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.

IMATS Haul

I had been meaning to post this sooner, but it is better late than never! I picked up quite a few goodies outside of IMATS during the week I stayed in Sydney, but will save that for a separate haul.

Last year I came home from IMATS regretting my hesitation in buying certain things, and I was sure to leave with all boxes ticked this year, as you can see. I've kept the brushes in a separate image below, you best believe I bought some!

I once again visited the Gorgeous Cosmetics booth, and bought a powder highlighter in the shade Prism, and some Duo Lash glue (the clear variety) The sales assistant kindly gave me a sample of the Snowberry night cream as well. I stocked up on lashes at the Blync Lashes stand, and bought a stack of big Red Cherry lashes. I had a pair  of 510's applied at the stand (BBU headed to Legally Blonde: The Musical that night so I wanted big lashes!) and they were really comfortable on, so I bought more of that style to take home.

I was excited to visit The Face Paint Shop and check out their face paint tools. I decided not to purchase any just yet, but indulged in some crazily-cheap glitter pots to get creative with! I also visited Scotty's Makeup and bought some of their infamous Studio Brush Sterilizer (ran into Rae Morris and had a chat about palettes and brushes, which resulted in this purchase.)

With a lack of Z Palettes and the shoddy nature of the Unii palette stand (here, have a look, oh we don't have any you can buy, here is a wait list- I've been on a 'wait list' since IMATS 2011!) I turned to Scotty's and Girlee Cosmetics instead. Scotty's palette (very top of photo) is quite heavy and comes with pans for you to fill. I will probably be popping the pans away and placing my own shadows in there. I  bought an empty large Girlee palette in snakeskin, and a small filled with four shadows.

The sweetheart of the haul would have to be my beautiful Ben Nye Rouge & Glam palette, filled with matte neutral shadows and a row of blushes. Each Ben Nye pan was $10 at IMATS and this palette was only $70, so I ended up saving money and getting a lot more pans for it!

I dipped my toe into almost every brush brand IMATS had to offer!

My very first Hakuhodo purchase, sigh. I bought three eye brushes from the famous Japanese brush brand, and though they were the most expensive I treasure them. I also bought the large black brush roll from Girlee for only $5!

I literally just threw a bunch of Crown brushes into a basket and paid for them, I figure the more brushes you have the less you have to clean them!

I stopped by Rae Morris' stand and of course the Radiance brush was sold out (I have one but was contemplating getting it as a gift for somebody) I chose to buy the mini kabuki, to use with my powder highlighters. Lizzi also gave me this precision bent liner brush with a promise that it is easy to use :)

The Royal & Langnickel stand was pretty much wiped clean when I got there late in the day, and so I only managed to get a few pieces. I got the powder brush for myself, and two more of those contouring brushes for my sister and my best friend Candice. I also picked up some of the mini brush sets for them, and one for myself which I forgot to photograph.

 

Now can you see why I had to split my Sydney haul from my IMATS loot?

In all seriousness, I had expected to get this much and was very happy with everything I chose. They are all things I'll get a lot of use out of, and were very well priced.

 

Did you go to IMATS this year?

What item do you like best from my haul?

 

 

*All of the items were purchased by me (except for Lizzi's gift) I did not include any of my press items in this haul. Honesty, always.