Every New York Fashion Week, Nordstrom goes backstage to assess the biggest beauty trends and then brings this intel direct to their customers. For the Spring 2018 season, they’ve identified trends such as Luminous Skin and Hi-Definition Lips.
Guests can learn how to achieve the freshest runway-inspired looks of the season and get free samples and exclusive gifts with your purchases (while supplies last). Receive one-on-one time with Nordstrom beauty experts, tips tricks to nail the newest trends and receive beauty buzz intel from industry insiders — and it’s free to attend!
Customers can simply RSVP online or ask for special accommodations by calling or stopping by their favorite cosmetics or skincare counter, located within Nordstrom.
If you have yet to become acquainted with Catrice Cosmetics, I highly recommend trying their products (that can be found exclusively at Ulta). Their high quality products boast divine textures, wonderful pigmentation and they are a treat to use. The added surprise is to get all of the aforementioned attributes at such an affordable price point.
Catrice Cosmetics Camouflage Cream Anti-Shadow ($5.99 for 0.1 oz. from Ulta): This ultra-creamy Camouflage Cream is a matte shade of yellow that is specifically formulated to conceal under eye dark shadows along with any other imperfections. I apply a tiny bit over my eye cream, and it blends to perfection without any drying, flaking or creasing.
According to Catrice Cosmetics,
Color Correcting Genius! The Catrice Camouflage Cream "Anti-Shadow" is a creamy, matte shade of yellow that is specially designed to camouflage under eye dark shadows and conceal other skin imperfections. The perfectly blendable, high coverage texture applies evenly to the skin to create a flawless, even looking complexion.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Talc, Isopropyl Myristate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Petrolatum, Silica, Paraffin, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Ozokerite, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopherol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Allantoin, PEG-8, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, BHT, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide). Paraben Free. Not tested on animals.
Catrice Cosmetics Camouflage Cream Anti-Red ($5.99 for 0.1 oz. from Ulta): While applying a green concealer cream to red areas may seem counterintuitive, it actually neutralizes redness without making you look like Kermit the Frog. The creamy texture melts into the skin, is highly blendable, and it evens out skin tone to perfection.
According to Catrice Cosmetics,
Color Correcting Genius! The Catrice Camouflage Cream "Anti-Red" is a creamy, matte shade of green that is specially designed to camouflage blemishes and neutralize redness. The perfectly blendable, high coverage texture applies evenly to the skin to create a flawless, even looking complexion.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Talc, Isopropyl Myristate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Petrolatum, Silica, Paraffin, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Ozokerite, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Alumina, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopherol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Allantoin, PEG-8, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, BHT, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide). Paraben Free. Not tested on animals.
Catrice Cosmetics Camouflage Cream Wake Up Effect ($5.99 for 0.1 oz. from Ulta): Wake Up Effect has a slight pink hue that not only conceals serious under eye dark circles, but it also brightens the skin leaving tired eyes looking fresh and revitalized. I use this one as an under eye concealer, and when I don't get enough sleep, it is the one that I reach for!
According to Catrice Cosmetics,
Color Correcting Genius! The Catrice Camouflage Cream "Wake Up Effect" is a creamy, matte shade of pink that is specially designed to hide under eye dark circles and provide a fresh, bright-eyed look. The perfectly blendable, high coverage texture applies evenly to the skin to create a flawless, even looking complexion.
Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Talc, Isopropyl Myristate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Petrolatum, Silica, Paraffin, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Ozokerite, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Tocopherol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Allantoin, PEG-8, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Bht, Alumina, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, CI 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide). Paraben Free. Not tested on animals.
Left to Right: Camouflage Cream Anti-Shadow, Camouflage Cream Anti-Red and Camouflage Cream Wake Up Effect.
Catrice Cosmetics Prime & Fine Contouring Duo Stick in Lighter Skin 010 ($7.99 for 0.11 oz. from Ulta): This dual-ended contouring stick features a dark contour shade on one end and a luminous highlighter on the other. The dark shade in Lighter Skin 010 blends out to be an appropriate shade for lighter skin tones, and the light pink highlighter offers the perfect amount of luminosity without overdoing it. Both sides boast a creamy texture, and they blend out to perfection without tugging or pulling the skin.
