IMATS has come and gone but the memories (and pictures) remain! Plus I bask in the glory that is Kandee Johnson!

What do you get when you fill a room with fabulous makeup lines offering great deals and several thousand beauty obsessed, beauty professionals and beauty minded (mostly) women? Controlled chaos my friends!

Saturday morning found me attending IMATS.  This is its second year in Toronto but my first one attending.  I thought about going last year but felt a little intimidated thinking it was mostly for beauty professionals - which was stupid of me, it's not and from what I could see there were a lot more makeup enthusiasts then makeup artists!

Trying to actually get in close enough to see the different makeup lines was difficult because of the crowds around every counter, and if you could actually get close enough to pick up something to buy, it usually then involved a huge line to pay for it - it was a huge exercise in patience which fortunately for my wallet, I posses little of!  Luckily there was still lots to see and do - I especially enjoyed watching the student artist's work on their fantasy makeup for the competition that was held!

My main reason for going was to catch Kandee Johnson speak - and judging from the massive crowd and very enthusiastic reception she received, I wasn't the only one!  It was standing room only for a very pregnant Kandee and you couldn't help but get caught up in her enthusiasm and obvious love for makeup.  She answered lots of questions from the audience (mostly about what her fave products are), almost all of whom professed their love for her first - it was like being at a Justin Bieber concert!

I especially liked that Kandee and I share the same makeup philosophy - screw the rules, makeup is supposed to be fun!  Her favourite part about being a makeup artist is making people feel beautiful - hard to argue with that!

And since I'm sure you all are just as interested as the audience was in Kandee's favourite products, I wrote them all down for you and here you go!

Makeup brushes:  Crown brushes - specifically the flat bronzer brush - nothing else compares!

Powders: MUFE High Definition Powder

Eyeshadows: MAC, MUFE, Yaby Cosmetics and Urban Decay

Concealer: Cover FX

Face primer: Urban Decay Brightening Primer Potion, Cover FX

Eye primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion or MAC paint pot in your skin tone.

A couple of great tips she gave that I'm going to try - lining the waterline:  use MUFE Aqua Black with an angled brush on the waterline, then go over it with a black eyeshadow to help set it.
for lip colour that won't move she doesn't use gloss or lipstick but MAC or MUFE lip pencils to stain the mouth with a blush or eyeshadow on top to make it stay.

You could actually meet her after her talk but when I saw the huge lineup, I decided that I would continue to admire her from afar!

If you aren't familiar with Kandee, you can check out her website: http://www.kandeethemakeupartist.blogspot.com/
or her YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson


Did you go to IMATS?  What did you think?  If not, are you planning a trip next year?

- Lisamarie -