1. Give Your Lips a Little Stain

Maroon stained lips give them an inviting look.  The stain is not as thick and strong as a lip stick, but change the hint of your peckers. Need convincing?  Dior makeup artist Pat McGrath says that wine shades “infuse fantasy into a look.” So, give those boys what they always dreamed of!  Now, don’t go picking up just any tint!  You must be aware of the shade that will fit your skin coloring best.  Fairer skinned ladies should use more of a purple shade while those with darker skin tones can apply a warmer, reddish-black color.

2. Make Those Eyebrows Speak For You

If you want people to look at you and say, “Wow, what a strong and powerful woman,” then make those brows stand out. According to Elle Magazine, strong, architectural brows are back. So, make them bold and dynamic.  Be sure to not venture beyond your natural eyebrow shape or people may gawk in horror.  Just use a matching eyebrow pencil or brow brush and powder to fill in thin areas.  This look goes great with nude cheeks (for a clever contrast), but you can also make it work with a blush that us just a shade darker than your own skin tone.

3. Shadows Go Pink!

Pink eyeshadow may not be what you are use to wearing, but makeup artist Lisa Butler for NARS says that using it creates a “youthful and rebellious punk princess–inspired” look.  So, why not give it a shot on a night on the town?  Again, be aware of your skin tones and choose the best shade for you accordingly. Darker skin tones can pull off those bright fuchsia shades, while lighter tones work well with baby pink. A dark, bright pink shadow on a pale eye lid just looks like you’re trying too hard. Add a little shadow under the eye as well and top the whole look off with black eyeliner.

4. Bronze Cheeks with a Rosy Disposition

Bronze blushes are usually in brown tones with a hint of shimmer.  But maybe you want to tell the world, “Summer may be over, but I’m still glowing!” So, add a bit of pink to mix. To get this glowing look, makeup artists fill in the apples of the cheeks with a brownish-pink blush and then apply a light, pearlescent eyeshadow color along eyelids, cheekbones, upper lip, and nose.  You’ll be glowing in no-time!

5. All Naturale

The all- naturale look is here to stay – for now.  It came around the spring and has since planted it’s roots in the women of the world.  They love not pouring on gobs and gobs of makeup, but prefer to feel light, look fresh and be themselves.  If you have a great complexion already, then this is a fantastic option for you.  But if you are lacking that natural skin there is still hope!  Ladies with skin that says, “I’m fabulous!” can simply put on a bit of powder or mix foundation with moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer.   Or simply use your wet/dry foundation with a powder brush immediately after applying your moisturizer.  Spray your face with a hydrating mist and smooth out with a clean sponge to remove any powder residue. You’ll have glowing skin that isn’t powdery.

But for most of the ladies of the world, you see pumps, discoloration and bags under your eyes.  I recommend a natural powder set such as Bare Escentuals. I personally use this product and it helps take away everyone of my skin problems.  Plus, the natural minerals actually help keep my skin clear.

Now that the foundation is covered….. with the natural look you will want to have bare or minimal eyes so it’s best to use with no shadow or a nude with a touch of brown liner drawn softly.  Then top them off with a hint of brown mascara.  Keep the focus on your lips and cheekbones with soft shades that are just a touch darker than your natural color.

1960′s Mega Volume Hair

Guido, who created this look, recommends applying a bodifying mousse to the roots of damp hair, blow-drying, then back-combing at the crown. Gently tease front pieces and smooth them back, sealing the look with hairspray.

Products to use: Goody Pro Volumizing Brush; Tresemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo; Garnier Fructis Style Volumizing Anti-Humidity Hairspray; Redken Aerate 08 Bodifying Cream-Mousse.

1930′s Inspired Waves

Hair Stylist, Conrad Dornan of the 2010 Fall Dior Show, recommends separating the hair into sections and applying a texturizing product to each portion. Then using a small curling iron, begin setting the bottom half of the head in small sections. As you work the sections toward the top and front of the head, offset your sections bit by bit to create a looser wave on top and a tighter wave to support the hair on bottom.  Once the hair is set, brush out your hair to your desired shape. Tease at your own discretion to get the volume you want, and use bobby-pins to secure the hair where necessary.

Products to use: Shu Uemura Art of Hair Kaze Wave Sensual Curl Texturizing Foam, Design Pulse Messy Couture Molding Paste, Sultra The Seductress: Curl, Wave & Straight Iron.

