Article produced in partnership with Nordstrom.
The start of the new year brings around a fair amount of cleaning and reassessing. And while you might have already started tackling junk drawers and closets, it’s safe to say that your makeup bag deserves a look too. Maybe you need to swap, update, or add on; in any case, we’ve come through with a list of the best Nordstrom makeup products you can lean on.
The American retailer has become a staple as a one-stop shop, catering to a vast array of beauty and fashion needs at price points and products that appeal to those at any stage in life. It doesn’t hurt that Nordstrom’s online portal and service has made shopping all the easier and more pleasant – buy online or pick up in-store, free shipping and returns on any order (no minimum order!).
Featuring extensive reviews, inclusive sizing, a plethora of brands to choose from for yourself or as a customizable gift, Nordstrom has become our favorite online shopping destination, whether it’s about buying a designer piece of clothing, makeup or anything in between. We’ve scoured through and whittled down to the 11 makeup essentials to buy from Nordstrom.
From a makeup primer and foundation to an eye pencil and eyeshadow, this list has you covered with a roundup of the top Nordstrom beauty products to purchase for a full look.
1. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup
A 56-shade makeup line featuring cool/ rosy, neutral, and warm/ golden undertones, this is the best foundation from Nordstrom that includes shades named Alabaster, Warm Vanilla, Cashew, Rich Ginger, and Espresso. Due to its eclectic collection of shades and versatility, this Nordstrom makeup product has won Allure magazine’s ‘Best of Beauty’ Award for the Best Longwear Foundation.
Each foundation in this line offers 24-hour wear with a buildable formula for medium to full coverage. Double Wear is oil-free, oil-controlling, and waterproof. To use, apply it on to your fingertips, a beauty sponge or a makeup brush, smooth over the skin, and then begin blending from the middle of the face outward.
With over 4,300 reviews, it holds a 96% positive rating on Nordstrom. Reviewers are happy with this foundation’s easy application and smooth consistency, the diverse shade range, and labeled it good for acne-prone skin, too. Those with dry skin types, however, have noted that the formula accentuates dryness. Find it on Nordstrom!
2. MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick
If you’re a lover of matte lipsticks, then MAC’s line offers enough shades – over 40! – to keep your lips tinted year-round. Featuring multiple hues across reds, purples, pinks, and more, the formula finishes in a pigment-rich look with a definite color payoff. Use a lip brush when applying for more precision and throw in some lip pencil for an even more defined look.
Overall, the reviews of this Nordstrom makeup favorite are 3,200+ strong with the lipstick’s long-wear capabilities, lack of dryness, and color collection highlighted. As for true-to-picture shades, there’s a mix of reviews on how the final result appears on the lips.
Hot tip: if you return six MAC primary packaging containers to a MAC counter, you receive a free MAC lipstick of your choice as part of their Back-to-MAC recycling program. Buy your favorite matte lipstick from Nordstrom!
3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Mechanical Brow Pencil
Equipped with a spoolie at one end and an eyebrow pencil at the other, this Nordstrom beauty product comes in 10 shades to match every skin tone and undertone. Use it to shape, define, and fill in your eyebrows – short strokes and a gentle touch are the way to go during application. Afterward, blend with the brush for an even look.
Reviewers have highlighted its pigmentation and long wear, but some have noted that the packaging isn’t as durable as expected for the price point. Find this on Nordstrom!
4. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Available in the shades Medium Deep and Translucent, this setting powder is of a silky, sheer feel. It’s great for normal to oily skin types and is supposed to leave behind a matte finish with just the lightest touch of sheer.
To apply, press your powder puff (not included) and then work it in by either tapping or rubbing the two halves of the puff together. Gently press into your skin with a rolling motion, after which you can apply any other formula on top.
It’s a widely-used Nordstrom makeup product with near 8,000 reviews on the platform. Users say it’s light on the skin, doesn’t feel cakey, and can easily pass off as natural. Those with dry skin, however, have reported cakiness. Find it on Nordstrom!
5. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
Creamy and waterproof, this Urban Decay eye pencil comes in 31 shades with quite curious names – Bourbon, Corrupt, Chaos, Freak, LSD – which do little to hint at the shades but pull a person in. Expect the standard eye pencil colors in this collection like black, blue, and brown along with peach, white, gold, and teal.
The formula is paraben-free and also contains jojoba oil, vitamin E, and cottonseed oil, which are great for moisturizing. A few reviewers have mentioned the pigment not showing up well on their waterline, but largely, most users have noticed good payoff with a long-wear and smooth formula. Grab it from Nordstrom!
6. Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Volume Mascara
This Nordstrom beauty product is a full volumizing mascara that comes in an easy-grip tube and cap, the latter of which ends in an S-shape curved brush optimal for volumizing. The curve helps accommodate the natural curl of the lashes and leaves a full-bodied, fanned-out finish. To apply, use the concave side (U-shaped) and move from root to tip with some wiggling. To fan out, flip over to the convex side.
Overall, reviewers are happy with the formula in consideration of its intensity but have noted some clumping and flaking. Out of 1,443 reviews, it features 1,304 positive ratings. You can find this mascara on Nordstrom.
7. NARS Blush
This 25-shade strong collection of cult-favorite blush features a variety of pink and nude hues with a few yellows, reds, and purples thrown in. The formula is designed for all skin types and is soft and buildable.
To apply, grab a blush brush and sweep across the tops of your cheeks before moving to the hairline, nose, and chin. For a deeper look, apply a little shimmer to the tops of the cheeks and a matte formula to the hollow side.
This Nordstrom makeup product hasn’t been as reviewed as some of the other products on this list, but from its 1,095 reviews, 1,032 are four and five stars. The feature lauded most has been the color pigmentation, but the quality of packaging and longevity have some concerns raised about them. Get this NARS blush from Nordstrom!
8. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color
Offering 14 shades, this Laura Mercier product is a stick eyeshadow designed to leave a better-than-traditional smokey eye look behind. The formula is said to be creamy, long-wearing, and crease- and transfer-free. To apply, simply swipe over the lash line and then blend in with a brush or fingertips. Cover the whole eyelid for a more intense look.
This Nordstrom makeup product holds 2,328 reviews with over 2,000 leaning towards positive. It’s highlighted for its quick smokey eye application, variety of shades, and good texture. The packaging may fall a tad short though as a choice, as a few have reported the formula stick separating from the tube. Find it on Nordstrom!
9. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick SPF 25
Packed in a sleek, sliding tube, this foundation stick comes in 17 different shades ranging from Birch to Wheat. It is water-based, and the formula offers SPF and hydrating capabilities alongside medium coverage. It’s also paraben-free, phthalate-free, fragrance-free, talc-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free – vegan. The formula is also an Allure Best of Beauty award-winner for the Best Medium Coverage Foundation in 2019.
To apply, start from the center of the forehead and move down to the nose and then the chin. One swipe across the cheekbones and under the eyes, too. For more coverage, add in 2-3 more swipes. Depending on the degree of coverage desired, start with blending with your fingertips and work your way up to a brush and then a silicone blender. If you’re looking to contour, grab a shade that’s a few tones darker than your skin tone.
There are over 2,000 reviews on this Nordstrom makeup product, and while the bottom line is that it works well as a medium-coverage foundation, some users have noted breaking out, while others are fine. A few reviews also mentioned the foundation doesn’t last long. You can find this on Nordstrom.
10. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
This Nordstrom makeup item is a vegan, transparent gel primer designed to smooth the skin (all types!) and improve the longevity of an overall makeup look. It’s comprised of a lightweight, oil-free formula and also includes vitamins A and E. A study conducted against a pool of 103 women found 93% reporting smoother skin and 91% citing minimized pores and wrinkles.
For application, simply smooth over clean, moisturized skin and let the product sit for 15 seconds before adding makeup. It can also be used atop of makeup for any quick touch-ups. The product is also recommended to use sparingly on the hair to tackle frizziness.
Reviewers were keen to highlight that the formula is soft, smooth, oil-resistant, and even keeps the sweat shine away when worn while exercising. On the other end, a few have noted different reactions to their skin, with some highlighting dryness and others greasiness. Buy it from Nordstrom!
11. Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
Developed for all skin types, this makeup setting spray keeps your makeup intact for up to 16 hours without change due to the brand’s patented Temperature Control Technology – cools down the makeup to preserve it. The formula is oil-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free. It’s also an Allure Best of Beauty 2019 award-winner for the Best Setting Spray.
To apply, shake the bottle, hold it about 8-10 inches from the face, close the eyes, and spritz a few times in an X and then T formation. After applying makeup, of course! You can also wet your makeup brushes with the spray before dipping it into your cosmetics for an added intensity.
Aside from users wishing for a nozzle that sprays more evenly across the face (thus the importance of the X and T formation!) and one person noting an odd scent, reviewers are quite taken with this Nordstrom makeup product.
One unfortunate user recalled getting in a car accident, but her makeup remained intact throughout her hospital trip because of this setting spray. Others have tested it out in the humidity, and while it doesn’t fare all day long, it keeps the makeup on longer than usual. Buy this from Nordstrom!
Photos via Nordstrom
