Black Friday Beauty Deals That Are Actually Worth It
Black Friday is brilliant for beauty if you treat it like a strategy, not a scramble. I think the real wins come from upgrades with long warranties, refill ecosystems and daily utility, rather than huge discounts on things you barely use.
Below is a ten item list of sensible upgrades with realistic savings expectations and validated retailer links. One slot goes to our own mirror, because lighting quality genuinely changes your skin and makeup results at home. The rest are non LUNA picks chosen for reliability and longevity, not hype.
Black Friday beauty deal cheat sheet
| Category | Realistic savings range | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Hair tools (dryers, straighteners) | 15–25% | Authorised retailers, model numbers, 2 year warranty. |
| Skincare devices | 20–35% | Replaceable heads, at least 2 year warranty, brand site or major stockist. |
| Makeup brush sets | 25–40% | Brush breakdown you will actually use, no pointless filler brushes. |
| Fragrance discovery and gift sets | 15–30% | A mix of bestselling and niche scents, not just clearance stock. |
| SPF and derm backed skincare | 20–30% | Evidence based brands, broad spectrum filters, pharmacy or authorised sites. |
| Beauty storage and organisers | 15–25% | Sturdy build and modular design that fits your actual space. |
⚡ PRO INSIGHT: Decide your ceiling price before Black Friday, write it down, and only buy when the product hits that number at a trusted retailer. The discipline matters more than the size of the discount.
The list: 10 upgrades worth tracking
Prices here are typical full prices at time of writing, with realistic Black Friday savings you can expect if you shop around. Always check current pricing on the day.
1. Dyson Supersonic hair dryer – the weekly time saver
The Dyson Supersonic has been one of the most consistently recommended hair dryers in beauty retail, with high speed drying and heat control that protects shine. In the UK, special editions with a presentation case often sit around the £360 mark on Dyson direct and other major retailers, with modest discounts during key events like Black Friday and Boxing Day sales :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
Smart way to buy: look for official colourways and bundles on the Dyson UK site and authorised stockists rather than marketplace resellers. Target a 15–20 percent saving, or a value bundle with a case and extra attachments rather than a suspiciously low price from an unknown seller.
Typical price: around £360 in the UK for current editions. Upgrade payoff: faster drying, less heat damage and a tool you will genuinely use several times a week.
Browse Dyson Supersonic hair dryers →
2. ghd Platinum+ Styler – the reliable straightener
The ghd Platinum+ is one of the most respected straighteners in salons, with predictive heat technology that keeps the plates at an optimal temperature. On the ghd UK site it often lists around £239, with Black Friday and seasonal promotions bringing it closer to £189 on selected colours :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
Smart way to buy: check ghd direct, then cross check with stockists like LookFantastic or John Lewis. Ignore listings that use similar names but are older models. Pick a shade that feels timeless so you do not get bored of it in a year.
Typical price: around £200–£239, often closer to £189 in events. Realistic saving: 15–25 percent.
View ghd Platinum+ at ghd UK →
3. FOREO LUNA 4 – gentle cleanse, not a gadget fad
Cleansing devices are easy to write off, but FOREO is one of the few that has lasted more than a trend cycle. The LUNA 4 silicone cleansing device typically retails around £189 at retailers like Sephora UK and LookFantastic :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Smart way to buy: wait for a 20–30 percent event on official retailers and avoid third party marketplace sellers for anything with a battery or warranty. Pick the skin type version that genuinely matches your skin, not just your favourite colour.
Typical price: about £189. Realistic saving: 20–30 percent in major events.