70′s Blowout Tossle

Add a volumizing foam at the roots and flip your head over to blow-dry. (You can also use a heat styling spray to prep your hair instead of a foam.) Once your hair is dry, use Velcro rollers to set your hair at the crown of your head.  Then use a round brush to dry the remaining hair. Do this with small sections.  Then finish off with hair spray.

Products to use: Nexxus Thermal Volume Volumizing Heat Protection Mousse or Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray, Fekkai Large Round Brush, Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray

60′s Bangs

Bangs need to fit your face shape.  ”Blunt cuts flatter oval faces, while round and square faces look best with fringe that’s longer on the sides and slightly shorter in the middle,” hints Guido.  And there is no secret to these smooth and full bangs, just keep them frizz free with a flat iron and some product.  No one likes to see a frazzled mess at the top of your face!

Products to use: CHI 1-Inch Ceramic Flat Hairstyling Iron; John Frieda Frizz-Ease 100% Shine Glossing Mist

50′s Fendi Pompadour

This look just screams subtle, classic sophistication.  It just appears as though she threw her hair up in a jiffy not caring to pin back those soft, loose strands.  According to Nicole Descoteaux, a stylist at New York’s Butterfly Studio, says that this “look is what we call over direction, which means the roll or pouf sits very far forward on its base. Start by using a lot of gel, and make sure to flip your head over and blow-dry forward.  Secure hair at the crown, then backcomb, twist, and pin.”

Products to use:  Oribe Gel Serum, TIGI Bed Head Maxxed Out Massive Hold Hairspray, Goody Bobby Pins.

]]> http://www.frockable.com/2010/09/28/retro-hair-will-make-you-fall-in-love/feed/ 0 /wordpress/uploads/2010/09/retrohair-1.jpg http://www.frockable.com/2010/09/17/facial-moisturizer-secrets/ http://www.frockable.com/2010/09/17/facial-moisturizer-secrets/#comments Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:46:53 +0000 saffron http://www.frockable.com/?p=5080 Looking for a new facial moisturizer?

Well, walk into any department or drug store and prepare to be dazzled because the days when Noxema, Coty and Estee Lauder ruled the roost are long gone. These days, you will find a dizzying array of facial moisturizers to choose from, each claiming to contain the latest miracle ingredient, the newest antioxidant, the best way to stave off aging forever… with prices to match.

So what’s a girl to do?

Learn as much as you can BEFORE you go to select your next facial moisturizer.

What follows are a few secrets we’re willing to share with you to get you started…

1. No one single ingredient is going to fix everything that ails your skin all by itself. Your skin is as complex as you are so just slapping on the latest antioxidant that you read about in a magazine is not going to move the needle. Even if you are maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and drinking enough water (and don’t even think about smoking and drinking), as you age you simply have less blood flow delivering nutrients to your skin. That means that you need more than one product to get the job done. Your new facial moisturizer must be a part of a system of products that work together. Find one that works for you and stick with it which brings us to …

2. Give it time to work. The magic “10 days” to see results is marketing baloney. Six months minimum of dedicated use with small tweaks is what’s required to see a change, especially in maturing skin. Find a facial moisturizer you like … and stick with it!

3. Know your needs, especially if you are hitting some birthday milestones. Listen, we all loved Bonne Bell astringents, lip balms and moisturizers but those days, my friend, have passed into history.

4. Make sure what you’re buying is fresh! For serums and facial moisturizers, six months is a good shelf life estimate. And check that little logo on the jar that shows you how long the product is good after you open it. Once oxygen gets to it, it starts to die … just like your skin.

5. Always apply your facial moisturizer right after your shower or bath while your skin is more permeable. Put on your serum first if you’re using one, then layer your facial moisturizer on top. Exfoliators also increase permeability so take advantage of your weekly slough to make the most of your products.

6. Find a facial moisturizer that will help your skin keep water in and keep pollutants out. Silicones do this well and even give moisturizers a silky feel but, unfortunately, they slow the absorption of any available nutrients in your product. Steer away from silicones and find a facial moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, natural active peptides, essential fatty acids, niacinamide and other vitamins. Feed your skin and it will thrive!

7. Stay away from facial moisturizers that contain harsh chemicals such as parabens, fragrances, mineral oil, dioxane, triclosan and toluene. In the long run, these fillers and preservatives will do more harm than good … parabens even monkey with the hormonal system and are implicated in the formation of cancer cells.

