Cosmoprof North America 2017

Nothing To Disclose

Cosmoprof North America was a BLAST! On top of seeing some of my favorite bloggers, I also got to meet with some of my favorite brands, as well as meet some new ones! It's always a pleasure to head out to Las Vegas for a few days to see all things beauty.

This year was bigger than ever. In all, 36,787 attendees,(up 9 % from 2016) engaged with a record breaking 1,278 exhibitors (up 9% from  2016), representing 45 countries.  The show floor space covered 293,306 sqf (27,249 sqm) of space with an increase of of 4% compared to the previous year. 

In addition to the now standard DISCOVER BEAUTY and DISCOVER BEAUTY SPOTLIGHTS, there was also a nice showing from TONES OF BEAUTY (multi-cultural beauty brands) and a much larger DISCOVER GREEN (organic beauty) and the popular DISCOVER SCENT (perfume brands). Brand new to this year's show was DISCOVER GREEN LEAF where organic brands met with key specialty retailers and chain spas and DISCOVER BEAUTY PRO where select companies met with key national distributors like ULTA and SalonCentric.

Also expanded this year was the Boutique area where attendees could create their own beauty box (which I did) and they were able to raise over $18,426 for the PBA Foundation (up 30% from 2016!). Also the Glamour Me section allowed attendees to try products first hand, although I didn't try one this year. In 2016, I had a manicure done with ORLY Breathable, if you remember.

Here's a few more highlights of things I saw and definitely be on the look out as I slowly make my way through reviewing everything!

The European market for ORLY has been increasingly asking for smaller sized "mini" bottles of polish due to the limited space that some salons, spas, and even consumers have available to them. ORLY seized the opportunity to cater to that market with their new mini bottles.

China Glaze had a sneak peek for bloggers including the Halloween 2017 collection called "Happily NEVER After". I'm eternally cackling at names like "Do You, Boo!" and "Sin-derella".

Color Club had tons of new items that I was just drooling over. I can't find them in stores but was told to just buy off their website. It may be worth it with the In The Mood pastel collection. It's a body heat activated color changing lacquer that's also available in gel and HELLO look at those bottles!

Oddly, I've been following Color Clutch since 2014 when they did a giveaway with NCLA, but this year I got to actually meet the creator, Katharine and I was there when she was awarded a Trendsetter Award! More to come on this brand, including a review soon!

I met Daily Concepts at Cosmoprof years ago and after trying their exfoliating gloves, I fell in love with the line. As a beauty blogger, I get bombarded with TONS of products but I was absolutely OBSESSED with this green line of products and have bought them over and over not just for me but my husband is obsessed with the back scrubber! The line of baby sponges just launched (the fish at the bottom) and I got one for the youngest member of our family to play with soon.

Le Chat is back with an all new look for their Date to Wear line. The new packaging is much more visual and this line of mood polish is again, up my alley! What is it about mood polish that makes me happy? What's old is new again!

The other major thing at Cosmoprof this year were dip powder systems. Did you know that LeChat Nails started with gelee - a powder gel nail system? You can use this product as a powder gel, a dipping powder or mix with acrylic! And these glow powders are SO bright. It's only available for professionals BUT LeChat just launched a brand new e-commerce site for professionals AND consumers!

I also got to meet with Morgan and Taylor of Gelish & Morgan Taylor. Sadly, the bulk of the items are embargoed until a later date but I did get to take a photo of their massive dip powder system which is great for retail or just you know... my bedroom...

One of my last stand outs was ella + mila who were in Discover Beauty. I have always been attracted to the clean lines of this brand but now they have released lip colors as well! Some matte, some glossy - but all pigmented. More to come on that soon.

This was just a handful of the brands I got to sit down with and chat about their lines. I literally have a bag here at my desk with more information, products and samples to try. Be sure to stay tuned for #MakeupMonday where I'll be featuring some unique finds from the show!

#MakeupMonday: Feather & Bone Face Gems

Press Sample
This year at Cosmoprof North America, the Discover Green section expanded quite a bit. Last year, I didn't even venture that way, but this year it was unavoidable just because of size and location. However, there were some amazing brands in there including today's #MakeupMonday feature! 

Feather & Bone is a holistic wellness company that looks to provide unique beauty care solution both through products and education. This isn't some fly-by-night company, CEO and Founder Shubhangini Prakash was only 12 years old when she had skin issues to store bought face products. Along with her mom, she started mixing all natural ingredients to find the perfect mix for an every day face wash.

Face Gems contains just three Ayurveda ingredients: Sandalwood (to protect), Fuller's Earth (a mud/clay to remove dirt & impurities) and Starch (to polish your skin). It does not contain animal products of any kind and there aren't any adverse effects to the environment. One tablet equals one face wash, and while there aren't any preservatives, as long as the packaging remains intact, the product won't spoil.

Face Gems claims to provide you with a full skin care routine: cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize. While it's good for all skin types, if you feel you need an extra moisturizer afterwards, go ahead!

The Face Gems orange packaging that I received is cute and the concept is simple: Pop, Drop, Wash, Rinse. 

Again, I received an individual tablet but when purchased online, the tablets come individually wrapped in tear off plastic sleeves. This is perfect for traveling because I don't have to mess with liquids or bringing too much of an item. I can even throw one in my purse for after the gym! So start by "pop"ing open the packet and placing the tablet in the palm of your hand. As you can see, it's not that big - larger than an aspirin but smaller than a Mentos mint.

Next, add 5-10 drops of water using your other hand to the tablet. I don't recommend just putting the tablet under the faucet to get it wet. Then apply pressure on the tablet to dissolve it and form a paste. I was surprised that only 10 drops of water made it super smoosh-able.

Then apply the paste to your face and massage it on.

