A Year in Beauty: The Best of 2011

Happy New Year to all my readers!  I can't believe how fast 2011 went by and now we're off to a fresh start!  I can't wait to see what this year will bring. 

Well the year has finally come to an end and it's it's a year of new beginnings I thought I'd do a post on my favourite products of 2011.  Check it out!

Best Foundation 

Hands down my favourite foundation ever is Face Atelier Ultra Foundation.  It is my HG of foundations!  I love that it give me a flawless finish everytime!  It's lightweight and also photograph's really well.  This is a must have for anyone!

Best Face Primer

I've used the Korres orignal primer and I do love it.  I like this one as well as it has anti-aging properties.  It's moisturizing and helps keep my makeup on all day!

Best Eyeliners

I have a toss up between two liners.  The Annabelle Smoothie Liners are awesome for bases and shadows as well as liners.  I also really like the Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes which are a staple in my kit!

Best Lipstick

I absolutely love these Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipsticks!  I haven't done a review yet but these were my go-to favourites of last year.  They're so pigmented and last a long time!

Best Eye Primer

Lime Crime Eye Shadow Helper is my #1 primer of choice.  Excellent for oily lids like mine!

Best Eyeshadow Palette

Of course the Urban Decay Naked Palette had to make my list!  What's not to love?

Best Highlighter

LORAC Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in Radian is the perfect highlighter in my opinion.  It's not too heavy and adds the perfect glow to the skin.

Best Lip Balm

eos lip balms are awesome!  They're moisturizing and soothing which is exactly what I need for my dry lips!

Best Moisturizer

Consonant Body Ultra Moisturizing Organic Face Cream is so amazing that my cheeks have been baby butt smooth!  It's so soothing and everytime I put it on I feel like I'm at the spa!

Best Face Wash

I love Consonant Body Organic Foaming Face Wash.  I love that it can take off waterproof makeup so easily!  And it feels refreshing too!

Best Bottom Mascara

I love that Clinique's Bottom Lash Mascara has the cutest little brush that it gets every single tiny hair.  The formula is great too as it does not smudge or flake at all!

Best Blush

All year the blush that I have been grabbing for the most would have to be Benefit Coralista.  I find that it gives me a pretty flush.  Just a little the apples of my cheeks gives me a natural look.

Best Bronzer

Vasanti Cosmetics Brazilian Bronzer makes my skin look bright and radiant.  I love this bronzer!  Doesn't give you that muddy look!

Best Concealer

Benefit's Erase Paste is the best concealer to cover those darn dark undereye circles.  You'll be amazed at how well it covers!  It also brightens up that area too!

Best Face Powder

Love MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural!  Wear it alone or on top of foundation and it gives you the perfect finish everytime!

So what were your favourites of 2011?

IMATS Toronto 2011 & Haul

As many of you may know, IMATS 2012 was held last weekend at the Toronto Congress Centre. I had been waiting for this all year and was excited to attend again! I went on the Saturday with my friend Melanie who has begun her fascination in the world of beauty partly due to me being her enabler. Haha! I had also got to meet up with a few fellow Toronto Beauty Bloggers (Elaine from Toronto Beauty Reviews, Arianne aka Glitter Geek , Ande from Make Me Over Ande, Tess from Makeup by Tess, Kelly aka Glitter Diaries) and YouTube Vloggers (Fiona aka fionaman, Jen aka jdomakeup, Joanna aka xJOLE, Sandy aka sanderlees).

Below are pictures of the show.  Sorry they are not of the best quality due to the fact that I had forgotten my camera at home! :(

And if you're wondering if I got what was on my WANT LIST check out my haul at the end!

Tons of lashes at NYX

Hakuhodu Brushes probably the softest brushes ever!  My friend Mel just had to splurge on one!

Crown Brushes

Naked Cosmetics

Cover FX

Pari Beauty

Face Atelier.  Love their foundations!

 

Emmy Award Winning Makeup Artist Eve Pearl

Me (looking like a midget) with Mabel & Angela owners of Velour Lashes which are made of Mink fur.  These girls were so sweet.  And they are a Canadian company too!  

Sitting in on Koren's (aka Enkoremakeup) class

Koren's model Tess (aka Makeup by Tess) who you may have remembered as the my model for O2B2

The final look.  Vibrant and Gorgeous!

Body art

More body art

And here's my haul!  I managed to get a lot of what I had on my want list.
Face Atelier Ultra Pro Foundations 6 for $100
Cozette Vessels from Kett Cosmetics $17
Parian Spirit Brush Cleaner $15
Beauty So Clean Sanitizer $20
Kett Cosmetics Blot Compact $18
Nurturing Force Blot Out Offensive Shine & Oil Control $17 (I think! Please correct me if I'm wrong)
ZPalette $20
Makeup Forever 12 Colour Flash Case $67
NARS Orgasm x2 (bought these for friends) No discount which I regret!
Velour Lashes I got "Are those real?" $20
Multiple Crown Brushes $10.50 - $18.50 (totally regret...should have gotten Bdellium Tools which were all the rage this year!)

My IMATS 2011 WANT list!

If you've read my IMATS post from last year you'd know that I didn't go too crazy with my haul.  This year I plan to change that!  I have a list that many of my Twitter friends and followers have been asking about and here it is!  These are just a few things that I want and hopefully will get...

FACE ATELIER 

PRO ULTRA FOUNDATION

I have one in the full size and I love it!  I've decided that I need a few of these in my kit!

Z PALETTE

I already own a couple of these and they are awesome!  I love the see through window.  A definite must have  for makeup artists.

VELOUR LASHES

I recently heard about this Canadian Company and definitely want to try their false lashes which are made out of mink fur.

NAKED COSMETICS

SIERRA NEVADA COLLECTION 

What can I say I'm a sucker for neutrals!

