Top 5 Reasons to Head to a Beauty Expo

Having had the pleasure of attending a few beauty expo’s over the years, I thought I would round up the top 5 reasons to head to one! Some general beauty lovers might think that expo’s targeting business professionals don’t have much to offer, but having just experienced my second Salon Melbourne, I can definitely say that this is not the case! Most people have heard of the annual IMATS show that travels around the globe, but until you experience expo's of this size you really don't understand how amazing they can be.

 

 

Reason #1- Stumbling Across New Brands

Now I’m not implying that I have a complete knowledge of every beauty brand in existence, but as a beauty blogger I have to admit that I know of quite a few more than the average consumer. Coming across previously unknown brands is a joyous thing for a beauty lover, and expo’s are rife with new and exciting goodies. Take Master Makeupby Dean Nixon, for example. I had heard brief whispers about how amazing his brush range was, but it wasn’t until I saw the booth at Salon Melbourne that I got a chance to feel how soft they are, and see the amazing shape of the blending and kabuki brush they offer.

 

 

Reason #2- Seeing Amazing & Inspiring Art In Progress

I think it is natural to find extreme makeup looks and the creative process behind it fascinating, so to come to a beauty expo and see it all up close is such a treat! I love seeing the models getting painted up during the day, and this Heart Beauty Magazine design was super pretty with some pretty rad hair to go with it!

 

Reason #3- Heavily Discounted Products

Half price products are hard to come by, and even more so when you are thinking of brands like Zoya and OPI. I was so excited to be able to peruse those brands along with Orly and other gorgeous nail brands at Salon Melbourne, and though I didn’t walk away with any (I had a crazy moment, and regret it now) I was happy to see new collections and brands I had never seen before. Zoya were probably my favourite brand of the expo, selling 5 packs for only $30 and they had some pretty amazing flecked top coats out as well.

Reason #4- The Hauling

So I sort of failed to really tick this reason off at Salon Melbourne, only buying from one stand and all, but most of my fellow beauty lovers walked away with quite a good selection of beauty loot. Zoya packs and Bioderma Crealine H20 bottles filled the bags of many people during Salon Melbourne, and having access to brands like this at such great discounts means that hauling is sometimes too easy! I ended up choosing some basic Konad products to try for the first time, including a pretty plate that Jelena and Sarah helped me to choose!

With Melissa at Salon / At Salon with a stack of beauties / At a Kiehl's launch with Ling and Kerri / With Norlin, one of the nicest people I am lucky enough to know!

Reason #5- Spending Time with Fellow Beauty Lovers

I am lucky to have found a whole bunch of new friends through this blog, and at Salon Melbourne I was grateful to be able to make even more! Meeting Sarah from BreatheBeauty was a wonderful experience, it was her very first blogging event and I think she did a wonderful job of mingling with everybody! I was also lucky to spend time with Jelena from MsJelena and meet up with Melissa from Melissa Bubbles, among a bevy of other bloggers. Beauty expo’s are wonderful places to meet people with similar interests, I highly recommend coming along and if you see me at one, please come and say hello!

 

Now it is your turn! What have your experiences with beauty expos been like in the past? Have you been to Salon Melbourne or IMATS before?

*I was a guest of the PR for Salon Melbourne, but have not been influenced to write this post and my opinions are my own. Honesty, always.

Nails & Novels

A not so regular instalment on emmabovarybeauty, nails & novels is the place where I share with you all the book I've been reading, and the colour on my nails. My nails have been bare for a few months now, but I'm beginning to get excited over colour on my fingertips again. Hopefully I'll start to take better care of my fingers and you'll see more of them!

'Amazing Face' by Zoe Foster, and Plum Delicious by Orly

I was uber excited for the release of Zoe Foster's beauty bible, as I have loved every other book she has written, and own them all. This is even better, because it's the beauty babble I share with friends, except funnier and more articulate. I'm taking a dose of this each night to perk up the bad mood I've been in, and the nails I am rocking at the moment are making me smile too!

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My local chemist had the mini Orly polishes on sale for $4.99 AUD, and I couldn't pass it up. Sadly the whole range doesn't come in this form, but still a decent selection. This is my second Orly mini, I like them because of the price point and the fact that I never finish up a regular sized bottle anyway. FYI, the minis hold 5.4ml /.18Fl Oz so cheeky me has no problem taking them in my handbag for touch ups if they chip while I'm out.

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The shade is Plum Delicious, and I've popped it on top of a murky purple from Elianto (shade name unknown, Chris has taken it to put it away and it has gone AWOL) and on the ring finger of each hand I've put it on top of a Miki mini in a vivid pinky purple shade (again,AWOL) The colour combo's turned out quite similar despite the base shades being miles apart, but I really like the sheen that Plum Delicious has over them. On it's own it's too sheer for my liking, but my it's pretty over the top of another. I'll play around with it some more, and show you what it looks like on top of other varnishes soon.

Plum Delicious on my stubby nails

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What do you have on your nails at the moment, and what book are you reading?

I'm taking any nail polish/book titles for reccomendation, so please throw some into the comments below!!

emmabovary xx