It's that time of year again....IMATS is coming to Toronto and I have a list.

I am not going to stick to this list at all, I can just feel it. So for now here is what I definitely want.

Beauty Blender Mini
I want these. That is about it. I love my Beauty Blenders....love them. You cannot take them away from me. I have 3 already plus two Real Technique Sponges so I think I am OK in that department, but they just had to release something new. I want the minis so bad for under my eyes and any concealing that I need to do. I usually buy my Beauty Blenders at Imats or in the USA just because they are far to expensive here at Sephora.
I also want another solid cleaner by them, hopefully they have a nice combo set.

Beauty So Clean
Last year I picked up the spray fro cleaning my makeup, and while I use it a lot I still have quite a bit. What I am out of is the brush cleaner. I really liked the scented sprays that I've gotten in the past and hope to get some more.

Eyelashes
Last year I got some great unboxed lashes at Nigels and want more. I remember it was quite the search to find some styles I liked but I really did like them. Maybe the best lashes I've ever used (I like clear banded lashes).

Clean Brush Shampoo
Another solid brush shampoo...while not Beauty Blenders, I have heard great things and want to try it out. I was thinking of getting the goats milk or olive oil version. I have been known to use either goats milk or olive oil bars of soap to clean my brushes without stripping them so these sound right up my ally.

Parian Sprit
Last year all I could find was a tiny tiny bottle, but I want a big one with the jar for cleaning. I will settle for another tiny one since it works so darn well.

Brushes
I am a brush fiend...it is true. I think I have 250 brushes at this point. Last year I picked up some Bdellium Tools for the first time and fell in love. I want more. More I say. Ok must calm down and limit my purchases at that booth. But let us be honest, there is no way I am leaving without at least something.
I also will most likely be going a little crazy at Crown Brushes' booth. I've been purchasing crown brushes for over 9 years now and really thing the best way to pick ones out is at the show. You get to feel them out and see what suits you. The duo fibre brushes are always fantastic.

That's it...hopefully. Is there anything on your Imats list?

Imats is going to be in Toronto November 22nd and 23rd this year, for more info go to Imats.net

Beauty So Clean Brush Cleaner in Gingerbread and Candy Cane: I got these a long time ago, and finally chose to start using them up. I really liked how they cleaned my brushes and how good they smelt after being clean. Would I buy it again? Yes, I quite liked them, maybe next IMATS I'll get more.
ELF Studio Daily Brush Cleaner: This has been hanging on my shelf forever. I never really liked the bottle and I didn't personally love the stuff. Would I buy it again? No, it is now sold in a much smaller bottle. I would be better off just putting rubbing alcohol and some water in a squirt bottle.
Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush: I got this in a Glossy box, and well hated it. The stick wasn't actually attached into anything and just bounced around. It was waxy and smelled bad. It was time to toss it. Would I buy it again? NO!!!
ELF Studio HD Powder: I finally used this up! I have had it for years and years. It really was two containers put together so I feel the feat is even more impressive. Would I buy it again?  Yes, I recently purchased the yellow version of it. It is a great product at a very good price.
ELF Studio Flawless Finish Foundation: I loved this and so when I used my old one up I bought it again, well this one is yellow. I guess it got old really fast since I haven't even had it a year. I am pretty mad at how yellow it is really. Would I buy it again? No, I am not waisting my time with it again, which is a shame since my first bottle was so great.
B Kamins Maple Body Lotion: I got this in a glossy box and chose to toss it into my purse. It got used up really fast that way. It wasn't big but it was a nice lotion. Would I buy it again? No, it was pricy and I wouldn't know where to buy it now.
ELF Mascara: I got this at a dollarama for my $20 makeup challenge. It actually is good, but it became hard so it was time to toss it. Would I buy it again? Yes, both the waterproof and regular sides are really good and it is cheap.
Benefit That Gal: I got this tiny tube in a set a long time ago. It makes for a great illuminating primer. Would I buy it again? Yes, I have another little tube that I opened when this one was finished.

Bdellium Tools

Makeup demos.

