I check in on my favorite beauty retailers like clockwork. Whether it's Sephora, Ulta, Amazon, or, in this case, Nordstrom. As a beauty editor, it's literally my job, but honestly, I would do it even if it wasn't. I just love knowing which brands and products are available at each one, and even more importantly, which brands and products are being rated and reviewed above the others. Even if I don't buy something (which is admittedly rare), I treat it like window-shopping, keeping my finger on the pulse of what's new and now.
Recently, as I was scrolling through Nordstrom's beauty section, I noticed some of the most popular skincare products were either 1) products I use and love or 2) products that I have at the top of my skincare wish list. The best part is that they're all top-rated with an impressive amount of five-star reviews to back them up. From a luxe hydrating essence to a brightening eye mask, keep scrolling to see and shop all 15 products.
Number of five-star reviews: 17. This luxe essence can be used after cleanser and before moisturizer to hydrate the skin and prep it for flawless makeup application. It combines micro-droplets of camellia (a flowering plant that can benefit the skin by moisturizing it and stimulating collagen production) with blue ginger, which is a powerful antioxidant. Immediately upon application, it boasts that it can improve skin hydration by 50%. So, yeah, I'm adding this to my cart for sure. Promising review: "I purchased this with a grain of salt, feeling a tiiiiny bit skeptical. However, I am pleased to report that this product exceeds all expectations and has truly made a difference in my skin. It's incredible […] I have seen my skin texture/pores tighten and refine (just like it says it will), and I wake up with the softest, smoothest skin in the mornings. It's incredibly hydrating, to the point where I've started to question if I also need a serum in addition." — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 9. This high-tech formula contains two of the best anti-aging ingredients in the game: retinol and ferulic acid. (If you're not familiar with the latter, it's a powerful antioxidant that pairs well with other ingredients like retinol and vitamin C.) Together, they lift, brighten, smooth, and plump the skin for a holistic, anti-aging effect. The best part? It's also incredibly hydrating, which helps prevent the drying and irritating effects of retinol. Promising review: "As in Anti-Aging product, this wonderful […] I could tell a difference in the texture, smoothness, and absence of little milia on my forehead in just a few days." — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 35. With peptides, bakuchiol, and cloudberry oil, this budget-friendly face mask refreshes dull, puffy skin and helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Personally, whenever I'm working with a sheet mask or a hydrogel mask, I like to put it in the fridge for a few minutes before I use it. The coolness not only feels amazing on my stressed skin, but it also doubles the de-puffing. Promising review: "This is, by far, my favorite face mask. I love that it's two separate pieces, and it feels amazing when stored in the fridge! I pair this with the eye patches and notice a temporary difference in my skin after using it. I try to use this before heading out for the night, or after a long day in the sun. I'm planning to purchase these for all the ladies in my life for the upcoming holidays!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 7. Oh, how I love cleansing oil. This one is top-rated thanks to a silky-soft texture and a formula that melts away sunscreen, makeup, and other impurities. To use, the brand recommends massaging two pumps onto dry skin before adding water to emulsify it and rinse it away. Personally, I'll be using this as the first step in a double cleansing method (translation: I'll follow it up with a gel cleanser to remove any residue). I'll also use it as a way to sneak in a quick, nightly facial massage. Promising review: "This is by far the best makeup remover I have ever used. My rosacea skin gets very dry and irritated, especially during New York winters and drier seasons. This makeup remover not only removes all makeup, even waterproof formulas, it leaves my skin so comfortable and unirritated. Sulwhasoo is the best!!!!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 5. This serum is pricey. We're talking $220-for-a-half-ounce pricey. But it's a top-rated, well-reviewed product, and if you're familiar with the iconic status of other La Mer products, you won't find that surprising. It promises to visibly lift and sculpt the skin, and it does so with a whole host of botanical ingredients, including watermelon, lentil, apple, date, barley, and peach extracts. Promising review: "I've been using this product every morning and I love the way my skin feels and looks. I also noticed that I could feel the product still working on my skin through the day. I have small lines on my forehead and around my lower cheeks and I've noticed my skin more soft and plump around these around these areas. Am extremely happy with this product and the appearance of my skin." — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 18. I love this cream because it gives my skin what I call the trifecta: peptides, niacinamide, and antioxidants. Here's a crash course on what each one of those ingredients does for the skin. The first one plumps and firms the skin over time. The second one is a bit of a jack of all trades in that it can brighten, soothe, and even the skin. The third protects the skin from aging free radicals. As if that's not enough, it also contains spirulina maxima extract and rice extract to calm the skin and soothe redness. My redness (or lack thereof) is proof that it works. Promising review: "This has transformed my skin, and I’m only halfway through the bottle. Worth every penny!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 85. I once heard an esthetician say that cleansing the skin is the most important step in a skincare routine. Why? If your skin isn't clean, the following treatment products like serums and moisturizers don't really stand a chance. While you want your cleanser to be effective, you also want it to be hydrating (if it strips the skin, it's no good). That's why I'm so excited about this one. It's an all-in-one cleanser that gently yet effectively removes oil and impurities without over-drying. Honestly, the ratings and reviews say it all. Promising review: "I have perioral dermatitis that seems to be irritated by anything with SLS. The problem is that most face washes without SLS are so gentle that they don't really feel like they give me the clean feeling I want when I wash my face. This face wash is gentle and non-irritating but it delivers that clean, fresh feeling with no residue like I get from a lot of the other "gentle cleansers" Life saver!