Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2016 — Books, Beauty, & Buys

It’s back! Each summer, Nordstrom holds their anniversary sale during which they bring out their fall products at a sale price. After they sale, they do continue to have these products, but the price goes back up to the original price. Nordstrom card holders receive early access (started July 14th) and non-card holders receive access to the sale on July 21st-August 7th. If you are a regular Nordstrom shopper, I do recommend getting a card. However, they did recently start offering their amazing rewards system to non-card holders if you sign up for the rewards program.

Just a quick side note about the rewards program, for every purchase you make you receive a point per dollar. There are also double and triple points days through the year where you can earn more points to the dollar. If you are a credit/debit card holder, you do get one personal triple points day per year. Once you earn 1000 points, you receive a $20 Nordstrom note. The best thing about these notes s that they don’t have any exceptions!

Typically, during the anniversary sale I have something specific in mind that I’m shopping for. This year, I did not. I knew I had to refill some of my makeup standards and when the anniversary sale is going on there are always gifts with purchase.

Beauty

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum ($155)

I have used the Advanced Night Repair serum for a year or two now and my skin loves it. I recently tried another serum and it made my skin break out like crazy. I decided to go back to the Advanced Night Repair. Typically, the 1.7 oz is $92. Recently, they started to offer a two pack of the 1.7 oz for $155. That makes it a $29 savings on the second bottle. For reference, it takes me about 6 months to go through the 1.7 oz bottle. Knowing that I would buy another bottle in the future, it made a lot of sense for me to purchase two at once and save myself $29 in the end.

Gift with Purchase

Estee Lauder (as always) is offering a free gift with $45 purchase. There are three different sets that you can pick from. One is the Lift set which includes the Resilience Lift eye and face cream, a Perfectly Clean Cleanser, the Advanced Night Repair serum, Micro Essence toner, and a lip conditioner. The second option is the Glam set which includes the Advanced Night Repair serum and eye cream, Sumptuous Knockout Mascara, Little Black Mascara Primer, Full-size Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Insatiable Ivory, and the Pure Color Envy Eye shadow compact. The third and final set is the Repair set which includes the Nutritious cleanser, moisture crème, night crème, and energy lotion, the Advanced Night Repair Serume, and a full-size Pure Color Envy Sculpting Gloss in Seductive Honey.

I was lucky enough to receive both the Repair set and the Glam set. I don’t think I will use much of the makeup, as the lip colors are not ones that work on my skin tone. I am really excited about the mascara and the creams though!

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 ($44)

I have wanted to purchase this tinted moisturizer for a while, but was waiting until my other one ran out. I purchased the shade Bisque and am looking forward to using this product. It’s a very light coverage product but it does even out my skin tone and also provides SPF 20 protection. I’m looking forward to using this on my trip and seeing how it hold up.

Dior 'Diorshow' Color & Countour Eyeshadow Dur in Hortensia ($33)
This is one of those products that are an anniversary sale early access product that I stumbled upon. As soon as I saw it and swatched it on my hand, I immediately knew I needed it. If you have been following my blog for a little while, you would know that I have a soft spot for cream eye shadow sticks. I tend to be lazy in the early mornings when I have to go to work, and eye shadow ticks become my go-to. They’re so easy and so pretty! This one is a beautiful shimmery lilac color that is perfect for spring and summer. On the other side is the softest purple eye liner I have ever used. I love to use purple eye liner to switch things up on a daily basis. I haven’t given this product the full day test yet, but it’s super creamy. This product and the other Dior products in the anniversary sale are limited edition, so if one of them catches your eye grab them before they're gone!

Clothes

Zella ‘Live in’ Leggings (During Sale $33.90, After Sale $52.00)

I have casually been looking for a pair of wide band leggings for a month or two now. I prefer the wider band leggings because they don’t dig in a give a smoother line. The sales associate that I was shopping with (and have shopped with for years as well as had her do my makeup for my wedding) pointed these out and said that all of the Nordstrom employees swear by these. They suck you in and aren’t see-through which makes them perfect for wearing out of the house. They are definitely tight, but not in an uncomfortable way. They're also reversible with one side being slightly more shiny. If you’ve been looking for a new pair of leggings, I would recommend picking up a pair of these before the price goes back up!

Kut from the Kloth Catherine Slim Boyfriend Jeans (shade Equanimous) (During Sale $49.90, After Sale $89.50)

I currently own a pair of Kut from the Kloth black pants and they are ridiculously comfortable. When I saw that they had some jeans on sale I knew I needed to check them out. I tend to purchase dark wash skinny jeans or jeggings, so I don’t own any boyfriend jeans or lighter wash like these ones. These jeans are so soft and so comfortable and I’m really looking forward to trying this new style. I will say that you are going to want to go a size down in these. They are very stretchy, but because they’re boyfriend style, it will look great if/when they start to get baggy.

In general, this year’s sale isn’t my favorite. I’m pretty disappointed in their sweater selection and normally I can find a few that I love. My biggest issue is that all of the sweaters have these terrible slits in the front/side that look horrible on my body (see picture below for slits). I’m hoping this isn’t a new fashion trend and that it won’t be the only thing I find this fall and winter. While this year’s sale does seem a bit smaller and less exciting than previous ones, I would still recommend checking it out!

See the super awkward slits at the bottom? How do those look good?? (Photo courtesy of nordstrom.com