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Where Your Beauty Beats Sephora Press Day 15 Feb



Hello Friends! I was lucky to be invited to another Sephora Press Day (the Universe is looking after me - so grateful).

This time, the press event was held at the Australia Technology Park and the show space was massive! I was also lucky enough to be able to do video interview with the CEO and co-founder of YUNI, Emmanuel Rey; Brian Granoff, who isTarte's Global Trainer; Alphie Sadsad,, the National Artistry Lead for Sephora Australia; and Brett Gallagher, Global Education Director for COVER FX. Those interviews will be on my Youtube channel soon, so stay tuned!

I took a lot of photographs and I want to share with you the exciting new products that are exclusive to Sephora in Australia. If you do not have a Sephora near you, you can shop at Sephora on their app or online at https://www.sephora.com.au. For my International friends, please go to https://www.sephora.com, and you will be directed to the appropriate webstore or you can locate your nearest Sephora store.

亲爱的朋友们，非常抱歉。 这里有太多的信息我想快点与你分享，所以我没有用中文写一切。 请原谅我。 您可以使用“Google Translate”等在线翻译。

I felt that for this Press Day, the focus was on skincare and "clean beauty". So the majority of the brands there were all about skincare. There were a few colour cosmetics brands there too like my faves: Tarte; Givenchy; Becca; Bite Beauty; Zoeva and Kat Von D. As you might already be aware, Tarte has a range of skincare products (they launched their own skincare a few years ago), so Tarte was showing both colour cosmetics as well as skincare. I AM so excited to share with you the new products from Tarte and I'll have a detailed commentary about Tarte's products in a separate article and Youtube video. I attended a Tarte event before Press Day and OMG it was so amazing and I have to tell you all about it. I practically spent the whole time at the Tarte event saying (continuously) "thank you, thank you, thank you".

Also, 100 Gold Members (loyalty program) of Sephora Australia (with a plus one) were invited to the event at night. Obviously, because Sephora is so good to me, I always do go and buy a lot of products from Sephora (a kind of thank you, I'm not one of those bloggers who just take free stuff and do nothing in return). Therefore, I am a Gold Member I seized the opportunity and invited one of my ex-boss' daughters from the Firm I used to work at. She (Laura), had an amazing time and it was also good for me to "see" the event from a customer's perspective.

So Friday, 15 February 2019 was a big day for me. I was at Press Day from 1 p.m. till 8 p.m. As I was interviewing quite a few people, I didn't manage to get to all of the stalls (even at the night session), so do forgive me if I have left out any brands. I'll be talking about their products in separate articles.

I do a lot of videos on my various social media platforms and I've linked them down below. There is a separate IG Story Highlight "SEPHORA", if you want to see more "video" action. I do a lot of daily Instastories, so follow me on my Instagram @teacupofmakeup_luxe (if you aren't already following me).

Thank you so much to Spehora Australia and One Day Dream PR for having me!!!

 

FIRST STOP: YUNI BEAUTY


I think I first became aware of YUNI Beauty in 2018 at the SS18 Sephora Showcase. I wasn't able to talk to them as I had very little time. This time I was able to interview Emmanuel Rey, Founder & CEO of YUNI Beauty and also have a conversation with him about the beauty industry and many other topics that I am so interested in. Emmanuel is SO wise and has such a wealth of knowledge. I feel so blessed and enlightened.


The new product that YUNI is introducing is this very fascinating product called "Yunicorn" which is a cleanser and face mask. I can't wait to try this product and give you my thoughts on it. To see more of their products (before I get a chance to write my article on YUNI) I highly recommend that you go to their website https://www.yunibeauty.com


Whilst I was interviewing Emmanuel Rey, he brought along the hand cream above. He said that when he does interviews, he does a hand massage for the interviewer. How nice is that???!!!

 

INDIE LEE


It was so good to talk to Indie Lee again. I met her at a press event the day before the Sephora Press Day. I'll have a separate article on Indie Lee once I have tried her products. Indie was gracious and was so lovely to Laura at the night event.

 

TART #TARTELETTEFOREVER


Gahhh... I asked if they sold the "vaults" in the photo above, but unfortunately they don't (CRY)

As you might already know, I am a HUGE fan of Tarte. I've been collecting Tarte since 2010 (when I finally discovered the World of Beauty). I had a attended a Tarte event earlier in the week on Wednesday and I'll talk more about that event on a separate article. Thank you so much to the Tarte Team for being so kind, generous and patient. They were at Press Day from early morning (I think around 8 a.m. or earlier) and they were there all the way till 8 p.m. AND they were on their feet for majority of the time. WOW.

