Every year the Pros
here at IMPO wait patiently for the start of our convention season…well
it’s not really a “season” because we only have two a year here in So Cal, but
whatever!
We do our research, make
our lists and try to find out which manufactures will have booths and which
professionals will be teaching. There is nothing like “show discounts” and we
stock up on everything from kit essentials to the newest gadgets, as well as
bone up on our makeup skills to keep up-to-date on the latest techniques and
technology!
The Makeup Show Los Angeles held this year in March 2012 was so much bigger
and better than in previous years (even though the past shows have been pretty
great). Jammed packed with 4,500 attendees ranging from beauty professionals,
buyers, press, industry educators and retailers.
This year celebrity makeup
artists Troy Jensen (Cameron Diaz, Alyssa Milano, Diana Ross, Eva
Mendes, Megan Fox), Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kardashian), Bill Corso (Hunger Games,
X-Men, Indiana Jones, John Carter, Nip/Tuck) and Sharon Gault (Michael
Jackson, Madonna, Lady GaGa) all shared their makeup tips and tricks! As well as classes
and demos taught by Make Up For Ever, Temptu and MUD, which made the IMPO
team feel like we had just relived 6 months of makeup school!
But, we know that our
readers are mainly interested in the product we purchased and why…so, here is a
taste of our “haul!”
Beauty Blender: this egg-shaped reusable sponge is amazing. We
know that there are many duplicates on the market and the Pros have tried most of
them. To us, nothing compares! We use it to blend all forms of foundation,
concealer, cream blush, contour or highlight. Used dry or wet, we prefer wet, this
sponge blends products to perfection – use stippling or bouncing method for
best results.
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar: as makeup artists we are
always on the hunt for new product to add to our kits however, they have to be
workhorses for us to invest. Lip Tars not only last for hours,
you will barely need more than a “bead” sized amount to get major results, so
this product will last you a very long time. Applies like a lipstick but feels
like a gloss. We purchased: Hush, Trollop, Kava Kava, Ophelia, Mélange, Pennyroyal, Memento and NSFW! Apply with fingers or brush, but
the key is to use very little product to avoid feathering. 100% Vegan and
cruelty free!
Bdellium Tools: we feel
that you can NEVER have enough
brushes! The trick is finding the “right” brush that accomplishes the finish
you are trying to achieve. A makeup artist is only as good as their tools and
if you think like an artist painting on canvas then there are different brushes
for different “paint!” Our newest obsession is with Bdellium’s Studio Line.
These brushes are antibacterial and eco-friendly using only natural and/or
synthetic fibers. We purchased: #990s
Angled Face, #975S Mixed Powder, #555U Retractable Lip, #731S Mascara Fan, but more are on our
radar like: #708S Bent Eyeliner, #785S Tapered Blending, and the #953S Duet Fiber Foundation.
Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray – Original Formula: a cult
classic that stops makeup meltdown! This formula holds eye shadow, foundation,
blush and concealer perfectly in place all day! Apply after makeup and your
need to touchup throughout the day should be cut in half! Good for normal to
combination skin.
Embryolisse: this is another staple in our Pro kit
that we cannot do without – ever! Formulated in the 1950’s, the Lait-Crème
Concentre is like 3 products in one: primer, moisturizer and makeup
remover. It also provides a natural barrier to help protect against free
radicals and from makeup settling into the pores. We also stocked up on our
favorite classic makeup remover Lotion Micellaire. This formulation
is non-rinse and will not irritate skin or eyes. We are excited to personally
try their new Vitivia topical Pro-Vitamin line, which is pharmaceutical
grade, pure concentrate capsules that claim to smooth lines, reduce skin
inflammation, reduce hyper pigmentation and scar tissue, as well as help reduce
redness and acne.
Viseart: if you are searching for the perfect palette
filled with 12 of the most wearable, matte shades ever, then you must purchase
this product. These colors are neutral and so versatile that you can wear them
as shadows, liner and fill in your brows. Some of the colors are also perfect
for contour and highlight on certain skin tones. We love this palette so much
that we purchased a brand new one to replace our very used one. Purchase from Alcone;
Viseart Eyeshadow Palette #1 – we like to layer these colors over cream
eye shadows to create long lasting, layered color that pops the eyes!
