I Test Beauty Products for a Living—Here's Everything I'm Buying at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

If you’re in the market for a new hair tool, consider the T3 Aire IQ set. Thanks to its Heat ID technology, it adjusts heat and speed settings based on your preferences (and will remember your custom settings for next time). It's also praised for offering the ‘fastest dry yet,’ and as someone who’s tried their StyleMax Featherweight Dryer, I’m interested in trying their latest innovation on my curls. 

Red light therapy is huge right now, and this Solawave mask is on the top of my wishlist. It uses red and near-infrared light to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while stimulating collagen production and evening skin tone. VP of Editorial Candace Davison already had me adding this skin tech to my cart after reading her raving review: “My skin seemed more even-toned and smoother overall; less craggy and crepey. Is it worth $349? That depends on the results you’re after. In my case, yes. I wanted to restore my sense of radiance, and by extension, my confidence. And I achieved just that.”

Vitamin C is known for brightening your skin, while protecting it against environmental damage—especially when paired with sunscreen. Packed with 15 percent THD ascorbate (a type of vitamin C), this juicy serum helps fade hyperpigmentation over time; it also has glycolic acid to gently exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Its yummy Creamsicle scent is an added bonus.

It’s time to add to my huge fragrance collection—and this royal-approved set is just what I’m looking for. It has key notes of sage, sea salt and ambrette seed, which shoppers describe as earthy, fresh and captivating. The set comes with a full size and a travel size of the scent to take on the go—plus, it comes with a mini English Pear & Freesia candle. Plus, it has a value of $225 with a $170 price tag, so a sweet deal, amiright? 

Step up your luxury skincare game with this duo featuring a full size of The Rich Cream and a travel size of The Rich Eye Cream (with applicator included). The cult favorite moisturizer uses stem-cell technology to create new, healthy skin cells, as well as sunflower seed oil, squalane and glycerin to smooth and plump fine lines. True to its name, it has a rich texture that feels like a dream on your skin. Meanwhile, the eye cream works to firm, de-puff and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. At a $510 value, your skincare routine is set. 

PureWow favorite NuFACE is making it easier to dabble in different skincare trends with just one device. This set comes with the popular microcurrent tool, which features three modes to tighten, contour and tone your face. The set also comes with a lip/eye attachment to target crow feet and 11s, as well as a red light attachment to brighten the skin. You’ll even find a hydrating conductive gel and silk creme activator to help boost skin. 

Need a housewarming gift (or looking to spice up your own space)? It doesn't get much better than a fancy flight of candles from Parisian perfumer Diptyque. This three-piece set comes with small versions of their best-sellers, including Baies, Figuier and Tubereuse. They each have a 20-hour burn time and if you need more incentive to grab a set, our very own Lifestyle Editor Sydney Meister can vouch for one of the scents. “Sophisticated without trying too hard, Baies smells like a black-tie picnic in the French countryside—fresh blackcurrant, just-picked roses, and the kind of greenery that feels expensive (because, well, it is). I love that it strikes the perfect balance between fruity and floral: the tartness of the berries softens into something lush and vibrant, while the rose adds polish without reading powdery,” she shared. 

Olaplex is making it easier to stick to a healthy hair routine. The set comes with both a full size *and* travel size of their No.4 Bond Maintenance shampoo and No.5 Bond Maintenance conditioner. The duo is for anyone who needs to repair their color-treated or otherwise chemically processed hair. The beloved formula moisturizes brittle strands and reduces breakage, while cleansing oily roots and preventing frizz.

The salon known for its fabulous blowouts has given the masses the ability to treat themselves to the Drybar experience at home with this blow dryer brush. Its secret lies in its oval shape, which provides tons of body with a smooth finish. It also has an ergonomic design that makes the task less strenuous. I was drawn to getting my own after Meister gave it high marks in her review: “All in all, I would say this is a great option for anyone who’s looking to replicate a classic, voluminous blowout at home. While it might not target frizz as much as I’d hoped, the lasting styling power, fast-drying vents and sturdy bristles make it one of the most effective tools I’ve tried.”

