IBS New York 2011: The Event

Last Sunday, for the second year in a row, I spent the afternoon at IBS (International Beauty Show) in NYC. The trade show, presented by American Salon magazine, spans three days and showcases some of the best products brands have to offer, many of them at really great discounts that can only be found during the show. The event takes place annually at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC and the convention center is packed with different booths at which products (think nails, hair care, skincare, and beauty tools) are sold and demonstrations are held. The demonstrations run the gamut from hair cutting and coloring to gel nail application/nail design and waxing (don't worry, face only!). The show really caters to beauty professionals - salon owners, hair dressers, nail technicians - with educational classes (some free and some for cost) being given by individuals who are at the forefront of their respective fields as well as brand manufacturers. Though I unfortunately didn't have the chance to take advantage of the classes, I did score some really great things (stay tuned for the haul post!). All in all, it was a great day (even the pouring rain couldn't stop me!). I got to spend some time with my good friend (and fellow beauty enthusiast) Nancy and with Jenny from Beauty and All That. I even got to meet a new blogging beauty, Cristal from Beauty Goodies. Love meeting new beauty lovers!

Here are some pictures from the show. It was so packed!

Some goodies at the Stila booth

One of many hair demos

Mmmm rows of polish at OPI!

Check out this patriotic wig!

Nancy and me

Anatomically correct body painting

More body painting

Jenny and me

I spy Kevin James Bennett at the Royal & Langnickel brush booth!

How cute are these mini polish sets from China Glaze?! These are from last year's Up & Away collection. $6 for a mini 6 pack!

China Glaze's new Anchors Away collection

Gorgeous shimmery pigments from Naked Cosmetics. Check out the middle tower! It's the new Twilight collection and it's already very popular. The teal color when used wet looks AMAZING!!

More shimmery goodness at the Naked booth

Killer lashes on this pink car. I might be just a tad jealous ;)

DermOrganic hair booth. Love that their products are formulated with Argan Oil!

Some rockin' hair

I'm very intrigued by the Supersmile teeth whitening line. My coffee/tea-stained pearly whites are no longer so pearly!

The incomparable Nick Arrojo doing a hair demo at his booth

And finally....need I say more?! ;)

Weigh in: Were any of you also at the show? Are you planning to attend any of the other upcoming beauty shows?

Get Back To Your "Origins" And Celebrate Earth Month

Origins is celebrating Earth Month in a huge way! On April 19, the brand will be sponsoring a FREE concert, the First Annual Origins Rocks Earth Month Concert in NYC. The event, which will take place at the famous Webster Hall in downtown NYC, will feature such artists as Macy Gray.

How do you score a ticket, you ask? Well, here's the scoop: bring an empty cosmetics container (any brand) to your local Origins store in NYC, Westchester, or Garden State Mall in NJ and receive one free ticket to the show while supplies last (no purchase necessary). Unfortunately, though, admission to the concert will be on a first come, first served basis, so ticket holders must arrive early to the venue! HOWEVER, there is a way to guarantee that you will be in attendance! The first 50 customers to prove that they are fans of Origins on Facebook (either by providing a print out or via mobile phone) at the Flatiron Flagship store in NYC will receive concert access (+1 guest) and 2 free drink tickets guaranteed!!

In addition to this amazing concert event, Origins is urging people to "go green" through their Trade-In Program. On April 22, customers will have the chance to bring in their empty cosmetics packages to ANY Origins location to trade in for a FREE full-sized Checks and Balances Frothy face wash ($18.50 value) or A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser ($20 value). The used containers brought into the stores will all be recycled via the Return to Origins Recycle Program. Everyone involved is encouraged to share their experiences on Twitter using the hashtag #OriginsTradeIn.

These are some pretty great initiatives and I hope you'll get involved! What other ways are you honoring the planet this month?

Tina Turnbow For Tarte Go Gorgeously Green Event!

Attention NYC area beauty lovers! Here is an awesome opportunity for you! This Friday, April 9th, eco-chic celebrity makeup artist, Tina Turnbow, and her team of Tarte artists will be making an appearance at the Sephora on 42nd St. and Madison Avenue. They will be offering tips, tricks, and mini-makeovers to help you create beautiful eco-friendly spring looks using the Flower Child by Tina Turnbow collection. Tina herself will be available at the location from 12-3 PM, with the rest of the team on hand from 12-6 PM.

If you are in the area and can make it out, I highly recommend popping over! I would also suggest calling the store to make an appointment beforehand. I might even be there (fingers crossed!).

*All guests will receive a complimentary gift with every Tarte purchase.

