Salon Melbourne 2014 - experience, make-up + haul

I begrudgingly rolled out of bed this cold Melbourne morning to head into the city for Salon Melbourne, exciting but craving less chill in the air. Having gone previous years I knew what to expect, and needless to say I was pumped for a day of new knowledge with Carly by my side.



 I wanted to put more effort into my makeup for this special event, but reality got in the way (in the form of extra snuggles with Charlie and swiping on a bright lip at the last moment...check this post for details on that) so I ended up rocking the Clinique Neutral Territory 2 palette and my beloved Tarte Exposed blush along with my bright coral lip.

 

Carly buying her hair extensions!

I was quite impressed with the Redken stand this year - a popcorn machine (evidence of me chowing down is above) and a claw game style machine full of colourful Redken samples that I wasn't talented enough to win. Another interesting exhibitor was Klara Cosmetics, which were promoting their Kiss Proof Lips and beautiful looking line of lip products.

Having one of the Klara Kiss Proof Lips applied (matte formula)

the beloved French skincare - I love my Bioderma, Nuxe + Uriage <3

the madness that was the Lime Crime stand

one of the best parts of experiences like this - the amazing and inspiring body art (from Melbourne Polytechnic)

Watching Lorna Evans style some up-do's on stage was definitely one of the highlights of Salon for me - something Lorna said about inspiration really stuck in my mind as I perused during the day. She was 'knitting' a wild and very beautiful hairstyle on a model and mentioned to the crowd that a look like this wasn't for her clients - they were not going to walk in and request this for a night out. This sort of look was for her, to keep her inspired and in turn inspire her clients (and in my opinion, it would also highlight her natural talent for hair at the same time) I realised that I think about makeup in beauty in much the same way, and when I create crazy bright eye looks or an icily sculptured look based on a YouTuber, it is to keep my creative flow pumping and gives me a chance to enjoy the sheer beauty of makeup products.

Food for thought, right?

Lorna Evans inspiring the crap outta me

the effervescent Michael Brown teaching me that it isn't only shimmers and brights that can create beauty - matte taupes and browns can be so stunning!

totally losing out at the Redken sample machine

Klara Cosmetics rocking it on the Launchpad Stage with Klara herself

was so tempted to get a Tangle Teezer - so cute and bright!

exploring the Eye of Horus makeup brand for the very first time

one of my very favourite skincare brands had some strong messages for Salon attendees

Klara Cosmetics, again!

I walked into Salon Melbourne knowing that I wanted to pick up some nail supplies since I have begun doing my own gel nails at home with my Sensationail by Nailene machine. I nabbed Carly's loot so that you could have a peek at two hauls in a single post - don't say I don't love ya, okay?

Carly's haul:
Crown Brushes buffing brush
Artiste Lint-Free Nail Wipes
Lime Crime Geranium lipstick
Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips 06 (free sample)
Colour Club Winter Affair
Girlee Cosmetics 4pan Palette (shades below)
Hair Extensions + care products from Amazing Hair

in love with the Lime Crime bag

Girlee Cosmetics in Mulberry Satin e/s, Pink Glow Illuminator, Dubonnet blush and another e/s I've forgotten the name of

Geranium!

I am pleased as punch with what I brought home from Salon Melbourne - all things I've been lusting over for a while with some random fun things thrown in for good measure.
My haul:
Crown Brushes shader brush and shadow brush
Gelish Fantastic Four Essentials Pack
Gelish Polish in A Mint of Spring
Colour Club Winter Affair
Colour Club Harp on It
Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips (free sample)
Artiste Lint-Free Nail Wipes
Girlee Cosmetics 4pan Palette (shades below)

A Mint of Spring

Absolutely swooning over these two

Girlee Cosmetics Mulberry Satin e/s, Grenadine blush, Golden Glow illuminator and eyeshadow I can't find the name of- I promise that Carly and I didn't mean to grab so many identical items, it just happened!

Klara Cosmetics and my Girlee palette swatched (I blame the Grenadine blush purchase on Liz!

I had a wonderful time at Salon Melbourne once again this year. The event provides a great opportunity to socialise with likeminded beauty lovers and industry professionals while also being really inspiring for me as a beauty writer. I'd love to know if you've been to events like this, and what you think of my haul products!

 

This is how I felt after walking around Salon Melbourne all day - exhausted!

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

 

*I was invited to Salon Melbourne as a guest of PR, but all opinions are honest as always.

