I’m not normally a big shopper of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I don’t have a big interest in fashion, nor do I think a lot of the beauty deals are interesting. However, every year I reliably buy 1 or 2 sets that I think are interesting and good value, and this year there were a few products that really caught my eye.
This is also my first year ever being able to shop the sale in person. When I lived in DC, the closest Nordstrom was just a little too inconvenient for me to get to to make the trip worth it, and I live fairly close to a Nordstrom now. It was really lovely being able to shop with an associate near by to help me find some new products and give me recommendations.
Like I mentioned, I don’t think most products in the same are particularly special or especially good value, but I always look for sets of new or exclusive products. This year, three sets caught my eye that I eventually went home with: the Nars Sur La Plage Lip Balm Set, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine set, and a set of mini Jo Malone products. I felt like all of them had products I really wanted to try and were good value to buy.
The Nars Sur La Plage Lip Balm set is probably one of the best values in the beauty section. It’s $49 and includes 3 full size lip balms, which usually retail for $28 each. It also includes a beautiful woven clutch that won’t be getting any use in the foreseeable future…but will be coming with me on the next vacation I am able to go on safely. The 3 lip balms include Orgasm, the original sheer pinky gold shade, plus 2 new shades: Baja, a bright coral shade, and Marabella, a bright warm red. This is my first time trying the lip balms and I see why everyone likes them. They offer just the right amount of subtle pigment without feeling overdone, and the texture is a nice balance of waxy but still soft and moisturizing. I already know this will get a bunch of use for the rest of summer.
YSL makes some of my favorite lip formulas, and the Rouge Volupte Shine formula is a great option if you want a glossy lipstick that still has some staying power. I was excited to see this set featuring two full-sized lipsticks for $48, since each lipstick retails for $38. I already own 3 shades of this lipstik and I’m happy to add 2 more to the collection. The shades included are: 09 Nude Sheer, a rosy beige shade, and 80 Chili Tunique, a brick red shade. Both of these shades are right up my alley so they’ll fit into my existing collection perfectly.
Here are swatches of the Nars balms and the YSL lipsticks:
My final purchase is the Jo Malone Mini Discovery Set, which retails for $40 and includes a mini travel size of the Wood Sage and Sea Salt cologne, a mini Peony and Blush Suede Body Cream, and a mini English Pear and Freesia candle. I like getting their mini sizes because I already have so many fragrances, and I really love all the Jo Malone scents I already have. The English Pear and Freesia cologne is one of my favorites, and I’ve always wanted a bottle of Wood Sage and Sea Salt. This might not be the greatest value since the fragrance is worth about $25 and the other minis are pretty tiny, but I really like having the minis so it was worth it to me.
Overall, I’m pleased with the purchases I got. I think for most products you can get better deals from other sales at other retailers throughout the year, but there are some sets that are really worth it.
If you’re planning on buying anything from the sale, or have already picked up some items, let me know what caught your eye!
As always, thanks for reading.
Beauty Unhyped 