I'm Nordstrom's Beauty Director—Every Makeup Bag Should Have These Products

Just picture it: an illustrious position in the beauty industry where you get to not only try out and curate the latest and the greatest beauty products but help discover and elevate fresh beauty brands as well. Sounds like a dream for the makeup, skincare, and haircare obsessed, no? That’s the exciting reality for many beauty directors across the world. So naturally, when we got the chance to chat with Nordstrom’s national beauty director, Autumne West, we made it our mission to find out what staples she swears by.

Having been at Nordstrom for 17 years, the industry veteran has had the time to fine-tune her makeup routine and kindly divulged the many products she reaches for time and again from Nordys. Get ready to take notes on what to add to your cart, such as the best mascara for volume, lift, and length and handy multiuse blushes that make getting ready a cinch. Ahead, shop 12 beauty products that West vouches for—we can’t wait to try every last suggestion.

"In my opinion, every makeup bag should have these staples regardless of your favorite brand. The most exciting part about beauty is that you can mix and match products that are right for you. Here are some of my suggestions, but I always recommend going into a store to explore and sample items to find your best match. At Nordstrom, we have our team of expertly trained beauty stylists, who can make the process easy and seamless."

Primer

"Primer is a must for layering face powder or foundations. It allows your makeup to be longer-lasting while simultaneously letting you apply a little less. A good primer can also smooth out skin to slightly filter the look of pores or fine lines, and a great primer is one you can wear as is for a 'no-makeup' makeup look. You will find the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Blur Face Primer in my makeup bag."

Brows

"For brows, you'll want something to fill and set your product. Whether you prefer a pencil or powder, filling brows is the fastest way to enhance your eyes and overall face structure with minimal effort. Of course, you will want to set the product so it lasts, so I suggest Westman Atelier Bonne Brow Defining Pencil with Anastasia's Brow Freeze—trust me with this combo!"

Lipstick/Gloss

"You'll always find a great nude in my makeup bag, and right now, I am loving Ctzn Cosmetics Nudiversal Lip Duo. This brand has a nude for every skin tone. It is also a two-for-one with lipstick on one side and gloss on the other. Wear them separately or the gloss on top of the lipstick. I like the shades London and Lahore."

Concealer

"For a full-coverage yet buildable concealer, I suggest either Double Wear Stay-in-Place Liquid Makeup Foundation or Bobbi Brown Skin Full Coverage Concealer. Both can be applied lightly or layered to your preference."

Cheeks

"A multiuse blush product that can be used on cheeks, lips, or even eyes in a pinch is a must in my makeup bag, especially when I travel. I currently have the Charlotte Tilbury Lip & Cheek Glow Cream Blush & Lip Tint and the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in my makeup bag."

Bronzer

"Matte bronzer is key to warm up skin, contour, as well as add to the crease of your eyes for finished look. The Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzing Powder is my go-to for my beauty look."

Mascara

"If all you do is brows and mascara, then you're set for a minimalist beauty look! I like to have mascara options. For volume, lift, and length, I'll go for Lancôme Lash Idole Volumizing Mascara. If I'm feeling like I need a little extra drama, I'll use either the Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara or MAC MAC Stack Mascara."

More Nordstrom Picks to Shop Now

Next up: I'm Prioritizing Wellness This Year—I'm Ordering These 30 Nordstrom Items ASAP