melissa and I at the end of our shopping day. Happy shoppers! 

Ok, so I guess that wasn't the quickest post. What did you think of the haul? I want to hear about your favourite purchases from IMATS! Check out this great post from Lucky on MTV Fora - awesome IMATS tips for you newbies who want to attend next year!

If you have an IMATS post let me know and I will add you to my post!

www.imats.net/toronto/toronto_index.php

La Vie en Rose Special 20% Off For Their Favourite Bloggers And Our Readers!

It's nice when brands show their appreciation for bloggers. Unlike magazines, most of us don't get paid to write about beauty products. We do it because we love it.

La Vie en Rose has created a special Blog Fan Facebook tab for bloggers and their readers to enjoy 20% off regular priced merchandise including all the new Christmas styles! It is exclusively on-line and for Canadian shoppers only (sorry to my U.S. and International readers!).

The promo will run now until November 12 so hurry and get your Christmas shopping started! I've had a special preview of their Christmas items - very cute stuff! To access the special promo, you must 'Like' the La Vie en Rose Facebook page to access the promo code. 

http://www.facebook.com/lavieenrose?sk=app_17291228946780

Enjoy! Thank you La Vie en Rose!

www.lavieenrose.com

Fall Beauty Review 2011: Amp Up Your Glow With Benefit Watt's Up!

What defines a "glow"? I'll tell you what doesn't. If what you're using looks gritty on your skin, isn't blended well, or makes you look like a disco ball then you need to ditch it. I have highlighters in all kinds of forms: powders, loose powders, creams, gels, lotions, liquids, and even gooey jellies (which I only used in fashion photography). When there is one that really works and photographs well, I stick to it. My beloved M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish in Shimpagne used to be my go-to highlighter. It really is a beautiful highlighter, but at times it could sit really heavy on the skin if I didn't use a light hand or the right brush.Well, I think I've found a new love!

Benefit's Watt's Up! ($30 USD) has become my new favourite product for creating that luminous finish. It's a gorgeous champagne soft focus highlighter that gives your skin a really natural glow. It has a lovely cream-to-powder texture that melts into the skin. The powder finish gives it a lasting finish. I was still "lit" until I was ready to take off my makeup in the evening. I love applying it during the day to make me look fresh and awake and it also works great when contouring. The champagne shade has a warm undertone to it and will suit most skin tones, although I've only tried it on my skin tone and lighter. I imagine it would still work for darker skin tones but it would be great if they came out with another shade that has more peach and gold in it.

At times Benefit's packaging can be gimmicky, but I've always been a fan of their kitschy design. Watt's Up!'s design and packaging are not only eye catching but functional. I love the idea of having the stick highlighter on one side and a blending sponge on the other. No messy fingers! Although, while the sponge helps blend the highlighter beautifully, the warmth from your finger will make it blend into the skin better.

All in all, it may be pricey for a highlighter but it's right up there with other luxury brands. The added benefit of the sponge definitely makes it worth it plus the natural glow it gives. You can also use it on several areas. You can apply it on the brow bone, inner corner of eyes, on your lips to make them look poutier and to accent your decolletage. If you're in the market for a highlighter, this is one to definitely add to your list! 

Have you tried Watt's Up!? Love it? Hate it? Want it?

www.benefitcosmetics.com

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love it.

Fall Beauty Review 2011: Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria Is Pure Seduction...

Looking to snag that sweet someone? Sure, you need some killer confidence but a memorable scent will make you utterly irresistible. Calvin Klein's newest star, Forbidden Euphoria, is truly intoxicating but not in the headache-y kind of way. It's a fresher, younger, sexier version of the original. The only thing forbidden is not wearing this!

Notes:
Sparkling Mandarin, Peach Blossom, Iced Raspberry, Pink Peony, Tiger Orchid, Jasmine, Cashmere Woods, Patchouli Absolute, Skin Musk.