YABY COSMETICS

DRAMATICALLY NEUTRAL PALETTE

I've always wanted to try Yaby but always thought that they were expensive.  Since they will be at IMATS I'm hoping to get a good deal!

NYX COSMETICS

NUDE ON NUDE PALETTE  

I've heard that this was a good dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palette except that you get more colours!  I must try it!

BEAUTY SO CLEAN 

COSMETIC SANITIZER MIST  

I usually just use 90% Isopropyl Alcohol in my kit but I find that it really dries out my product.  I've heard that this doesn't dry it out as much but disinfects products just as good.  

PARIAN SPIRIT

PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP BRUSH CLEANER

If you've come across Fiona Man's Product Wars Video on YouTube then you would know that this brush cleaner is better than the MAC one.  Need this!

MAKEUP FOREVER

12 FLASH COLOR PALETTE

Need I say more?  Want it!

MAKEUP FOREVER

AQUA LIQUID LINERS

Recommended by Jenn of Spiced Beauty.  She says "they're definitely worth it!" So I've decided that this is another must try!

MAKEUP FOREVER

HD FOUNDATION

I previously owned a bottle of this and actually finished it down to the last drop!  I never had the chance to get another one particularly because it is quite pricey.  But I'm willing to pay for it if there's a discount!

MAKEUP FOREVER

AQUA EYES

I already own a few of these and I think they're awesome.  Smooth, Creamy, and lasts all day!  A staple in my kit!

NARS

ALBATROSS 

I need a good highlighter and I've heard this is a good one.  Do you know of one that is better than this?  If so comment below!

KETT COSMETICS

KETT SET POWDERED COMPACT

A staple in any makeup artist's kit (so I've heard).  I guess I need this too!

KETT COSMETICS

COSETTE VESSELS

A must have for makeup artists!  I own 1 of these and I need more.  I use a ton of brushes and these are great to have to hold and store your dirty brushes.

NURTURING FORCE

BLOT OUT OFFENSIVE SHINE AND OIL CONTROL CREAM

A great primer for airbrush makeup.  I've read some reviews on this and I really like that it's all natural and is really good for oily skin.  I get a lot of clients with oily skin and think this is worth a try.

Also on my list are brushes, disposables, and other makeup artist accessories.  There will be a bunch of vendors who supply these so I will just pick out who is the most affordable!

 Okay so there you have it!  That's my want/need list.  Are you going to IMATS?  I wanna see your list!  Leave a comment with your list or if you've blogged about it I wanna know!

Hope for Haiti Beauty Benefit

On February 7th a group of beauty industry professionals and about 50 attendees joined together for the Hope for Haiti Beauty Benefit which was organized by makeup artist Rhia Amio with the help of fellow makeup artist Joy David-Tilberg.  Attendees were asked to make a minimum donation of $25 to the Canadian Red Cross and all monies raised would go towards relief efforts in Haiti.  This fun filled day consisted of makeup and hair makeovers, pigging out on delicious cupcakes and food (well I could only speak for myself! haha), taking some before and after head shots, entering to win beauty prize raffles, and mingling with everyone all around.

At the end of the day everyone took home some awesome swag bags filled with goodies.  And in total we raised an amazing $2,354 which was way more than what was anticipated!

Event organizer, Rhia and Me

A big thank you to Rhia for organizing such a successful event.  Looking forward to more events like these!

 

Me and Makeup Junkie, Joy

Be sure to check out some pics from Hope for Haiti below and a list of volunteers and Sponsors.

 

I can't count how many of these I had!  

Check out www.sointocupcakes.com 

  

Pretty floral arrangements added a nice touch to event 

Check out Madame BLOOM

Annette after her makeover

  

Makeup Artist Delia

  

Anne's makeup by Delia

 

Glowing Mama to Be, Mae

Makeup by Yours Truly

 

My Gals!

 

Robyn's before shot taken by Spencer Fu

 

Robyn's aftershot

Makeup by Me :)

Photograph by Spencer Fu

 

The gang of Beauty Pro's

Photograph by Spencer Fu

MAKE-UP:
Rhia Amio (http://www.artistrhi.com)
Joy David-Tilberg (http://make-upjunkie.blogspot.com)
Maggie Ng (http://www.maggieng.com)
Ande (http://www.makemeoverservices.com)
Donna Marie (http://www.makeupbydonnamarie.blogspot.com)
Nicole Robinson (nahmakeup@gmail.com)
Jennifer Min
Bernadette Howard
Delia Lupan (http://makeupbydelia.ca)

HAIR:
Suzie Choi Bridal Hair (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzie-Choi-Bridal-Hair/155570319978?ref=ts)

PHOTOGRAPHY:
Spencer Fu (http://spencerfu.com/blog/)
Nadia Cheema (http://www.nadiac.com)

CUPCAKES:
So Into Cupcakes (http://www.sointocupcakes.com)

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS:

MadameBLOOM (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mississauga-ON/Madame-BLOOM/166149826089?ref=search&sid=512076013.1514506884..1)

SPONSORS:
CARGO (http://www.cargocosmetics.com)
BALMSHELL (http://www.balmshell.com)
Mary Kay (http://www.marykay.ca)
Shoppers Drug Mart (http://www.shoppersdrugmart.ca)
Face Atelier (http://www.faceatelier.com)
Vidal Sassoon (http://www.sassoon.com)
Cake Beauty (http://www.cakebeauty.com/home.asp)
CoverFX (http://coverfx.com)
LIFT Beauty Boutique (http://www.liftbeautyboutique.com)
Brill Communications (http://www.brillcommunications.ca)
Vasanti Cosmetics (http://www.vasanticosmetics.ca/can)
Lash Extensions by Maggie Ng (http://www.maggieng.com)