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Industry Insiders, Top Vloggers, Fans Gather at BeautyCon

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The second annual BeautyCon shut it down, literally. Over six thousand aspiring makeup artists, future stylists and beauty fans gathered—with some waiting in line for as long as three hours—at Siren Studios in Hollywood to meet their favorite StyleHaul vloggers, get the inside scoop from industry insiders and more at the big beauty bash. Experts like lavender-tressed Fashion Police judge Kelly Osborne, LEAFtv host and Because I'm Addicted blogger Geri Hirsch, stylish TV personality Jeannie Mai, plus Racked LA's own Natalie Alcala were among the big names on hand to dish out fashion and beauty pointers, career advice, pro blogging tips and more at expert panels throughout the full-day affair.

When they weren't attending packed panel sessions, tech-savvy guests crowded around LA-based accessories brand Cult Gaia's space to get crowned with the celeb-loved label's fashionable floral headpieces, enjoyed free makeovers by BareMinerals, tried their hand at a host of DIY seshes and scoped out the many fashion and beauty booths in the house. Up on the roof, guests sipped coconut water and cocktails with the sun above their heads and the Hollywood sign to their backs, all while 90210 star Shenae Grimes and her hubby hit the DJ decks.

Over at the event's Burn It or Buy It fashion panel hosted by the always-dynamic girls of the GIOGO Show, the year's top trends were up for debate. Hair stylist George Papanikolas, Racked's own EIC, plus a handful of YouTube's star vloggers expressed their love or dismay for heavy eye and lip looks (ditch it), fringe bikinis (totally out), and crop tops (a resounding "IN!"). The panel also weighed in on 3D nail art (just a phase), the ever-controversial sneaker wedge (Claudia of BeyondBeautyStar deemed them a versatile "buy it") and gladiator sandals ("it's all about the length," says our editor Natalie, and only the brave should take on knee-high heels).

The event culminated with the NYX FACE Awards, where the top six contestants from the cosmetics brand's online competition went head-to-head for the top title of Beauty Vlogger of the Year and a whopping grand prize of $25,000. Emceed by Amy Paffrath and viral video star P'Trique, the beauty battle challenged each vlogger to create their best goddess-inspired look in a mere 30 minutes. Ultimately, the judges—among them Racked's talented editor—chose LA-based Air Force beauty Missy Lynn of Start2Finishmua as the winner of the intense challenge.
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