It’s no secret that silk accessories are way better for your mane. As a curly gal, I’m eyeing this pack of Mulberry silk hair ties, which includes ten skinny scrunchies in an assortment of shades, so I can rock a ponytail, top knot or bubble braids without a snag—or putting a dent in my hair, for that matter.

I already know how important it is to have SPF in my daily regimen, so adding this set is going to make things so much easier. It includes my fave Unseen Sunscreen, which has SPF 50 and a lightweight formula that goes on clear (so no white cast here). It also has Unseen Sunscreen Stick, a SPF 40 staple that I can reapply on-the-go and help reduce the appearance of excess oil which is a combo girl’s dream. 

Run, don’t walk, when it comes to purchasing this popular blush while it’s on sale. I’ve been using it consistently ever since I reviewed it for a story. This exclusive set features two of the brand's best-selling shades, “Petal” known for its dusty nude rose shade that has everyone from Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon obsessed with it, and "Chouchette,” a flattering nude peach that complements all skin tones. Formulated with jojoba oil, raspberry leaf extract and vitamin C, the creamy blush is also extremely blendable and buildable (read: impossible to botch).

Créme de La Mer rarely goes on sale, so when it does I have to jump on the sweet deal. The celeb-favorite product is beloved for making skin feel firmer and smoother. Plus, the brand’s signature Miracle Broth, which is at the core of the formula, increases moisture and soothes any irritation, so your skin looks more even-toned and plump.

Perfume is a tricky thing to buy—how are you supposed to find a signature scent when there are hundreds of options to choose from? Well, I’ll make the decision easier for you. Parfums de Marly has a signature trio set filled with some of my favorite scents. You’ll find ‘Valaya,’ a blend of musk, vanilla and woody notes—along with ‘Delina,’ a Turkish rose, lily of valley and peony mix and ‘Delina Exclusif’ with notes of Damask rose, lychee and vanilla. 

I’ve been a Dr. Dennis Gross fan for years, and it’s ‘bout time I did some restocking care of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The set comes with two different peels—the Alpha Beta Universal (30 treatments) and Alpha Beta Extra Strength (60 treatments) daily peel. Both formulas include five alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which work to minimize large pores, improve skin tone and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I have sensitive skin and it’s truly been a game changer in clearing and soothing my face every night. 

This limited edition set has all the essentials for a daily look. It comes with a mini version of the Multi-stick in the “Whisper” shade, a peachy pink that works on the lips, eyes and cheeks. There’s also a mini size of the Limitless Lash mascara that’s flake- and smudge-free, as well as a mini Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon in “Genre,” a gorgeous mauve shade that works as a liner or lipstick for a plump pout. 

I’ve recently tried this sunscreen gel for the first time and fell in love. With key ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and jojoba oil, it melts nicely onto the skin without feeling heavy or greasy. The balm-to-oil formula also rubs in clear and leaves an impeccable shine—and let’s not forget the SPF 30 that adds protection under UVA/UVB rays. And in Vacation fashion, the scent is amazing with notes of bergamot, sandalwood, saffron and patchouli. Luckily, this duo comes with two full-size tubes that can last me beyond summer. 

There are a ton of bodycare exclusives happening right now, but L’Occitane has my full attention. This duo features a full size of the Almond Shower Oil *and* a full size refillable so I don’t have to worry about running out anytime soon. The viral product is known best for its rich lather and leaving a soft finish behind. Formulated with almond oil, shoppers say it cleanses and nourishes skin. 

I’ve been testing a ton of skincare tools, so I’m always open to trying a new unique gadget. This exfoliation device from PMD promises to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and enlarged pores. It’s designed with three speed settings, two caps (one for face and another for body) and a variety of exfoliation discs to customize your experience. Fans of the device have noticed a major difference in their skin after a couple of months, so safe to say I’m interested in checking it out.