5 brands that really stood out to me at The Makeup Show NYC

If you’ve never been to The Makeup Show, a professional makeup artist-targeted convention, just picture a colorful girly cosmetics wonderland — a very overwhelming one. There are tons of quality brands showcasing the best they have to offer and it can get a little hard to figure out just where to start. I felt like this year I got to really spend time at some of booths, and talk to the people behind the brands. After a very fruitful (and exhausting) round at the show in NYC, I felt like these five brands really stuck with me even after the show this year…and I bought many of the products to prove it!:

1) ARMOUR BEAUTY

It was hard not to notice the girls behind the Armour Beauty booth. Well, OK besides the fact that they were gorgeous themselves, their lips would stop you in your tracks. The vinyl-like finish of their glosses were beyond. Armour is a lipgloss-only, naturally-based beauty brand founded by rock chick/model, Theo Kogan. She names her glosses after some of her favorite songs, clubs and legendary icons. I couldn’t help but try the fuchsia Grace at the booth, named after Grace Jones:

The lip gloss was incredibly long-wearing too. This is a pic of it hours later when I got back to my apartment after the show. No touch ups!

I ended up getting the poppy pink-colored “Candy” from them…inspired by Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson:

Their opaque glosses delivers the most out-of-control, juicy finish! armourbeauty.com.

2) MAKE UP FOR EVER

Make Up For Ever just came out with their multi-colored line of liquid liners, Aqua Liner, that will stay put through anything — even this sticky, hot weather. Makeup artist James Vincent, who I interviewed recently about his favorite products, was the first to use them at the swimwear fashion shows in Miami, and he said the liners did not budge even after the models were in the water. The color range of 15 gorgeous colors, comes in a different finishes– from mattes, to iridescent, to shimmery diamond — from dark to bright neons that will make your eyes seriously pop. It just makes dress-up a lot more fun.

The secret is their polymers — while most waterproof liners contain only 5-20% polymer to give it staying power, these Aqua Liners are formulated with 50% polymer. It’s quite literally the best of the best.

But for me, who still considers myself a liquid liner novice, the foam tip makes it much easier to apply than a thin brush one that other similar liners come with. makeupforever.com.

3) MEHRON

Mehron (founded by makeup artist Mehron Melik) is actually a theater line, with products with actors in mind who need products to last through long, arduous days under lights and camera. This ended up making their HD-ready color of pretty prime quality. This year, I discovered their Celebré Pro HD Make-Up foundation.

It glides on so smoothly, but still gives great coverage so it’s like a concealer and foundation in one. I used it that day I got these photobooth pictures taken! I followed Vincent’s advice about foundation and bought one lighter and one darker shade at the show, and kind of blend them when I apply. But yeah, absolutely love — the finish is flawless and picture-perfect (and hi, it’s only $9). mehron.com.

4) SENNA

I finally discovered what Angelina Jolie, Jessica Simpson, and Jennifer Aniston have already been fans of: Senna. It was founded by Emmy-nominated makeup artist, Eugenia Weston who is brows-OBSESSED. “A good, classic brow shape can make a woman instantly look 10 years younger and feel more confident,” she says on her website. I normally didn’t think too much about my own brows before (truthfully, they don’t require too much touching up), until we got her Form-A-Brow kit in our blogger preview gift bag at the show. I LOVE this.

It comes with three different shades that you can use individually or combine to match virtually any color. It also comes with 4 stencils of varying shapes so you can be your own expert (believe me, these help). I also love the dual-ended grooming and coloring brush inside the compact that can easily touch up your brows in seconds. sennacosmetics.com.

5) MARIO BADESCU SKINCARE

Last, but certainly not least, we come to Mario Badescu. There’s no point in great makeup if your skin sucks, right? I told you how I had been using their Enzyme Cleansing Gel and love how it’s gentle and effective (my skin was glowing). So at the show, I decided to stock up again. I bought another bottle of the same cleanser, but asked MB’s people what else I can get to help with random break outs, blemishes, or dark spots.

I was told to use their Glycolic Foaming Cleanser a couple times a week since it helps to exfoliate and break down build-up from congested skin, and Buffering Lotion for spot treatment. Besides their amazing prices ($15 for the cleanser, $17 for a potent acne solution), I love how their products are infused with herbal extracts and vitamins. Unlike other acne-treatments, the Buffering Lotion (which I just recently started using), doesn’t sting and burn. It’s actually pretty soothing. I’ll use a little to spot treat before I go to bed. It’s really starting to help my skin recover from its schizo ways during the temperature change.

If you guys missed it, The Makeup Show is coming to Chicago from June 12th-13th. You can still buy advanced tickets now for $35 (for one full day), and you’ll find great discounts on the products there!

x
Shy

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