IMATS 2013 Haul & First Impressions

I know, I know. IMATS was almost a month ago and if I wasn't a grade-A slacker I would have had this post up within hours of leaving the event. But, to be fair to myself, I really wanted to give all the products a thorough test drive in order to give you my honest opinions on them. After all, I am a newbie beauty blogger with little credibility. I must gain your trust! So without further delay, here are the items I picked up at this year's IMATS: 

Makeup Primer by Arbonne

I like to keep my makeup routine short and sweet, so any routine that takes longer than 30 minutes just doesn't work for my schedule. Because of this, I've never dabbled into the "primer" world because to the naive me, adding this step to my already crammed routine would be too much. However, I'm happy to report that this "false" notion has been thrown to the waste-side all because of this makeup primer from Arbonne! 

The company claims that this product "visually diminishes fine lines and pores and creates a perfect canvas for makeup application". After a month of use, I can safely say that these claims are pretty much spot on. After applying this product, my concealer goes on so nicely without leaving my face looking too cakey and about my pores - what pores?! This product really does diminish the look of pores! But the two standout features for me are: one, the product doesn't take long to dry into the skin (I'm talking a minute tops) so my makeup application time hasn't been negatively impacted, and two, with the help of this product, the lasting power of my makeup has increased dramatically! (I'm so not used to having my blush intact after a long day of work!) The verdict? A must-buy!

 Morphe Brushes

Who can say no to $5 brushes?? Because I'm so used to shelling out a pretty penny for makeup brushes from MAC and Sephora, I was literally jumping for joy when I saw these brushes going for $5-$12 a piece. Truth be told, I was a bit weary about the quality given that they were so inexpensive, but after using them faithfully for the last month, I'm quite happy with them all! The face brushes are my favorite of the bunch; they're so soft and they don't shed (which was and still is a huge issue with my bareMinerals powder brush)! 

P/S: Take 20% off your order by using this coupon code: Morphe2013

(note: I am not sponsored) 

Complexion Fix Concealer by Veil

Being a sucker for good packaging, I was drawn to the Veil counter because of their gold packaging.

But astetics aside, after speaking with the rep I was sold on their concealers. They are formulated to conceal and treat dark circles and to highlight. I bought the shade medium to do the heavy duty concealing and the shade light to highlight underneath the eyes. 

These two products are nothing short of amazing! The product is light-weight, but don't let this deceive you because you get full coverage with such little product! When set with loose powder, the lasting power is quite impressive - I'm a glasses girl so my under eye makeup tends to move around throughout the day, but not with these bad boys! In terms of treating dark circles, I can see a slight difference after a month's use, but I have high hopes that I'll continue to see results with more time.

Mineral Wet Powder, Blush, and Eyeshadows by Pari Beauty

My final stop of the day was at the Pari Beauty counter. I had been itching to get a new pressed powder foundation for awhile, so I thought I'd check out their selection. Not only did I leave with a new powder foundation, I left with a blush and a handful of eyeshadows! There are so many things I like about this company and their products! Firstly, they're Canadian-owned, which is awesome (support your local economies, folks!). And secondly, the quality of their products speaks for themselves! 

The powder foundation offers great coverage and the quality is comparable to my holy grail MAC Studio Fix powder foundation. I'm in the shade WD52 (for all you NC30's out there). I also purchased their blush in the shade BO04 which is a "natural/just ran a couple miles/flushed" shade - which is the look I'm currently loving! And as for their eyeshadows? Well, I could spend another two paragraphs on all the shades that I chose but I'll leave that to another post. I will say this: the colour payoff on these things are fantastic, there is little to no fallout, AND they cost a fraction of what it costs for the MAC equivalent. 

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All in all, I'm quite happy with all the products I picked up!! I only hope I have the same luck next year! 

Did you do a post or video showing your IMATS haul? 

If so, leave a link to it in the comments! I would love to take a look!

Pins I Heart This Week #2

Photos via Pinterest

The past few days have seen a lot of grey skies, so it's no surprise that this week's theme is all about grey! Grey is a staple colour in my closet and I wear it all year round. I simply can't get enough of it: grey blazers, sweaters, pants, scarves, and purses! 