So let's be honest - it's a learning curve for me. As you can see, I didn't even get the product to my five forehead. I'm not sure if maybe I needed more water or just to be more stingy with the product. As it dries, it does turn white, but I rinsed right after these photos.

Finally, rinse the paste from your face and feel refreshed.

Did I? Well I opted to use a washcloth to help get all the paste off instead of just my hands only for sake of neatness. I hate splashing water everywhere. I was very impressed that the paste stayed on my face - it wasn't runny. There wasn't much of a smell and my face felt clean afterwards. You're not going to have tingly tightness but I did feel clean and after the triple digit heat today, I wanted to feel clean.

Bonus round, I have another tablet here so I'm interested in seeing if I can make that reach all the way to my forehead. I really do like the concept, especially for travel, and the fact that it's all natural is totally a plus. I'm getting old and I don't need to see pimples forming because I'm using products that are full of chemicals.

Price: Currently, Feather & Bone Face Gems is only available in a waterproof tub of 60 tablets for $19.97 USD but ships worldwide (shipping not included). You can choose from a one time delivery or monthly subscription. If you're only washing your face once a day, that's less than 33 cents a day which is super reasonable for me.

Feather & Bone Face Gems may be purchased on their website. Join the social conversation on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

#MakeupMonday: An Experiment

Starting this week, I'm going to run a weekly feature called #MakeupMonday. I started my blog in December 2009 and in the past seven years, I've dabbled here and there with makeup. Sometimes I bought because a fellow blogger got it and reviewed it, sometimes it arrived in a press sample from a company, but it's always just kind of sat around in my house, waiting to be used, enjoyed or even tossed. So moving forward, I'm going to test out #MakeupMonday and see if you, the reader, cares for it. Maybe you'll find a hidden gem to enjoy as well.

Cosmoprof North America 2017

It's that time again! Later today, I'm leaving for Las Vegas to attend Cosmoprof North America. The show actually starts today, and I'm trying to grab an earlier flight but as it stands right now, I'll be in on Monday and meeting with Morgan Taylor, Le Chat, China Glaze and others. Plus I'll see some of my favorite bloggers again during the conference along with some new faces!

Be sure to check my Instagram for the latest and greatest but I'll be back with all the things I'm allowed to share soon!

Indie Expo Canada

Nothing To Disclose

June was a whirlwind! I hadn't been out of the States in over 10 years, but I was happy to go to Toronto, Canada for the inaugural Indie Expo Canada, hosted by Girly Bits Cosmetics. 

In case you missed it, I was able to report all the awesomeness from the Nail It! Instagram Story as well as some things I shared on my own IG. I was also a panel speaker for the afternoon, talking about all things indie along side YouTuber Zenorah, Colors by Llarowe creator Leah Ann Larowe and Claudia Murillo, owner of Lovacado.

I also got to have a write up on Nail It mag - definitely check it out here.

So I was enjoying avocado toast (seriously) and totally spaced on the time and didn't get to the hotel in time for my press preview. I tried to get as many photos as I could and chat with both indies I know and love, as well as some amazing new ones!

 

Did you know Alter Ego makes Dog Shampoo? I don't have a dog but I would be all over this product!

 

Beyond The Nail is a new brand to me - they had a great showing of polishes and nail vinyls! 

 

Canvas is also a new brand to me. They had some amazing cuticle oils as well and I bought Spring Forward to go home with.

 

Colors by Llarowe is definitely a fan favorite. I picked up a couple including one for my dear friend Cassie who was there in spirit.

 

Ever After was there with her holo shirts and gorgeous dragon eggs. They also had some amazing new collections and collaborations that I snatched several up!

 

Fair Maiden was there in spirit! Although the ladies couldn't be there in person, they had a showing including a gorgeous limited edition.

 

Fiendish Fancies is a new to me brand - she does a lot of horror conventions and most of her polishes are based in the horror/fandom realm. She's also super sweet and very creative!

 

Girly Bits was front and center of the show - some of her new Sequins and Satin Pants may have come home with me...

 

Great Lakes Lacquer had this great set up every time I see her. And the polishes? To die for.

 

Hit The Bottle had stamping polishes and plates for miles. I got a clear jelly stamper to try and I'm smitten.

 

Her skirt was so awesome - I loved it!

 

Lovacado is a Canadian brand that really caught my eye. I bought one of the oils and have been mixing it with my moisturizer and I absolutely love it. I thought the oils might be too harsh for my skin but not at all!

 

Native War Paints was on hand - I'm swooning over the light up letters and have a huge desire to get some for my house!

 

Pahlish wasn't able to attend but sent polishes as well!

 

This was the IKEA Helmer storage unit that was filed with indie polishes for the Paint It Forward silent auction. Over $1200 USD was raised with 100% of the money going to Mount Sinai Marvelle Koffler Breast Cancer Center in Toronto.

 

SoGa was a soap and bath bomb booth that I loved smelling. I ended up buying a bunch of the maroon bath bombs that smelled like Merlot wine.

 

Superficially Colorful sent her line of polishes and some bath bombs along for the ride to Canada! The bottles are too cute!

 

Tonic Nail Polish had a snafu with customs and so she was only able to carry around 200 bottles in her luggage. I was super happy to see her again and grabbed Come Wander which I hope to have reviewed soon because it's AMAZING.

Unfortunately, I did miss a few tables - Cuter Cuticles (but I bought her Barrier Butter in Lilac), Moo Moo's Signatures (which had a great 24K cuticle oil!), and Clionadh Cosmetics which had some sweet looking highlighters and shadows.

There were also tutorial tables that with some very happy ladies and gentlemen who learned new techniques and nail art designs over the day.

Overall it was a great first show and I look forward to the next one!

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