A couple of years ago I did a make-up post with Nordstrom.
I booked an appointment with a make-up artist (one that was not specifically associated with any of the brands), and I just told her to use HER favorite products. The products that were GO TOs for her when she was doing her make-up as well as client's make-up.
The experience was AWESOME.
I fell in love with many of the products that she recommended, and 2 years later I'm still using many of them, so they have definitely stood the test of time.
I get questions about my make-up routine every so often, so I thought it would be
fun to re-visit this makeover post....with some updates.
I will highlight the items that I'm currently using in turquoise!
Some of them will be the same products that were recommended during my initial consultation, and some of them are new!
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Now let's be clear.
I am IN NO WAY a make-up expert.
I put on my make-up from start to finish in under 5 minutes, and I like it that way.
Still, I know what products I like, what works for me, and I thought y'all might be interested!
You are going to get some of the "after" pictures in a bit, but right now you are going to get a "before" picture.
Yep, you heard me. I'm about to get real.
Like really REAL.
This is me.
No primer. No powder. No eyeshadow. No lipstick. Not even gloss.
Nothing.
Zilch. Zippo.
No make-up.
Period.
I snapped this pic before walking out the door to head to Northpark. With no make-up.
I feel like I should have earned some sort of Girl Scout badge for that.
Because if you didn't hear me, I went to NORTHPARK. WITH NO MAKE-UP.
Caitlin (the Nordstrom beauty consultant) got right to work!
She started with my eyes, and she said she always starts with eyes.
(Oops. I've always done my eyes last.)
Her reasoning for starting with the eyes? If there are smudges or if eye shadow drops onto the cheeks, you can wipe the area clean and not disturb other freshly applied make-up.
Well, that makes perfect sense Caitlin.
So, let's just jump right into this.
First up, my eyebrows.
I've never used an eyebrow pencil before, and my eyebrows are seriously full, so I don't think I necessarily need one, but I thought the product was very cool and it seemed easy to use. That little brush on the end did a very nice job of blending the color into my eyebrows.
If you read through the reviews, it seems as if it's a lifesaver for people that have very sparse eyebrows. There are even a couple of reviews from people that are cancer survivors that say it's an amazing product, which is obviously a great endorsement!
Also, several reviews mentioned "no sharpening needed", which is also great.
Click HERE for the Trish McEvoy Precision Brow Shaper Pencil.
It has 22 5 STAR Reviews. (Update: Now it has 29 5 star reviews!)
Here's one of them:
Great!!
Perfect color and glides on smoothly. Stays put all day. I like that no sharpening is needed and the other end of pencil is a brow brush. Easy to use and looks natural.
If you look above, the left eyebrow was natural, and the product had been used on the right brow.
I think this is an awesome product, especially for somebody with less full brows.
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This next product was the one that probably surprised me the most!
What was it?
Eye base.
I was like WHAT? What is eye base? Why does anybody need eye base?
Caitlin insisted that it was a must have product, but I didn't "get" it.
But you know me, I heard the words "must have", and I was intrigued! :)
On a regular day I wear eyeshadow, but nothing fancy, and I feel like the eyeshadow does it's job.
And then Caitlin put the eye base on one of my eyes and not the other, AND I GOT IT.
Click HERE for the Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials.
It has 82 5 Star Reviews. (Update: It now has 124 5 Star Reviews.)
Here are 2 of my favorites:
Great as a layer or on its own
I bought this several months ago after a fantastic Nordstrom makeup artist used it on me. The "bare" color works great even though I have pinkish-white skin. I use it instead of eyeshadow for daytime. It helps lock in my eyeliner and also provides coverage of some discoloration I have on the inner corner of my lid. It gives me a brighter, more awake look. I'm hooked!
will never be without!
I bought this at a Trish McEvoy counter for the first time about 3 yrs ago and I have been in love ever since! It evens out the color of your eyelid setting the stage for flawless eyeshadow application and phenomenal staying power!
Okay, so look above and see that the eye base has been applied to the eye on the left....but not to the eye on the right. It evened out my skin, gave it a matte finish, and took out all of the redness.
It provided a perfect foundation for my eyeshadow, but I really do feel like I could have worn it without eyeshadow on top (and Caitlin says that many ladies do).
I'm now a believer in the power of a good eye base, and according to Caitlin (and the reviews) this is one of the best ones out there.