Caress Introduces New Line Up With A Night Of Sweet Indulgences

Last week I was invited to attend a press event to celebrate the launch of some new additions to Caress body care's already well-loved line. Though I arrived a bit late to the venue (Sweetiepie, a super cute restaurant in NYC...so chic and girlie!), I was able to check out the products first hand and get the scoop behind their formulations.

The new line up includes two Whipped Souffles, ultra-silkening body washes, in White Peach Cream and Blackberry Cream (SRP $4.49 each), as well as Velvet Bliss (with blackberry and vanilla essence), available in both beauty bar (2-bar pack: SRP $2.99, 4-bar pack: SRP $4.99, 6-bar pack: SRP $6.49, and 8-bar pack: SRP $7.99) and body wash (12 oz. SRP $3.50 and 18 oz. SRP $4.49) formulas. All are designed to be incredibly moisturizing and infused with fragrance notes that are sure to tantalize the senses. The smell and the texture is just simply luxurious (affordable luxury!)

I was encouraged to indulge to the max - there were lots of sweet confections to taste (including both Blackberry and Peach Whipped Mousses!*), manicurists were on hand to beautify nails, and a photographer snapped pictures as I posed with the Caress goodies in Sweetiepie's "birdcage." I had the opportunity to experience the individual fragrance notes behind the products and learn a bit about how they came together into a unified scent. Let me tell you, the products smell heavenly! Though I am a self-proclaimed peach girl (and this Whipped Souffle is currently in my shower), I'll have you know that I think I love the blackberry one even more (as I found out when I selected this one to be used as the lotion for my coral Zoya manicure! Yes, it really is that moisturizing...it was a natural fit for my pre-mani hand massage!) The Souffles are ultra-creamy, yet very light on the skin. The scents are nicely balanced - they stay on your skin after the product is washed off, yet are far from overpowering (and you all know what those are like!)

The delicious Blackberry Mousse! How cute are they?!?

The peach candies were so yummy!

Ooooo la la!!

It was a great night and I'm so glad I made it by (my abilities to navigate in NYC when streets no longer follow a perpendicular grid are not very good...so I got a little lost ;-) )! These new products from Caress are definitely a hit in my book! They are all available now at food, drug, and mass retailers around the country.

Posing with Caress products in the Birdcage (photo credit: Caress-hired photographer)

*Here is the recipe for the Whipped Sweetiepie Souffles (for Blackberry version, simply follow below and substitute the berries for the peaches) if you are interested in recreating them at home!

Ingredients:

2 lbs of fresh peaches

pinch of salt

1-1/4 cups sugar

2 cups cold heavy cream

Combine half of the peaches in a saucepan with salt, 3/4 cups of sugar and 2 tablespoons of water

Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat

Cool completely

Whip heavy cream with the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar until it forms soft peaks

Mash the remaining uncooked peaches

Fold the cooked and cooled peaches into the cream just enough to create a marbled effect

Chill in the fridge for three hours before serving

SERVES 4

Disclosure: I attended a Caress sponsored event

Attention NYC And San Francisco Beauties! Come Join The CoverFx Flashmob!

Hello my pretties! I have some great news for those of you in the NYC and San Francisco areas! On March 24th in NYC and March 29th in San Francisco, the CoverFx team will be out in full force, handing out FREE retail size ConcealFx tubes (and this is good stuff!). Stop by and say hi to the cool people rocking the camo gear and show them your "problem" spots. They'll be sure to hook you up with the super blemish concealer ($25 value, while supplies last)!

Here are the deets:

NYC (3/24): Grand Central, 4:00-6:00 PM, by the tower clock at the center of the station

San Francisco (3/29): Union Square, 4:30-6:30 PM, center of the square by the Victoria Monument

I hope that you can make it out!!

It's a Girl's Night Out With Laura Geller Makeup And Divalysscious Moms

I just wanted to make you all aware of a really nice event taking place next week at the Laura Geller Makeup Studio at 1044 Lexington Avenue in NYC. On Monday February 8 from 4-9 PM, Laura will be teaming up with Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, the authors of "The Nanny Diaries," and Lyss Stern of Divalysscious Moms (www.divamom.com) for an evening of mini-makeovers and cocktails. Come celebrate being a mom...or just being beautiful!! One guest will win a complimentary makeover to take place at a future date. Every attendee who spends $100 at the event will receive a signed copy of Ms. McLaughlin and Ms. Kraus' new book, "The Nanny Returns."

The event has limited capacity, so be sure to reserve your mini-makeover appointments early! RSVP by emailing rsvp@laurageller.com or by calling (212) 570-1280.