I usually gravitate to deep, musky fruity, vanilla, or flowery scents because it just works with my body chemistry. As soon as I opened it, my husband took one whiff and wanted me to spritz it all over! I would wear a scent like this during the day, but if you usually don't wear muskier scents save it for a night cap. If you're in the market for a scent for fall that you can wear into the winter this is definitely one to add to the list. 

If you want to try it for yourself enter the "Forbidden Euphoria Giveaway" contest on the Scent Society Facebook Fanpage! Between now and November 21st, Scent Society is giving away TWO daily Forbidden Euphoria rollerballs. They are giving away 30 rollerballs twice a day!

Contest is open to all Canadian residents. To enter, click on the link below and register once a day.
https://www.facebook.com/ScentSociety?sk=app_236495976405641

What's your signature scent? Have you tried Forbidden Euphoria? 

Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria retails for $45-80 USD.

Product was sent for editorial consideration and I truly love it.

UPDATE: Beauty News: IMATS Is Almost Here In Toronto!!

UPDATE: Promos Added

I added the prices to the special promos and HD Blushes were added! The MUFE booth is always crowded with people. I haven't been able to buy anything from the booth because of the crowds but that is about to change this year! Favourites: HD Blush, Aqua Creams, Aqua Liners, HD Primer.

Floriane David, Director of Education at the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy in NYC will be doing body painting demos on Saturday Nov 12th between 12-3pm. She will also be hosting a seminar on Sunday Nov 13th at 11:30am.

Special Promos: 

1. $130 ($230 value) with the purchase of any 5 HD Foundations

2. $90 ($160 value) with the purchase of any 5 HD Concealers
3. $49 ($87 value) with the purchase of any 3 HD Blushes
4. $61 ($108 value) with the purchase of any 3 Full Cover
5. $74 ($131 value) with the purchase of any 3 Perfect Primers
6. $125 ($213 value) with the purchase of 10 eyeshadows Palette
7. $81 ($144 value) 15 Lipstick Palettes
8. $165 ($293 value) Brush Kit - 9 Brushes

The name "Eve Pearl" is a name that is well-known in the makeup industry. Emmy award winning makeup artist, Eve Pearl, and her team will be at IMATS Toronto and they have some amazing deals for us fans!!

Enjoy 60% off all their products! How phenomenal is that??

And they will have their popular makeup artist must-have, Thumb Palette! It's a genius product if you're applying makeup on other clients especially if you're clumsy like me. I don't know how many times I've dropped my palette! I will definitely be picking this up.

And for the first time in Toronto, the brand will be featuring their HD Liquid Foundation! Oil Free, Fragrance Free, Paraben Free, Water Free, Petrolatum Free and Cruelty Free!

Photo Source: www.imats.net

Can you feel the excitement in the air?? IMATS is descending on Toronto November 12-13!! In 11 days, I will be shopping my favourite brands, listening and learning from the best of the best in the industry, and most importantly connecting with all my fellow makeup artists and beauty bloggers! It really is like a reunion. If you haven't experienced IMATS yet, you must! It's not only open to makeup pros but to all you makeup lovers! 

When: November 12-13

Where: Toronto Congress Centre, North Hall H
650 Dixon Road
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hours:  Saturday, (General admission) 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, (General admission) 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Buy Tickets: Click here.

List of Exhibitors: Click here.

List of Speakers: Click here.

IMATS is a place to learn about new products and new makeup techniques. It's also a great place to score on amazing discounts. IMATS is my favourite place to stock up on quality brushes at insanely affordable prices! Here are some special promos from some of my favourite brands. To view more, check out my friend Arianne from Glitter Geek's page here!

The MUFE booth is always crowded with people. I haven't been able to buy anything from the booth because of the crowds but that is about to change this year! Favourites: HD Blush, Aqua Creams, Aqua Liners, HD Primer.

Floriane David, Director of Education at the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy in NYC will be doing body painting demos on Saturday Nov 12th between 12-3pm. She will also be hosting a seminar on Sunday Nov 13th at 11:30am.

