@IBSnewyork
@iecsc

Last week we had a blast attending the IBS (International Beauty Show) and IECSC (International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa Conference). Taking place from March 10^th to March 12^th , both conventions called the Javits Center home; one side for beauty and one side for spa.

The convention was aimed towards professionals in the beauty industry, but you didn’t necessarily have to be a professional to attend!  Made up of 500 + vendors, 100+ classes, and industry professionals, there was much to cover!

Since there were two different conventions taking place at the same time, the main floor was split in half. Attendees could go to either IBS, IECSC, or both depending on which ticket they purchased; I was granted access to both parts. The beauty side was on the louder side, because a majority of the booths were having some kind of presentation. It was clear attendees were eager to learn new techniques to take back with them to their salon, spa, etc. Every booth enthusiastically showed off their products or specific techniques, which was fun to watch but was also headache inducing.

Good thing there was also the IECSC, because it was quiet and serene, just like a spa! Their booths displayed products and/or equipment, but sans a microphone. We were offered demonstrations, complimentary facials, and more. I spent more time on the spa side than the beauty side, because the beauty side also became a bit more crowded as the day progressed.

IBS SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

MANIC PANIC

Manic Panic’s booth featured hair stylist Mykey @unicorn_manes_bymykey who specializes in the rainbow holographic hair trend. He is a fan of Manic Panic’s professional line of hair dye and uses it in his own salon, Unicorn Manes, in Melbourne Australia.

Mykey was dying wigs to show attendees his rainbow technique, as his holographic hair attracted viewers who gathered around to watch his impressive skills. Videos of his hair trends have millions of views, and I witnessed several fans come over to meet Mykey in person.

While rainbow hair is his specialty, he was also dying emojis onto hair extensions. What a cool idea! What emoji would you want on your hair?

I had the pleasure of getting my hair done by Mykey! He did not have enough time to dye my entire head rainbow, but he added in a few rainbow streaks.

EASY UPDO

Easy Updo is the solution for women with thin hair who aren’t able to achieve the up-do style that they want. To use easy updo’s hair extensions, just put your hair in a ponytail and attach the accessory. Then you can style it however you’d like! In a bun, braid, twist, and more!

Celebrities, such as Emily Blunt and American Idol Winner Maddie Poppe, have shown off their easy updo extensions. I tried one on in their booth and it was extremely simple to use. I’ve worn extensions from different brands before, but they are always hard to put in or hurt my scalp. Using their product, I just attached it to my pony tail, twisted it, and put a bobby pin in it. It was painless and instantly adorable!

Gina Greblo, the Founder of Easy Updo braiding extensions, created this product because she herself had difficulty with updo styles. Since she has very thin hair, she couldn’t figure out a way to get the transformations she wanted. She decided enough was enough! Thanks to Gina, an updo look can now be effortless and super cute! Thanks for teaching us that if something isn’t working, we can try to come up with a solution ourselves instead of waiting for it to be fixed. Thank you for being an inspiration!

EYE KANDY COSMETICS

Glitter forward makeup looks are taking the makeup world by storm. Eye Kandy is a high end makeup brand, and their products are a glitter lovers dream. They are very easy to apply and last all day. They are excellent for performers, dancers, cheerleaders, and anyone that wants a show-stopping makeup look.

DESIGNED BY TONY LY

This was one of my favorite booths at IBS because they were doing nail demos! Their booth was very busy and eye catching. Tony is a big fan of using Swarovski crystals in his nail looks, so it was no surprise his booth was completely covered in them. Even their cash register was covered in crystals! The set up of the booth was fun and attractive.

While getting my nails done, I could see how much Tony was dedicated to creating the perfect look. He made sure my nails were done to perfection. Metallic gold was added to my nails; it was so reflective I could see myself as I looked at them!

Now let’s get into the highlights from IECSC!

IECSC CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

LEBODY

LeBody was one of the coolest booths in IECSC. They were offering three different complimentary spa treatments using the Lebody Form, the Lebody Face, or Milux LED light therapy.

I tried out the Lebody Face, which is a small handheld device that uses a micro currents to move around the collagen in ones face in order to lift the skin. The woman administering the treatment washed my face and then evenly applied the Renewal Up Cream. The machine was then gently moved around my face.

I felt the micro current at times but the sensation didn’t last very long. It didn’t hurt, but there was a slight pinching feeling. After ten minutes the machine automatically turned off. She then put renewal face water gel on my face to soothe and moisturize my skin.

Lebody promises this treatment can change your skin within in the first ten minutes of treatment. I can attest to this statement. It really works! Once all of the steps were completed, I looked at my skin in the mirror. The pores on my cheeks are usually obvious if you looked up close, but they were completely gone! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It makes sense why this brand is a leader in the Korean skin care industry.

OH THAT GLOW

Oh That Glow is an essential oil brand that sells oils, diffusers, skin care products, and more. The oils are extracted from plants and are highly concentrated. Their oils have many different benefits, including aiding with focusing, insomnia, headaches, stress, acne, oily skin, and more. They seem to have an oil for every possible issue!

FEELING SMITTEN

I discovered Feeling Smitten on the last day, in the last hour actually of the convention, and I am so glad that I did! They have some of the cutest bath products I’ve ever seen. They specialize in cupcake bath bombs, which actually look like cupcakes! If I put a real cupcake next to the bath bomb I’m not sure if I’d be able to tell the difference.

As someone who cares a lot about the packaging of a product, I was drawn to Feeling Smitten’s colorful and fun products. Every item was unique and extremely well designed. My favorite designs (aside from the cupcakes) were the dragon eggs, the unicorn horns, and the donut bath bombs.  Some of their bath bombs even have presents inside!

Missed out?! The IBS and IECSC conference is coming back next year! For more info go to www.ibsnewyork.com and www.iecscnewyork.com. (Make sure to use these links instead of just googling IBS like I did…I learned way too much about the other type of IBS)