Haul: IMATS NYC 2015

Ladies and gentlemen, I survived my first IMATs -- and in the process had a blast visiting New York with my sister. We attended on Sunday, so it was the day after all the big YouTubers went and got kicked out. I have no idea how it compares to Saturday's apparent mayhem, but it seems the event was nice and calm for the first few hours we were there. It wasn't until a little later in the afternoon that the crowds started to get a little thicker and it started to feel like other trade shows I've attended in the past (e.g., The Makeup Show, Premiere Orlando).

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it was better or worse without the YouTubers there. I wasn't there to witness the crowds that would surround them. I don't know what the YouTubers did or didn't do to merit getting booted. I only know what I heard. If the rumors are true, and judging by the venue and event layout, I can see how too many people crowing around to take photos with their favorite "gurus" could have resulted in the vloggers getting the boot. All I'm saying is that I can understand how it would become a safety concern.

Anyway, that's all I've got to say on that subject because I wasn't attending with the goal to partake in any YouTube meet and greets (although I probably would've said hi discreetly had I seen any of them -- I am friendly after all). I understand that some people attend hoping to see their favorite internet beauty personalities and can see how it would be disappointing that they're not there. My main focus, though, was to shop and chat with brand reps to learn about products and what not. So for me the trip was a total success.

With that said, I promised an IMATS haul and that's exactly what you'll get! So check out my video below to see everything I got (and even some swatches).

And here's a list of all the products:

• Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleanser (Quick Dry formula)
• Alcone Company Non-Latex makeup sponges
• Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray
• Skindinavia Oil Control Primer Spray
• Skindinavia Original Primer Spray
• Bdellium Tools Tapered Contour Brush (944)
• Bdellium Tools 10-piece Studio Mineral brush set with makeup roll which includes the following brushes:
• #964 AP Blusher
• #957 Precision Cheek
• #955 Finishing
• #945 Contour
• #942 Slanted Contour
• #781 Crease
• #776 Blending
• #769 Angled Contour
• #765 Small Angle Shader
• #755 Smudge
• Beauty Blender Body Blender
• Serenity + Scott: Gatsby (lipstick) + Copper Auburn (brow gel)
• Dirty Little Secret lipsticks: Poison, Guilty Pleasure, Hopeless
• Lip Bar liquid lipstick: Candy Land and Dirty Red
• Cozette Brushes: S145, D255, S165, S175, S185
• Stilazzi shadows and blushes:
• MS04
• MS08
• MB10
• MB16
• MB18
• MB19
• MS43
• MS44
• MS45
• PS26
• Ever Glaze polishes: Lil' Bow-tique, Don't Grape About it, Floral-escent, Paint My Piggies Pink, Orchid, Top Coat
• IBD polish in Tickled Pink
• Chacott Cleansing Water (travel size)

Alright, I showed you mine, now tell me about your haul. Did you go to IMATS and what was your favorite purchase?

More Beauty Stocking Stuffer Suggestions

The holiday hustle and bustle isn't quite done yet, but you only have a few days left to polish off that shopping list. Buying beauty gifts can be so daunting, but there are quite a few cute little gifts you can add to someone's stocking. Here are just a few ideas to take the load off whatever's left of your shopping duties. These are sure to elicit a few "Ooohs" and "Ahs" and earn you a place on the awesome gift giver list.

Urban Decay Revolution lipstick ($22 each) / MAKE UP FOR EVER Extravagant Glamour Set  ($38) / L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand & Lips Set ($20) / The Body Shop Shower Moisture Gift Set ($7) / Tarte Limited Edition Lash Set ($19) / Stila Portrait of a Perfect Eye Palette ($16) / Holiday BeautyBlender ($20) / Philosophy Purity Made Simple™ Ornament ($10) / Stila Portrait of a Perfect Cheek Palette ($16) / Atelier Cologne perfume miniature duo ($18) + Nordstrom Atomizer ($5)

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick: Soft, buttery, long-wearing all packaged neatly in a gunmetal chrome tube. It's hard to go wrong with this lipstick line. The hardest part is choosing a color, mostly because they have so many great ones to choose from. Only you know the person you're shopping for, but some nice neutral work-for-everyone shades include Naked (nude with a little pink) and Fiend (rose). If your giftee is bold check out Anarchy, F-bomb, or Jilted. It will be hard to pick just one (read: not buy them all). You may even need one (or 5) for your stocking. 

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand & Lips Set: Soft hands and lips will make a great gift this holiday season, especially since so many people are experiencing ridiculously cold weather. I'm partial to the L'Occitane line because it feels so luxurious (and sounds fancy because it's French). My favorite is the rose scented line, but this set comes in a variety of scents, so choose whichever you think is best. 

