I'm doing my best to budget at the moment, which in all honestly is easier said than done. New York City living is not cheap, my friends, but that's all the more reason to be mindful with my purchases and invest in things to are actually worth my cold hard cash. It's also why I'm a champion sales shopper because who should pay full price for anything right now? The answer: no one. So with the arrival of the 2025 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I'm basically a human heart eye emoji scrolling through all of the beauty products in order to restock my supply—and try some new skin, hair, fragrance, and makeup formulas, of course.
Want to shop the Nordstrom sale like a beauty editor? Keep scrolling for the 31 items that have received my (extremely discerning) stamp of approval.
Best Skincare Deals
The Marie Claire Prix Award winning product is a cult-favorite already, and for good reason. The potent serum supports collagen restoration via three types of biocompatible micro-collagen peptides, leaving you with smoother, firmer, more radiant skin. Picking up two at the same time is a good idea because you'll want to use this day and night.
This is hands-down the best face mist for calming irritation and nourishing parched skin. I traveled all the way to Budapest to experience this brand right from the source and I can attest, the founders know their stuff when it comes to skin health. I have a bottle of this on my desk at all times.
La Prairie is the epitome of luxury skincare, hands down. This cream is such luscious and velvety, and it leaves your skin feeling similarly expensive. If you want make it to one of the brand's luxe spas for a facial, a morning face massage with this moisturizer will be a very close second.
I kid you not, I've used this serum since I was 23—I'm that obsessed with it as my go-to nighttime repair formula. There are few other things that soft fine lines, nourish, and hydrate all while you sleep so that you wake up looking impossibly luminous. The jumbo bottle is the way to go, as well. I promise you'll struggle to not slather this all over your chest, neck, and back as well (which you absolutely should).
Sale season is the ideal time to finally snag that skincare tool you've been eyeing, and a LED mask is definitely a must. I use mine five days a week to battle hyperpigmentation, boost collagen production, and minimize breakouts. Be patient with yourself (results take time) and after a few months your skin will be looking absolutely breathtaking.
A curious phenomenon happens to me in the summer—my skin can still feel dry and peel (especially when I'm using a retinoid at night) but a too-thick moisturizer will clog my pores and leave me feeling even more greasy than I am in sweltering temps. It's why I was so grateful to finally try this cult-favorite gel moisturizer, which contains a botanical blend of ingredients to strengthen the skin barrier and lock in hydration without the weight of a cream.
Another mask that's worth your time and attention! Sheet masks are the quintessential self-care day staple, and truly, nine times out of ten, I reach for a 111SKIN mask from my collection to rehydrated my skin, soothe irritation, banish dullness—you take your pick from the pack.
This is the body lotion to which I hold all other formulas on the market. It's just... perfect. My skin is left soothed and hydrated, the cream sinks into the skin quickly, there's no overwhelming scent. I can find no flaws basically, which is why I stock up on at least two bottles, if not more, every time it goes on sale.
My skin absolutely devours La Mer's signature concentrate serum. I slather this on when my skin is particularly stressed (read: I drank too many glasses of wine at dinner) and it gets to work plumping, smoothing, and enhancing my glow immediately. The baby bottle in this set is ideal to take my must-have formula with me when I travel.
The rumors are true—the rich cream really is that good. I hoard these bottles in my bathroom cabinet for fear that I'll ever run out. The texture is to-die-for and it seriously erases any blemish or irritated patch overnight. I use it as a night cream year-round and as both day and night in the fall and winter for a flawless complexion.
Best Hair Deals
I never thought I would abandon my original Dyson dryer but then the Nural debuted and I can never go back. It has better heat protection to keep your scalp healthy, and the drying time with the diffuser, even for my fine wavy hair, is ridiculously fast.
I never take the chance with hotel shampoo and conditioners when I travel, so stocking up on mini products that I know my hair loves is a must. This nourishing and strengthening collection has everything my fragile textured hair needs to keep my waves soft and frizz-free.
Ask any Marie Claire staffer about stylist Mara Roszak's haircare brand and you'll see—the obsession runs deep. This no-nonsense shampoo provides a super gentle yet effective cleanse with the most delicious scent. I swear, every time I wash my hair with this someone comments on how good I smell.