8. Play find the chemical when you read labels and don’t let the words “organic” and “natural” turn your head. Remember, poison oak and red hot lava are “organic” and “natural” and we wouldn’t want those showing up in our facial moisturizer, would we?

9. The best facial moisturizer on the planet is water. Yes, the kind you drink, but also the kind that you EAT and that means eating as many fruits and vegetables as your mom always wanted you to. You can buy the most expensive facial moisturizer there is and it will be ineffective if you don’t stay hydrated. Best bets: watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, zucchini … even chicken and fish. Boring but true.

10. And finally, remember that no facial moisturizer will work unless it is applied to the skin, so don’t just buy a new facial moisturizer, USE IT!

Easy Fashion

The Sartorialist

Street Peeper

Still in Berlin

Face Hunter

Tokyo Fashion

Of course, water is number one on the list. Drinking enough water will improve pretty much your entire body. Including your lips. Of course, refraining from smacking or licking your lips will prevent them from drying and cracking. Did you know that it can be beneficial to exfoliate your lips, just like you would the rest of your skin? Lip exfoliants slough off dead skin to make your lips more radiant.

Be conscious of what your putting on your lips. When choosing a lip balm, it is recommended that you pick a hydrating one that contains beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E and various nourishing oils. And as for those lipsticks girls love so much, the matte kind can often been drying. So use it sparingly.

And when you’ve used all these tricks to get your lips in tip top shape, then you can go out and use them for fun things like kissing!

(Image via neuimage)

Clinique Superbalanced Foundation $21.00

Actually most of the foundations from Clinique are under $30.00 but the Superbalanced formula is the one I like the best. This foundation gives the skin a light amount of coverage, is weightless on the face and is good for all skin types. For those of you who want a little more coverage, try the Superfit formula.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation $12.99-15.99

I wear this foundation often enough that I stock up whenever it is on sale or I have a coupon. This foundation gives  medium coverage that really does have more lasting power than most other drugstore brands. Add a couple of drops of this foundation to your moisturizer for super light coverage that leaves the skin looking healthy and hydrated.

Rimmel Renew and Lift Foundation $9.99

This foundation claims that you will look up to 8 years younger within 12 days of using it. Well, I don’t look any younger when I use this foundation but it does last all day and is light on the skin. This foundation is one of the few inexpensive ones I’ve found that does not crease into fine lines.

Iman Cream To Powder Foundation $14.99

I remember when Iman was in department stores and my mother spent arm and a leg when I was a teen as it was the only foundation that matched my skin. I still use the cream to powder foundation on occasion and recommend this foundation for darker skinned gals who are having trouble matching their skin tone.

Bare Minerals SPF 15 Foundation $25.00

The foundation used alone is a steal at $25.00 but if you haven’t used the Bare Minerals system, the Get Started Kit, although not under $30 is the best deal. Once you get the introductory kit, replacing the individual products is very affordable.

The clever name alone gives this cleanser a point in my book. No-Poo Cleanser is a sulfate and detergent free cleansing cream that sits on the hair rather than lather. Sulfates are extremely drying to any hair type however they are even worse on curly, wavy and frizzy hair types. First off, let me tell you that this type of shampoo takes some getting used to. There is absolutely no lather when you use this type of cleanser and it coats the hair more like a conditioner than a shampoo.

Personally, I hate using styling products and I use less products by straightening my hair instead of wearing it curly so I only tried the shampoo from DevaCurl but there is an entire line of sulfate free hair care at your disposal. I still used No-Poo like I would a normal shampoo but the consistency is fairly thick so I didn’t agitate my hair too much to avoid tangles. Rinsing was a bit of an issue, I have a lot of hair and I felt like I was rinsing forever and I definitely didn’t have a squeaky clean feeling once I rinsed. My hair felt clean but not as oil free as I am used to with my regular shampoos.

When it comes to styling I tried both ways: letting it air dry naturally and blowdrying with a diffuser on low heat to rate the frizz control. While air drying showed some frizz control sadly, using a blow dryer yielded no difference and I was hoping that my curls would have more definition and be bouncier. There was a difference but not enough to make me jump up and down. I suppose if I used the entire system, I would see dramatic frizz control but I wasn’t impressed enough by the shampoo to try the rest of the line just yet.