Shop FOREO LUNA 4 at Sephora UK →
4. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 SPF50+ – boring but essential
If there is one repeat purchase to stock up on, it is a broad spectrum SPF you trust. La Roche Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ is widely recommended by dermatology bodies and is stocked by Boots, Superdrug and other reputable pharmacies in the UK :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
The British Association of Dermatologists advises choosing at least SPF 30 with high UVA protection, applied in adequate amounts, as part of everyday protection :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}. UVMune 400 fits that brief and sits around the £20 mark for 50 ml, often with 20–30 percent pharmacy promotions :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
Smart way to buy: stick to pharmacy chains or authorised online retailers, and be wary of very cheap listings on marketplaces for sunscreen. Check that the product is the current formula and has a long enough expiry date for the number of bottles you plan to buy.
Typical price: about £20 for 50 ml. Realistic saving: 20–30 percent during events and multi buy offers.
Find Anthelios UVMune 400 at Boots →
“We recommend choosing a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that offers high UVA protection and applying it liberally.”
— Guidance from the British Association of Dermatologists
5. Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector – once a week repair
For colour treated or heat styled hair, a bond building treatment makes more sense than an extra shampoo. Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector is one of the best known, with a 100 ml bottle usually priced around £28 and often reduced to about £21 on LookFantastic and similar sites during promotions :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
Smart way to buy: check that the bottle size is 100 ml and avoid unbranded marketplace sellers, as counterfeit haircare is a real issue. If your budget is tight, buy one bottle and commit to a weekly routine instead of grabbing every Olaplex product in the line.
Typical price: £28 RRP for 100 ml, often around £21 in sales. Realistic saving: 20–30 percent.
See Olaplex No.3 at LookFantastic →
6. Real Techniques Everyday Essentials brush set – affordable daily tools
Brush sets are a classic Black Friday trap: huge savings on twenty brushes you never touch. The Real Techniques Everyday Essentials set stays on the sensible side, with five workhorse tools that cover base, highlight and eyes. In the UK it usually sits around the £20–£22 mark across Boots, LookFantastic and other retailers :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
Smart way to buy: look for sets where you recognise every brush use. Holiday gift sets are often discounted by 25–40 percent and can beat the price of buying each brush individually.
Typical price: around £21. Realistic saving: 25–40 percent on well chosen gift sets.
Browse Real Techniques Everyday Essentials →
7. Fragrance discovery set – Jo Malone London Cologne collection
Fragrance is one of the hardest gifts to get right. Discovery sets solve that by offering several small bottles from the same house. A Jo Malone London cologne or Cologne Intense collection, for example, typically sits around £120 for a set of 5 x 9 ml at stores like Harrods and John Lewis :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
Smart way to buy: pick discovery kits that include true hero scents, not just obscure flankers. Check whether the set includes an in store redeemable voucher, which can lift the value significantly.
Typical price: around £110–£120 for premium discovery kits. Realistic saving: 15–25 percent, sometimes with extra samples added in cart.
See Jo Malone Cologne sets at Harrods →
8. Charlotte Tilbury lip kit – LED safe colour that still feels special
If your lighting is accurate at home, you want lip shades that look good in both daylight and warm evening light. Charlotte Tilbury lip kits, such as the Pillow Talk Mini Lip Kit, combine a liner and lipstick in flattering, wearable tones and tend to sit around the £21 mark on the brand’s UK site :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
Smart way to buy: avoid buying multiple near identical nude kits. Choose one shade family that works for everyday, then test it in different light settings with your mirror.
Typical price: around £21 for mini kits, higher for full size bundles. Realistic saving: 15–25 percent in curated Black Friday and Boxing Day edits.
Explore Pillow Talk lip kits →
⚡ PRO INSIGHT: Which? has repeatedly shown that many Black Friday “deals” are no cheaper than prices earlier in the year, once you strip out inflated “was” prices. Use price history tools or check a few months of pricing before assuming a banner discount is real :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
9. Stackers beauty organiser – upgrade your storage
The least glamorous but most transformative upgrade is often storage. Stackers offers modular jewellery and makeup storage that actually fits inside drawers and on narrow shelves. Makeup organisers sit from around £55 on the brand’s UK site :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
Smart way to buy: measure your space, then buy a base box plus one or two trays, rather than an entire tower you will never fill. A tidy, visible layout usually makes you use what you own and helps you avoid buying duplicates.
