Toronto IMATS 2010 + Haul

IMATS 2009

IMATS 2010

Hello everyone! So I have a few posts lined up for the next few days -- usually when I post multiple times at once, it means I have something very important to do and hence I'm destressing or procrastinating by blogging =)

The second annual Toronto IMATS was held on the weekend of November 5 and 6 this year. I went on both days, but surprisingly enough didn't spend that much at all! I was in good company this year (not that I wasn't last year =P) and had a lot of fun with the girls, including Jennifer (jdomakeup), Fiona (Fionaman), Sheryl (Pincstuff) and Michelle (s2pandapple).

Above are photos of me at the 2009 IMATS and this year's -- I remember making a comment when I posted last year saying 'a picture never lies'... you can tell I was really self-conscious and hiding behind my IMATS bag... not this year! I am not at my goal yet, but I've been working on my self-image this past year... Michelle said she didn't even recognize me!

Anyhoo... I actually didn't go crazy and take a lot of pictures this year -- perhaps because it's my second time around and knew what to expect. I was more interested in the classes than I was in the shopping to be honest. I actually won more prizes than spend money! I was most excited to see KJ-Bennet and Taylor Chang-Babaian!! Pursebuzz and Enkoremakeup were both there too, but I had met them last year, so I wasn't *as* excited =P

It was also really nice to see the girls again, since I had flopped on our last two organized meet-ups... and Michelle!!! I hadn't seen her in ages... >_<

I'm sure you've all read and seen a lot of videos about this year's IMATS... so without boring you with more details... here are the pics:

I didn't take a pic with pursebuzz this year... although I should've, cuz I wasn't happy with last year's pic... lol.... but here's Sheryl aka Pincstuff!

Kandee Johnson!!


Jennifer (jdomakeup) and Michelle (s2pandapple)

Me and Michelle

Michelle, Jennifer and Me

Taylor Chang-Babaian and Me
I love her -- she is so real and really spoke her mind during her lecture... when I approached her she was all like "I love my asian ladies, especially when they have my asian book! It took me so long to write it!" Then she complimented me on my make-up and lashes..... then tried to sell me a pair.... lol

Her book

Signed!
She has uber messy writing and I have no idea what it says:
Sandy!
___ 2 play! or ____ + play!
Much love always,
TCB

???

The only two products I got from the MUFE booth... which was a NIGHTMARE... I was one of the FIRST girls on the FIRST day to put in my order... for TWO lipsticks... and ended up waiting 45min... all the new customers were getting their purchases within MINUTES... and the reason??? because the new orders kept piling on top of the OLD orders (mine) so they could never get to it!!!! AARRRGGHHH for TWO FRIGGIN LIPSTICKSSS

#38 and #33

#38

#33

#33 on top
#38 on bottom

Stila Smudgepot (my first one)

Gray (grey =P)

Bronze

I was SOOO not gonna get this... I wasn't even interested... Michelle and Jennifer picked it up first... we LEFT the building... then they decided that they wanted to see the contents and opened up their boxes... Jennifer's mirror was shattered... so we had to go back in to exchange for a new one... and I told her... if there is ONE more left for me (after her exchange) then I will get it....

It's a "make up player"... you can plug in your ipod/mp3 player/cell phone etc to play music while you get ready/put ur face one

For $50, not only did you get the "music player"/train case, but it also included batteries, a convertible colour in Camella , a shadow pan trio and its case, and a lipglaze in Grapefruit!

Monthly Favourites: October 2010

So it's been several months since I wrote a monthly favourites post. For one, I didn't have a lot of time due to school, and two... I stopped wearing make-up. I never wear/wore make up to school... who did I have to impress, right? Plus, my current school situation involves me in a class of 17 students - one of them a married guy. So who would I be putting make-up on for? Well... me =P I've surprisingly been wearing a full face 3 days of the week! That's a feat! lol I make it sound like such a chore, especially since I really do love and enjoy pretty-ing up... it's really the removal process that deters me from wearing it more often...

Anyway... enough rambling...