Click HERE for the Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials.
I feel like it's a total bargain at $27.
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All right, eyeshadow time!
I used to use my Bobbi Brown shimmer brick (27/30 5 star reviews) as my eyeshadow, and I loved it. (Sometimes I applied it with an eyeshadow brush, but sometimes when I was in a hurry I applied it with the same brush I use to apply it to my face, exact brush found HERE.)
However, I asked Caitlin to actually do more than just a cream color applied over the entire lid, so she used "wonder" (2nd from left on bottom) over the entire eye, and then applied "whim" (4th from left on bottom) in the crease of my eye in a greater than sign pattern, you know....like this: <.
The colors were all found HERE in the Stilla IN THE MOMENT eyeshadow palette.
And get this, the entire palette is only $39!!!
As you can see, it comes with 10 colors and an eyeliner pencil which makes it a great value!
She used LAURA MERCIER CREME EYELINER on my eyes.
I told her I use the Bobbi Brown product that is similar and that I love it (found HERE), but she used this on me because she said her clients have better luck with this product not drying out.
Click HERE for this eyeliner in Noir.
Bobbi Brown eyeliner brush HERE.
I MUCH PREFER gel or cream eyeliner that's in a tub like this to a pencil or even a liquid liner.
I find it so much easier to apply (it goes on so smoothly), and I feel that it stays put much better. I've been using a product like this for at least 8 years, and I can't imagine ever using anything else.
One tip: make sure you clean off your eyeliner brush (just wipe it clean with a tissue or damp rag) after every application.
If you don't, the brush will become caked with product, and nobody's got time for that. ;)
Okay, so the crossed out part above WAS TRUE when I wrote this post a year ago, but I've since gone back to THIS type of eyeliner (57 5 STAR Reviews). I had a sponsored post for Lancome last year sometime, and their eyeliner changed my mind!
I found I was able to apply it more quickly, and I was just as happy with the results!
You have the eyeliner on one end, and a sponge to help you smudge it on the other.
And Caitlin was so excited to tell me about this next product.
The Napoleon Perdis Eye Dust can be found HERE.
She just used her finger to dab it on the ball of my eyelid.
It acted like a highlighter and just brightened my eyes. It was fun!
To finish out my eyes she used the Lash Power Feathering Mascara by Clinique found HERE.
I am now using THIS mascara (29 5 Star Reviews).
I got this product about 6 months ago as a sample, and it's what I've been using ever since!
I feel like it does a nice job of both separating my lashes and making them look fuller without looking clumpy!
I LOVE my MAC "FALSE LASHES"! And I can't really say that I've ever "loved" a mascara before! Why is mascara you like so hard to find?
And I'd like to say that I've kept up using the eyeshadow that Caitlin recommended, but I've gone back to my old ways.
I simply use THIS shimmer brick with THIS brush.
You can see all Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks HERE.
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Okay, so once she was finished with my eyes, it was time to give some attention to my face.
I have very normal skin. Not too oily, not too dry.
And except on the rare occasion, I tend to not have that many break-outs.
Please, let's all take a moment to knock on some wood after I made that last comment.
Seriously. Knock on wood. Please.
I do have some discoloration (both redness and some brown spots that I've been battling on and off since having Carter). So, although I don't have break-outs, I definitely have skin "issues".
Caitlin used the Napoleon Perdis Pre-Foundation Skin Primer
on me and I loved it!
HOWEVER, when I ran out of it one week and couldn't get to the mall, I started using a sample of THIS Smashbox primer (that I used to use!) that I had received with my mascara sample mentioned above! And I realized that I really did love it just as much, and it was cheaper! WIN!
It has 63 5 Star Reviews.
Best primer ever!
I live in the South, where the humidity is 100% and the temps get above 100 in the summer. This primer has really helped my foundation last in the heat. Normally I walk out the door and I'm oily and shiny within a couple hours. Not with this stuff! It goes on smooth and you can't even feel it's there under your makeup. Love it!
If you've never used a make-up primer, I highly encourage you to give THIS one a try.
It's amazing what a difference it makes as far as the application goes for the other make-up products.
It just creates the perfect palette and it really makes the make-up last.
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After the primer, it was time for tinted moisturizer.
I told her I currently used THIS product from Bobbi Brown, which again, I liked.
But the point of our time together was for her to show me her "BEST OF" products that she loved the most, so we used the NARS.
