Month: August 2017

BeautyCon LA 2017 Experience, what to expect.

BeautyCon LA 2017 Experience, what to expect.

by imeltformakeup ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center

Time: 8/13-8/14  Sat / Sun

Beauty Influencers mentioned to be there: Patrick Star, Nikita Dragon, Chrisspy etc.

Celebs: Zendaya, Chrissy Teigen, Kelly Rowland etc.

A few months I ago I kept seeing facebook Ads and instagram Ads promoting Beautycon, their caption (paraphrased) “We just released more tickets they are going fast, hurry and get your tickets $49.99.” I went to check what the total would be with ticket fees online it came out to be $53 ish. I did a little research on beautycon as it I never been before by checking their facebook page. They didn’t have a lot of engagement on their page posts and following was about 135,000+ page likes. Being a former social media/seo manager, it didn’t seem like they will be “selling out” soon by their likes and comments. So for the next 2 months to the date of the event the same ad showed up saying the same ol’ thing even on Instagram, because of this I procrastinated in potentially buying tickets to go.

A week before the event a friend texted me if I wanted to go to beautycon I have never been so if I found cheaper tickets, I thought why not. I searched on gilt to see if they had tickets, and luckily they did for 50% off ($25 flat) that goes to show you they needed to get rid of tickets. (though the VIP tickets were sold out) I didn’t have much expectation going in. All I thought was I was going to buy makeup like all the other makeup shows being a hoarder of makeup and a makeup artist. It turned out to be a fun way for instagram ops at every booth, freebies in exchange for follows, and meeting the people behind a brand.

Instagram Ops:

They had some cool backdrops created by artists where they had picture perfect lighting and one station even had a fan blowing so you hair looks like it’s flowing in the wind.

Brands had photobooths in their station with their branding. In exchange for follows, you can play a game win freebies, or just get freebies. The best thing I got was a cotton candy! It was a sweet treat (lunch).

Freebies:

Some booths would give you a full size item for follow on instagram or snapchat others had  you play a game to win items. Many brands gave away shopping bags with their brand imprinted.  The LA girl one I got was the most eye catching with it’s metallic pink bag and white logo. My friend got her hair curled at the Sutra booth.

We decided to wait in the Anastasia Beverly Hills booth to play a basketball game and win some makeup. The line was long, it took us 45minutes to get close to the stage space but at that time an employee warned us that the game is about to end but you can get an opportunity to take a picture with Anastasia herself.  As we were nearing the game, they stopped the game, Anastasia went on stage to give out makeup, full sized makeup! not just samples. Then these girls on the other side of the snake line pushed through and broke the divider rope to try to grab items. Wow, these people are aggressive we thought. Great thing is Anastasia was fair and told people who had already got an item to exit out of the crowd, she told them specifically and had the host mention over the speaker, to give others a chance. Some greedy people got a couple of items and did not exit, I didn’t get anything but my friend was able to get a Renaissance palette! because Anastasia saw her electric blue eye makeup and had one of the helpers to hand her the palette! I was ecstatic~ After about 15 minutes being in the sea of hungry seals, they ended the giveaway session and Anastasia continued taking pictures even after 5pm (the closing time). She seems like a lovely lady and I am glad that her company is such a success.

Meet n Greet:

There were tiers of tickets which allowed you to meet some beauty influencers but if you were one of the lucky people who waited in front of the main center stage you would be able to get a picture with Chrissy Teigen after her panel. She was nice enough to stick around to take some pictures. John legend and her Mom was in the audience, it was a little star struck!

So Octoly a influencer program gave us the opportunity to use a credit to meet Chrissy Teigen and the Becca team at there booth, but all they did was give us a number and no directions. I assumed it would be a long line so I didn’t even try to go meet Chrissy Teigen. It was enough see her from afar and hear her words of wisdom 🙂

Overall the experience was fun, I got 5 hours of cardio too. I think I would go back if they had more artist backdrop set ups. The freebie sessions just caused a swarm of people who seem have to be hangry and aggressive a little scary. Oh yeah, and I did go on a Sunday which was the last day, so towards the end of the festival they were tossing makeup (e.g. tubes of lipstick) into the crowds. The last day is usually when they slash prices and giveaway everything especially when they are from out of state exhibiting, they don’t want to ship anything back.

If you decide to go next year here are my tips:

  • Wear comfortable shoes (lots of lines, some go quick some are slow)
  • Bring a snack /Water bottle
  • Have on fun makeup and hair
  • Collect the free bags first (It’s like trick or treat you want to have a place to put all the stuff they give you)
  • Go both days if you don’t want to have FOMO
  • I parked away from the convention so I saved $11 ($20 at the convention)
  • Plan your poses for many many photo ops! (this was what I wasn’t ready for, I dressed pretty basic and comfy)
  • Check on other websites for better prices 🙂

 

 

ABH Subculture Palette Review & Swatches

ABH Subculture Palette Review & Swatches

by imeltformakeup ♥ 3 Comments

There has been many undesirable reviews going around the internet about the newest Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture palette, the sister palette to the adored older sister the Renaissance Palette. Before I received the palette in my hands, I was expecting the worst from what I read and saw online, but to my advantage I learned on how to approach the powdery mess by not swirling the color till it hit pan on the first swatch (As Seen on YouTube).

