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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Will you use an eyeshadow as a blush?

Illamasqua currently has a massive online sale for as low as 5 pennies that nearly made me go wack.  They're known for highly pigmented make up that's gorgeous and insanely high quality.  Instantly, my shopping cart was quickly filled with goodies until my "budget conscience" hit me on the head. Upon realising I couldn't afford those gazillion items in my cart, I slowly and painstakingly removed some items that I wouldn't likely use on my normal self. Here's what made the cut:

1. Powder Eye Shadow in Lick £5 , Hot coral pink - matt finish
2. Powder Eye Shadow in Trollop £5 , Warm peach - matt finish
3. Cream Eye Shadow in Exalt £5 , Warm apricot - satin finish


As you noticed, all these are warm colored shadows as I intend to use them as blush. Aha! A blush. Genius. Will you please raise your hand if any of you have finished a blush? Nope. Not me.  Lipstick, yes. But blush, I haven't. Now you see, they are perfectly sized for dipping your blush brush. Will it work? Why not.  If we can use lipsticks as blush, why can't  shadows be used on cheeks given they're matte or dewy?  Oh well.  I'll let you know if I succeeded in blending it nicely on my cheeks.

Have you tried it yourself? Let me know if you have.

Have a gorgeous day!

*I'll show you the other 2 items I got along with these 3. ^^

Beautiful Exchange

The Amnesty comes to Australia. 

Illamasqua Australia is calling a new year amnesty on make-up.

An amnesty that says...

No more average.

No more dull.

No more ordinary.

Illamasqua is giving 25% off on their entire range and all you have to do is bring your old, unwanted, or empty makeup container to any Illamasqua Myer counter.  Such a beautiful exchange don't you think? 

Revlon PhotoReady

I have been trying to finish my Revlon PhotoReady powder for ages and decided to give this up.  Curious on what I had exchanged?

Illamasqua's Cream Foundation

Tadaaah!  Illamasqua's Cream Foundation CF240 was my choice.  The lovely makeup artist did a colour match on me since my forehead is slightly darker than the rest of my face and gave me 2 options -CF233 or CF240.  I believe the latter is close to NC40 (my summer colour).  It's very pigmented.  A little swipe on the pan and it gives you enough colour.  Here's the product description:

Create a base that brings out the bold in you. Illamasqua Cream Foundation provides medium-full coverage and works with your skin to cover and enhance. It blends easily, allowing you to vary coverage as much or as little as you need, effortlessly balancing uneven skin tone and giving you the control to create a flawless finish. Comes in a mirror compact for touch-ups on the go.

Their Cream Foundation retails for $55 which I find expensive.  But with the 25% discount applied, I guess it's worth it since you'd only need a little everyday and should last me around 4 months.


Now you have to hurry as it ends on January 30!  Thanks to the lovely Beautyholics Anonymous for the tip!


Thank you for reading.  Stay happy! :)