The Makeup Show LA 2011

I heard about "The Makeup Show" in 2008. All the other artists I worked with would talk about it and how great it was...

At the time I was in school and working myself into the ground.

The day I quit Retail Cosmetics in 2010 I swore I was going to go the following year.
I saved up every penny I could and drained my savings.

I booked my trip.

I decided I needed to go alone.
I didn't want anyone to hold me back.
I wanted to go where ever I wanted whenever I wanted.

I was going to stay at a cheap hotel, but the old man volunteered some extra cash to let me stay at one of the conventions hotels.

I stayed at the OMNI. It wasn't worth the money. The tub was nice...
I took several extra mini shampoo's and shower caps... haha

The view out the window was cute. I had the advantage of seeing if the complimentary car was available in the AM...

The weather was a complete culture shock for me.
La was in the 80's when I left. When I arrived in LA it was low 60's

I flew in the day before the convention. I wanted a little extra time to explore the city, check out E.I. Makeup School and stalk Kat Von D.

The Makeup Show also set up a Pre-Party for all the guests who bought tickets early.
I was terrified to go to the party alone but this is what this experience was all about for me.
It took everything in me to just walk up to people in a complete different city and just introduce myself.
After a few quick glasses of wine from the open bar, I met a few cool girls. I also got to hear Maurice Stein (Creator of Cinema Secrets) speak. He was great.
I enjoyed the Pre-Party but I was starved.

After the Pre-Party, I used my Urban Spoon APP to find food in the town. It was pouring all night. I was soaked from jumping from Taxi to Taxi trying to figure things out.
I saw an average priced "restaurant" The Red wood Grill.
on Urban spoon it wasn't listed as a bar. I wanted some sort of seafood.
Little did I know ALL food is Mexican in LA...

I walked into the "The Redwood Bar and Grill"

http://www.theredwoodbar.com/site08/homewiframe.htm#
It was a Pirate Bar.

It was a really cool bar. It just wasn't what I expected.. Everything was pirate themed.. There was candles melting on skulls heads etc.

I decided to stay at the pirate bar and have dinner.
After realizing everything on the menu was Mexican, I asked the bartender to give me his favorite.. I have no idea what it was but it was delicious.


The next morning, I did my best to look all fashionable and important.

My $20 dress from Rue 21 will have to suffice...


I stupidly took my sweet time getting ready because I was nervous...
I wasn't aware of the amount of free education I was missing...

Needless to say I didn't waste anymore time. I went to as many classes & seminars as I could.

I walked into the California Market Center and saw this hanging...

I think I pissed my pants a little.

My heart was pounding when I walked in! I saw all my favorite brands (excluding MAC).. I didn't know where to start...

This is all the stuff I bought my first day...

David Hernendez for Makeup Forever, I could listen to this man talk for days.. he is so RAW and True

He tells you how it is and is a truly talented artist!

In this Seminar he was teaching all artist to utilize every product in their kit, challenge your self to use "Fake blood as blush" Crazy stuff

Really great tips

I probably learned the most from him.

Another highlight from my trip.
Ve Neil and Guests for The Makeup Show : Face Off: Inside the SyFy Reality Show

Everyday of the show Makeup Forever would do a live model Makeup.
This was incredibly interesting for me. I watched the Makeup develop throughout the day.

The Artist Florence, wanted to create half Barbie/ Half creature look.

She rocked the hell out of the Bald Cap. It was laid perfectly.

Lijha Stewart for makeup Forever had a basic Special FX class.

She taught us how to create a broken nose out of Plasto (MUFE)
She taught us how to create a burn / scaring knee..
She taught us how to create Glass in a leg as if she flew through a window

The full beat up model!

I did have a little extra time to visit my friend Scot while I was in LA. When I use to stalk CFX, Scot was always there with encouraging advice. We met at that pirate bar and chatted about the Show and future plans. I'm happy I got to see Scot.

This is a picture from a couple years ago, Scot was attempting to teach me how to create a life cast. I mostly learned about the materials. It was an all around good experience.



After The Makeup Show I had one day left to explore the city.

List of things to do:
-Appointment at E.I.
-Stalk KAT VON D
-Board plane home.

I made an appointment with Joe Barcia the Admissions Director of Elegance Intelligence School of Professional Makeup.

After he gave me the tour of the school we satin his office and talked for about an hour...
I showed him my portfolio and he proceeded to tell me that i was to advanced for his school.
Although, I loved hearing that, I guess it didn't really answer my question about if I should go back to school or not...

I really enjoyed talking with Joe, he gave me a lot of helpful advice.




After leaving E.I. I headed to Hollywood Blvd.
Trying to catch a Taxi is way more difficult then it looks...

I arrived at Kat Von D's shop... I toured her wonderland gallery and enjoyed the art. I even bought a signed copy of her new book...
Unfortunately, while I flew across the country to see her she was in Texas...

I found the Kat Von D Wonderland Gallery :)


I ran around the building and climbed the fence and got a shot of the mural in the back of the shop...

I know I'm pathetic...



The Makeup Show was one of the best weekends of my life. I am so happy I went, I learned so much and I will continue to go every year.




Hope you enjoyed my detailed trip.

LK