According to Catrice Cosmetics,
Effortlessly Enhance Your Best Features! The Catrice Prime & Fine Contouring Duo Stick is a portable, easy-to-use, double-ended contour and highlight wand that creates a natural, yet sculpted look. Enriched with Vitamin E and Argan Oil, the smooth and creamy texture glides onto the skin seamlessly and blends with ease. Use the darker, matte shade to define, and the lighter shade, with luxury pearls, to set highlights.
Directions: Apply the darker shade below the cheekbones, along the hairline, the sides of the nose and beneath the jawline. Apply the lighter shade on the brow bones, inner corner of the eyes, center of the nose and above the cheekbones.
Ingredients Shade 1: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Paraffin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).Paraben Free. Not tested on animals.
Catrice Cosmetics Contouring Duo Stick in Medium Skin 020 ($7.99 for 0.11 oz. from Ulta): This dual-ended contouring stick features a dark contour shade on one end and a luminous highlighter on the other. The dark shade in Medium Skin 020 blends out to be an appropriate shade for medium skin tones, and the light golden highlighter offers the perfect amount of luminosity without overdoing it. Both sides boast a creamy texture, and they blend out to perfection without tugging or pulling the skin.
According to Catrice Cosmetics,
Effortlessly Enhance Your Best Features! The Catrice Prime & Fine Contouring Duo Stick is a portable, easy-to-use, double-ended contour and highlight wand that creates a natural, yet sculpted look. Enriched with Vitamin E and Argan Oil, the smooth and creamy texture glides onto the skin seamlessly and blends with ease. Use the darker, matte shade to define, and the lighter shade, with luxury pearls, to set highlights.
Directions: Apply the darker shade below the cheekbones, along the hairline, the sides of the nose and beneath the jawline. Apply the lighter shade on the brow bones, inner corner of the eyes, center of the nose and above the cheekbones.
Ingredients Shade 1: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Paraffin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide). Paraben Free. Not tested on animals.
Ingredients Shade 2: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Paraffin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Tin Oxide, Glycerin, Alumina, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).
Left to Right: Prime & Fine Contouring Duo Stick in Lighter Skin 010, Contouring Duo Stick in Medium Skin 020, Camouflage Cream Anti-Red, Camouflage Cream Wake Up Effect and Camouflage Cream Anti-Shadow.
Overall Assessment: It is definitely worth trying Catrice Cosmetics, and if you have any concealing, contouring or highlighting needs, then these products featured are worthy of your attention. Their high quality is such a wonderful surprise at this affordable price point.
Makeup Revolution USA makes a wonderful array of affordable products with easy-to-work with formulas. If you are a fan of cream blushes, their The One Blush Sticks is worth your consideration. In fact, this range includes a highlighter and contour cream as well.
Left to Right: Matte Rush, Matte Malibu, Contour and Highlight
The finest blusher in a stick is now available in 2 bold, matte shades. Use strong and vibrant, or sheer with this creamy, long wear blush that provides buildable coverage in just a few swipes. Designed for multiple use across cheeks and lips, each stick can be applied dry for hi-intensity color or applied wet for a smooth, sheer finish.
Tips & Tricks: Swipe the One Blush Stick from the center of your cheek to your temple. Using the tips of your fingers in circular motion, gently blend product.
Apply directly to the cheeks and then blend with fingertips, or use a complexion sponge for a flawless finish.
Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ozokerite, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 44491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850:1), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Carmine (CI 75470).
Makeup Revolution USA One Sculpt Contour Stick ($9.00 from Ulta): Whether you seek a light, barely-there contour, or you prefer a more pronounced contoured effect, this Contour Stick offers easy application and flawless buildable coverage.
According to Makeup Revolution USA,
The One Sculpt Contour Stick is a matte cream contour stick with high impact color for effortless sculpting and contouring. Use dry for a high intensity color finish or use wet for a smooth sheer finish.
Tips & Tricks: Apply the One Contour Stick down the sides of your nose and blend; under the cheek bone and/or the jawbone. Blend evenly with a contour brush for a flawless illusion.
Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ozokerite, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).