I'm still 100% DEVOTED TO THIS PRODUCT.
Click HERE for NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer that Caitlin recommended.
My color is Groenland.
(with SPF 30).
59 5 STAR REVIEWS. (Update: It now has 96 5 STAR reviews!)
Best Tinted Moisturizer
This is the best tinted moisturizer I have ever used and I have used many tinted moisturizers/BB creams/CC creams from many well-renowned lines. It is called pure radiant because it somehow makes your face appear bright and glowy without looking sparkly and highlighted. It also smells great because it has their signature orange scent in it. It works great as a sunscreen and provides just the right amount of coverage. I wear it during the day or even when I go out at night!
So, I liked the way this felt and looked so much, that even though I had like 1/3 or so of my bottle left of my other product, I went ahead and bought this.
I can't even put into words why I love it so much, but I do.
When applying, you can apply it with a foundation brush if you'd like, but you can also just apply it with the pads of your fingers. Caitlin recommends warming it up on your finger tips and then applying it on your face beginning in the middle and moving outward. (I have a new way to apply it that you will read about in a second)
I absolutely love how it looks on.
It's sheer, but it covers really well and just evens everything out.
I swear it made my skin look pretty dang near perfect, and I do not have perfect skin.
But if a product can make it look like it is, well then SIGN ME UP!
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After the original post went live, my sister recommended a product to me that I have sense fallen in love with.
THIS pink egg-shaped sponge.
This is how I now apply my NARS tinted moisturizer.
I seriously cannot imagine applying it with my fingers now. And if you try it, I PROMISE you will be hooked as well.
I accidentally left it at the ranch house awhile back, and when I had to apply my make-up without it (like I had done my entire life up), I couldn't stand it!
Not only does the make-up go on so much smoother with this little beauty, but my hands stay much cleaner too!
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After the tinted moisturizer, she applied a bronzer.
Again, I told her what I was currently using, but she wanted me to try her favorite, so I did.
Click HERE for the Napoleon Bronze Patrol Powder.
I still love it!
Only 1 review online:
amaze glow!!!!
I use this all the time for just a little hint of warmth on my face and body. it looks great and goes on without turning orange - very natural. plus look how pretty it is!!!!
I agree with everything the above reviewer said.
I love that it gives me glow and warmth without making me sparkly.
I don't like the glitterly look. No ma'm.
The color is also very natural and not orange-y at all.
Caitlin also used her favorite bronzer brush, which is now my favorite bronzer brush too.
Click HERE for the Bobbi Brown bronzer brush.
A good bronzer brush is very important, and this one is awesome.
When applying, Caitlin started making a circle on the side of my forehead, and then basically drawing a 3 on each side of my face. I hope that makes sense!
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For blush, she used NARS Orgasm blush found HERE.
She said it is the best universal color for everybody!
Seems as if everybody that uses it agrees, because it has 178 5 STAR REVIEWS!
(Update: It now has 261 5 STAR reviews.)
Also, the common theme between all the reviewers is that it not only a beautiful color, but that the formulation makes it long lasting.
doesn't disappoint!
I am a certified makeup junkie! I have every designer makeup except Nars and after reading reviews, I knew i NEEDED to start with Orgasm. It didn't disappoint! it has a light shimmer and looks good on any skin tone. Thanks NARS I will be ordering more colors!
When I asked Caitlin about her favorite make-up brushes, she let me in on a little secret.
Don't tell Nordtrom ;), but she absolutely loves these Real Techniques brushes that can be found at Ulta. Brushes are sooooooo important, but they are also sooooooooooo expensive, so I loved this tip!
I bought the stippling brush for my blush (under $9!), and she was right! I love it so much!
The last thing to take care of was my lips.
Click HERE for the Stila lipstick she used in "Sheri".
It went on smoothly and had a bit of a minty taste that was quite nice!
I'm now faithfully using Fashion Icon from Lancome.
Just like the eyeliner, I tried it during my Lacome post last year, and I became hooked. It's the only lipstick I wear now. I have several lip glosses that I rotate between, but the glosses are always worn over THIS lipstick.
I wanted to show you a picture of my lipstick, because the color looks quite a bit different than the smudge that is supposed to be representing the color on the Nordstrom site.
Remember, the color is FASHION ICON, and it's not at all goth like it appears on the website! :)
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