Special Promos: 

1. 50% discount with the purchase of any 5 HD Foundations

2. 50% discount with the purchase of any 5 HD Concealers
3. 50% discount with the purchase of any 5 Uplights
4. 50% discount with the purchase of any 5 Aqua Liners
5. 50% discount with the purchase of a Brush Kit

In addition, everything is 40% off!

Face Atelier is my go-to foundation! I love stocking up on their foundations. But this year I really want to try Facade, their lip/cheek stain which they will be debuting in Toronto! They will also be introducing their Ultra Matte too. 40% off for professional makeup artists.

What do I not love from CoverFX! If you're looking for some serious coverage be sure to visit CoverFX! I also love their primers. 

General show special: $70.00(value $165) - 1 Cover FX Trio, 1 Conceal
FX, 1 SkinPrep FX, #160 brush

Special for the Pro's- for the artists that want it all. The last day
special for $195.00 (value over $300): 16 pro pots (8 light to medium
and 8 medium to dark), Setting FX light 6.5gr, Matte FX Medium, SkinPrep FX,
#160 brush
Pro Pot Shades:

C - 10, 30, 50, 60

E - 0, 20, 40, 60

M - 20, 30, 50, 80 

B - 0,15, 25, 45

Other brands to check out: Crown Brush (amazing brushes), Alcone (for sponges, wands), yaby, temptu (for airbrushing),  Eve Pearl, Kett Cosmetics, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, and Zuca (the only makeup kit to have!). 

To read past posts of IMATS Toronto click here. I will be attending the Saturday show and hope to catch Eve Pearl's Flawless Bride seminar at 2:30 pm! I look forward to seeing some familiar faces and saying "hi" to some new ones!

Fall Beauty Review 2011: Clinique Black Honey Fall Collection

Clinique's Black Honey Almost Lipstick is a cult classic. I remember my first introduction to Black Honey was when I was in college working at a poster shop. My co-worker was a stunning girl with pale, olive skin and long, shiny black hair. I remember the first time she whipped Black Honey out and applied this deep, berry to her lips without a mirror. I couldn't believe how dark the shade was in the tube, but on the lips added just the right amount of colour. The skinny, silver tube was all very eye catching especially since I was used to black lipstick packaging. 

Fast forward 10 + years later, and although a classic, I hadn't tried Black Honey until Clinique came out with a whole collection for Fall! So, you can imagine my excitement when I had the collection in my hands. I immediately swiped on the 2-in-1 Almost Lipstick/Black Honey Gloss. One side is the lipstick and one side is a gloss which is not shown in the picture above. The moisturizing texture I loved. But sadly, I was really underwhelmed with the colour - on me at least. I know all you Black Honey fans are thinking I'm just crazy, but it turned more of a reddish-brown on my lips. I was expecting more of a blackened purple undertone. It could be that I have some natural pigment to my lips and it pulled more of the brown undertones. It didn't necessarily look bad against my skin tone, but I felt it looked a little dated on me. It reminded me of my M.A.C. Paramount lipstick I used to wear religiously in high school/college. Not cute and just not me anymore.

The eyeshadow quad was also underwhelming although it is a quad with basic everyday shades. Beware that this palette could look muddy on some skin tones and make you look tired. Again on me, it worked but I felt it looked dated. The textures were also pretty frosty. If you have wrinkly skin on your eyes, the frost will just accentuate that.

The Black Honey blush I actually didn't mind. It is a gradation of colour going from dark to light. Use one side to sculpt and the lighter to add colour on the cheeks and highlight. The texture of the blush is really smooth. It gives the skin really nice warmth and is perfect for the Fall season. Lighter skin tones should use a lighter hand when applying this blush as you don't want to look bruised. 

All in all, I think the Black Honey shade works best as a lip colour as it seems to be flattering on most skin tones. I just wish it would had more of a purple undertone to it. Otherwise, if you're a Black Honey fan you will love this collection. 

Are you a Black Honey fan? Did you love the collection?

www.clinique.com

Products were submitted for editorial consideration.