TheFrisky……………..9 inapppropriately shirtless celebs

StyleList……………Subtle Butt masks your toots

Chickolith…………5 ways to make sex fun

PhysiqueSpeak…………Marisa Tomei’s diet and fitness secrets

Threading (or “khite” or “fatlah”) is a hair removal method that originated in Eastern countries (e.g., the Middle East, India), but is establishing a toe-hold in the West. The aesthetician twists a special cotton thread into a double strand–sort of like a special lasso for hair–and then uses it to pull the unwanted hair out by the root.

Because threading removes hair by the root, that means it’s a longer-lasting hair removal technique, and should last a few weeks–along the lines of waxing or tweezing. But unlike waxing, sugaring, or depilatories, there’s not chemicals going onto your skin. It’s just the thread (although your threader might anchor the thread in her mouth, but that’s not the part that goes onto your skin!). And unlike tweezing, it will do several hairs at once.

On the upside, that means the whole removal process will go pretty quickly (quicker than tweezing). But there’s no real break in the process (like in waxing, where you get a moment’s breather while the new strip of wax sets), which can be a little irritating.

Most people who do threading do it for their eyebrows. In fact, the folks at Wisegeek.com say this is how all the Bollywood stars like to get their brows beautified because it create such precise lines. However, threading is not just for brows. In fact, it is commonly used for errant hairs on any part of the face–brows, upper lip, chin, whatever you need.Which means, if you have a weird hairline, like me, you can go to a threader to have it shaped the way you want–AWESOME.

Threading isn’t a huge mainstream craze yet, so it can be hard to find a good threader. If you live in an urban area you might be able to find a salon exclusively devoted to threading (like Threadbar in LA), but it’s worth asking at any salon if they have someone who does it. Just make sure they’re experienced–an unskilled threader could mean hair breakage, pain or uneven-looking results.

(Photo via: ChickLitPlus)

The Cut……….One Miu Miu dress makes three summer mag covers

HuffingtonPost……………The big players in E-coupon daily deals

The Frisky………….M.A.C. planning name change for ‘Juarez’ inspired products

Chickolith………Spotlight: Queen Rania of Al Abdullah of Jordan

NiceDwells………….Clever places to hide your valuables

Oh, these are my new favorite polishes! They have a ton of pigment to them so you get bright, bold color in just two coats and combined with a top coat, chip less than my expensive O.P.I. polishes. The color selection at my Rite Aid is pretty extensive and this line seems to have a polish in every color of the rainbow from fluorescent to pastels. Brightly colored or patterned nails are all the rage this summer although they may have gotten Lindsay Lohan thrown in the slammer, I mean come on, the judge must of had a heart attack when she saw those Easter eggs. Luckily for the rest of us, Sinful Colors are affordable enough for you to have a rainbow of nail colors at your disposal and I’ve already been back to buy three more colors (Fiji, Canary Yellow and another bottle of Ruby Ruby just to have a backup)

I was also surprised when I visited the website that they also have a line of cosmetics complete with foundations, eye and lip colors. Unfortunately, my Rite Aid only carries the polish and the website so I’m on hunt to try and find some of their other products before I order from the site. Have you tried any of the cosmetics from Sinful Colors? I would love to hear about them in the comments.

1. Glam Scarf

You’ve seen it in the ’50s. You’ve seen it on Bridget Jones. You get a scarf–preferably a nicer one–and fold it into a triangle, slap it over your head, and then tie it under your chin. Pair with your fanciest sunglasses and you’re Grace Kelly. Feels silly, looks good.

2. Hippie Kerchief

Scarf-wear for the un-fancy type. Grab a handkerchief, fold it into the triangle, and tie it behind your ears in lieu of in front of your chin. For added security, hold it in with some bobby pins on the sides.

3. Headbands

Keeps the hair from blowing in your eyes while you drive, but still gives you the hair-in-the-breeze feel.

4. Ponytail

Obviously, only for those with hair long enough to all tie in. A high tight one or a loser chignon at the nape, whatever does the trick. Keep barrettes or bobby pins around for escapist strands.

5. Braid(s)

Also for the longer-haired-ladies, a good braid may even keep your hair under control better than a pony tail and be more comfortable. Bonus(?), your hair might be a little wavy when you take the braids out.

6. Product–or lack thereof

If you’re in the passenger seat and just want to let it all hang loose, that’s fun, too. It’s less fun when you get out of the car and your hair is in 3000 tangles because you used some pomade before you got in. If you’re going to ride with the top down, you probably want to make it a low-product day. Or else go with one of the tie-back options.

