My IMATS Toronto 2012 Haul, Photos and Experience

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This past Saturday, I went early to Toronto Congress Centre with Elaine (Toronto Beauty Reviews) to experience this year’s IMATS. We got there around 9:30 AM and found the building packed like sardines. Every year I’m finding that the IMATS crowd is getting younger. Or maybe I’m getting older? (grumble grumble) Anyways, I know some of you are interested in hauls and my experience of IMATS so let’s get down to business!

I made a list, and did pretty well for this year’s IMATS. 


The Damage at IMATS TO

  • At Embryolisse, I got a Lait Creme Concentre 30 ml ($12).
  • At Nigel’s Beauty Emporium, I got Z-palette Pro ($20), 15 lashes ($20) and a MONDA studio palette ($5).
  • At MAC, I got a 239 Brush ($18) and a NC15/NW20 Chromagraphic Pencil ($10.50) with my MAC PRO card.
  • At Yaby, I got a set of Grippies ($6), which are magnetic stickers for palettes. I realized later that I don’t need these because the Z-palette Pro includes magnetic stickers in the palette.
  • At Beauty So Clean, I got the Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist 250 ml ($20).
  • At SKS Beauty Makeup, I got a Graftobian Light Corrector Wheel ($14) and RMG Derma Color Wheel ($14).
  • At Royal & Langnickel, I got a S.I.L.K C142 Super Foundation Brush ($13) and S.I.L.K C185 Complexion Brush ($10).

Read on to see more photos and to learn about my experience this year!

I can only sum up the shopping experience on Saturday in one word: madness. So many people, so little space! Nigel’s Beauty Emporium had a teeny booth and was very crowded. Their cheap lashes sold out quickly (thanks to Elaine for elbowing some people for me! haha). Most booths accepted credit and debit cards, but some like Bdellium brushes only took cash… so I had to skip out since I didn’t bring any. Boo!

There were many missing vendors this year compared to last year: Kett, NYX and Alcone weren’t present in the show. This was really disappointing to me and a lot of other makeup artists. There were a few new vendors that were selling no-name brushes that didn’t look like new, Earth-shattering technology so I passed. Overall, the shopping experience was alright.

I always like to sit in on a bunch of makeup artist demos. I was excited to see MAC Senior Artist Melissa Gibson on stage again (check her out from IMATS Toronto 2011). Her talk was all about creating art with makeup. I was just in awe of how effortlessly and precisely Melissa applies makeup on the model.


Melissa Gibson at the start of her “makeup as art” talk

The result of her 1-hour session is this cool alien/mermaid hybrid thing. Amazing, right? “Just a soft contour,” she joked. ;)


Makeup by Melissa Gibson

Of course, when I ran out of money to spend, I found some interesting sights by just walking around the building. From creepy to cool creations, the bursting amount of creativity in that room was evident.


This creep!


That creep, shopping.


Obligatory pretty loose pigment photo at Naked Cosmetics


Body Painting at Graftobian

There was of course, a student makeup competition! The winner was Kiki Xian with this incredible creation:


Makeup by Kiki Xian


Makeup by Kiki Xian

Did you go to this year’s IMATS Toronto? What did you think of the show?

  • http://twitter.com/pixiemania The Pixie

    Oh man I’ve always wanted to go to this event! It seems like so much fun. What’s Graftobian like? Is it similar to the Lise Watier corrector wheels? Love your haul!

    • http://www.glittergeek.ca/ Arianne

      Hey @twitter-243616649:disqus! It is the same idea as the Lise Watier wheels… but I think it is probably more dry and pigmented. Graftobian is a theatre makeup brand so that’s the kind of product you usually get. I plan to sheer this out with a mixing medium. :)

  • callitbeauty

    “Obligatory pretty loose pigment photo at Naked Cosmetics” <– HAHAHA! I totally do that, too! :p

    The lashes at Nigel's are pretty awesome; I'm glad I got a whole bunch. Also, LOVE Lait-Creme Concentre! I bought it for my kit, but I've been using it on myself. What else is new? ;)

    • http://www.glittergeek.ca/ Arianne

      Dani, I was just like “OOOOH SPARKLY!” xD

      Excited to add Lait-Creme Concentre to my professional kit. Didn’t really have a good all-around moisturizer before.

  • http://Pretty-peepers.blogspot.com/ Sara

    This was my first Imats and it was so fun. You’re haul is pretty incred. I also got Embryolisse cream too. I see myself in your pic, lol!

  • http://www.facebook.com/xogisellegf Giselle Fernandez

    And ZUCA wasn’t in attendance this year too. I was so dissappointed because i really wanted to get a Pro Case this year. :(

  • http://makeupmorsels.wordpress.com Makeup Morsels

    That body painting at Graftobian is AMAZING!! I have yet to go to IMATS, but I plan to get around to it someday hahah. And I will definitely pick up a tube of Embryolisse when I do. Lovely picks for your haul :)