Pigment:The pigment of the eye shadows vary, the mattes are the most powdery and pigmented eye shadows. Some color do tend to go on darker when applied to the skin, and with primer. All you need to do is only tap the Matte shadows once and at most, twice to get enough color. The 3 non-matte colors : Adorn, Cube, and Electric have a different textures between them all (see below for each color description)

In comparison to the Mario and Renaissance palette, all 3 palettes have fall out, are highly pigmented eye shadows, but the difference with Subculture is the colors and ingredients are a bit different, as well as how they are pressed. (read Bustle article with Norvina's responses below) With the Mario palette, I love the warm tones to create a look on my clients. The Renaissance is a beautifully blendable warm cool toned palette I also carry in my kit. I was looking to add more fun and editorial edgy colors to my kit and purchased the Subculture palette. It has colors that look like September "fall-out" leaves and is quite edgy is why I was drawn to the palette.

To see Norvina's responses in regard to the palette's powdery mess, her tweets can be found in an article by Bustle.

Pressing issues:

It is said that the eye shadows are not pressed the same way, that can the cause major fallout but it doesn't explain how some of the matte colors blend splotchy and muddy together.

Product Details:

Price: $42

Eyeshadows: Made in USA

Brush: Made in China (PRC)

An essential eye collection with fourteen shades featuring grungy mattes and bold metallics with an underground edge.

Cruelty Free Product | Hypoallergenic | Dermatology tested

Ingredients:

AXIS, DESTINY, MERCURY, DAWN, ROWDY, FUDGE, ALL STAR, EDGE, NEW WAVE, ROXY, UNTAMED: TALC, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, ZINC STEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIMETHICONE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SILICA, MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), CARMINE (CI 75470), ULTRAMARINES (CI 77007), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FERRIC FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) *CONTAINS CARMINE AS A COLOR ADDITIVE.
ADORN: TALC, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, ZINC STEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): MICA, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77499), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)
ELECTRIC: TALC, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, ZINC STEARATE, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SILICA, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TIN OXIDE, MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): MICA, IRON OXIDE (CI 77491), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)
CUBE: TALC, OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, SILICA, ZINC STEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR (+/-): MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)

The Colors: (How I see and describe it)

  • Roxy: Matte Peachy Shade is super pigmented with lots of fall out, darker when swatched. Applied smooth with no patchiness.
  • Cube: Looks white in the pan but is a Pink iridescent shade, has a waxy texture that I had to scratch some off to apply.
  • Dawn: Camel Matte Shade a nice subtle shade
  • Electric: Lime Green metallic shade with gold micro specks of glitter is slightly waxy but has more color payoff than cube and easier to apply. I like this unique color.
  • Destiny: Cool Navy Green Matte Shade
  • Fudge: Warm Brown Matte Shade
  • Adorn: Metallic Bronze. My favorite color and texture in this palette, it is creamy and heavily pigmented. I used my finger to apply this as it feels like the Colourpop Supershock shadows. Love~
  • New Wave: Mustardy Turmeric Matte shade
  • All Star: Brown Plum Matte..gets a bit patchy
  • Untamed: Cool Pale Green Matte
  • Mercury: Neutral Gray Matte, came out a little uneven
  • Edge: Mustard Yellow Matte
  • Axis: Forest Green/Teal Matte
  • Rowdy: Dark Blackened Brown Matte

 

Primer: (I used no primer on the left side of my swatch picture and video)

With primer, (I used Mac painterly pot) the colors stick better but again it the mattes blends out muddled and uneven. I have used my fingers, my own synthetic brush, and the brush that comes with the palette, same result.

Possible reasons:

Although these colors really look nice, maybe the ingredients that create these colors don't work well with each other. It can also be the reaction to our body chemistry and heat that it changes the color on our skin. Also many of these color when mixed with each other will equal muddy browns or gray. The patchiness however has to do with the formulation of each color. Just like with liquid lipsticks ( I have tested 100s) each color has different quality in wear. In my many years (decades, I am old) of experience with eye shadows I have yet to find a matte yellow that was smooth and creamy.

Getting it to work:

Try using only 1 matte color with 1 of the metallic/duo chrome shades as that would cause less muddling, or using 1 color for a monochromatic look. If you really want to get it to work try different primers, brushes, and go lightly. I am hoping something may work for you. Check hastag #abhsubculture on instagram for videos to see if it may help.

Conclusion:

With all that , if you are unsatisfied with the Subculture palette, ABH has a great return policy in place. They include a return shipping label with your package if you order from Anastasiabeverlyhills.com and can return it within 30 days for a full refund (Sephora as well). Instead of going "berserk" online or being rude with clickbaity thumbnails, state the facts politely. Remember there was a team of people who put sweat and hard work into creating this product. Hopefully from all the feedback from us consumers, ABH can release a V2 of the palette, because a lot of us are loving the color combinations in this palette. It is unfortunate that quality can differ from batch to batch, and maybe one of us might hit the "good batch lottery." At this time I am unsure if I will be returning it, I may keep and use it for a monochromatic look with the less patchy colors. I give this palette a 3 out of 5, how about you?