So I attended the IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) in London last weekend and it was awesome! I took my camera along to capture some of the things that interested me. My hope is that this post gives you an idea of what the IMATS in London was like and inspires you to be creative.
The IMATS are probably one of the biggest makeup events of the year so it’s not to be missed if you are a makeup enthusiast or a professional makeup artist. An entry ticket provides a big discount on a vast array of makeup products, tutorials from top makeup artists, and a ton of inspiration from everyday makeup looks to the special effects makeup used in movies. Oh, and I was lucky enough to get some free Kat Von D makeup items whilst standing in a queue – YAYYYYY!!! Everyone at the IMATS was of course wearing makeup and I couldn’t stop admiring all the different looks I saw. I think people may have wondered why I was staring at them so intently! LOL.
Apologies for the quality of some of the pictures – I had to use my phone’s camera intermittently and the lighting inside the exhibition hall wasn’t the best. Anyhoo, keep scrolling down.
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MOTD
First things first, here are pictures of my makeup of the day (MOTD). I’ve named this my ‘Bringing back the 80’s’ look. I went all out with a geometric blue eyeshadow and a big Afro wig. I was going to the IMATS for heaven’s sake, so I had to represent MSA Makeup to the max……subtlety was not an option. You’ll see from the pictures below that my makeup was definitely not out of place for this event!
Glitter
Glitter was a big theme at this year’s IMATS. As I entered the Kensington Olympia my ticket was checked by a girl with glitter on her face and it looked awesome. And it didn’t stop there. Loads of people were wearing chunky glitter in so many different ways. One guy was covered with glitter (see pic below)……I mean you could see him from outer space!!! So I guess that glitter is in. I promptly picked up 4 jars of it and I can’t wait to play with them. Apparently you just put some gel onto your face or hair and tap the glitter onto it. I’ll let you know how this goes when I start experimenting with it so stay tuned.
hmm, I think this guy could definitely compete with the Sun if there was a ‘glow’ competition!
Tutorials
Tutorials by makeup experts were held on all 3 days of the IMATS. They covered so many topics: multidimensional makeup, steampunk body art, editorial makeup, bridal makeup and of course The Battle of the Brushes – a competition where makeup artists get to showcase their work. Unfortunately I arrived a bit late on Sunday so I only got to watch the tail end of a bridal tutorial by Hannah Martin, a famous Bobbi Brown Pro makeup artist who did Kate Middleton’s wedding makeup. There’s always something new to learn in the makeup world and the IMATS provide a chance to learn from the cream of the crop. Note to self: next year I will definitely be on time so that I can soak up as much knowledge as possible!
IMATS Battle of the Brushes: Beauty/Fantasy Awards Show
IMATS Battle of the Brushes: Beauty/Fantasy Awards Show
Special Effects Makeup
I love watching movies! It’s one of my favourite ways to relax when I have time off work. I love escaping into fantasy worlds and I realised that special effects makeup is an integral part of creating a character. It was amazing to watch makeup artists transform everyday people into these larger than life characters. There were so many stands selling all the tools and products needed for special effects like prosthetics and fake body liquids. It really takes a lot of skill to be a special effects makeup artist and I have a newfound respect for this genre of makeup.
Can you believe that there’s a girl under all this makeup? I caught her giggling a few times in between posing for this picture.
Creativity Has No Bounds
Words can’t express how awed I was by the creativity displayed at the IMATS. Makeup allows you to create whatever you can imagine and that is why I love it. There really are no limits to what you can create; your only limits are your imagination and/or lack of courage. Seeing the work of other makeup artists inspired me to experiment more and to take bigger risks; it gave me some much needed creative fuel. I was reminded of how important it is to continually feed your creativity so that you don’t become stagnant. So whatever it is that you love, make sure that you are going to events that will stimulate your creativity.
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Well there you have it, a snap shot of this year’s IMATS. I thoroughly enjoyed it and left with a bag of new makeup items that I can’t wait to play with. Whether you are into makeup or not I hope that you inspired to develop your creativity further. Who knows what you could create?
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I saw this throne at the Kat Von D stand and I HAD to sit on it. I think ‘Queen MSA’ has a nice ring to it, hahahah!
