Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Santa visited me twice: ABBW Part 1 - IMATS haul

I know it's only early October, but hey it certainly feels like Christmas has arrived a tad too early for me! We all feel giddy inside whenever we unwrap "Santa's" gifts on Christmas day, but I wonder how ecstatic you'd feel if there were two gifts waiting for you to open?! Pure bliss I tell you! Puuuure blisss! :) I got to experience this sensation just recently when I went to not one... but two make-up and beauty event over the past few weeks.

Those who have followed my recent post got know how I madly squealed when I finally got the tickets to attend the PRIMPED look book event. And three days later, I got an email from Kimmi Nissen of Plastic Diaries that I will take part in the inaugural Australian Beauty Bloggers Weekend. Two amazing events to attend, in a span of a week... Santa really knows I have been a good girl this year!  *wink*

We were given 5 hours to attend IMATS as the first part of the ABBW itenerary. So what is IMATS really? Think of it this way... it's like a make-up mecca where all girls go ga-ga over cosmetics! OK, this might give light to those of you who have no clue.

"The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show is the make-up world’s biggest event. Thousands of make-up artists, manufacturers and enthusiasts discuss, display and collect the best products the industry has to offer. Make-up professionals from fashion and film (including Oscar, BAFTA and Saturn award winners) provide education and demonstrations at IMATS, and new products often debut there. IMATS also features a make-up museum and an Afterglow party, where trade-show guests can socialize." - description from their website


I have seen some crazy videos of IMATS Los Angeles showing a jam-packed venue full of rabid women trying to haul as much products as they can before their favourite brands sell out. So in that spirit, I came to terms that I must do the same or something even crazier in IMATS Sydney. Like a soldier going into the frontline battle, I devised a "battleplan" in mind and listed them all down on paper in order to not forget. As the venue doors opened, all chaos broke loose! Everybody rushed in frantically and started looking for their brand's stalls and be the first in line. So what did I end up getting?

MAC haul

This is probably one of the hauls I'm very pleased of since I've been coveting most of these for several months now.

Fix + 
Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle 
Eye Kohl in Fascinating
Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved
Chromagraphic Pencil in NC42/NW35
Opulash Mascara Volume in Bad Bad Black
Eye Shadow pan in Arena
Travel Bottle 1oz/2
Stackable Travel Jars

Illamasqua haul

Most of the items in the Illamasqua store were the ones from their past collections.  I've seen most of them during their massive online sale not long ago.

Powdered Metal in Ether
Powder Blusher in Disobey and Tweak
Cream Blusher in Libido
Medium Pencil in Bait
Nail Varnishes in Victory and Propaganda

Makeup Forever haul
Makeup Forever in Australia is like digging for gold in a gold mine, it is very hard to source!  

HD powder
HD Primer in 0
UV Prime SPF 50++
Aqua Eyes 23L

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot
I have been wanting to buy this Auto Pilot Primer for months now and when it was offered with 20% discount, I just bought it. I didn't mind having 2 primers in my haul at all.

Inglot blush
I got 2 Inglot Face Blush in #21 for myself and a lucky reader.

Royal Langnickel brushes
Yeah I can hear you say, "Whadda?! 4 identical brushes! What was she thinking?" Well I got one for myself, my gorgeous sister, a good friend and a lucky reader. To celebrate my 1st year blogging-versary next month, I will be holding an awesome giveaway for a lovely reader very soon. Yay!

4 Silk Pro Foundation flat top brush C141
Silk Pro Taklon Blush C165
Silk Pro Synthetic Powder Brush C101-S
Silk Pro LG Smudger C445
Silk Pro Complexion C185
Master Pro Metal Lash Comb BPRO-147


Crown Brushes haul
Contour Blush C405
2 Flat Sponge Blender C161
Deluxe Crease SS012
Precision Detail C431
Deluxe Synthetic Retractable Kabuki Brush KB9

Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist
"Effectively cleans, rejuvenates and removes bacteria from pressed powders, eye shadows, cream foundations, etc."

Unii Palette
This is perfect to simplify your life in storing your eye shadows and blush refills.  I love the large mirror inside and how compact the size is.

Empty round containers
Sometimes when I travel, I try to avoid lugging a whole bottle of foundation or my favorite 1 litre lotion with me. Solution? Little air tight jars. Clever.

After this haul, I guess I'll be on a haul ban for quite some time. ^^

Have you ever been to IMATS? We're you like me who hauled until your heart got satisfied?

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Comments (12)

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I feel physical pain when i read about yet another wonderful ABBW experience - I WILL GO next year!! And yet I can't stop myself reading them. I love your WHOLE stash.
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
Awwww.. for sure next year we will see you.. =)) Thanks for dropping by Suzanne! :)
My recent post Santa visited me twice: ABBW Part 1 - IMATS haul
Whoaaa you bought a lot more than me I'm so jealous! I missed out on seeing quite a bit I think, being so short I was the one behind everyone else jumping saying 'what about meee' haha.
Can't wait to see you review some of these beauties, and good on your for thinking of others while you were shopping :)
My recent post A Grey FOTD for a Grey Day
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
Lol! I am only 5 foot tall (or should I say short) and I just managed to squeeze in between the gap.. ^^ I guess it has been my habit to think of my sister when I buy beauty related stuff since we're both addicted to it. =)) I will definitely review one soon. :)
My recent post Santa visited me twice: ABBW Part 1 - IMATS haul
That is one cool haul. I can't believe all I bought were 5 brushes. Okay, one of the brushes did cost me $64, but really, that's neither here nor there :P
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
Did you get the brushes from Hakuhodo? I touched them and fell in love with it that but when I saw the price tag, I took a step backward. Too steep for my budget. Lol!
My recent post Santa visited me twice: ABBW Part 1 - IMATS haul
Wow! Awesome haul! I've never been to an IMATS nor do we have them here. I wish that there was one here though. Wait--perhaps it's a good thing that there isn't because I'd go absolutely nuts. You did great hauling awesome things!
My recent post Using My Stash
Thanks Kat! You will really go nuts when you go to IMATS. I saw a huge line up of exhibitors in Los Angeles IMATS and it makes me want to go there!=))
My recent post Santa visited me twice: ABBW Part 1 - IMATS haul
Wow you purchased so many items!!! But they all seem necessary. I should have got more brushes.... Next year!
And about the circle lenses, when you're putting them in, it helps if you look up and place it on the white part of your eye!!!!
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
Do you also think all of them are necessary? Me too! ^^ lol! I've tried looking up but the moment it comes close my eyes just shut automatically.. I might give them a try again tomorrow and see if I can put them in. =))
My recent post Santa visited me twice: ABBW Part 1 - IMATS haul
That's a haul indeed! I loved how you even thought of picking up stuff for a giveaway - that's very thoughtful! :D We don't have the IMATS here (and I'm not sure if I'd go even then coz I'd be terrified of a) overspending and b) crowds but we have similar exhibitions by cosmetics companies. Interestingly, I've never gone :P
My recent post Fragrance you can burn: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Incense Paper in Lumiere Noire
1 reply · active 702 weeks ago
I had a budget laid out before I came but I never expected to spend that much in 4 hours! =))
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About Me

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Ashfield, NSW, Australia
Discovering beauty, in and around you. Join me in this journey as I discover things beautiful - make up, skincare, how to's, food, events, people, gadgets, or anything that can bring you that sweet smile. Often times, you can find me reading Vogue on my right hand and Newsweek on the other.