I’m a Beauty Expert, and Here’s My Black Friday Shopping List

November 27, 2020 at 03:20PM

It’s a controversial thing to say, but in theory, Black Friday is so not my thing. I spend my working life advising people to consider their beauty purchases very carefully, and that message simply doesn’t align with the concept of Black Friday. Trust me. I totally understand the temptation of a bargain, especially when it comes to pretty beauty products. However, doing your research and working out which products are right for you is just as important on Black Friday as it is any other time.

With that being said, there’s no doubt that now is the time to stock up on age-old favourites and dream products that have always been slightly out of budget. If you’re anything like me, your inbox will be flooded with flash sales, discounts, and offers from every beauty brand and retailer out there, and as overwhelming as it seems, there are certainly some treasures to be found.

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This year, more so than ever, I have been thinking carefully about where and how I spend my money. In the past, I have been known to splurge in beauty halls on the prettiest-looking products. However, over the years, I have learned that the buzz I got off buying beauty in this way was always short-lived. More often than not, I was left with shelves of products that just weren’t quite right for me. 

To avoid repeats of years gone by, this Black Friday, I’m taking advantage of the fact that in-store shopping is off the cards. By removing the chance of my inner magpie tempting me to make impulse buys, I have spent the last few weeks compiling a list of the products I actually want to purchase, and I’m promising to stick to it. While it’s highly unlikely I’ll be purchasing everything on the list, I certainly won’t be straying from it. Following weeks of careful consideration and a whole bunch of research, keep scrolling to discover the products I’m planning to buy this Black Friday, including a round-up of all the best deals to be had.

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When it comes to luxury skincare, you really can’t beat Net-a-Porter and this Black Friday it has 15% off the likes of Dr Barbara Sturm, La Mer and Sarah Chapman—the perfect time to invest in a pot of Crème de la Mer.

Harvey Nichols is offering up to 10% off selected beauty items this Black Friday. The one offer that beauty editors will be most tempted by is on Augustinus Bader’s now iconic moisturiser, ‘The Cream’—it’s one of those products that you never ever expect to find in a sale. 

With up to 20% off selected lines across beauty, I plan on taking full advantage of John Lewis’s discounted fragrance offering this Black Friday. While there are plenty of fragrances I’d love to buy right now, I think it’s is a good time to replace an old favourite that comes with an eye-watering price tag. I used up my last bottle of Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino in the spring and went the whole summer without it. It was sorely missed, but I just couldn’t bring myself to buy it full price. With 17% off right now, it’s definitely something I’m considering.

It’s rare that Elemis products get discounted, so I always make my cult purchases on Black Friday. This year, the brand is offering 35% off, plus a free five-piece day or night gift when you spend £100 after discount with code SPECTACULAR. I’ll be stocking up on my go-to Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm in the biggest size available. I use it every morning and every night, so it never goes to waste.

With 30% off sitewide and savings of up to 80% on their exclusive online sets, Ciaté London is set to be one of my go-to destinations this Black Friday. I’m already borderline obsessed with its nail stickers (Cheat Sheets Vol. 2), which make at-home nail art super easy, and I’ve been looking for the perfect excuse to try out some of its other products for a while now. This lengthening and volumising mascara has been on my list for ages, and I can’t wait to give it a whirl.

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Preaching a message that I can definitely get behind, Deciem is offering 23% off its entire site throughout the whole of November. With the aim to encourage customers to shop slowly and thoughtfully, it avoids any last-minute rush and panic buying. I recently finished off a small bottle of the mega-hydrating, anti-ageing Buffet serum from The Ordinary, and I loved it. I’ve since discovered the brand does it in a supersize 60ml, so I’ll definitely be stocking up before the month is over.

With savings of up to 20% on selected premium beauty products and fragrance, as well as other flash deals, it’s safe to say Boots is a sure-fire hit for a Black Friday beauty bargain. Adamant not to stock up on products I simply don’t need (although Boots’ offering makes it very tempting), I’m just going to stick to a safe restock of my favourite skincare product ever made, Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex. With a saving of 20%, it makes total sense to stock up now.

My go-to site for all things beauty, Lookfantastic already has a number of enticing deals online, with up to 35% off selected lines. Right now, I’m fully sold on the fact it has up to 33% off Sarah Chapman, including the cult facial steamer. I’ve been in the market for a steamer for a while now (they’re great for boosting glow), but they can be quite expensive. However, with 33% off, I think now might be the time to take the plunge.

Right now, you can get up to 20% off selected lines at Selfridges by using code SELFCCE at checkout. To be quite honest, the offering is quite overwhelming, with countless products that wouldn’t usually be discounted included in the offer. But without a doubt, the bargain of the whole of Black Friday, for me, is 20% off my favourite Diptyque Baies Candle.

My treasured GHDs broke a few months ago, and I’ve been holding out for Black Friday to purchase some more. With up to 20% off stylers, hairdryers, and curlers, I’m upgrading my straighteners to the Platinum+, which promises to be more effective and kinder to strands.

Not to be outshone, Feelunique is offering up to 33% off selected brands. I’m particularly intrigued by how drastically prices of French pharmacy best seller La Roche-Posay have been slashed. With 33% off, I’m picking up a tube of Effaclar Duo Anti-Imperfections Moisturiser to help keep my mask-induced breakouts in check.

If you’re shopping for Christmas presents, can I please turn your attention to Charlotte Tilbury? With 30% off selected lines, there are plenty of bargains to be had. Having said that, I’m being good and sticking to just one thing that I really want. Okay fine, it’s technically three products. Eyes to Mesmerise cream eye shadow is, by far, one of my favourite eye products out there, and I use my pots to death. This week, there’s 30% off when you buy a trio of shades, and Charlotte can count me in.

With 20% off sitewide, you better believe I’m picking up some pretty MAC faves. If you’re yet to try the brand’s Powder Kiss Lipstick, let me enlighten you. It’s matte but totally weightless and leaves lips with a pretty, blurred finish. I’m totally in love with the shade I already have (Sultry Move), and I’m ready to add some more to my collection, especially burnt red Devoted To Chili.

My favourite bath and body brand is offering 25% off sitewide using code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout. I’m fully stocked with its delicious bath oils, but I have been waiting for the right time to repurchase the sleep-inducing Deep Relax Body Treatment. Parting with £42 for a body cream isn’t easy, but with 25% off, it’s a little easier.

Prepare for this one: By Terry is currently offering up to 70% off selected lines. By far one of my favourite makeup brands, there’s a long list of the things I’d like to buy right now, but I’m being sensible, remember? One of my go-to products from the brand is this highlighter-foundation hybrid. I just swipe it along the high points of my face to blur, perfect, and boost luminosity. I’m in total disbelief that it’s only £12 right now.

Everything at Glossier will be 25% off (up to 35% when you shop sets) from Friday, 27 November through to Monday, 30 November. It might not be sunny out, but we should all be wearing SPF all day, every day if we want to protect our skin against harmful rays. The minute Glossier’s Black Friday deal starts, I’m adding the lightweight Invisible Shield straight to my basket.

Between 26November and 1December, Nars will be slashing 20% off its prices across the whole site. I’ll be using this opportunity to buy a backup Soft Matte Complete Concealer—my everyday staple.

Space NK is offering 25% off every £100 spent on site in its Black Friday sale. We have our eye on Dr Dennis Gross’ cult peel pads. 

Author Shannon Lawlor | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC