Nordstrom Beauty | Let’s Talk EYES

This post is sponsored by Nordstrom and ShopStyle. The product selections are my own, and I only highlight and promote pieces that I truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Sheaffer Told Me To!

Happy Monday, y’all! Today’s post is all about BEAUTY! This year I’ve actually signed on to d0 10 stand-alone posts with Nordstrom, all highlighting their huge BEAUTY DEPARMENT. I’m thrilled about this partnership, and I’m being very thoughtful about the beauty topics I’m going to bring you. I also want y’alls input on future posts, so make sure you see what I’m asking at the end of today’s post!

HOW TO USE THIS POST: Before reading this post, I want you to approach it from the perspective of potentially finding 1 or 2 new products to add to your eye makeup routine. Nobody needs all of these new products, but you might need or want a couple of them! See what jumps out to you as something that fills a need you have or something that would be fun to try!

2X POINTS ON BEAUTY ENDS TODAY: This promotion ends today, but if you are a Nordy club member, you can get 2X the points on all of your beauty purchases today. #perfecttiming

We’re focusing in today and we’re talking ALL ABOUT EYES.

Before we get started, I do want to let you know that there are no filters on these pictures. I am sitting in my dining room to get as much natural light as possible (it was raining, dark, and gloomy on this day). I also have my Riki mirror lights on and the mirror is pointed towards my face, but no additional filters are used. I did have to increase the exposure on some of my pictures just to make them lighter and brighter, but it was necessary. When I say it was dark, IT WAS DARK.

I also want to let you know that I’m actually sore from taking these pictures. I know you must be confused, but don’t worry, so was I. The day after taking these pics I woke up and my left thigh felt like I had worked out HARD. It was burning. BUT I OF COURSE HADN’T WORKED OUT. Half-way thru the day I remembered that in order to get my face in the best light and at the right angle, I had my Riki mirror on the dining room table (with my phone magnetized to it) and I was basically kneeling with just my left knee on the chair. So I was kind of in a half-standing/half-sitting position for over an hour as I was taking the pictures and doing these videos. SO YEAH, NOW I’M SORE. Cool, cool.

Speaking of videos, I did take quite a bit of videos as I was doing my makeup, so I will be sharing those on instastories as well!

I’m sharing the below screenshot of my photo roll so you can see how ridiculous the process was. I mean, I probably took 100 pictures before this was all said and done, but there was a huge learning curve on lighting, angles, and the fact that the photos were so freaking close-up. HENCE, my photo roll. It’s okay to laugh, I did when I saw it. I mean, I think we can all agree it’s pretty dang funny! 🙂

OKAY, LET’S TALK EYES!

I use an eye cream that isn’t from Nordstrom, so we are going to jump right in with the Peter Thomas Roth Hydra-Gel Eye Patches. These babies have been made famous in the last couple of years by some big beauty bloggers, but I was first introduced to the patches in April of 2018, and I’ve been using them ever since. When at a conference, one of my friends brought these out for all of us to try. One use, and I was hooked. We all were.

So, how do you use them and what benefits do they have? You use the enclosed spatula to gently lift and separate a patch from the others, and then you apply the patches under your eye to clean and dry skin.

Peter Thomas Roth 24k Gold Lift and Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches

I MEAN. This is what you call #vulnerable.

If you apply with the pointy side up, you will target under eye puffiness and wrinkles. If you apply with the pointy side down (as seen below), you can target your crow’s feet. They feel nice and cool on your skin when you put them on (I’ve heard some even keep them in the fridge), and I leave them on for 10-15 minutes. The caffeine that’s in them helps de-puff the eye area, and the 24K gold will leave your skin appearing firmer, lifted, and brighter!

They are expensive, but I really do notice a marked difference after using them. I don’t use them every day, only when I look extra tired or have extra puffy eyes. Also, I learned on insta that once I’m done using them on my under-eye area, you should flip them up on use them on your upper lids. I mean, the upper lids deserved to be de-puffed too!

Peter Thomas Roth 24k Gold Lift and Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches

This Primer Potion is a product I’ve been using for a couple of years now. It’s very creamy, but it’s not nearly as cakey as some of the other eyeshadow primers I’ve tried, which I appreciate. It will prep your lids for eyeshadow and eyeliner while hydrating the area, blurring imperfections, and smoothing texture. It helps the color you apply later to not crease, and it helps the other products last longer as well.

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion / Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick / Chantecaille Eyeliner / Hourglass Ambient Lighting Face Palette

Now, I’m assuming the presence of this Hourglass Ambient Lighting Face Palette in my LET’S TALK EYES post might make you raise your eyebrows (ha!), and I get it. However, in efforts to streamline my getting ready process in the morning, I’ve been using this palette for blush, highlighting, AND EYESHADOW.

Isn’t the palette GORGEOUS?!? I was sold when I realized it included a blush, a highlighter, and a bronzer. And then when I learned the products are supposed to mimic the effects of ambient lighting, I couldn’t throw it in my cart fast enough. It really does provide soft and beautiful color and highlighting.

The following tips are given for how to use it ON YOUR FACE:  Apply Infinity Powder all over the face. Brush Glistening Bronze Light along the temples, hollows of your cheeks and jawline for enhanced definition, or sweep all over for a sun-kissed, bronzed glow. Apply Vibrant Heat or Luminous Rose to the apples of your cheeks. Apply Supernatural Strobe Light to the high points of your face including the tops of your cheeks, bridge of your nose, brow bone and cupid’s bow.

Now here’s the deal, you’re hearing about it in my LET’S TALK EYES post because I’m using it for my all over eyeshadow color as well.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Face Palette

I use a brush similar to this one when applying the blush, the highlighter, and what I’m using as a neutral eyeshadow from the below palette. It makes it so easy to apply the face color with the large side of the brush, and then just flip it over to the smaller side to apply the eyeshadow. I love how this 1 palette and this 1 brush covers so many different applications!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Face Palette

This Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick is creamy, and the color is super -pigmented and beautiful! I’ve been using it for a couple of years now. I absolutely love how it glides on so easily without leaving a harsh line. I dust a neutral powder (from the palette above) all over my eyelid and arch, and then I apply the creamy stick just to the eyelid. I wear the Dusty Mauve.

The Chantecaille Eyeliner is a new to me product. I used Stila eyeliner for years (the kind with the marker tip), but recently it started to smudge on me throughout the day. When I went looking for a new eyeliner, I simply scrolled the Nordstrom eyeliners and looked for those with high Five-star ratings. This Chantecaille Eyeliner only had 88 reviews, but they were near perfect, and the fact that it is “silk infused” peaked my interest. I chose “slate” and love the color. It’s kind of between a really dark charcoal grey and black. It stays put all day with no smudging, which is just what I was looking for!

Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick / Chantecaille Eyeliner

Please pay no attention to my crazy up-close face in this picture, but I wanted to show my eyes at this stage. Here my eyelids are covered with the Urban Decay Primer Potion applied all over as the base, light shades of the Ambient Lighting Face Palette are applied all over the lid and arch all the way up to the brow, and the Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick is on just the lower lids. Again, I’m wearing “dusty mauve” in the cream shadow stick.

Now listen, when grabbing the link for the cream shadow stick, I learned something. There are some beautiful pics showing this product on several different eyes, and the product is covering more of the eye and is blended out more than mine is, and it actually looks gorgeous blended all the way up to almost the eyebrow. I’m going to have to try that! Click HERE to see it applied to lids in all available colors.

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion / Hourglass Ambient Lighting Face Palette / Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick

Benefit Gimme Brow and Volumizing Gel / Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long Wear Brow Pencil / Anastasia Clear Brow Gel

I’ve mentioned several times how I only recently started filling in my brows, and OH MY WORD at the difference it makes.

WHY DIDN’T ANYBODY TELL ME I NEEDED TO BE FILLING IN MY BROWS?

I have pretty substantial brows, so I thought I was good in the brow department, but I hadn’t realized they had started thinning. #gettingoldsucks

But WOW, filling them in makes such a difference! The tip on one side of this brow pencil allows me to draw on little brush strokes that mimic hairs, and then the little brush on the other side allows me to shape my brows and soften the marks I draw. The formula stays put until I wash my face at night, so don’t worry, you’re not going to ever look up and only have 1/2 an eyebrow. Haha!  I wear Saddle.

Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long Wear Brow Pencil

Full disclosure, I’ve only used this product a handful of times, but I still felt it deserved a place on my “Let’s Talk Eyes” post.  Not only does it have THOUSANDS of 5 Star Review, but my friend Lori uses it and her brows look phenomenal! Lori has GORGEOUS red hair, but her brows are a very light blonde. She said there’s a bit of a learning curve with this product, but I’m telling you that she’s mastered it, because her brows look awesome. Lori uses the 3.5 Medium/Warm Auburn Brown.

I’m still learning how much product I need, and how to most successfully apply the product, but I’m going to keep on learning because I can tell it will be very worth it. I watched the video on the site when grabbing this link and WOWZA! You need to watch the video too. I can hardly wait to master it myself.

Benefit Gimme Brow and Volumizing Gel

This Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel is another product that I can’t live without.  This clear gel does an excellent job of keeping my filled in and brushed brows in place. Please note that the packaging has changed since I bought my last tube, but it’s the same product. It doesn’t flake, it doesn’t make them crunchy (you know what I mean), but it holds them in place beautifully!

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel

There’s a Gift with Purchase with the Lash Idol Mascara that you need to know about! You will receive deluxe samples of Monsieur Big Mascara (0.17 oz.), Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Dark Spot Correcting Cream SPF 30 (0.17 oz.) and Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Dark Circle Correcting Eye Cream (0.1 oz.) with your $75 Lancôme purchase. A $57 value. Online only.

Christian Dior Lash Primer Serum / Lash Idol Mascara

The Christian Dior Lash Primer Serum is a product that I received as a sample several years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. You apply it to your eyelashes before your mascara, and it lengthens your natural lashes.  It keeps lashes separated, prevents clumping, and truly does help your lashes appear longer. It also boosts volume and curl! I wear it every day now and can really tell a huge difference if I forget to apply it. This product is one of my holy grail products for sure.

Christian Dior Lash Primer Serum

Ladies.

I’ve only been using this mascara for about 3 weeks, BUT I’M A FAN. I actually ordered it specifically for this post. You see, I didn’t have a mascara I loved, and I felt like I needed a mascara I loved for a “Let’s Talk Eyes” post. I do what I always do, and I scanned the site for mascaras with tons of 5 Star Reviews.

WELL, this mascara has 10,700 reviews, and 75% of them are 5 STARS. I’m not the only who is a fan.

The curved brush pushes up and fans out my lashes, and it boosts volume, length and curl.

Lash Idol Mascara

So here’s one eyebrow and eye totally done, and the other eye is untouched.

I’m by no means a makeup expert, but I’ve found a super easy to apply combination of products that works for me! Also, I recently ordered this Kevin Aucoin eyelash curler. It’s got great reviews, and it’s been brought to my attention that I need to start curling my lashes, so I’m going to start. I’ve always felt like my eyelashes had enough natural curl, but the goal needs to be that they curl up against my eyelids more so that the eyelid will act as a background to help the eyelashes to pop! I’ll keep you posted. I hope to have an updated picture WITH CURLED LASHES by Friday’s post.

Now, I’m about to employ the whole “Do as I say, not as I do” style of teaching.

I’ve had the lash serum for years now, but I do a terrible job of applying it consistently. I’m not sure why, because my sister uses it and her results are incredible. And it’s SO EASY to use! It literally takes like 10 seconds max. The neuLASH Lash Enhancing Serum is a $190 value, and this boxed set is a special price of $95!

I just purchased the neuBROW Brown Enhancing Serum because as I mentioned before, my brows have started thinning. Heaven knows I need it, and I’m excited to see results.

I am going to pledge to y’all right here and now that I’m going to start using both products consistently. I’m hoping that I can share great results and some awesome before and after pictures in a future post!

neuLASH Lash Enhancing Serum / neuBROW Brown Enhancing Serum

Now remember, if you head to insastories, at some point today I’ll be loading videos of me applying the makeup. You’ll get a really good idea for the differences the products make because you will see one eye with products and one eye without.

Again, I’m not an expert by any means, but I’ve found products I love and believe in!

AND I LOVE SHARING PRODUCTS WITH Y ‘ALL!

After all, that’s what this blog is all about. It’s what my “about me” page says and everything. Quite simply, I’m passionate about sharing things I love with others! It’s easy to talk about items when you love them.

OTHER PRODUCTS ON MY FACE IN TODAY’S POST

These are items that I will talk about it future posts, but I will simply list them out here:

• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream is my go-to daily moisturizer and has been for years.
• I combine Supergoop Glow Screen with CC Cream for my fall, winter, and early spring foundation combo. (I prefer coverage that’s a bit more sheer in summer, so I will share how I mix up the combo for summer as that season approaches.)
• I’m wearing a MAC lipstick that I purchased in a holiday set last year, but I’m also wearing this Anastasia diamond gloss. It’s awesome.

CLINIQUE GIFT WITH PURCHASE

And since this is a beauty post, I wanted to make sure to mention the Clinique GIFT WITH PURCHASE that’s going on right now! With just a $35 purchase, you can get this adorable bag full of these awesome products! It’s a $112 value! Click HERE to shop all things Clinique.

I WOULD LOVE YOUR INPUT! 

I mentioned at the beginning of today’s post that I have 9 more BEAUTY POSTS this year with Nordstrom! I have some ideas jotted down, but I would like y’alls input as well! Some of the posts will simply be me trying new beauty products and reviewing those. Some will be me focusing on a particular part of the face (similar to today’s post), but the topic might be “Let’s Talk Foundation” or “Let’s Talk Lips”. I also have a SUMMER SKIN post planned where I will discuss bronzers, self-tanners, and sunscreen. And I’ll of course be covering beauty events that are scheduled at Nordstrom.

But I would love to know what else y’all would like to see! PLEASE SOUND OFF IN THE COMMENTS!

It can be a topic, or you can leave a comment with a particular product you would like me to review. OR you can even leave one of your favorite Nordstrom beauty products in the comments that you think I need to try and potentially share on the blog! For example, you might have noticed I didn’t highlight an under-eye concealer, and it’s because I’ve never found one that works for me. If you have one you love, leave it in the comments! I’m really interested in receiving some input from y’all, so to encourage you to take the time to leave a comment, I’ll pick a handful of commenters to receive a little something from me. The “winners” will be announced on this Friday’s post!

A huge THANK YOU to Nordstrom and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post.

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