Tarte lash set:  Everyone wants enviable lashes, right? How fun to reach into your stocking and pull out this little gilded set. All it needs is a little pouch so you can carry them with you anywhere. 

Beauty Blender: Does this gift need any explanation? The Beauty Blender has enjoyed quite a bit of fame for a reason. I doubt any beauty lover (even if they already have one) will turn this away. A flawless makeup finish is always appreciated. 

Purity ornament: Listen up. This will make my holiday gift list every year for as long as Philosophy will put it out on the market. I love this face wash. It cleanses and tones and is gentle on your skin. I didn't believe the hype until I used it myself. My skin was noticeably softer, even before I started pairing it with my Clarisonic. The travel-size version is a great way to introduce your friends to this gem and it lasts a long time. 

Stila cheek and eye palettes: I love that Stila released these little sets this holiday season. You'll get to choose different ones for eyes, and while I love all the colors they offer, I keep gravitating toward that cheek set. Both or either will make a great gift because the quality is outstanding. Bonus: Adorable packaging. 

Make Up For Ever Extravagant Glamour set:  This is a phenomenal deal. Three full sized products at a reasonable price (valued at $63). If you have a bold glamour puss on your list, this will have her jaw on the floor. A full-sized bright red lipstick, smokey lash mascara, and waterproof black liner? Yes. Please. If I had a mic, I'd drop it. 

Atelier Cologne perfume mini duo set: I got this for myself recently. The full-size equivalent of each of these mini's is more than $100. I had to see why. They smell amazing and linger on your skin for a whiiiile. This set comes with the vanilla and blood orange perfumes. Yes, the mini's are tiny, but they have the same amount of product as most roller ball perfumes. Pair this with an atomizer ($5 at Nordstrom) and they'll make perfect purse or travel companions. 

Beauty Haul: The Makeup Show Part 2

In case you've been stuck under a rock these past few weeks: I went to The Makeup Show in Orlando recently. If you're a regular here, you already know this. While I was there, I did some makeup hauling damage. I shared my beauty haul from the blogger preview event recently, and promised there'd be more to come.

Well, I'm delivering on that promise with a lot of product pictures for your perusing pleasure. This post includes the items that I purchased while at the show. Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know which products you're most interested in seeing swatches and reviews on first.

OCC Lip Tars in (left to right) Yaoi, Rhythm box, and Black Metal Dahlia

Ben Nye luxury banana powder

Crown brushes (top to bottom): Infinity Round Blender brush, Syntho Angle Shader brush, Syntho Chisel Shader brush, Jumbo Shadow brush, Crescent Shadow brush, and Oval Shadow brush

Bdellium brushes (#776, #785, and #953), OFRA brush #21

OFRA Cosmetics lipsticks in (l to r) Fuchsia, 202, and 201

Inglot lipstick #140

Cult Nails in (l to r): Spontaneous, My Kind of Cool Aid, Morning Glory

Ellis Faas Creamy Lipsticks in Deep Fuchsia (L104) and Ellis Red (L101)

Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes eye shadow in lilac taupe (E106)

Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix setting spray, Face & Body foundation (20), HD Elixir, Aqua Smoky Lash, HD Invisible Cover Concealer (325)

Michael Marcus Prime botanical primer in Light

Stila In The Know all matte eye shadow palette

Beauty Blender duo with carrying case and solid cleanser 

I also purchased a Make Up For Ever palette exclusive to the Makeup Show designed by James Vincent and his fellow artist friends that had 10 eyeshadow and blush pans. There was a tiny mistake when I made the purchase, and I didn't receive all 10 shades (I got 9 shades, and a duplicate of one of the shades which equaled 10). I contacted Make Up For Ever and let them know what happened and they graciously offered to send me the missing shade. Since I didn't want to take a picture of the incomplete palette, I'm waiting on the item to arrive. Once that comes in, I'll take a photo and share the colors in the palette so that you can easily recreate it. 

Other items purchased but not pictured (because they they're little beauty tools you can get from anywhere): MUFE duo pencil sharpener, MUFE mixing palette, MUFE powder puff, and an assortment of wispy false lashes. 

And last, but not least. I was given a press kit for the Makeup Bullet. I'm very excited to review this item for you. It's a reusable makeup sponge that fits on your finger! Genius!

Well, there you have it -- that's my haul from The Makeup Show Orlando. If you went, what did you get? Anything in my haul you'd like to see reviewed and swatched first?