Nordstrom Beauty

Beauty items featured during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.

The beauty recommendations are a favorite category of the sale…typically I purchase at least one set in advance for the holidays for gifting purposes. Shopping tip…while everyone is snagging the items posted as “on sale” during the annniversary sale, browse the gift with purchases category online. Often higher-end gift with purchases are offered during the sale timeframe, though they aren’t part of the sale. In years past, a dior makeup bag was included with a dior fragrance duo, which made for a beautiful 2-in-1 gift.

My favorite duo of the sale is the Giorgio Armani fluid sheers. I am currently using the a beautiful peach shade and apply it as a base for my blush everyday, and wear it alone on summer/pool days. It has a shimmer finish, that blends in easily into the skin. There is a generous amount of product included in the standard sizes, and this duo would be ideal for travel or a beach weekend. I would also recommend the Giorgio Armani eye set, though typically I stick to my eye palettes.

The Tom Ford duo would make for a lovely holiday gift under $50. I fell in love with the Neroli Portofino a decade ago when I lived in Australia and the tropical scent always takes me back to days of intense heat and unforgettable sunsets. I prefer the large full-size fragrances when it is a all-time favorite scent, but with Tom Ford fragrances exceeding $300 and $350 a smaller size seems more reasonable.

As someone that is a repeat offender of buying all things labeled vanilla…vanilla candles, vanilla coke, etc. I find myself drawn to this fragrance. I have never tried this line and it is quite a high price point for a scent you have never experienced, though it is tempting. Based on my research this fragrance comes sweet notes of vanilla with a woodsy combination.

I repeatedly purchase the Donna Karan deodorant- my all-time favorite anti-persperant, in a lightly powdered vanilla scent that goes on the skin like silk.

Cult beauty favorites include the Charlotte Tilbury sets and the Westman Atelier duos, though I have never purchased these personally.

I am a fan of hair tools as prepping ahead for holiday gifting. In years past, I purchased a Drybar hairdryer for my mom and made a Drybar gift set, including the curlers, matching brush, hair clips. Highly recommend this idea! At a better pricepoint, this hair tool claims to create mermaid-like waves for that tossled beach-wave vibe. If you miss this one during the sale though, the regular price point is also pretty budget-friendly. The reviews are mixed on this one, which I am guessing is based on your hair type and how fine your hair is.

Last but not least, my hghest recommended beauty purchase of the sale (was) the Victoria Beckham jewel kajal eyeliner set. It includes 5 eyeliners, mascara, sharpener and sleek case to store the eyeliners. This one was one of the top items on my wishlist…complete disclaimer here… it is already available for purchase on the Victoria Beckham beauty website, for $3 less, and buy purchasing from the retailer directly, you are gifted with a velvet pouch (as a welcome gift for your first purchase online) and often the packaging is top-tier, as compared to buying from a department store.

Anniversary Preview

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2026 preview is officially live! I must say that this year the preview seems extremely delayed, as compared to previous anniversary sales. Additional time for the preview is helpful in creating and refining your wishlist. This is the recommended strategy for the sale, as items begin to sell out as soon as the sale is live for the different tiers of customers. I am hoping that additional items are added throughout the sale. The selection at the moment, is quite limited. Though, depending on your budget, this could be a positive. I am sharing a few of the items that I saved to my wishlist…though nothing is set in stone, with the preview just launching!

2026 N Sale Update

The annual Nordstrom Anniversary sale is right around the corner! Nordstrom has announced the upcoming days where different tiers of customers can shop. As an ambassador, I enjoy going to the preview event and RSVP as an ambassador each year. It’s a special experience when the store opens early for its loyal customers and you can look at the new releases while the store is quiet with less traffic. As an ambassador, you also get Nordstrom snacks and based on the past few years, a reusable Nordstrom water bottle.

Credit: Nordstrom

You can also book a styling appointment during the sale, if you would like suggestions from a Nordstrom advisor. If you do this…I would prepare to spend more though, as you will likely be styled in several outfits, which each would be made up of 4-5 pieces. To give you a frame of reference, in the past I tried this and one of the outfits was a Vince sweater paired with Mother Jeans. (That was a $500+ outfit.) It may be more financially sustainable to handpick your pieces and create your own outfit combos, especially if you are on a budget!

If you are interested in the beauty items during the sale, I would keep a watch on the Glam Up Days from July 18th-August 9th, as well as the Beauty Bash on July 25th, for free samples, makeup tutorials, and gifts with purchase. Often the beauty sets make amazing birthday and holiday gifts.