7. Brush

Crucial. Make sure you have one in the car. And go easy.

StyleNoir………..Jesus Christ appears in Playboy

PeopleStyleWatch……..Snooki trades in the pouf for new red-hot tresses

LuckyMag…………Amazing jewelry from Oak’s a.ok. All under $40!!

Chickolith………..Another win for Spain: Javier and Penelope wed. Awww

Vivastic.………..Women’s biological clock linked to sex-drive

We Heart It is basically like Twitter for all things inspiring. To become a hearter all you have to do is sign up, create a personal page and start filling it up with videos and pictures you love and which inspire you. You can also “heart” the uploads of other people on the site. The more love, the better! You can also save images from other people’s pages to your own. It’s very communal. Sharing is caring.

This black and white photo of a smiling girl in a leopard coat is hearted by 51 people. “Art is Everywhere” is hearted by 35 people. How many people will heart the things you put up on your page? Tens? Hundreds, maybe? But it doesn’t really matter. It’s all about what inspires you. And if that just happens to inspire someone else, that’s just the cherry on top!

Any Frockable Fashionista would kill for “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara’s drop dead perfect bikini body.  Vergara is no high fashion stick either – she’s got the kind of curves that a normal girl might actually aspire to.  So how does she do it?

According to an interview with “Shape” magazine, the secret is…. lollipops.  That’s right, Vergara swears that her best dieting weapon is the three lollipops she sucks down a day to deal with her sweet tooth.

“My problem is desserts. I am obsessed with desserts,” she told Shape magazine.

“I am sure it’s not good,” she said of those darn lollipops, “but it’s better than ordering tiramisu, which is what I really want to do.”

It’s nice to know that even screen sirens like Vergara struggle with tiramisu! Of course, lollipops aren’t the only thing Vergara has to do to keep up her figure.  She sticks to a healthy diet and works out regularly.

“I am not very obsessed with dieting and working out, but I always do it,” she told Shape. “I try to do everything in moderation. With age, I realize I have to do it more and more, unfortunately.”

Vergara was surprised with an Emmy nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series this year.  She might have been shocked when, while announcing the nominees, she read her own name, but we’re not.  Vergara is both stunning and hilarious, and deserves a little golden man of her very own!

Budget Fashionista……………21 great summer work dresses under $75

InStyle………..Transformation: Julianne Moore

Chickolith……..The effed-up guide to being the best housewife ever – part 2

NiceDwells…………Pros and cons of rent-to-own

Styleite.…………….6 exercise-free ways to enhance the awesomeness of your butt

Mama’s A Rolling Stone……………Nylon’s book of global street style

Temptalia……………….A day in the life of a beauty blogger. Whew, sounds tiring!

Vivastic…………….Is farmer’s market food really organic?

Nicedwells………….Tie dye decor, love it or hate it?

If you don’t know of any makeup artists, ask for recommendations from family and friends. If you’re coming up with nothing, try cruising the makeup counters in your local department store. Most counters have wedding packages or can at lease coordinate the counter scheduling to accommodate you and your bridal party. Keep in mind if you are not paying a set price for a counter makeover (most counters don’t charge for a makeover but do require an appointment) you and your party must be prepared to buy products for each person. If you had a previous consultation to hash out your look and purchased products then, usually just a nice tip will usually suffice on the day of your wedding. If you are worried that it may be too expensive then talk to the artist or counter you choose and tell them your budget. They want your business and will work with you to make you happy, I promise.

If you want an artist who will come to your wedding site, most of those counter artists you talked to will freelance your wedding in a heartbeat. If you have a particular artist in mind, ask her discreetly if she is available for freelance and set up a time to contact her on her free time. Having an artist come to your site may be more expensive but the convenience of an artist in your hotel room can’t be beat. With a freelance artist there is also room for negotiation. For example, I have lower prices for bridal party members who only want their eyes done versus a whole face. You may have to purchase the lipstick used so make sure you settle that detail beforehand.

Another tip if you are having trouble finding an artist is to ask your other wedding vendors like your photographer. Most photographers have artists they can recommend. Your local wedding community is a tight bunch so DJ’s and coordinators can have someone they know of as well.

