Ten Things I Learned About Beautycon

I was Extremely hesitant to blog about my first experience at Beautycon because my experience wasn’t the best.  However, as I prepare for the upcoming weekend and fall schedule, I can’t help but to look back at last weekend, whether it’s to live up to the same amount of fun or be sure that I don’t make the same choices. To be completely honest with you all, which is what I’ve promised to do, be it the good, the bad, the ugly, or everything in between...that’s what I plan to do.  With that in mind, I have to be honest in saying several brands and attendees were just down right snobby. It was absolutely the culture of the event.

I had just arrived back in LA from a 24 hour turnaround trip to Palmsprings with the kids.  Needless to say I was tired and wasn’t really into going, but I knew that there would be a ton of small black owned brands that I support in attendance, along with a few of my favorite fashion and beauty icons, like Kelly Rowland and Meg Thee Stallion.  As soon as we touched LA soil I was on my way to DTLA and headed to the event!

Tip One: Allow for a good 30 minutes to actually get to the event. Parking was surprisingly easy to find (okay LACC, we see you), and I walked about five minutes total to get to the event itself.  My tickets were will-call, and that setup was a bit annoying because no one gave clear directions as to where will-call actually was.  Figuring it out by walking around myself a bit took about ten minutes, but everyone was a sweetheart, so I couldn’t even be upset about it. Then a quick security check, and I mean quick, I literally opened my bag, walked through a metal detector and was on my way.

Tip Two: Brace yourself! Upon walking in I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. I can’t help but to laugh about it now, but in the moment, I was definitely doe-eyed. The music was blasting, which I don’t mind, but there were also wall to wall people. I also don’t mind that, however everyone was completely unconscious of where they were walking. Basically, they were rude.  I was looking for a friend while simultaneously trying to find the UrbanRX booth. The amount of people that bumped into me or stepped on my feet without even considering saying excuse me is surreal. Bible moment, I texted my friend “These hoes are rude.” Within about 10 minutes of looking for her. That brings me to my next tip...

Tip Three: Arrive WITH your party.  Finding my friend took thirty minutes that could have been spent talking to a brand about their product, which was my goal. I suggest the next event they include some type of directional signage.

Tip Four: Don’t expect brands to tell you about their products.  This was the most disappointing aspect of it all.  I’m not sure if it’s because I had on Palm Springs best or because I’m not a famous blogger but most brand representatives didn’t seem to want to be bothered.  I had a $500 allowance set aside to do something nice for myself and splurge on some much needed products, but only spent $100 at the event and then ran to a nearby Sephora to stock up on the rest. There were some brands that were willingly...doing their job.  They were honestly smaller brands, and I’m so grateful for them. I got some amazing products that I can’t wait to tell you all about.

Tip Five: The event is really about social media! Brands give samples IF you take a photo of their booth and post them on your stories, setup boomerang booths, Bring your good camera.  I went with my phone expecting to get some good pictures for you guys.  I got a few, but honestly the lighting is so suspect for the amount of amazing photo opportunities that were at my fingertips. I for one really regret not bringing my equipment to get better pictures of the panelists. Be genial with me, I’m learning.

Huda Kattan of Huda Beauty

Tip Six: Do NOT go there to buy anything in particular. The lines are so long and ridiculous and nothing is exclusively sold there so they’re ultimately pointless. Also, most booths didn’t have the space to stock product or capability to charge at their booth so you tell a rep what you want to buy, go to another booth to be charged, then go around the corner and downstairs to pick up the product. INSERT SERIOUS EYE ROLL!

Tip Seven: WEAR SOMETHING COMFORTABLE! I can’t stress this enough.  I thought I’d be fine in my floral two piece and sandals. No! Sis should have worn Nike Fly Knit running shoes. Not only was the even itself huge and spaced out, but I kept buying products and having to walk up and down those darn stairs, in Forever21 throwaway sandals. No boo. Never again.

Tip Eight: Make a bunch of purchases, then go downstairs with all of your receipts. I don’t know why I didn’t think of doing so the day of.  I guess the fact that some booths had products stocked and others didn’t and having no real indication of which did or didn’t I just kept hoping for the best and praying to sweet baby Jesus.  That prayer only reached the big guy ONCE, lol.

Tip Nine: Don’t walk in there with body image issues. This was so bad for my self-esteem for a good our! Everyone just seemed so perfect, and because the brand representatives in general were so dismissive I started to think, I’m not pretty enough, not perfectly shaped enough, not popular enough, not perfect enough to be here...theeeen I walked passed a mirror and checked myself. This was why I was there.  This was the entire reason I decided to blog again. To speak out for women, moms especially that don’t fit the mold that the beauty industry forces upon us on a daily basis. Then that Gemini came out and I was in full strut mode. All 5”2 of me. Not all of the attitudes around me changed, but I was certainly holding my own from that moment on.

Tip TEN: Have fun!!!Go with some friends that will laugh with you, encourage you to buy things you don’t need, eat fattening foods that you deserve to treat yourself with, split parking fees with and more importantly be your support system when you need them to.

Have you ladies been to Beautycon lately? What was your experience?

~Sincerely Keeks