The Best Beauty Deals From Nordstrom's 2018 Anniversary Sale
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There's a new beauty sale announced every other week online—it's great, not complaining—but if there's one major shopping blowout we look forward to all year, it's the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. For three and a half weeks every July, the retailer cuts prices across the board, spanning fashion, home, accessories, and beauty, and while other sales tend to piece together leftovers that didn't fly off shelves, this one features prestige products. So much so, in fact, the website crashed last year as soon as its cardholder presale started.
Once you see the discounts it's obvious why. Below, you'll find limited edition gift sets (that many bargain hunters have been known to buy and hoard until the holidays), big-ticket brands that rarely ever offer deals (like Diptyque and La Mer), and tons of cool indie lines you can test for a fraction of the cost—sometimes for more than 50 percent off. There's literally no catch, except for the fact that with a total of 450 products to sift through, narrowing the options down can be daunting. That's why our beauty editors combed through each and every deal to narrow down the list to absolute best deals. Nordstrom Rewards Members get early access from July 12 through July 19, while the official sale runs from July 20 to August 5 for the rest of us. Ahead, here's what's worth getting from the 2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Warning: things will sell out fast.
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1/22Nars Undressed Liquid Lip Set II, $49
"I plan to channel summer all year long with these super-wearable shades. And because I tend to fall hard for Nars lipsticks, I can already tell that I’ll be petitioning Nars to add the limited-edition orchid pink shade to the permanent collection." —April Long, acting beauty director
Courtesy of Brand2/22Rodin Olio Lusso Lavender Absolute Skin Care Duo, $98
"Rodin Olio Lusso Face Oil is a guaranteed glow bestower, no matter how sallow my skin. This version, which spikes the original calendula oil blend with a heady dose of calming Bulgarian lavender, is my go-to bedtime treatment, along with lavish amounts of lavender Luxury Hand & Body Cream, when I want to drift off to sleep feeling calm and pampered, and wake up looking radiant and well-rested." —A.L.
Courtesy of Brand3/22Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Set, $49
"I used my last Urban Decay Naked2 palette until I was sadly scraping the last little powdery crumbs out of each pan with the tip of my eyeshadow brush. The colors were so versatile I found myself using them every day (and, by adding the deep matte brown, at night). And the Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion is probably the best eye makeup fixative on planet earth: It glides invisibly into lids and helps anchor anything you layer on top of it, without creasing." —A.L.
Courtesy of Brand4/22Diptyque Floral Candle & Eau de Toilette Set, $72
"I love a mini candle for travel, and this set includes my three all-time faves: Roses (the closest thing to a fresh bouquet of buds I’ve ever smelled), Tuberose (so heady and voluptuous that it will scent a room even when it isn’t lit), and Baies (rose with black currant leaf, yum). The spritzes, meanwhile, are easy to stash in my bag and can be layered for different—equally wonderful—effects." —A.L.
Courtesy of Brand5/22Clarins Double Serum Double Edition Set, $210
"The Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate is packed with a slew of active botanicals that smooth fine lines and even out skin tone. It's a major hit in my family; both my mother and my sister swear by it. I’ll let them flip a coin for one, and I'll gift the travel size Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate to the loser as a consolation prize." —A.L.
Courtesy of Brand6/22Paula's Choice Skin Perfect BHA Exfoliant Set, $35
"I try chemical exfoliants left and right, but I always come back to this Paula's Choice. It's gentle enough for my dry, acne-prone skin, and on top of deflating whiteheads overnight, it gets rid of up-and-coming zits. One bottle is usually $29, so do not—I repeat, do not—miss this deal." —Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer
Courtesy of Brand7/22Laura Mercier Illuminator Palette, $52
"I need another highlighter like I need a shot in the head, but every time I see these highlighters, impulse takes over and I end up stroking the supersoft, buttery-velvet texture. The pigment builds from soft and forgiving to full-on gleam, and even on my pale skin, the bronze shade's sheen makes for a goddessy glow." —R.N.
Courtesy of Brand8/22Le Labo Body & Hair Travel Set, $55
"I love to head to the beach on summer weekends, which sounds glamorous, but rest assured the prep sees me hoarding travel samples that usually leave something to be desired. Le Labo's beauty line crams the brand's incredible scents into products I actually need, and looks cute doing it." —R.N.
9/22T3 White & Chrome Cura Hair Dryer, $134
"I've spent a stupid amount of money in search of the hair-dryer that will give me smooth, glossy hair with the flick of a switch. Turns out, that doesn't exist—there's always some grunt work required when you're dealing with tight curls; it's just the reality. But I've finally found the one tool that lives up to its claims. It dries each section of hair in about five minutes, with the heat I need to pick up some shine along the way, and an easy on-off button (I put the dryer down every time I need to respool a section around my brush, so that's crucial). Also important: It weighs less than a glass of water. Best hair-dryer I've found." —R.N.