Face:
MAC Pro Longwear Foundation (NC30): I was skeptical... which is why I gave it a good month-long trial before I decided on how I felt about this new product that MAC has pumped out (along with the partnering concealer and lipsticks).
Pro Longwear touts a 15-hour budge and smudge proof wear time -- pretty big claim if you ask me. It has a medium coverage (for me), and the only foundation I have used that does not require a finishing powder (which I always used no matter what). I can say that I have worn it for 18 hours once and it was still pretty flawless -- very impressive. What impressed me most, though, was that it grabbed my blush and kept it on my face the entire 18 hours as well -- with very little fading -- WOW! Dare I say that this is HG material??
Oh, oh, oh!! and another thing! I have a fairly oily t-zone with very dry cheeks... I generally need to blot a couple of hours of wear with other foundations... my ENTIRE 18 hours with Pro Longwear not only kept my t-zone oil-free... it stayed relatively MATTE! WTF?? =D

Shell Pearl Beauty Powder (Liberty of London): I LOVE this product... I sweep a layer of this over any blush I use to give myself a light sheen... makes my face glow... I need a back-up!

Eyes:
Blinc Tubing Mascara: I've had this for a long time.. I never really liked it because it did nothing for my lashes... it didn't add length or volume. It does separate the lashes really nicely though... so I use it now as a daily, no-drama mascara... it doesn't flake or smudge, and it's waterproof/resistant... and what I appreciate most about it (especially on no-makeup-days) is that I don't need a special eye-makeup remover for it and that simple warm water and light pinching gets the stuff off cleanly.

Lips:
Perennial High Style (Liberty of London) Lipglass: A milky and slightly muted bubble gum pink that adds a nice tint to the lips that is not super bright. It's just a very pretty (neutralish) colour -- I love my neutrals.

Crosswires (cremesheen) lipstick: The cremesheen formula is always a hit or miss with me... some of the shades glide on really smooth and buttery and other ones are really uneven and patchy... Crosswires is one of the better ones for me. It's a gorgeous coral that makes my lips look plump and full -- like that just "bitten" look.

Fashion Magazine's Big Giveaway

I came home today to a huge package. I didn't order anything, so I was surprised. I looked at the return address and it was sent from the Coty company and I knew right away it had something to do with the Fashion Magazine giveaway. I thought it was a perfume, because it was Coty... but it was wwaaayyy too light... btw... did I mention it was a big package/box? The size of two tissue boxes combined. So I ripped it open and found a prize corresponding to the September 27th giveaway -- a Rimmel Lipstick in Nude Delight ^_^

I had won a pair of Hunter Boots and an Avon lipstick last year... so I'm super excited to have won something again this year! The giveaway hasn't ended yet, so here's hoping for more! lol

ZannClip Giveaway!! [closed]

I am so happy to announce that I will be hosting yet another giveaway hosted by ZannClip!! If you don't know what a zannclip is, check out my review HERE !

But in a nutshell, it's a really chic hair clip that holds your hair in place without causing a "hair band crease". If you like to sleep with your hair in a bun or ponytail, but get annoyed of having to adjust your head because of always feeling the hairpins or bump, you can sleep with this clip in your hair and you won't feel it~ The smallest size is great to keep your bangs in place. It comes in severals sizes, colours and finishes.

Make sure you check out the website for the other items the company carries as well as the instructional how-to videos on the different ways to wear the clips!

Just leave a comment with your email under this post for your chance to win!

Double your chance by tweeting: Follow @sanderlees for a chance to win 1 of 4 @Zannclip at www.sanderlees.com

Winners will have the opportunity to choose the colour/finish/size of their Zannclip.

Giveaway will end Friday, October 1, 2010 11:59pm EST

Good Luck!

MAC: Venomous Villians

So I placed an order on MAC's Venomous Villian's collection on Wednesday night and received the package today. So excited! I was really good though, since I didn't buy out the entire collection (which would've been incredibly pricey, as it is a huge collection). The collection is divided into 4 separate sub-collections, featuring some of Disney's most famous villians: Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmations), Evil Queen (Snow White), Malifacent (Sleeping Beauty), and Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog).

I originally wanted to get a little something from each collection -- I really wanted something from Malifacent, but there was really nothing in that part of the collection that called out to me --except for the nailpolishes.. but I want to swatch those in-store first. So I only picked up 3 things:

Toxic Tale Lipstick

Strange Potion Lipglass

Cancun Magically Cool Liquid Powder

Swatches

With Strange Potion Lipglass

With Toxic Tale Lipstick

(this really stains the lips, even after wiping it off seconds after application)

With Cajun Lquid Powder

(it applies wet and cold, then dries to a powder finish but doesn't

feel like anything when you just rub it between your fingers)

Zannclip Giveaway coming soon...