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 14. Another powerful anti-aging product, this one uses retinal, which is a form of vitamin A that's similar to retinol but stronger. The retinal is encapsulated in a delivery system that was adapted from pharmaceutical technology, so rest assured, this stuff will 1) penetrate and 2) actually work. It promises to tackle all major signs of aging, including sagging skin, uneven tone, wrinkles, and lines. Promising review: "I was surprised that it actually worked and didn’t cause any redness/breakouts!! After a week of everyday use, I started noticing improvement in my skin texture, little wrinkles looking less visible and skin looking brighter and healthier overall. I’m super excited to keep using this product and see what my skin is going to look like in a few months!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 7. Another Chanel product making the list, this one is a lightly scented body lotion. Sure, the formula is silky soft, and moisturizing, but what really makes this stand out is the fragrance. Notes of jasmine, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, and tuberose make it smell both fresh and elevated. As any beauty editor will tell you—myself included—if you use the right scented body lotion, sometimes you don't even need to use perfume at all. Promising review: "Sheer luxury lotion with the scent of jasmine, ylang-ylang, and orange blossom with a light touch of tuberose. Lovely fragrance for layering with Eau de Parfum or worn alone. Chanel has an array of beautiful scents and this is yet another great one! Love it!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 5. Yup, the aforementioned moisturizer has a matching serum, and it's also one of the top-rated skincare products at Nordstrom. Just like its cream companion, this serum contains retinol and ferulic acid, as well as soothing botanicals. Use it morning or night to help clear blemishes, reduce the appearance of pores, and visibly smooth skin texture. Just be sure to use sunscreen during the day, as vitamin A ingredients (like retinol) can make your skin more vulnerable to the sun. Promising review: "I stopped using it for a while, and my skin shows it. The consistency is thin with no slip to it, so you have to pat it on quickly or add it to whatever other skin potion you use. No fancy fragrance added, and it can smell a bit like a vitamin pill. The bottle is dark glass, so the ingredients are protected from light. It is also recyclable. I would gladly recommend this to a friend." — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 19. When an eye mask has over 19 five-star reviews, you know it's good. They come as a set of six, and they're soaked with active ingredients like algae extract, niacinamide, centella asiatica, and sodium hyaluronate. After one use, they promise to brighten, de-puff, and plump the under-eye area. That's just what my tired, dark-circled eyes need right now—yet another product I'm adding to my cart. Promising review: "Excellent Product! Best one I have tried. A treat for your eyes before a night out, with a visible difference almost instantly." — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 7. If you're in the market for a no-frills face cream, this is it. The fragrance-free formula offers lightweight hydration that, according to reviewers, never clogs pores or causes breakouts. Plus, it soothes sensitive, redness-prone skin. So yeah, it's not a want; it's a need. Promising review: "I’ve been using this cream for several years now and I love it. It’s light and absorbs into the skin easily. It has no fragrance and doesn’t clog my pores or cause breakouts. I wish it were a bit more affordable since I’m so dependent on this product but I can’t go without it!!!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 7 I'm a big fan of Dr. Loretta's products, which are all developed by Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist with over 40 years of experience. These handy peel pads are soaked in a 10% glycolic acid solution. Wipe them across your skin to target fine lines, enlarged pores, and dark spots. Promising review: This skincare line is excellent. I find using these pads every day has not only obviously helped my skin texture and complexion but was a great substitute in my routine compared to just using a regular toner. I believe this has especially helped with my sunspots. This and the tightening eye gel are my favorite products!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 10. I know what you're thinking: "Um, $75 for a lip balm? That's crazy." Normally, I'd agree with you, but I've had the pleasure of using this one, and know it's one of my favorites. Not only is it incredibly chic (it is Hermes after all), but a high concentration of beeswax and candelilla wax coats my lips in comfort. Plus, I've been using this for over a year, and I still have over half the bullet left, so it's long-lasting! Promising review: "This product is not only packaged beautifully and makes me smile every time I reach for it, but it also works! This balm leaves my lips moisturized without being too thick or having a weird smell/taste. Also does not have much of a shine, which I like and think is great for both men and women. Highly recommend!" — Nordstrom customer
Number of five-star reviews: 27. With vitamin C and niacinamide, this ionized serum helps boost the effects of microcurrent (the lifting and sculpting technology for which the brand is famous). Use it alone or before the NuFace Hydrating Aqua Gel ($35) to enhance the results from any of the brand's microcurrent devices. Promising review: "I am no stranger to the vast world of corrective skincare, so when I was told that there was a Vitamin C that would help correct my post acneic pigmentation without irritation, I was skeptical. Well, the results are in, and not once did I have an adverse reaction to this serum. My skin felt soothed, smoothed, and brightened in as little as one week's use. I usually have a hard time with both vitamin C and niacinamide, but this formula combines them in a way that is truly effective and not at all reactive. Highly recommend!" — Nordstrom customer