Fashion Police…………Marc Jacob’s jester boots. Eww

Daily Beauty Reporter………A new inspiration for smokey eyes

Refinery29…………….5 fashion bloggers to watch

Chickolith…………………Yes, like it or not, you are a feminist

PhysiqueSpeak…………Jessica Simpson on her intense vegan diet

NYX Eyeshadow Base comes in three different shades white, pearl and skin tone. I received the white one and was a little worried that it would be too white on the eyelids. Because I was using it for a wedding I did apply a light layer of concealer all over the eyelid and under the eyes to even out some dark circles and discoloration before applying the primer. What I like best about this particular base is the consistency, it’s so light it glided over the concealer like it wasn’t even there and it turns out that the stark white color of the primer isn’t an issue. This primer blends into the skin easily when applied and leaves a light shimmer on the skin. However, I used this on very fair skinned women and would recommend the skin toned shade for darker skins.

One thing to remember about primers is that you don’t powder them until after you have applied your shadows. A good primer will attract powders and if you like loose powder shadows you will like this primer because it helps loose powders stick to the lid better. Not only that, this primer seemed to make the color of the powders brighter so I didn’t have to use as much which in turn, made less of a mess to clean up on the cheeks. All in all I’m very impressed with this primer and will be getting the other colors as well, at $7.00 each I think they’ve earned a place in my makeup kit.

NecoleBitchie

All Lacquered Up…………….MAC Alice & Olivia collection nail lacquer swatches and review

FabSugar…………Model Moments: 10 hot July fashion mag covers

Chickolith…………..Red Carpet Trend: Stars Wig Out

Vivastic…………Skincare talk with Dr. Khadavi

TMZ…………………….Lindsay Lohan goes to jail for 90 days!

Setting sprays are used after you have completed your makeup and are applied by lightly spritzing them onto the face. I like a sweeping X pattern, one spray in each direction. I have a more of a stump than a neck so my makeup always gets on my collar no matter what brand I use. Thankfully, this spray helped a lot even though it didn’t stop it from happening completely. It was enough of a difference for me to give this a thumbs up and I only wish I had this in high school (I wore uniforms). Not only did it help with my smudgy collars, it cut down on the amount of touching up I had to do during the day and gave my foundation a good boost of lasting power.

There is also the De-Slick Oil Control Spray for oily skinned gals and the Dew Me (cute) Moisturizing Spray for dry skin. I didn’t get a chance to try these two but I’m pretty confident that they work as well as the All Nighter. These sprays are perfect for those hot, humid summer nights and will keep you looking as fresh as a daisy all day long.

They matter, if, say, you want to attract a man. As it turns out, caking it on is NOT the best method for snagging a mate. So said Bieber AND one in five men who were asked as part of a  survey conducted by St. Ives. Those guys like a woman with little makeup or a natural look. One in ten men surveyed prefer a woman who wears no makeup at all. Heck, even twelve percent of women confessed that they wear too much makeup

Then again, if only one in five men thinks less is more, that leaves four guys who think more is more. So perhaps the girls with the fake lashes and cat eyes know what they’re doing…

Certainly, there is a time and a place to go a little wild with the eyeshadow, liner and lipstick (and, just so you know, the gym is not it). Just maybe not every day. And for the most part, I think a lot of women know how to find a natural-looking balance when applying makeup. Those women, however, do not include Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga or Amy Winehouse. Perhaps they need to listen to the wisdom of The Biebs.

(Image via gofugyourself.com)

I got to the show early so I could cruise around the convention center before it got too crowded and I’m so glad that I did because within two hours the place was packed. This is THE place to be to learn about all things makeup and not just exclusively beauty makeup. Some of the best character and special effects artist in Hollywood were there and I was excited to see all of the creative and wonderful makeups that were being demonstrated live. There was also a small history of makeup museum with filled with life sized puppets of horror favorites like Regan from The Exorcist in full spooky head rotation and a full sized silicone Brad Pitt as Jesse James, used in the death scene in The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

When I attended my first IMATS 10 years ago, most of the vendors were Hollywood only known brands and special effects suppliers with only a small selection of mainstream cosmetics but that is no longer the case. The Make Up For Ever booth was the clear star of the show, requiring ninja like skills to get to the tester units and an hour long wait to pay. M.A.C., Urban Decay, Stila, Youngblood Cosmetics and NYX all had booths selling products at a steal and debuting some really exciting new stuff like Make Up For Ever HD Cream Blush that will be available in Sephora soon.

I’m already looking forward to next year since IMATS just keep getting better and better. Also, I must mention Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Physicians for the most creative giveaway: a stress ball in the shape of a boob. Best. Advertising. Ever.