Heads up! Black Friday is coming and I'm already 👀-ing up the best makeup deals in 2024
Without a doubt, Black Friday is the best time of year to score some epic makeup deals. I've been a beauty writer and professional shopper (yes, that's a real thing) for years and I always ask myself the same question: 'When did makeup get so darn expensive?'
Srsly, add up the contents of your makeup bag RN and I bet you the price is way higher than you'd expect! So IMO, Black Friday is the best time to stock up on the beauty products you love at a considerably smaller amount or to get ahead with your X-mas gifting for the makeup lover in your life.
To save you hours of scrolling and potential repetitive strain injury (been there) I've compiled the best makeup deals you can expect to see this Black Friday, from big e-tailers where you can shop from a huge directory of names to some smaller female-founded brands that we all rate on Team Cosmo. You're welcome.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday originally started in the states as a Pre-Christmas sale shopping event. Back in the day, this was an IRL event with customers lining outside stores waiting to grab the latest piece of Tech or beauty must-have with a generous discount. In 2010 it came to UK shores and now it's a phenomenally popular online shopping event. Most brands and e-tailers take part, usually slashing their prices by 20%, 30%, 50% and in some cases, 60%.
When is Black Friday 2024?
When it comes to shopping, Black Friday is always the busiest time of year. It falls on the last Friday of November, making this year Friday 29 November and the sales tend to run until Cyber Monday, Monday 2 December 2024.
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What makeup deals were in last year's Black Friday sale?
There is a lot going on when it comes to Black Friday makeup deals, and it seems each year the offerings get better and better. While we wait patiently to see what's in-store for 2024, let me remind you of how great last year's makeup deals were to give you a taster of what Black Friday is all about.
In 2023, I loaded up my cart with Space NK deals of up to 25% off, a new Glossier Boy Brow with 20% off, a Merit Flush Balm with 20% off and a couple of top-ups from Cult Beauty's site-wide 25% off sale.
Best Black Friday makeup deals to expect...
If 2023 taught me anything, it's that makeup brands don't mess around when it comes to Black Friday. While we're still waiting for all the offish 2024 Black Friday deals to drop, I can talk a little bit about what to expect – I am a shopping writer after all. E-tailers like Cult Beauty and LookFantastic tend to drop blanket, site-wide discounts, as well as special offers on certain brands. Companies like REFY and Merit also offer discounts and from previous years I've seen these to be anywhere from 20-25% off. I'll be updating the page as and when the deals drop, so keep your peepers pealed.
REFY
When REFY launched in 2020, it debuted with a petite collection of products – featuring the Brow Pencil, Brown Pomade and Brow Sculpt that everyone was buying to re-create Jess’ Insta-famous fluffy brow.
Four years on and the brand now has 40 + products in its line-up and earlier this year REFY introduced a fashion and lifestyle collection with a limited edit of bespoke garments and household items (still drooling over that metal cup and saucer – if you saw!).
As for the products... where do I begin? If you’re using the Black Friday sale to grab anything, let it be the new Lip Blur Liners. They’re the creamiest, most pigmented pencils that plump up your lips x10. Or if complexion cosmetics are what you’re after, stock up on the Cream Bronzer ‘till 2026.
Merit Beauty
I see Merit as the makeup brand for the fashion girlies – and I’ve got everything crossed that the brand participates in Black Friday this year. Announcing new launches in line with Fashion Week – not to mention some stunning collabs with luxury brands like Tove – Merit is the kind of brand where each product is considered and hella chic.
A few favourites I’m hoping to see in the Black Friday sale? The brand’s first foray into fragrance is at the top of my list. After 200 attempts, Merit finalised on this comforting, slightly sexy, and easy-going aroma that’s perfect for every day. And on the cosmetic side, I’m stockpiling the Flush Blushes. These lil pocket pigments are stupidly good.
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury knows how to do a good Black Friday sale, and this year I'm expecting no different. In previous years, the brand offers up to 30% off site wide (including its dazzling Tilbury Gifting Universe) but it’s often set up as a tired system – so the more you spend the closer you get to scoring 30% off.
If you’re a fan of the Tilbs you’ll know that she’s no stranger to innovation; I can’t even count how many launches came out this year so there are a lot of wish-list items to covet. But if you’re gonna use Black Friday to score anything, I’d suggest the classic Hollywood Flawless Filter (it’s just a makeup back staple, IMO) and the new Eye Revival Patches.