What's your favourite grey item in your closet?

First IMATS Experience

This year my lovely friend (a fellow make-up lover) invited me to join her at this year's IMATS in Toronto. I've never been, but I've heard my American counterparts rave about this two-day event (and trust me, I've watched my fair share of beauty gurus showcasing their hauls on YouTube), so without any hesitation I immediately accepted her invitation and bought my ticket online!

For those who haven't heard of IMATS, let me break it down! IMATS stands for International Make-Up Artist Trade Show, and it's just that: a huge convention where make-up artists and die-hard beauty enthusiasts gather to check out the latest and greatest the industry has to offer. Retailers set up rows and rows of booths to promote their products. Anything that falls under the "beauty" spectrum can most certainly be found at one of these  booths: skincare products, hair tools, eyelashes, nail polish, body paint (?), make-up brushes, and of course, make-up (piles and piles of make-up!). 

One of the major perks of attending this two-day affair is the generously discounted pricing on all the products (I'm talking at least 40% off the MSRP). This is great for someone who's just starting to experiment with different make-up products and brands because you can do so without breaking the bank!

Asides from the obvious shopping experience, there's a whole educational aspect to the convention. Some of the world's best make-up artists come to speak about the industry and what the latest trends are, and most importantly, they conduct demos on how to apply the make-up! I mean, having a whole lot of make-up doesn't mean much unless you know how to apply it correctly, right? 

All in all, I had a wonderful time hanging out with my girlfriend for the day! I shopped (duh!), discovered new brands (mostly Canadian), met the beautiful Rae Morris, and sat in on some stellar seminars! Would I attend next year? In a heart beat! Is it worth the $50 admission ticket? Totally! If you budget and stick to your original shopping list, the amount of discount you receive pays for the cost!

Did you go to IMATS this year? If so, what was your favourite purchase?

P/S: A haul post to follow :)

Pins I Heart This Week #1

My ultimate favourite season is finally upon us! The smell of fall crisp air, the reintroduction of the "red cup" at Starbucks, and the switching out of summer pieces to warm and cozier ones are just some of the reasons why I absolutely love this time of year! 

This week's favourite pins are all about my fall staples: sweaters, coats, and chunky scarves!

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Currently Coveting: Balenciaga City Bag

{ image by WhatIBoughtToday }

The year was 2006 and I had just discovered the existence of celebrity gossip blogs (JustJared and Perezhilton) when I first laid eyes on a beautiful Balenciaga City bag on the arm of Nicole Richie. It was a love affair from that moment on. Back then I was a (starving) student in university and the idea of buying any purse with a price tag over $500 was simply out of the budget (little did I know that these purses cost way more than $500).

The simple yet classic structure of the bag is what I love most about it. It doesn't have large embellishments nor is it embossed with logos that scream "look at me!" like some of the other designer purses have. For this reason, the City is a very sensible choice for the office. The leather is buttery to the touch and only gets better with age. What else could I ask for in a bag!?!

Fast-forward to 2012. I was on my way home from a quick stop at Zara when I suddenly found myself reaching for the doors at Holt Renfrew. I couldn't fight the urge to step in and take a quick looksy at the Balenciaga section. Needless to say, I walked out with the Town and not the City. Don't get me wrong, I love my Town for my body frame (I'm 5"2), but after having it for more than a year, I can't help but regret not getting the City instead. So back to saving up my pennies!!

Here's the purse in action:

{image by www.matchesfashion.com }

{ image by www.etpourquoipascoline.fr }

A Blog Was Born

I'm dedicating my first blog post to all the people in the blogosphere that never quite made it past their first blog post. Truth be told, I'm one of these people. I've started at least a handful of blogs, but simply couldn't commit. Underlying commitment issues aside, I kept trying to fit into specific niches but soon realized that I was no expert in any one topic. I felt contained to writing about one subject and that soon turned into boredom which inevitably turned into another abandoned ship blog. 

The solution: the lifestyle blog. My blog will, by definition, be about my life, my (random) interests, and my journey as I navigate through my late-twenties. 

Enjoy! Subscribe! And Happy Reading!