The best early Black Friday beauty bargains and what to look out for in 2026, according to a shopping expert

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It’s almost time for shops to wage their annual price war as they scramble to offer the biggest discounts on the high street – and few categories are as competitive as beauty.

This year, Black Friday lands on 27 November but brands are already gearing up for the shopping frenzy with many websites expected to roll out deals days or even weeks before the main event.

While this year's deals are still largely under wraps 2025's shopping highlights offer some clues. Last year, the likes of Boots went live with its first discounts as early as 1 November, with its biggest savings – like 63% off the Clinique Beauty Icons gift set – reserved for the big week.

Elsewhere, Dyson’s sellout Supersonic Origin hair dryer was reduced by £90 at the likes of Boots and Argos with up to £200 off some of its bestselling haircare bundles; while ghd slashed its Platinum+ & Helios Deluxe styling set by 30%.

Notably, all of these deals went live prior to Black Friday itself – so if you’ve got your eye on an item already, it’s worth adding to your basket or bookmarking it now as there’s a high chance of sellout among the most in-demand brands.

Liz Hewitt, director of general merchandise at Boots, explains: "Before diving into the Black Friday deals, take a moment to write down what you're looking for. 

"Whether it's Christmas presents, your favourite beauty essentials or a bigger ticket purchase you've had your eye on, having a shopping list will help you prioritise the things you really want. 

"It's also worth setting yourself a budget so you can make the most of the savings and get more for your money." 

Wallets at the ready, everyone, as this year is set to be less of a race and more of a sprint to the checkout.

Beauty advent calendars: The Black Friday deals to look out for

With many beauty advent calendars going on sale as early as August, leaving it until late November to purchase may feel a risky move – but if you’re willing to hold out for a bargain then you’re in with a chance of making some decent savings.

Last year, the likes of Boots, Space NK and Debenhams rolled out generous discounts on their own-brand calendars the week before Black Friday, so we’re likely to see similar reductions for 2026.

Our advice? If you’ve got your eye on a particular brand, then set a reminder on your phone to check prices on the morning of Monday 23rd November and continue checking every day that week.

Of course, if you’ve got your heart set on a designer model from the likes of Liberty London, Harrods or Harvey Nichols, then there’s a high chance it will sell out before November so be mindful of that.

Finally, when it comes to value, don’t be too swayed by the ‘worth’ vs sale price comparison; the product’s entire point is its value per ml, so the savings are already baked into its pre-sale price.

Instead, you’ll want to look closely at the RRP vs sale price; last year saw discounts of between 15% and 50% off in this category, so anything over 20% is worth snapping up.

Top tips for grabbing a beauty advent calendar deal

1. Don't delay. If you’ve got your eye on a luxury brand (like Harrods, Liberty or Harvey Nichols) you’re better off buying sooner rather than later; luxury calendars rarely restock once the initial run is depleted, so waiting until late November is a risky game.

2. Set alerts. Sign up to waiting lists, emails and newsletters, and make sure you set that phone reminder every morning at 6am sharp to check whether your calendar of choice has gone on sale.

3. Do your research. An analysis of 25 leading beauty advent calendars last year showed an average ‘saving’ of 74% compared to buying the individual products. If you’re not sure whether you’re getting a bargain, this is a useful baseline for RRP.

Facial cleansing brushes: The Black Friday deals to look out for

Thanks to TikTok’s Swedish Skincare obsession and countless unboxing videos, the humble cleansing brush has cemented itself as one of the most sought-after products across Black Friday.

Known for leaving skin squeaky clean, if you don’t already have one of these in your skincare regime then Black Friday is the perfect time of year to introduce one.

With price tags for premium brands topping £200, it’s not unusual to see savings of 40% as rival brands battle it out in the sales. Regardless of budget, you should be looking for an absolute minimum discount of 20% to ensure you’re getting a good deal before clicking ‘add to basket’.

Last year, the likes of FOREO and Magnitone offered between 30% and 50% off some of their bestselling devices; while Boots lured shoppers in with a third of its cult No7 Radiant Results sonic brush, down from £30 to £20.

Early holiday shoppers should mark their calendars for mid-November, as discounts began dropping from the 10th onwards last year (and they’re likely to follow suit for 2026 in this ultra-competitive category).

Cleansing brush saving tips 

1. Don’t waste time: Bestselling models (especially in popular colourways) sold out within 48 hours last year so if you’ve got your eye on a particular brand, act fast to avoid disappointment.