Glossier
Not many brands have as many globally recognised products as Glossier. Boy Brow... hello! Balm Dot Com... how you doing? You... nice to have you here.
There are so many hero products to its name but the brand continues to innovate, bringing us new launches to swoon over (read: see our Beauty Director’s review on the new fragrance launches).
Last year, the brand offered a 25% off Black Friday sale which rose to 30% off when you spent £100 + which, tbf, is kinda easy with Glossier. We’re hoping for the same love this year, if not better!
Cult Beauty
The beauty directory at Cult Beauty is stellar, with so many brands to shop. But when it comes to the makeup department, I certainly have some faves. Saie is at the top of my list (you can read my personal love letter here) for radiant, everyday makeup, while I’ll always use Black Friday to stock up on my ‘special occasion’ makeup, from brands like NARS and Hourglass.
Cult Beauty is usually very generous with its Black Friday discounts – last year it offered up to 25% off big-name brands – so we should be in for a treat in 2024.
Sephora
We’re in the 21st century babe, there’s no need to queue for hours outside an IRL Sephora store as the Black Friday sale will hit the online shelves too! For us Brits, this will be the third Black Friday sale the brand will put on since it crossed the pond so I’m thinking: ‘third time’s a charm?’ Not that previous sales have been sub-par (this is Sephora we’re talking about!) but I'm hoping that 2024 will bring something even more special.
Why shop Sephora’s Black Friday sale? Stans will know it’s home to some exclusive brands you can’t get your mitts on elsewhere. Starting with the in-house Sephora label (obvs) as well as names like ONE/SIZE, Makeup by Mario and Haus Labs.
Vieve
If you haven't already got a Vieve wish list, Black Friday is your time to make one. Not only is it one of my fave glow-giving makeup brands, but it's a winner across the whole Cosmo beauty team – plus the millions of TikTok views and countless viral products (erm, hi Skin Nova) goes to show how phenomenally popular this brand is.
If you're new to Vieve and wanna use this time to score a product for less – as I'm hoping to see a BF deal or two – I'd 100% suggest scoring the Skin Nova Primer. Doing exactly what it says on the bottle, it adds a radiant sheen to your complexion making a beautiful base to apply makeup to.
Beauty Bay
I always check out Beauty Bay's Black Friday offering as, in previous years, it has been one of the best when it comes to online beauty retailers. In previous years, Beauty Bay has offered up to 50% off across selected lines as well as 20% off its famous eyeshadow palettes.
As for the makeup brands available to shop, Beauty Bay is home to names that are hard to find elsewhere, like Made by Mitchell and Pink Honey.
Fenty Beauty
If you've been 👀-ing up the Fenty Pro Filt'r Foundation or the ridiculously popular Gloss Bomb but don't fancy dropping full-price cash, Black Friday is approaching so here's your opportunity to bag the best for less.
Last year, Fenty offered a 25% off site-wide sale so I can only hope for even better in 2024. And while I always think of makeup whenever Fenty Beauty comes to mind, know that the brand also has some stellar skincare and body care products to check out too. There's a reason it's one of the most successful celeb-founded beauty brands. Take a bow, Riri.
LookFantastic
LookFantastic is my go-to beauty e-tailer when I'm in desperate need of makeup top ups as its line-up of brands is pretty huge. Oh, and as for Black Friday, it always offers some of the best deals around which usually start way before the actual shopping event.
Last year big-boy brands, like MAC, NARS and Benefit, were reduced by 20% off and some select products even reached up to 50% off. Black Friday is also a great time to check out the LF exclusives which often come with a generous % off, such as NARS and Kylie Cosmetics gift sets.
Saie Beauty
Have a peep inside every beauty editor's makeup bag and I bet you'll find something from Saie Beauty (it's pronounced 'say', BTW). Not only has it got the looks, but the formulas are easy to use and they're infused with skin-kind ingredients.
There are so many products from its range that I love, but if I'm using Black Friday to score anything, it's the Dew Bronze bronzers. These little tubes contain a lightweight formula that blends to create a radiant and warm complexion. You can find Saie on Cult Beauty, so be sure to check out its deals this Black Friday.
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