Courtesy of Brand10/22Bobbi Brown Pro Brush Set, $149
"Be honest: When was the last time you cleaned your brushes? If you're anything like me, it's probably time to pitch them and upgrade. Originally priced at $223 value, this set of Bobbi Brown tools is a steal. It's got all the brushes you'll actually use—foundation, concealer, eyeliner, contour, and eyeshadow—and are such good quality they'll last you forever. Hey, maybe you'll even wash them?" —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor
Courtesy of Brand11/22Living Proof Travel Trio, $29
"Living Proof's Full Dry Volume Blast has become my godsend this summer. It gives you the most amazing lived-in texture. I keep a tiny can of it at my desk so I can zhuzh my air-dried hair throughout the day, and throw it in my bag if I have plans for after work. Now, with mini versions of its dry shampoo and hairspray, my weekender—and my hair—will be all set through Labor Day." —L.S.
12/22Oribe Gold Lust Set, $38
"Few things disappear from Glamour's beauty closet faster than Oribe's top-selling texurizing spray. It's great on a range of hair types, gives your hair hold with just the right amount of grit, and smells so divine the brand actually turned its scent into a perfume. Paired with the Gold Lust shampoo and conditioner in this travel set, I'll never not have my dream hair on vacation again." —L.S.
Courtesy of Brand13/22The Beachwaver Co. Beachwaver Pro 1.25, $133
"Confession: I can't curl my hair. But no one around me would ever know it because of The Beachwaver. All the raving reviews you've probably read about it are true: With the press of a single button, it curls your hair for you—and never in a 'it's going to eat my hair' kind of way. If you've got fine to slightly wavy hair and can't work an iron to save your life, I promise it's worth the investment." —L.S.
14/22Dermovia Lace Your Face by Dr. Pimple Popper Clear Complexion Kit, $35
"I'm a sheet-masking fool and use one almost every day to hide the bit-too-much-wine, not-enough-sleep situation that very regularly manifests on my face. I love this kit because it makes having a masking moment so freakin' easy. I stash them in the fridge so they're extra cold and depuffing, then pop one on first thing in the morning. My God, complete transformation after just 10 minutes." —Maureen Choi, beauty editor
15/22Charlotte Tilbury Pretty Glowing Skin Palette, $75
"This set is my favorite way to spot-treat skin with luminosity, since allover shimmer just makes me look greasy. Here's how I make the radiance happen: I'll dust some of the coral on the apples of my cheeks for a pop of color, then run some of the bronzer across my forehead and around my jaw. I'll dab a touch of the pearly highlighter right onto my cheekbones and brow bones, and finish with a swipe of the bronzy shade on my lids. They melt into your skin and are luxuriously velvety, so you can never overdo it." —M.C.
Courtesy of Brand16/22Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Set, $96
"When you're a beauty editor, you try, test, and toss a lot of shit. And let me tell you, it can be so confusing and overwhelming. (Don't even get me started on the perils of mixing and matching myriad skin care products.) Which is why I'm always grateful for a do-it-all kit that works together, like this one. It helps with tone, texture, and fine lines, especially the ones that crop up around my eyes." —M.C.
Courtesy of Brand17/22Living Proof Full Set, $45
"As a fine-hair broad, I've been on the hunt for volume, texture, and oomph my whole life, and I've tried almost everything out there to no avail. That is, until I met this triple-threat, travel-friendly set. It transforms my flat, overcooked spaghetti strands into plump pappardelle every single time. I love how the shampoo and conditioner leave my scalp clean and refreshed, but the real magic is in the postshower volumizing spray that gives my hair this grippy-in-a-good-way, root-boosty fullness I've never known." —M.C.
Courtesy of Brand18/22Kiehl's Since 1851 Jumbo Creme de Corps, $52
"Summertime is very clearly here, which means I need a lotion that hydrates but isn't too heavy. I lather Creme de Corps on fresh out the shower, and I get all day moisture that never goes greasy." —Blake Newby, beauty assistant
Courtesy of Brand19/22Moroccanoil The Ultimate Hydration Collection, $74
"I love to show off my tight coils in the summer, and Moroccanoil makes that an effortless task. I wash with the shampoo and conditioner, add my favorite curling cream, and seal it all in with their signature serum for a lightweight yet hydrated wash-'n'-go." —B.N.
Courtesy of Brand20/22T3 SinglePass Luxe Straightening & Styling Iron, $120
"When my previous go-to flatiron was discontinued, I thought it was the end of the world. Along came T3, and I still can't figure out how I ever lived without it. As someone with natural hair I was skeptical about the 'single pass' promise, but I've seen no lies. This straightening iron guarantees the sleekness I look for, without the heat damage." —B.N.
Courtesy of Brand21/22Jo Malone London™ Travel Candle Collection, $95
"My most recent obsession has been candles, and in the scents of Jo Malone, I'm hooked. My favorite is to burn them after long day paired with a hot bath. It's self-care perfection." —B.N.
Courtesy of Brand22/22Yves Saint Laurent Pink Lip Set, $74
"You can never have too much pink, especially when it's YSL. Aside from the fact that it's the prettiest lippies you've ever laid eyes on, their smooth textures provide all-day wear that aren't a pain to wash off at night. A quick swipe of the stain or lipstick, and I'm on my way." —B.N.
