For the seventh consecutive year, makeup artists, beauty bloggers and industry insiders joined together this past weekend for The Makeup Show NYC. And of course, BeautyStat was hot on the scene to experience all the latest and greatest products from the biggest brands in the biz. Major companies including M·A·C, MAKEUP FOR EVER, YSL, NARS, INGLOT, Stila, and Smashbox were all part of the landscape, including some lesser known brands with some spanking-new products to introduce. Here, I’ve rounded up all the trends, standouts, and unique up-and-comers worth mentioning!

The first booth that my trained little eye spotted was none other than my favorite brand, M·A·C. M·A·C featured their entire PRO collection, which was quite fitting considering the experts-only angle of The Makeup Show. Some newer products they featured included an entire display of HD Airbrush Makeup. Going above and beyond standard airbrush makeup for the complexion, M·A·C showed off a rainbow of colors for the eyes, cheeks, and lips as well. The silicone-based formula is virtually impenetrable for all-day-long wear, and can be mixed for custom shades.

I didn’t understand how to master such control and precision when it came to airbrush eye makeup (how ever could you apply airbrush eyeliner?!), but I was told that the shades could also be used with synthetic hair brushes as well. M·A·C’s other notable display was one filled with body paints, from chromacakes to acrylic paints. Now, I don’t know how much I’d actually use such products (unless I were to become a face-painter at a carnival), but they sure were pur-tty to look at nonetheless.

Christine Valmay

These two displays set the tone for the majority of the event, as airbrush makeup and body paint seemed to be THE main feature and trend of the weekend. M·A·C, Mehron, Stila, and MAKEUP FOR EVER painted entire nude bodies (high-fashion-style, NOT Victoria’s-Secret-style) with the most vivid shades and seriously mind-blowing blending skills. MUD and Christine Valmay pushed the boundary even further with head-to-toe special-effects makeup. Christine Valmay in particular created a human black panther that was equal parts fascinating and frightening.

As far as airbrush face makeup went, Temptu and Luminess Air were probably the booths with the most buzz, but I was most intrigued by Dinair. This team showed me how to conquer my airbrushing-on-eyes fear. Using curved plastic stencils and a steady hand, I discovered how you could create crisp lines in the outside corners with a concentrated airbrush stream. They had dozens of colors, too, which made the possibilities nearly endless.

Standout booths included Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) — one of my favorite indie brands with such a promising future. I’m spellbound by their Lip Tars ($14.00), which are probably the most pigmented lip products I’ve ever seen (and I’ve tested literally hundreds of lipsticks and glosses). While there, I was able to dip my fingers into their lesser-known Loose Colour Concentrates (12.00) for eyes (which also have solid color payoff) and check out their newest nail polishes (which I still need to test).

Another notable booth was one that showed off a limited edition line of celebrity makeup artist brushes. Thirteen renowned artists designed and signed a top-quality makeup brush that represents their essential tool and technique. Artists that were part of the set included James Vincent (who paints the faces of the likes of Lady Gaga and Liv Tyler), Orlando Santiago (Carmen Electra and Daphne Guinness), Jon Hennessey (Alicia Keys and Ashley Greene), Danessa Myricks (Britney Spears and Madonna), and Esterique Aidan (Bar Rafaeli).

Now onto the neatest newbies: There were two brands that particularly caught my eye. The first, Glimmer Body Art, which is all about glitter tattoos. These temporary tattoos last up to seven days thanks to their water-proof body glue. I’m betting they’ll be the new alternative to henna tattoos, and in my mind they’re more kid-friendly, too, which can only expand their market. These glitter versions are playful and glam, and can be painted with a massive mixture of colors. They even offer neon glitter, which to me was MAJOR (especially considering the surprising lack of neon makeup as a whole at the show). The only caveat was that the products aren’t eye-safe, which is quite the shame, because how cool would it be to rock semi-permanent glitter eyeliner all week long?! Alas, it’s still a cool concept.

Photo of Katy Perry courtesy of Billboard.com

The other new brand that I was most pumped about was another take on temporary tattoos called GlitzyLips. They’re similar to the Violent Lips that I’ve seen at Sephora, but these are lip foils that conform to the lip shape, rather than a piece of paper that needs to be cut perfectly to fit your size. With a lasting time of eight hours and more wearable designs, these in my mind are the better option. And did I mention Katy Perry sported them during her Grammy performance this year?! No contest, really. Anyway, here’s how they work: you brush on a priming adhesive, place and smooth the foil on top, quickly remove, and repeat until your entire lip is covered. The colored foil sticks to wherever you applied the primer, ensuring a clean lip-fit every time.

With so many booths to visit and so many products to discover, I’ll be inspired for months to come. It was thrilling to be in the presence of so many beauty professionals, entrepreneurs, and diehards. Now where’s my makeup case?!

Below, check out the loot I snagged for being Press. SCORE!!!

Which new trend or product are you inspired to try out this year? Any other brands that you’ve been excited about recently?

– Christiana Molina

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