FYI: These 10 Nordstrom Beauty Buys Have a Near-Perfect No-Return Record
When it comes to buying beauty products, I've always been a very tactile kind of shopper. From the age of 5, I've had a thing for sparkling, lacquer-finished stores like Nordstrom and MAC. They were my favorite pit stops to make at the mall, and as I grew older, sleuthing for new beauty products at other retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and even the drugstore became a kind of tranquility-inducing therapy for me. (Unfortunately, my wallet got the short end of the stick with that one!)
Not only did I simply enjoy strolling through the aisles filled with tempting vials, jars, and bottles, but I also loved swatching and testing my forearm away to see how shades would (or wouldn't) flatter my skin tone or how the consistency of a serum or oil would lie with my skin. Hygienic? No. Fun? Very much! That said, now that IRL beauty sampling is not what it used to be, we're turning to online beauty buying more than ever before. You might already feel well versed in shopping for beauty picks via the World Wide Web, but for people who aren't used to the process or who prefer to shop in a brick-and-mortar store as I do, it can feel like a daunting and overwhelming process. There's a greater risk of not liking a product, and it's disappointing to have to repack and ship back a formula you had high hopes for.
So we thought we'd do some Nancy Drew–caliber detective work to significantly slim your chances of returning said purchases. We reached out to our dear friends at Nordstrom—one of our all-time favorite online beauty retailers—to see which products have had the fewest returns recently (kind of brilliant, right?). Below, I'm listing the top 10 beauty buys Nordstrom shoppers have rarely sent back as well as beauty editor-approved favorites from each of the popular brands. Keep scrolling for 10 holy-grail beauty products with a near-perfect no-return rate.
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
To be honest, it's extremely hard to go wrong in the land of MAC, so we're totally not surprised this matte-finish powder foundation is a crowd-pleaser. Not only does it help curb midday greasiness (an especially handy perk if your skin runs oily!), but it also provides a satisfying amount of coverage that's buildable yet not noticeably detectable to the naked eye.
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Lancôme Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover
Eye makeup remover is one of the most infuriatingly annoying beauty products to shop for. It should be easy to find a formula that erases stubborn shadow, mascara, or liner in a flash sans irritation, but apparently, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Well, consider yourself officially unburdened of the task. According to Nordstrom HQ, extremely rare is the return of this gentle oil-in-water formula from Lancôme.
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Jack Black Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser for Hair & Body
Gifting alert! Anyone can use this multipurpose hair and body wash, but the men we know, in particular, are especially fanatical for anything bearing the Jack Black label. (Plus, the rosemary and eucalyptus scent is superb—clean but still yummy.)
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Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette Spray
We're pretty devoted to Chanel's collection of iconic fragrances. Technically, this Norstrom top seller is for men, but who says this blend of grapefruit, cedar, and sandalwood isn't amazing for everyone?
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Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+
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If you're wanting the same level of dramatic hydration but veer oily or acne prone, we recommend this featherlight moisturizer from the brand. It absorbs quickly, so all you're left with is supreme moisture that has a matte, smooth-as-silk finish.
PSA: Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale just so happens to include Clique's best-selling Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ with a matching mini travel-size.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum
There are plenty of fancy serums that can't live up to the hype they garner, but it's safe to say this high-tech formula from Estée Lauder just might be one of the few exceptions. It has an amazingly high rating (despite its 10.4K reviews), and the hero Chronolux Power Signal Technology offers an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink offering of skin perks thanks to antioxidants aplenty and 72 hours of hydration.
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Kiehl's Creme de Corps
We would have been surprised if this basic but very iconic body cream hadn't made Nordstrom's near-perfect no-return list. The strategic mix of beta-carotene (hello, suppleness-inducing antioxidants!) and other rich antidotes like cocoa butter and sesame-seed oil work magic on even the thirstiest of skin.
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Hand cremes have become the unsung beauty product throughout the pandemic as we're combating dry hands post washing—hence why Kiehl's Hand Salve is so tightly rated. Trust us when we say, you don't want to leave the house without it.
La Mer The Eye Concentrate
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Another great way to test-drive La Mer's beloved products is with its Soft Cream Se that features its best-selling Moisturizing Soft Cream, Cleansing Foam, Treatment Lotion, and Renewal Oil. Act fast though, as this set is bound to sell out for Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale.
Chanel Le Lift Crème
Face creams can be so hit or miss, which is why we're taking the fact that this Chanel number is rarely ever returned very much to heart. You can use it day or night, and it's especially great for anyone looking for some extra anti-aging benefits such as enhanced tone, texture, contour, and lift.
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Editors alike swear by and consider Chanel to be one of the best lipstick brands out there—for good reason. Its formula is not only long-lasting, but with three hydrating waxes, you'll never get that dried-out pout look.
Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment
FYI: The iconic face lotion for men is so popular that the regular version sans SPF is currently sold out at Nordstrom. We're sure it will restock soon, but until then, grab the SPF version (which is linked) instead because yes, you should still be protecting your skin from harmful rays every day, even if summer is a thing of the past.
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This shaving set from Kiehl's just so happens to be another amazing gift idea. You'll get the brand's top-rated Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream White Eagle, Ultimate Razor Burn & Bump Relief, and aforementioned fan-favorite Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment.
Up next, Nordstrom's Beauty Discounts Are Next-Level—These Products Will Sell Out First.
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.
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