I mean... you can't have one without the other, right? Trust me, you'll fly through this jumbo-sized conditioner so fast because you'll never want to wash your hair without it.
I've tried a lot of flat irons over the years but I can safely say that this particular hair straightener is my favorite. The floating plates have a high gloss coating so your hair is left extra shiny with each pass, and the ergonomic design makes achieving waves, curls, or a pin straight style easier than ever.
Fact: you can never have too many silk scrunchies. This is the only thing I use to tie back my hair in a slick-back bun. The silk is extra gentle on your strands to help prevent breakage, and I also feel like it has better hold throughout the day, especially when your hair is extremely long like mine.
Girlies with the long hair, come to the front! I have rib-skimming waves and any time I used to curl my hair I'd run out of space on the barrel. That's a thing of the past with the XL curling iron, which utilizes smart technology to keep the heat even throughout your styling session.
Best Makeup Deals
There are few things more chic than pulling one of these stunning Prada lipstick bullets out from your bag. The trio contains two gorgeous matte colors as well as a tinted balm that reacts to your skin's pH for a customized shade.
Gucci Westman can do no wrong with her namesake beauty brand. This cream blush stick has been a staple in my makeup routine for litereal years, and it never fails to deliver the prettiest natural-looking flush. I've collected every shade at this point and highly suggest you do the same.
I've lost count of how many times this formula was recommended to me by friends of Marie Claire. This isn't a full-coverage foundation moment, however; it's the perfect barely-there skin perfecting product that blurs hyperpigmentation and uneven tone or texture, with a beautiful weightless finish. My skin really looks airbrush with just a few drops.
I rarely take the time to painstakingly apply a smokey eye these days. Instead, I reach for one of these creamy eyeshadow sticks to sculpt my eyes, add a hint of shadow, and blend with my fingers for a perfect date night look in under five minutes.
MC Senior Beauty Editor Samantha Holender lives and and dies by this mascara and she definitely convinced me to give the luxury formula a whirl. Now I'm just as obsessed! It lifts, separates, and delivers the flirtiest lash look that lasts all day.
The setting powder to end all setting powders, MC Beauty Writer Ariel Baker turned me onto this classic formula a few weeks ago. I'm all about a dewy skin look but in the summer, when my glow is more sweat gremlin than radiant goddess, I need a swipe of powder to finish off my makeup in the morning. This formula cannot will not fail.
Sigma is the only brush brand I'll use at this point. The bristles are so soft, with the perfect weight, and they hold powder beautifully. Ask any makeup artists and they'll tell you that this is the gold standard for brushes.
Best Fragrance Deals
There is no better way to shop for a new fragrance than picking up a set of minis. And for a longtime industry favorite like Byredo, who wouldn't want to restock their perfume collection with three of the most buzzy scents? These woody and floral fragrances are ideal for your summer beauty routine, with crowd-pleasing notes that will have strangers clamoring to stand near you.
This scent single-handedly convinced me that I actually love floral perfumes. The woody, bergamot-forward blend is so sensual and fresh, and it never fails to procure some compliments from strangers on the train. The maximalist bottle is also such a star on my vanity.
My best little treat to myself is keeping my apartment stocked with luxe hand soap. It just helps me feel like a fancy lady at all times. Cedar, juniper, and tobacco are the stars of the show with this cult-favorite scent, and to snag the soap along with the matching eau de parfum? Iconic.
Every fashion girl in the know adores MJK scents, and with this cutie pie mini set, you can find your new signature fragrance from the eight-piece lineup. Decide for yourself if Baccarat Rouge 540 is really worth all the hype (side note: one hundred percent, yes).
Speaking of fashion girls, want to pick up the scent worn by every stylish human of note on the Lower East Side? Santal 33 has reached icon status over the last decade and it shows no sign of slowing down. Musky, leather, sandalwood, and iris combine for the most beloved fragrance of the Instagram age.
Nobody does a sexy fragrance like Tom Ford. This neroli-forward scent is pure summer sunshine in a bottle, and the travel size option is ideal for throwing into your chicest carry-on bag and escaping to a seaside hotel for the weekend.
Trust me—you deserve a little Hermès moment this summer. Pick up the iconic orange box filled with four travel-sized perfumes from the Jardin collection. Floral, elegant, and timeless, these scents are the ideal addition to your fragrance wardrobe.