Sanderlees Update

Perhaps you ladies need to remind me via twitter to post and update my blog regularly. I forgot how therapeutic this was given the amount of chaos that has been surrounding me lately. Ok, maybe not that much chaos, since I DID have 3 weeks off of school... but I spent that time relaxing, catching up on sleep and just being lazy.
Second semester started this past week for me, and I am about to DIE from the overwhelming number assignments and work thrown at me -- a chunk of which is due this Monday! ugh! Luckily, I got a lot of it out of the way last night =)

So as some of you may know, I attended the most recent MAC Warehouse Sale with Susan and FionaMan and I did REALLY well! And by "well", I mean I didn't have to sell my car to pay off the damage -- in other words, I got VERY little. Not surprising, I suppose, since I have been to all the sales in the last 3 years, consecutively -- it gets a little boring with the same products over and over again. Not that I'm never grateful to go, because I am! It's just quite the trek for me and I wake up at 5am for them =S

I realized I have not done a "Monthly Favourites" post for several months now... mayhaps I will get one done for September? Here's hoping!

I actually got into twitter a bit more, so you will all probably find me there more so than here on this blog -- so follow me! (and remind me to post!)

I still have A LOT of giveaways to post... and I mean A LOT! Products have just been continuously cumulating... and they need homes!!! Remind me to get on that as well =)

Until next time...

iCandy Circle Lens Giveaway [closed]

iCandy Style has generously offered up two pairs of Plano lenses for me to giveaway to you guys!

iCandy is an Australian-based e-store that not only carries circle lenses, but women's clothing and accessories as well! The items available are super chic and stylish - and the prices are incredibly reasonable! Their customer relations is highly professional, as I have spoken to Joey, whom I believe is the founder of the site/e-store.

Like I said, I have two (2) pairs of lenses to give away, of which the styles are posted below:

(worth $20)

(worth $30)

Entering the giveaway is easy!

For one ballot, leave a message under this post with your email.

Double your chances to win!

Follow me on Twitter and tweet: RT follow @iCandyStyle and @Sanderlees to win giveaway at http://www.sanderlees.com/

Deadline is September 24th, 11:59pm EST

Good Luck!

Winners will be contacted via email and post updated with [closed]

In The Groove Haul

So I am posting my first haul in a while... mind you... I HAVE hauled since my last haul post... but not as much as today (not that it's much hahaha)...

I was excited for this [In The Groove] collection, which is this summer's mineralize collection (like last year's Colour Craft -- which was my FAVOURITE). I didn't buy out the whole collection this time though, because it just wasn't as good as last year's.

The focus of this collection, as I'm sure you all agree, is the repromote of the MSF Stereo Rose, which we have all waited so anxiously for. I am now a proud owner of one and am SUPER excited... even as I type this, I realize that I have yet to swatch it (i didn't even swatch it in-store!), therefore there are no swatch pics of it... but i'm positive there will be tons on Specktra.

Well since the focus of the collection, and the only thing I wanted from the collection was the MSF, I surprised myself by walking out with two additional items -- yes only two!

First, let me say, that there is a huge selection of the trio mineralized eyeshadows. I swatched a couple of them... and they are incredibly impressive. Not only are they uber pigmented... but I find that they are the smoothest, least glittery MES that MAC has ever released. I know everyone says that with each new MES release... but maybe because MAC continues to improve on them? There was virtually no glitter flecks (at least on the ones I swatched), and the texture reminds me more of the veluxe pearl finish -- which is fab. I didn't pick up any of them though, because I find that I never touch my MES... ever.

Anyway... onto the haul...

Mandatory group shot

eeeee!!!!!

Why is it on its side?

Close up

Jazzed (cremesheen)
I've always wanted Riveting, but it's a tad orange --
this is more toned down and more flattering on me

Chillin' (w/o flash)

This was a surprise purchase. Although it goes on practically clear, with a slight pearly finish, I really liked it on top of the purple lipstick in the same collection "Go For It". The lipstick was a little bold, but the blue/cool tone of Chillin' really toned it down and made it wearable and pretty. I didn't purchase the purple lipstick, because I have the pro one "Violetta" and I felt that it would probably do the same job.

Chillin' with flash

Swatches with flash

lip swatch

*I knew that Stereo Rose was sold out in minutes online... but had no idea the lipstick I picked up was so popular as well... maybe I should get a back up... hmmm....

Blog Sale

Hey everyone!

My blog sale has been suspended indefinitely, until I am able to add more items/maintain it when i'm less busy. In the meantime, check out this blog sale: http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz62/nngui/MAC%20SALE/ lots of limited edition items that you won't be able to find in stores anymore!!

Please direct all inquiries to: nghin.ngui@gmail.com