Clinique All About Shadow Neutral Territory 2 Palette

If I weren't so afraid of being judged I would let you peek inside my palette drawers...yes, I have multiple. For now you will have to take me at my word when I say that I have a mean palette problem, and the neutral variety are my biggest weakness. I was chatting with my darling friend Carly and her spunky cousin Gemma on a shopping trip the other day when the topic of beauty obsessions came up. Carly vouched for my certified #blushfiend status, but I don't think she realises how deep my love for palettes goes...

Meet the newest love of my (palette) life.

I am always easily swayed into purchases by Jessica from Don't Call Me Jesse and she was the one who began my obsession with this palette, and I stopped by my local Clinique counter to ask when the Australian release date was. Don't you just hate it when they have no idea what product you are talking about?! I went to another lady two weeks later and got a vague answer, and it was only on my third visit that I found out the release date and had my name popped on the list for the beautiful All About Shadow Neutral Territory 2 Palette (as an aside, where is number 1...?)

Clinique has compiled their best neutral eye-shadows from previous duos/quads to create this 8 strong selection, with the much lauded Black Honey being the undoubtable star of the show. I'm sort of impressed that Clinique stand by their shades enough to relaunch them in new ways, but the 'light shade of the diamonds and pearls duo' isn't exactly the easiest shade name to note down now is it?

I quite like the reflective mirror casing that this palette is housed in, and took full advantage of the lovely weather on my photo-taking day to show you how beautiful the sky looked. It's also a nice sleek compact that really would be great for travelling with!

I think the gradient effect is really pretty while also highlighting how wearable this palette is (for light work-appropriate looks if that is what you're into, or smokier looks for nights and weekends)

I use the first shade (Sugar Cane) as my inner corner highlight and it is the bomb - pigmented and sparkly without looking chunky on the eye. I was expecting to hate this because of the shimmer but it has ended up one of my very favourites from the palette. I use the three other colours as blend out shades or all over the lid for a low-key look - so unlike me, but this palette has really made me understand how nice understated eyes can be.

The darker end of the palette is definitely my favourite though - Black Honey is just a superstar, and I love wearing the Brown Shade from the Polar Blue Quad or Hazy all over my lid on an almost daily basis with a bit of Black Honey thrown in the crease.

The beauty of these shadows isn't in the complexity or originality, but in the quality of the pans themselves. It takes a lot to wow me in the eyeshadow department, but these meld onto the lid with ease and last all day (with primer) and create effortless and beautiful looks. Pretty much impossible to stuff this one up!

Brown Shade of Polar Blue Quad all over the lid, Black Honey through the crease and Sugar Cane for my inner corner. A slick of black liner, lots of mascara and a quick blend is all it took for this look (and if I do say so myself, it looks better in person)

Absolutely in love with this palette and think that it's well worth the $65 AUD price tag (plus I got the great GWP, which always helps)

 

What do you think of the Clinique makeup line?

Do you prefer neutral palettes or choosing single shadows for your everyday looks?

 

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

 

*Purchased with my own hard-earned, raves are all honest ;)

The Coral Contender

My obsession with pink lips seems to have waned a little bit and I've been rocking a bright coral lip. It all started when I was wearing a new top and wanted to embrace the bright shades in it, so I rustled through my stash and came up with 4 contenders...

Maybelline Color Sensational Coral Crush - this really is a stunning shade, and one that I have had for a few years now. Old and worn and one of my top 5 lip colours of all time, I always return to it when I get hooked back onto bright lips. It's bright, juicy and wears away so evenly that I often wear it to work!

Maybelline Color Sensational Vibrant Mandarin - A newer coral/orange acquisition, this was a shade from the revamped launch of the staple Maybelline line. More orange than the rest, the formula of this line is just divine.

MAC Party Parrot - a true matte shade from the lipstick legend, I was elated to pick this up from the MAC Iris Apfel collection back in 2012 (original post here!) This is slightly more red toned that the other coral rather than orange or pink, and is a nice flattering matte formula.

Revlon Super Lustrous 180 Melonade - A celebrated stunner that I really hunted for once I heard that it had been discontinued (even though I haven't worn it very much at all I have a back-up in my drawer!) The post that pushed me to buy this was definitely Tegan's...

Swooning over one of my favourite books (Virginia Woolf's A Room Of One's Own) and these four beautiful lip shades. Woolf's book stemmed from some lectures she gave about women and fiction, and it is something I reread regularly to get my mind going and pump me up from some writing.
 

In the end, I handed the reins over to Mister Bovary to decide and Coral Crush came up trumps! So I can now call it a household favourite, right? I've worn it consistently since these photos were taken, so that is saying something.

What bright coral lipstick do you have in your stash?
Do you own any of these beauties?

Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

*All of these were bought with my own cash. Honesty, always.