There are so many new products that Tarte has released this year. I'm really excited to tell you about them.

You can shop Tarte at:


One of my favorite foundations from Tarte that I use during the dryer and colder months is the "Rainforest of the Sea" one. The packaging has changed since this range was launched in around 2017. We were colour-matched and gifted one. Tarte's products ALWAYS work well for me and I have yet in my nine years of collecting Tarte, ever came across a Tarte product that I didn't enjoy using.


I had the opportunity this time to interview Brian Granoff, Tarte's Global Trainer. I've met Brian a few times before, but never really got the chance to interview him, so I SEIZED the golden opportunity. That video Interview will be featured in another separate article (and youtube video).

Brian has been with Tarte for 14 years. I think that says a lot about the brand as these days employee-loyalty rarely exists. Brian also said that he loves how Tarte is constantly creating more and more innovative and fun products and it makes his job so enjoyable.


OK. Is this not to die for? I have the first version of the pro palette and this is the "Tarteist Pro REMIX" palette. Made from Tarte's formulated amazonian clay, this palette is probably going to be in my Top 10 palettes for 2019. The shades are rich, buttery smooth and very pigmented. You can even choose to skip an eyeshadow primer, because the eyeshadows are formulated to "stick" and last on your eyes.


Another great palette that Tarte has released is the "Tarteist Pro Glow & Blush". You might already know that it is becoming "trendy" to really "amp" up your blush. This palette is beautiful and comes with four blushes, a highlighter and a bronzer/contour shade. There is something very magical about Tarte's products, their products are really worth the price, because they last and last and perform beautifully.


Thank you so much to the Tarte team for making the night extra special for Laura.

 

COVER FX


I really enjoy using Cover FX's products. I can't exactly remember when I discovered the brand, but I do have quite a lot of "Holy Grail" items.

I did a video interview with Brett Gallagher, Global Education Director for COVER FX. I did some research before I sent the interview questions and Brett gave me some really insightful and amusing answers. That interview will be featured in another article (with a youtube video).

This year, COVER FX was showcasing their new primers and custom drops. COVER FX is known for this innovative line and they have revamped the collection with new packaging and better formulas.



NEW packaging and improved formulas with a wider range of shades.


One of the really intriguing primers is the one called "Gripping Primer". Think of it like "cement" for your base. I'm really excited to try that one, especially during the warm and humid months in Australia and Asia.

 

PRETTY VULGAR


OK. I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BRAND. I'm a makeup hoarder and I love pretty packaging and of course, great formulas. Pretty Vulgar is a relatively new brand and you might have seen it often on social media platforms. I have been (secretly and hiding) expanding my collection of Pretty Vulgar products.

Pretty Vulgar's products are designed in collaboration with makeup artists and they have cruelty-free makeup formulations are developed free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. This brand is already making huge waves in the Beauty Industry and I am excited to see it grow.

I had the pleasure of briefly chatting with Lewis Farsedakis, Founder & CEO of Pretty Vulgar. He is so clever and witty.

Some of the packaging reminds of two Japanese brands, a mix of Les Merveileueses Ladurée and Canmake.


The range of products will be expanding quickly and I am so enchanted by this clever brand. You can learn more about this brand on their website: https://www.prettyvulgar.com


This was the product featured on Press Day. This is the "Faux Reals" mascara. It is meant to give you the false lash look. I can't wait to try it. I have their two original mascaras (for top and bottom lashes) as well as their eyelash primer. They are really lovely products.


Also shown were these super cute foundations. I am a huge sucker for packaging, so my eyes went immediately to these. These are not yet available in Australia, but I will try my best to source them from the USA to give you my thoughts on them.

 

NATASHA DENONA


If you have yet to discover Natasha Denona, I don't know where you have been.

You can learn more about the brand at: https://www.natashadenona.com

We were treated to the World Premiere of Natasha Denona's NEW foundation (as seen in the photo above). I've known their brand rep for a few years now from the Clarisonic Blogger University and I am so happy Mitch has the job. Congratulations Mitch!

The new foundation has "flex" technology in it, so it has an elasticity to it. I tested some on the back of my hand (I work so much with my hands that they are dry and well... kinda icky) so I could really tell how this foundation works. YES, it is incredible. It flexes and moves with the skin and has a demi-matte finish.


We also got to see a new mini palette (great value for money) and the highlighter and blush duo you see above.


I'm really excited about the "Bloom Blush & Glow Palette" you see above. That RED shade on the top right is SO pretty. If you want to be bold, go for it, the "geisha" look is in.