Makeup Revolution USA One Sculpt Highlight Stick ($9.00 from Ulta): This is one of my favorite highlighters these days because it is so easy to apply with fingertips, and it offers the most beautiful ethereal glow. While it offers buildable coverage, I prefer to use it sparingly for a more natural glow.
According to Makeup Revolution USA,
The One Sculpt Highlight Stick has a creamy, shimmery finish that highlights with ease. To highlight features and create a natural glow, use across the top of each cheekbone, down the bridge of the nose, in the middle of your forehead and in the center of your chin.
Tips & Tricks: Use the One Stick along tops of cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, center of the forehead, chin & under the eyebrow. The key is blending to give a soft natural glow.
Rimmel London Kate Sculpting Palette in Coral Glow is Rimmel's first sculpting and highlighting kit that was designed by Kate Moss. It features long-lasting color, finely milled textures, and lovely pigmentation. Each of the powders–a blush, a highlighter and a contour– blend effortlessly, are buildable, deposit color evenly, and are absolutely beautiful. It sculpts, defines and illuminates the skin and does so in a flattering and natural appearing way.
The blush is a lovely shade of coral, the contour is a warm golden browned the highlighter is a luminescent golden ivory.
Directions:
Soft Shimmer Powder to Highlight: Apply to cheek bone, brow bone, center of the chin, top of the nose. Matte Shading Powder to Contour: Apply to nose, jaw line, forehead. Powder Blush: Apply for Definition and Colour.
Ingredients: Talc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, [May Contain/+/-: Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), D&C Red No. 30 Aluminum Lake (Ci 73360), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), FD&C Yellow No. 5 Aluminum Lake (Ci 19140), Carmine (Ci 75470), D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (Ci 15850)].
Overall Assessment: Such a pretty palette, and you just can't beat the price.
PÜR Minerals is a fantastic eco-friendly line that uses healthy and responsibly sourced ingredients in their makeup and skincare products that you can feel good about putting on your skin. Their vitamin, mineral and antioxidant-rich formulas nourish the skin while making it look and feel beautiful.
Pür Minerals Cameo Contour Stick is a dual-ended contour and highlighter stick that comes with its own Contour Blending Sponge, and it is available in 5 shades.
Cream-based contour sticks take a lot of the guesswork out of contouring and highlighting, and they don't have the steep learning-curve that is often associated with contour powders. You can simply swipe the contour stick along the planes of the face that you seek to contour and highlight and use the sponge to blend to perfection.
The Contour Blending Sponge has a very practical angled surface that makes it very easy to navigate everything from the largest to the smallest areas of the face with great ease.
The contour sticks boast a thick and creamy consistency that spread and blend easily, but be advised that the formula is quite concentrated therefore apply a small amount and add more, if needed. The circumference of the stick, itself, is a touch wide to use directly on the smaller parts of the face, and I recommend applying the contour cream to those areas with your fingers and then blending with the sponge.
According to PÜR Minerals,
Meet the final word in flawless contouring. PÜR's dual-ended contour stick adds closeup-worthy depth and dimension to your natural features with a creamy formula that sets to a picture-perfect powder finish. With use of natural, light-reflective ingredients that resemble microspheres, this 2-in-1 complexion innovation emphasizes your face’s natural highlights and shadows while simultaneously blurring the look of imperfections, such as dark spots and fine lines. As you apply and blend one or both shades with the Contour Blending Sponge, your skin also absorbs in the skin-perfecting benefits of PÜR’s own Ceretin® Complex—a proprietary blend of hydrating ceramides and age-defying vitamin A!
Left to Right: Light, Medium, Tan, Dark and Deep
Skin Tone Shade Descriptions:
Light: Porcelain & Light 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup; fair to fair with creamy ivory undertones.
Medium: Blush Medium & Golden Medium 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup; medium beige with blush to golden undertones.
Tan: Light Tan, Tan, & Medium Tan 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup; olive with yellow, honey and caramel undertones.
Dark: Medium Dark & Golden Dark 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup; rich bronze with golden undertones.
Deep: Deep & Deeper 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup; warm with golden amber undertones.
For my particular skin-tone, I can use either the light or medium shades rather interchangeably, but during the warmer months I will likely gravitate toward the medium shade.
