CosmoProf Spring Style Show 2013 Haul

Okay  y'all.  This was definitely one of the most exciting parts of the show--buying STUFF.  Maybe a little too much stuff.....

Below are pictures of everything with product names.  I originally had all the prices listed but I did get everything at wholesale prices, which is available to licensed professionals only.  I'll say a little more about where you can purchase these products at the end.

Here are all the bags...

Free products provided by It's a 10.  

Olivia Garden set of 4 round brushes. 

Ardell lashes and Duo glue. 

Beauty Blenders from Muse Beauty Pro.  

Obviously....I invested a lot in Aquage.

Best of Aquage Set
Silkening Shampoo & Conditioner
Finishing Spray
Beyond Shine
Uplifting Foam
Beyond Body Silk Infusion
Silkening Oil Treatment Sample
Teasing Brush
2 Hairstyling DVDs
MUSE Editorial Magazine

Best of Biomega Set
Firm and Fabulous Hairspray
Up All Night Volume Foam
Voluminizing Shampoo and Conditioner
Behave Smoothing Elixir
Styling brush
Haircutting DVD

Biomega Firm & Fabulous Hairspray
Medium and Large boar bristle round brushes

Seche Viche polishes

L-R: Aristocrat, Lumiere, Bella, Debutant, Contemporary, Enamored

Kenra Moisturizing Shampoo, Moisturizing Conditioner, & Dry Shampoo

OPI Expert Touch Polish Remover
L-R: Liquid Sands Get Your Number, LS Can't Let Go, LS Stay the Night,
A Rose at Dawn...Broke by Noon, Mod About You, Makes Men Blush

Venique polishes, Top Coat, and Base Coat

L-R: Diamond Kisses, Skating on Thin Ice, Down the Carpet, Bootie-Licious,
Naked Sandal, Safety Fuze

A plain black apron for the salon

And this is what everything looks like put together....

I hope you guys enjoyed this terrifyingly massive haul.  I guess this means that my beauty buying ban is over. Technically, I didn't break it.  I did allow myself  to buy products at this show when I first made the commitment.

Now let's talk about where you can access these products.  For hair products, you can find them at some beauty supply stores (local or chain) or at certain salons.  You will have to do some research to see which salons in your area stock these products, as different salons carry different brands.  

I know that some of these brands are available at places like CVS and Target, and even amazon.  HOWEVER--professional products such as Kenra, Paul Mitchell, Aquage, It's a 10, etc are only guaranteed when sold at a salon.  Professional products that you see at Target and drugstores are often the same price or more expensive than what you would pay at a salon anyway.  Have you ever seen the Chi products at Target?  Before I went to beauty school I've always wanted to try their stuff but it always looked old and tampered on the shelf so I avoided them.  As for Amazon, I love this site to death but not when it comes to beauty products.  Amazon, just like drugstores, are such huge companies that they don't regulate how long the products have been sitting on the shelf.  Salons more or less get their products all from the same wholesale stores, which are for professionals and only available to professionals.  Therefore, the turnover for the products is a lot faster than say Amazon.  

All right enough preaching.  I just wanted to get that out there since it seems not a whole lot of people know about it.  Do let me know your thoughts and such.  I'd love to hear from you!

Review: Quo Minerals Matter Eye Duo in Planet Plum (pic heavy!)

Hey ladies and gents~

This is going to be a review on one of the products I picked up in Quebec about two weeks ago.  Let me start with some basic information and pictures.

What: Quo Minerals Matter Eye Duo in Planet Plum.
-Comes with a double ended sponge-tip applicator and two eyeshadows with 2.5 grams of product each.
-Colors include a shimmery lavender and an even more shimmery charcoal
-Mirrors inside the compact.

Product Claims: "Beauty from nature!  These luminous shadows have been created with natural minerals from the earth.  The velvety-smooth texture is easy to apply as well as long-lasting.  Double ended shadow applicator and mirror included."

Where to buy:  This item is only available in Shoppers Drugmart (or Pharmaprix if you're in Quebec), which is a drugstore chain only in Canada.

Price: $20 CAD.  You may be able to catch this on sale.

And now for a picture dump.

With flash

No flash

Thoughts:

I think I'll just cut to the chase and say right out that I was VERY disappointed with this product.  When I swatched it in the store the pigmentation was absolutely amazing, but when I went to apply this product with a brush, the pigmentation was awful.  Don't be fooled by the swatches on my fingers.  Even with a sticky base I had to keep packing the eyeshadows on my lids to get some sort of color payoff.  The eyeshadows could definitely be smoother.  They're a little bit gritty and apply a bit unevenly.  You get fall out galore which is a pain in the ass even if you apply your foundation after your eyemakeup.  I feel like I'm just bashing on this product but I honestly can't find anything good to say about it.  The colors are pretty.  I guess that's one thing.

Which base to use?
Since I can't return this product and I can't really sell it since it was a gift from my boyfriend, I'm going to try to make the most of this product.  I swatched the eyeshadows using different bases and different techniques to see how I could get the best color payoff.  Firstly, I stuck my finger in the product and swiped it on my arm.  I also loaded my brush with the product and applied it on bare skin, Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP), and MAC Painterly Paintpot.  I found that a good sticky base is the best way to go.

No flash.  Finger, brush on bare skin, brush on UDPP, brush on Painterly.

With flash.  Finger, brush on bare skin, brush on UDPP, brush on Painterly.

To give you guys a better idea of what the product looks like in a look, here are some more pictures.

Eyeshadow over Painterly Paintpot.  No other makeup was used.

Completed look with addition of a highlight color, eyeliner, and mascara.

I like to do reviews but they certainly take forever because I like to make them damn detailed.  In any case, I hope this was helpful and/or entertaining!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Much love,

Janny