This weekend makeup artists, enthusiasts and beauty bloggers will descend on the Metropolitan Pavillion to attend The Makeup Show, a trade event showcasing the best products, techniques and talent from across the industry. James Vincent, the Director of Artistry for The Makeup Show, On Makeup Magazine and The Powder Group took a few moments out of his busy schedule to share a few insights into what we can expect from this weekend's festivities.
Haven't purchased your tickets yet? You still have time to purchase advanced tickets here.
It's been five years since the Makeup Show debuted in New York - what's changed over those five years?
Everything has changed. The entire world has become much more tech savvy and computer savvy and impacted by the economy and the changes on our planet. The understanding of terms that were formally only industry terms like HD, Camera ready and airbrushing as well as terms like green and organic have made consumers and artists hyper aware of what is going on their skin and how it is being applied. The internet has made information more available and celebrity more accessible even making celebrities out of makeup gurus, some established and some fledgling. Frugality has made women appreciate their product more and do more research on why some items out-perform others and artists and amateurs are spending more wisely.
How crucial have bloggers been to the development of The Makeup Show and the beauty industry?
Bloggers have become the messengers in the new media. They get information out more easily with more accessibility to larger groups of people. They are not bogged down by long run deadlines or overwhelmed by overhead so they can deliver their stories to their readers more readily. Facts and opinions have kind of become blurred in our traditional news media and I think that bloggers have given a voice to many people who have traditionally felt disenfranchised by traditional media and they can respond to the questions or deliver information to the general population or special interest communities making them an integral part of what we have done with The Makeup Show brand and have become the people in the industry that really help to launch new products and trends.
What are you most looking forward to from this year's show?
I am excited to see so many of our long time artists like Joanna Schlip working next to new additions like Charlie Green and Tegan Taylor. I love that a visionary like Dany Sanz, the creator of Make Up For Ever, will be teaching a hands-on workshop allowing a small group of artists to experience what makes her such an amazing makeup artist. Our seminars and show floor this year are full of first time vendors like Inglot and first time presenters who are bringing new ideas and innovations to the industry. The education is what separates this show from all the rest in my mind.
Each year The Makeup Show brings so many brands together under one roof - what are your favorite emerging brands from this year's exhibitors list?
I am always excited to see Armour Beauty and Knock Out Beauty. Their uptown glamour, downtown edge sensibility is exciting to me. Temptu, OCC, Kett and Graftobian are all introducing new airbrush systems that I think are very important to the advancement of the airbrush artist. Inglot is a must see for anyone who loves color. Their lip and eye palettes are perfect and their freedom system makes everything more manageable. Lastly, Paperself has some of the most interesting lashes for editorial and fashion work I have seen. Really remarkable.
If you could hope for The Makeup Show attendees to gain one thing from their attendance, what would it be?
Inspiration. Inspiration in their artistry, their careers, their community and their desire to become more credible artists that are achieving their own goals and their own ideas of success.
James Vincent is the Director of Artistry for The Makeup Show, The Powder Group and On Makeup Magazine. His resume includes clients as diverse as Lady Gaga, Liv Tyler, Joan Jett, Jillian Michaels, Regina Spektor and Jane Fonda. He has worked with photographers including Alexander Thompson, Mike Ruiz and David Lachapelle. James has held development positions for companies including M.A.C, Stila, CNN and Lancôme. He has been featured on numerous television shows as a beauty expert such as NBC Universal¹s Home Delivery and NBC's The Today Show. James has also worked in television as key artist for shows including American Idol and on stage for productions including Roundabout Theatre's "The Philanthropist." Nylon magazine and WWD have named James as a "makeup artist to watch".