Diagram:
Directions: Apply the lighter shade to areas where light naturally hits your face (such as your cheekbones, brow bone, nose and chin) and the darker shade where shadows naturally occur (such as the hollow of your cheeks and beneath the brow bone). Use the ergonomic contour blending brush for flawless sculpting - even in hard-to-reach areas.
Step 1: Highlight
Center of the forehead
Under brow bone
Down the bridge of the nose
Under eye
Center of chin
Step 2: Contour
Around forehead hairline
Sides of nose
Under cheekbone
Under jawline
PÜR Tips: To get the most natural cheek bones, purse your lips to locate your natural hollow area beneath the cheekbone and apply contour shade. Apply primer then foundation prior to performing contour technique.
Key Ingredients:
Light-Reflective Microspheres: Spotlight the skin's natural highlights while blurring the look of imperfections like dark spots and fine lines.
Ceretin Complex: Nourish a more youthful radiance with a proprietary blend of mega-moisturizing ceramides and gently renewing Vitamin A.
Sodium Hyaluronate: Draws moisture to the skin's surface for a naturally plumper, smoother and softer look and feel. Ingredients: Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Silica, Polyethylene, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Isopropyl Isostearate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, C10-18 Triglycerides, Squalane, Copernica Cerafera (Carnauba) Wax, Ceramide Ap, Retinol, Lactic Acid (L), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI77492, CI77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Oil-Free Petrolatum-Free. PÜR does NOT test its products on animals.
Overall Assessment: If you are interested in fuss-free contouring, then the PÜR Cameo Contour Stick and Contour Blending Sponge is a perfect choice.
$39.50 for .05 oz. from PÜR Minerals and Ulta (Affiliate Links).
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
With the tricks of the trade becoming mainstream, it isn't surprising that contour palettes have gained considerable traction recently. Every makeup artist carries them in their kits, and now makeup enthusiasts flock to add them to their daily routines because the benefits are many. They provide a convenient selection of products to create chiseled features and the ability to direct the way that light dances on the high points of the architecture of the face. A good contour palette creates the perfect chiaroscuro effect that produces the effect of light and shadow modeling where it either does not exist, or where it needs to be further accentuated and enhanced.
Susan Thompson, a professional celebrity makeup-artist in Los Angeles, added an amazing contour palette to her eponymously named makeup line, and the quality is breathtaking. Susan Thompson Contour Palette 6-Well features 3 powder highlighter shades, 2 powder contour shades and one powder bronzer shade. All six are ultra-finely milled, boast the creamiest consistency, and effortlessly glide across the skin. They neither settle into fine lines, nor do they accentuate pores.
The compact itself is huge and features a very generous amount of product.
The mirror on the inside of the lid, unlike many compact mirrors, is very large and easy to use.
Top Row Highlighters (Left to Right): beige neutral (Matte), creamy yellow (Matte) and beige (Semi-Matte).
Bottom Row Contours (Left to Right): Sun-kissed warm mid-tone brown (Matte), cooler leaning mid-tone taupe brown (Matte) and mid-tone neutral bronze (Bronze).
STEP ONE- CONTOUR: Depending on skin tone, begin with contour shades 4 or 5. Apply contour shade to sides of nose, jawline and underneath cheekbones.
STEP TWO - BRONZE: Follow with contour shade 6. Apply to nose, cheeks, chin and forehead to add warmth to complexion.
STEP THREE - HI-LITE: Depending on skin tone, use hi-liter shade 1, 2 or 3. Apply to bridge of nose, cupids bow, above lip, above cheekbones and brows.
The darker shades for shading and defining while the lighter shades for sculpting and enhancing features.
Susan Thompson Cosmetics products are: Paraben Free, Hypo-Allergenic, Allergy Tested, Non-Comedogenic, Fragrance Free, and are Not Tested on Animals.
Ingredients: Talc, Mica, Boron Nitride, Zinc Stearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid. May contain (+/-): CI 77891, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 15850:2, CI 15850:1, CI 45410:2, CI 42090:2, CI 19140, CI 15985:1, CI 77163, CI 77288, CI 77289, CI 77510, CI 77742, CI 77007, CI 77861, CI 77400, CI 77000.
Overall Assessment: This is a fantastic high quality contour palette, and really the only one that I need! Absolute A+ product!