Crown Brushes

Beauty Blenders at Virtzu

I recently got my January Glossybox and I thought I would share it with you.

There were our usual 5 items with a bonus item in this box.

Wella Professionals Brilliance Leave-In Mousse:

Full size - 190 g /$17.99

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme:

0.2 oz sells for $28.00 (I have no clue how big this "sample" is)

Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion:

Sample size is 25 g - full size is 170 g - $12.99

Nivea Essential Lip Care:

Full size - 4.8 g - $2.00

Glossybox Best in Moisture.
Pretty much to celebrate a year in Canada they are "revisiting" past favourite moisturizing products.

I got Befine Fine Food Skin Care Sample Pack. This comes from their August box and features 5 packets of skin care products. Only one is a moisturizing product (strange isn't it?).

Packets are valued at $2 on their site but I've seen them for $0.50 at some stores.

Other items received were the Curel hand lotion from November (full sized valued at $3.99), B. Kamins products from September ( I figured the value at about $8.00). Others (360 people) got an expired item (which they say they will take care of).

Bonus item. Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizing Wipes:

12 wipes recived - 48 wipes sells for  $12.50


Review:

My intial reaction was joy!

I was over the moon to try another Wella product (I only ever tried the glossy spray from September's bo) I feel everything else is meh again.

But then the Nieva's lip balm, while an item I like, it is a product that only costs $2 and hardly ads to make the box worth $21.

I was shocked at how small the Too Faced was, why would they even produce something so small?

Then a Burt's Bees product, it has never been a brand I get too excited about, but hand lotion is always welcome in my house.

Befine excited me but then after realizing it had nothing to do with moisture I started to feel the "Best in Moisture" was just a pot to get rid of items they had extra of, mainly because mine doesn't have any moisturizing properties to it except one mask.

I'm kind of getting baffled by how this place is working, one or two fab product then a bunch of drug store. Meh.

I would like to share what my co-worker thought of her box. After asking me if I was going to keep on subscribing she confided in me she got the B. Kamins items. I exclaimed that they were great, but she told me she was unhappy because now she had gotten 3 lip items in one box and that is was just getting sad.  After some thought I agreed.

I hope their one year anniversary box blows me away with items that are exciting and new brands, otherwise it might be the end of our relationship.

On another note, the glossybox.ca site said that the January box would be "Discover World Beauty" and several people assumed this meant beauty products from around the world. They also put up this photo on Facebook....

What we were told was January's theme online.

So I am not surprised many people were really upset to get left over items, $2 items and just general drug store items. Some claimed to sign up for this month just because of the theme. I do feel the company is trying (but not succeeding ) at getting better and many of the comments on their facebook are just mean and out of control. I think people just need to simmer down a bit and stop bombarding the page with negative comments.

When asked about the theme this was their reply "The theme was "Globally Inspired", and since we're representing Canada, our GLOSSYBOX reflected the harsh winters we endure with some ultra-moisurizing and nourishing products." -from their facebook page.


If you would like to join or try the Glossybox please feel free to use the code GLOSSY55 for a 10% discount off your first box.

NYX doing makeup using the Dark Shadows palette from September's box.

The Selina Gomez Collection at the Nicole By OPI table.

Nicole By OPI's upcoming collection, It's all about the colour

drinks

Holiday themed Candy Bar!

photos from the Photo Booth (Meredith from ettuandyou looking fab with me)

Marcelle's shadows and glitter liners (I love them)

Marcelle and Annabelle products

A washing station filled with VitaBath lotions and creams

 I got my hair done up in a bun by one of the amazing women who work at the salon. I am in awe of how easy she made it look.

The bun from the back

My bun, look at the braid that wraps around it.

My hair in the bun

GlamGlow

Elin Bianco

More Elin Bianco

Jouviance

MaskerAide (a fave of mine)

Beauty so Clean

Skin for life

Macadamia hair care products (and nuts to try)

 There were past boxes on display

November's box (although Nexus shampoos and conditioners were in the boxes)

October's box

September's box

August's box

February's Box