Senna Cosmetics Face Sculpting Kit: Eugenia
Weston is a goddess to these Pros! We worship the ground she
walks on and when we get a chance to speak with her, we bombard her with
questions! Eugenia always shares her latest and greatest potions and brews and
this year she launched her cream contour and highlight kit. Originally
developed for the makeup team on Desperate
Housewives, this cream to powder foundation formula is silicone based and
blends instantly into the skin and provides a semi matte powder finish. The
contour is a very unique shade of gray-brown that can be used to give you
fierce cheekbones. Literally change the shape of your face by following the
easy to read instructions located on the back of the packaging! Eugenia helped
take the guess work out of placement, but always remember to blend using the
brush that comes with this compact or grab that Beauty Blender like we do, it is perfect for this product!
Temptu Airpod Foundation System: we fought joining the airbrush band wagon for so
long, but when Jori Jeane (Department
Head Makeup Artist for Entourage and Harry’s Law) and Darcy Gilmore (Department Head Makeup Artist for The Voice) told these Pros
what they thought of this silicone based foundation formula and that they use
this line on almost every single actor or talent that sits in their makeup
chairs, we had to try it out for ourselves. We fell head over heels immediately
and purchased the entire Airpod line. The best part about this system is not
only does this foundation last throughout long, vigorous hours of filming, it
is easy to apply and there is zero clean up! The Airpod system was originally
created for self-application and you can still purchase this system for your
own personal use through Temptu’s website. We find that this foundation
provides such amazing coverage and sets with a beautiful finish that we don’t
need to add concealer on some of our clients. Also, the need for touchup is cut
down so much that our actors have actually commented on the fact that we are
not in their faces so much on set! Check it out – it is the perfect gift for
your holiday or birthday wish list!
That’s just a few of the
beauty products we purchased at the show and we visited many other booths to
stock up on special effects products too! We hope this post has been useful and
please leave us a comment if you happen to try any of the above!
If you are a beauty professional, The Makeup Show may be coming to a city or town near you, make sure to check their website. Below are a few highlight and press photos from Los Angeles:
– this product has saved many from late night fiascos! It takes about 30 minutes after applying for the ingredients to help control and diffuse under eye wrinkles.
– This formula is a gentle cleansing agent that will remove makeup, dirt and grim from the skin and eye area effectively without the need of water!
– this tiny vile contains the BEST detoxifying, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory oils that work to treat, reduce, fight, disinfect and heal insect bites, razor burn and blemishes.
– this moisturizer is used on all skin types, but works amazingly to reduce irritation after shaving.
in our kits to banish dry skin on the hands and body and if you have peeling skin around your nose, chin or mouth area due to weather conditions then we rely on 
, which is a balm that is an intense treatment and repairs the driest, most damaged areas of the face and body.
– the Pro’s use this product on more mature skin to tighten pores.
– is another primer that we use on teen skin, skin that is prone to breakouts or skin that has breakouts due to lack of proper skin cleansing or diet because this product is a treatment too.
– this product is a miracle if you suffer from oily eyelids and/or have problems with eye makeup fading, smudging or running.
– this formula is lighter weight and is a complexion corrector that will improve the skin’s texture.
– if you have major skin imperfections, birthmarks, acne scars, bruises, age spots, varicose veins or if you need to cover a tattoo then this product works miracles!
– these colors are perfect for contouring and highlighting and it comes with easy how-to instructions and a perfect sized applicator/brush.
– another workhorse in our Pro kit because this product can be used for moisturizing, over lipstick for gloss, to create glossy-eye looks that you see on the pages of fashion magazines and as one of the best highlighters for cheeks and brow bones!
– medium to full coverage liquid foundation that is invisible on screen!
– this product is a lightweight formula that provides great coverage.
. 
.
– normally we don’t love any type of pencil for the eyes, but when we were introduced to this product via the makeup gurus of 
– if you do wear contact lenses and you are looking for a gel liner, then this is the very best we have found.
– this product will bump up any mascara formula!
– this product is a heat control makeup setting spray that we can’t work without!
– this is a recent addition to our Pro makeup kit, but one that will never be removed!
– sprayed on the skin after cleansing to sooth and invigorate, the Pro’s like to apply skincare while the skin is still wet with this product.
– this is a nourishing night mask that improves skin texture and tone overnight.
– this is the hair mask that we rely on to penetrate and repair our damaged hair after highlighting, straightening or other trauma our poor hair encounters.
– now this product we DO use on our clients and we love how it helps the hair reach new heights!
– we use this cream for dry hair styling.
– this product was added to our kit recently because we were desperate to find a product that would control flyaways and tame frizz when shooting on a green screen.