A few new twists this year…there is a game called…find the golden hanger in the store…to win a $25 or $125 promo card. From July 14th-17th, the first 250 customers at the store, get a scratch ticket for a surprise. I am anxiously awaiting to receive the anniversary catalogue in the mail. It is easy to browse the preview on the website, however as a Journalism major, I love something tangible in front of me that I can browse. I will be sharing more posts as the preview comes out, with my wishlist in mind, so stay tuned. 

All images are credit of Nordstrom

NordY Cognac Edit

Nordstrom Suede sheath dress
All Saints Suede Bomber
Teddy Blake Ava 14"
La Specs Cat Eye sunglasses
Nordstrom molten buckle belt
nordstrom kitten heel bootie
nordstrom ankle strap sandal

Nordy Sale Gift Edit

My top beauty recommendation from the Anniversary sale.I just purchased the larger 3.4 oz bottle for myself. It is shown with the Jo Malone gift with purchase above. I am now considering buying another as a Christmas gift, with two beautiful Jo Malone gifts in one!

During the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I always purchase a few holiday gifts for family so December doesn’t feel like such an over-indulgence with holiday shopping. Its an opportunity to get a beautiful Nordstrom pajama set for less, or a high-end fragrance in a value set that the recipient might not buy for themselves. Not to say that Nordstrom and other retailers won’t have beauty gift sets as the holidays approach, but if you see the right gift now, it only makes the already stressful holiday season, a little less overwhelming.

This Jo Malone scent is surprisingly delicate, though based on the name you would assume it to be indulgently sweet. There is a floral base mixed in, making it just the right amount of sweetness. The packaging is beyond girly for any pink lovers in your life. It was packaged in a beautiful Jo Malone box. The gift with purchase is a .5 oz Blackberry & Bay body/hand lotion, a 1 fl oz. Wood Sage & Sea Salt body/hand wash, and two .3 fl oz colognes, in Silver Birch & Lavender and Peony & Blush Suede. I would have loved this to also come with a cosmetic pouch, but am happy with two travel friendly fragrances.

Other fragrance gifts sets from the anniversary sale…

Another solid recommendation where you don’t have to worry about sizing or if it will be useful…a beautiful and classic jewelry item. Most every female can appreciate pearls, and this option is large asymmetrical pearls with a modern twist. The gold clasp on the necklace is easy to take on and off and I am regularly wearing this to work. While small pearls can get lost in your outfit, these larger freshwater pearls really stand out. Unfortunately, this exact necklace isn’t included in the sale, but I have linked it from Selfridges. The matching earrings are included and are a lower price point than the necklace.

I will share gifts I historically purchase for my mom, or have bought in the past as some recommendations. An annual re-purchase are the ribbed pajamas because she can also wear the top as a basic with any blazer or jeans for work. Its a cute pajama set that can easily work as a summer option or top for any time of the year. Last year I feel in love with the Nordstrom cotton pajamas in the plum shade they offered. Those are my go-to shorts for around the house. Comfortable and they pass for a quick errand. The blue stripe is more wearable than the pink option, but because I know how much I wear them… I got both colors and added the blue set as part of my mom’s Christmas. I also ordered her the ribbed jammie short set in two colors….it is honestly hard to find tops quite this soft in a well-done ribbed fabric with the right silhouette.

Last Christmas, I purchased the DryBar smoothing tool for my mom, as well as a gorgeous Dior fragrance set that came with a Dior makeup bag as a gift with purchase, a set of pajamas, and the Donna Karan cashmere deodorant set. The Donna Karan deodorant is a product I use daily, and it is quite a luxe gift, as you get a trio that will last throughout the year, and luxury deodorant is often not a gift someone would buy themselves. Though once you try it, the value is there, especially when you get a year supply as a gift. The white matte packaging of the product is also lovely, and you get the cute yellow Nordstrom Anniversary bow during the sale.

Dior gift with purchase, with my purchase of the J’Adore perfume set. I love that you get two beautiful luxe gifts for the price of one. This is sold out, but included 3 mini fragrances and a Dior cosmetics bag. Keep your eye out for these special gifts with purchase as they are released. Closer to the holiday season, Nordstrom will launch the infamous Chanel gifts sets with a makeup bag, though they don’t include a gift with purchase quite like this…

I think hair tools, such as the Drybar blow-dry brush is a practical option that can be used day-to-day. It also can be very cute to pair other Drybar products with it, for a hair care gift set. In the crown basket above, I gave my mom the Drybar clips and brush to complement the blow-dryer brush. I included an array of Drybar products below as inspiration.

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