Typical price: from about £55 for a dedicated makeup organiser. Realistic saving: 15–25 percent on bundles and colourways that are not brand new.
View Stackers makeup organisers →
10. Lighting that flatters skin tone: ORBIT by LUNA London
If you only buy one beauty upgrade this Black Friday, I think it should be your lighting. ORBIT is our high CRI vanity mirror that combines daylight balanced LEDs with adjustable colour temperature, so you can check your base in bright “office” light, softer “evening” light or a balanced daytime setting. High colour accuracy mirrors like ORBIT help foundation and bronzer shades look true, which means fewer mismatched base days and less product wasted.
In the UK, ORBIT typically sits around the £150 mark as a design led mirror with 7x magnification, USB C charging and a weighted metal base :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
Smart way to buy: wait for limited event pricing from LUNA London rather than hunting for third party resellers. Pick a finish that matches your decor so you keep it on your dressing table rather than hiding it in a drawer.
Typical price: around £150. Realistic saving: modest event pricing, rather than heavy discounting, as it is a long life product.
Explore ORBIT on LUNA London →
Quick comparison table: where the value really sits
| Upgrade | Approx UK price | Realistic BF saving | Worth it if... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson Supersonic dryer | ~£360 | 15–20% | You blow dry several times a week. |
| ghd Platinum+ straightener | ~£200 | 15–25% | You style or smooth hair frequently. |
| FOREO LUNA 4 | ~£189 | 20–30% | You already have a consistent skincare routine. |
| Derm backed SPF | ~£20 | 20–30% | You wear sunscreen daily and will finish before expiry. |
| Olaplex No.3 | ~£28 | 20–30% | Your hair is coloured or damaged. |
| Brush set, fragrance kit, organiser | £20–£120 | 15–40% | You will genuinely use every piece in the set. |
| ORBIT mirror | ~£150 | Limited event pricing | You want your makeup and skincare to look right in real life. |
Black Friday upgrade checklist
- Know your ceiling price for each item and write it down.
- Check warranty length and returns windows carefully.
- Compare like for like model numbers, not just product names.
- Prefer authorised retailers and pharmacy chains for skincare and devices.
- Keep receipts and screenshots in case you need to challenge a price or return.
Turn Black Friday into a lighting upgrade, not just another palette
If you want your foundation, bronzer and lip shades to look right every day, start with lighting. ORBIT uses high CRI LEDs and adjustable colour temperature so your skin tone looks true at home, not just in store testers. It is a long life upgrade that quietly improves every product you already own.
FAQs
Are Black Friday beauty deals better than pre Christmas sales?
Often yes for big ticket tools like hair dryers and straighteners, because brands tend to anchor their major promotions around Black Friday. For everyday skincare, you can sometimes find similar discounts in pharmacy events across the year, so the key is knowing your target price and tracking it.
How can I avoid fake discounts?
Cross check prices at two or three authorised retailers rather than relying on one banner offer. Which? has repeatedly shown that many Black Friday deals are the same price or even more expensive than earlier in the year once you ignore inflated “was” prices :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
What should I prioritise if I am on a budget?
Pick one weekly use upgrade like a hair tool or vanity mirror, then stock up on derm backed SPF from brands you already know work for you. Avoid spreading your budget over lots of random minis just because they are under £10.
Is it worth buying devices like cleansing brushes on Black Friday?
Only if you already have the basics covered. Make sure your daily cleanser, moisturiser and SPF routine is dialled in first. If it is, then buying a reliable device like FOREO LUNA 4 at 20–30 percent off from an authorised retailer can be a good long term move.
How do I know if a vanity mirror with lights is any good?
Look for high CRI lighting (90 or above), a daylight like setting around 5000–6500 K, and even illumination across the face. Adjustable colour temperature is useful if you do makeup for different environments. A solid base and good build quality matter more than tiny extra features.
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