2. Get ahead of the sales: Discounts in this category started dropping from around 10th November last year, so if you’ve got your heart set on grabbing a bargain then keep checking and refreshing the websites.

3. Look out for flash deals: Last year, stockists like Boots, Cult Beauty and LOOKFANTASTIC ran rolling discounts throughout November, saving their most impressive savings for the Friday-Monday window (this year that’ll be 27th 30th November).

Gift sets: The Black Friday deals to watch out for

If you’re hoping to snag a bargain in the gift aisle, you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled – this is one of the most competitive categories when it comes to Black Friday, so deals will start dropping from early November onwards, and many for a limited time.

To get a heads up, make sure you follow your favourite brands on social media and sign up to email newsletters as they often give subscribers advanced warning of sale dates.

As with advent calendars, many retailers will highlight the ‘worth value’ of the individual products vs sale price messaging, so it’s worth remembering that the standard pre-sale RRP is already heavily discounted. If you want a genuine bargain, make sure you’re looking at the actual percentage discount.

Most brands will be offering between 25% and 50% off their bestselling sets, so aiming for 40% is normally a good benchmark - and do make sure you shop around to make sure you’re finding the best deal.

Last year, Boots got ahead of the game by launching its first wave of deals on 1st November, while the likes of Space NK and Cult Beauty held off until Cyber Week itself (the week leading up to Black Friday, which starts on Monday 23rd November this year).

Among the most popular sets? Clinique Beauty Icons Star Gift Set and Liz Earle’s Ultimate Skincare Collection sold out almost instantly in 2025, so keep an eye out to avoid disappointment.

How to find the best beauty set bargains 

1. Get organised: Set your calendar for 1st November and check your favourite retailers’ websites each morning for flash deals

2. Insider info: Sign up to brands’ email newsletters to get a heads-up on upcoming deal drops

3. Look closer: Focus on percentage discount off RRP rather than ‘worth price’ vs sale price

What makes a good Black Friday beauty discount? 

Here's what sort of discounts to look out for across different categories: 

• Cleansing brushes (RRP £30-£200): 30%+
• Advent calendars (RRP £40-£280): 15%+ (discounts are rarer in this category)
• Beauty gift sets and bundles (RRP £25-£120): 25%+ off
• Haircare electricals and styling tools (RRP £80-£500): 20%+ off
• LED light therapy masks (RRP £120-£400): 20%+ off
• Fragrance and perfume gift sets (RRP £15-£90): 20%+off

Everything you wanted to know about shopping for beauty in Black Friday in 2026 

When do Black Friday beauty deals go live?

For the vast majority of stores, discounts are likely to drop well before Black Friday, in some cases even before Cyber Week. Boots often launches its early ‘Star Gifts’ from 1st November, while cleansing brush deals start around 10th November and advent calendar cuts roll out daily from around the last week of the month (although many remain at full price well into December).

How do I know if I’m getting a good discount?

This will vary by category, but shoppers should look for a minimum discount of 20% off RRP for advent calendars and cleansing brushes, and aim for up to 40% off on beauty gift sets. If you’re unsure, check a deal comparison tool like PriceSpy or Camel Camel Camel.

How can I make sure I don’t miss a deal?

Sign up for email newsletters with your favourite brands for advance warning on sale drops - and set 6am phone reminders to check for flash deals.

"Black Friday can be a great time to invest in those bigger-ticket beauty purchases you've been considering for a while," says Liz Hewitt of Boots. 

"Whether that's upgrading your hair styling tools, investing in a new electric toothbrush or treating someone to something special, my advice is to do your research ahead of time. 

"Make a note of the products and brands you've had your eye on and keep a lookout for offers so you're ready to snap up a great deal when you see one." 

Ultimately, the secret to tracking down the best Black Friday bargains comes down to getting organised well in advance of the big day.

You should sign up for early alerts and newsletters to stay ahead of flash deals, and make sure you compare sale price to RRP rather than its ‘worth value’ when it comes to bundles and sets. 

The most in-demand pieces are liable to sell out quickly, so when you spot a genuine bargain make sure you have your credit card at the ready.

For live coverage of the best Black Friday deals, visit Daily Mail's Buyline shopping page.

Ready, steady, shop... 

Ready to brave the sales? Crucially, you’ll need to be prepared to act quickly when your favourite brands go on sale.

With discounts dropping from early November, and cult items likely to sell out within hours, timing is paramount.

Bookmark those priority items, monitor daily price drops during Cyber Week, and pounce on decent discounts as soon as you spot them to avoid missing out.