I'm all for living in the moment, but Black Friday is this this coming Friday and this is one event that needs to be prepared for. Sure, you can use this shopping extravaganza to invest in a new pair of yoga leggings or a toothbrush, but as a beauty-obsessed writer, I'm using this time to stock up on the best makeup deals.
Whether you're using the sales to shop for long-time favourites or to test out a new product, luckily *many* – in fact, most – brands participate in Black Friday so you're bound to find some epic discounts. What's better? This is Black Friday week, so many of our favourite brands have already launched some incredible early deals.
Big e-tailers like LookFantasitc and Cult Beauty host site-wide sales with up to 50% off while smaller labels like Merit Beauty and REFY get involved too.
LIVE Black Friday makeup deals
- LookFantastic: Shop selected items with up to 50% off right now
- Boots: Black Friday is here at Boots, with special offers and the return of its Star Gift sets
- John Lewis: Shop premium beauty at John Lewis' Black Friday sale
- Cult Beauty: Shop your favourite makeup brands with up to 25% off
- Merit Beauty: Shop 20% off site wide
- Glossier: Shop with up to 20% off, and score 30% off when your basket reaches £100
The best Black Friday makeup deals to shop
By now, I'm sure you've marked Friday 29th November in your diary – and if you haven't, do it now! While there's no need to panic as Black Friday isn't quite here yet, if you're keen to get in some pre-sale shopping, I've curated an edit of some makeup items that are already on sale and the best deals I'm hoping to see on Black Friday. If you're more into the skincare side of things, you can check out those deals here.
Charlotte Tilbury has dropped its Black Friday sale with a two-for-one offer and up to 40% off selected beauty gift sets. Once again, Tilbury never disappoints.
The two-for-one sale is ideal if you're taking part in secret Santa this year – or you can give one and keep the other for yourself – while the gift sets will make excellent under-the-tree presents for the beauty lover in your life.
I'm expecting to see more deals come in as we get closer to the Black Friday weekend, so pay attention to this page if you don't want to miss out!
Fans of Glossier, you'll be pleased to know that the brand has just launched its Black Friday sale with up to 20% off site wide – and yes, this will include my all-time favourite Cloud Paint blushes. But that's not all, if your basket crosses the £100 threshold, which is not hard to do, the discount will be bumped up to 30% off.
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Sephora's early Black Friday deals have started with up to 20% off its biggest products, including the long-loved Benefit Benetint. This cult classic has truly stood the test of time and it's all for great reason.
The pigmented fluid applies like water (bear with me) but it blends out to create a seamless flush of colour to the cheeks and lips. It's more like a stain, so the finish is very natural plus it lasts too.
I'm still expecting a larger sale to hit the site (and the store, if you wish to queue) as we get closer to the Black Friday weekend.
The Summer Fridays Lip Butter is viral for a reason. As the name suggests, the butter formula glides over the lips to instantly moisturise and add shine. Plus, there are many flavours and scents to choose from including vanilla and Iced Coffee. If it has had a spot on your wish list for months, you can now grab it with 25% off.
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Huda Beauty's Easy Bake is my favourite powder for blurring pores and setting my under-eyes. The formula is lighter than air, meaning it sets onto the skin without looking like you're wearing a layer of powder. Plus, it ensures your makeup lasts all day too – a great one if you've got a day full of activities.
LookFantastic's Black Friday sale has already kicked off, with up to 50% off selected items. I've spotted so many products to add to my wish list, but Bobbi Brown's Enriched Face Base is right at the top. The rich cream is a true multi-tasker: it can be used as a daily moisturiser or I prefer to use it as a hydrating primer before foundation. The velvety cream instantly sinks in, creating a smooth and grippy base for makeup.
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Merit Beauty is one of my favourite brands for easy and minimalist makeup that takes little time or skill to apply. Last year the brand treated us to a 20% off site-wide sale, and the first thing to hit my basket was these little Flush Balms. The cream blushes pack a lot of pigment and they're super easy to apply; dab directly onto your cheek and tap in with your finger.
I've already spotted a few pre-sale discounts on Cult Beauty, including the Milk Makeup Bionic Blush – a creamy and weightless blush that gives a dewy flush to the cheeks. I've had this tube in my kit for years and I always turn to it on my 'no-makeup-makeup' days where I'd like a little colour but nothing too 'done up'.
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If you're using Black Friday to grab any product from Refy, allow it to be the Gloss Highlighter. It's one of the most natural and seamless formulas I've tried, meaning it doesn't leave tell-tale chucks of glitter or a 2016-like strobe on your cheeks. The glow is very subtle and elegant, making it the perfect product for natural-skin days.
Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara has had permanent status in my makeup bag for years, so I always use Black Friday to stock up on my favourite formula for less. This year, LookFantastic is has discounts of up to 50% off so use this time to stock up on the products you love!
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Introducing the All Nighter Setting Spray our E-Commerce editor loves. In fact, this stuff is so good it kept her makeup in place during the London Marathon. The gentle mist settles on the skin, leaving a slight matte effect, and locks everything down – yes, even through a 42.2 km run.
I fell in love with Kosas' Revealer Concealer as soon as it landed on UK shores – and not just because it's Hailey Bieber's favourite too, but because it comes with a beautifully creamy consistency that doesn't look like I'm wearing makeup. It's not one for covering pimples, but a lighter option to brighten and lift.
I'm hoping to restock in Cult Beauty's previously 25% off Black Friday sale, which would take the price down to £18.75.
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For those who prefer light finishes and barely-there coverage, I'm going to put you onto Summer Fridays' Sheer Skin Tint. The fluid is incredibly sheer, meaning it fades pigmentation and redness without looking like makeup, and the skincare benefits (read: vitamin E and squalane) keep the skin hydrated and supple.
When is Black Friday 2024?
Traditionally, Black Friday falls on the last Friday of November, making this year's Black Friday the 29th November. This is when the official shopping event will begin, with the deals lasting throughout the weekend and into Cyber Monday, too. But keep an eye out throughout the whole month as deals will start to trickle in early.
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What are the best Black Friday makeup deals?
I've covered many Black Friday sales as an E-commerce Writer, so I've become well versed with the best makeup deals to eye up. Smaller, female-founded brands like Merit Beauty and REFY always welcome Black Friday with a generous discount, while big e-tailers like Cult Beauty and Sephora slash the prices across hundreds of brands and products with up to 25% off. Plus, the deals won't end there; many retailers throw in extra 'Black Friday' specials like free gifts with purchase and additional discount codes.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday originated in the States by the luxury department store Macy's as a way to carry on the Thanksgiving festivities by dropping a huge sale. Soon after, other retailers carried on the tradition by dropping mega sales and cashing in on the pre-Christmas shopping rush. It wasn't until the 1980s when the term 'Black Friday' was coined and the event spread across the pond to become a global shopping extravaganza.
Fast forward to 2024 and Black Friday remains a big event in our calendars as it's the best time to snap up some incredible discounts before Christmas. And I'm not talking small savings from last year's stock; Black Friday is the time when retailers actually drop its prices (read: 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% off!) on the items we actually want to buy.
