Black Friday is a bit of a shock to my system every year. On the one hand, there are SO MANY cool deals to bag. On the other, though, I will inevitably end up buying about 7436578686 things that I never needed in the first place, out of sheer temptation.
And since my family has a super-strict ‘no gifts’ policy, there are only so many people that I can dump the excess bestow the good stuff upon!
At the end of it, I always realise that the savings weren’t worth the expenditure after all. Spending money to save money is not always great unless you have a plan.
So, this Black Friday (and Cyber Monday, along with the rest of the Holiday sales), this is my plan: I first make a list of things I actually want (which, not surprisingly, is largely more beauty products!).
Then I wait. If one of these items go on sale, I will snap them up immediately. If not, well… I may well end up buying them anyway. Because I need them in my life. That, actually, is a good touchstone: Would I buy this even if it wasn’t on sale?
These, then are the products I am rooting for during Cyber Week 2019. They are also some of the best and biggest sales happening at the moment.
Augustinus Bader The Cream
If there’s one thing that I’ve learnt in my life as a beauty editor, it’s that you get what you pay for where skincare is concerned. And Augustinus Bader’s The Cream is worth every penny but it can skate right outside the very edges of affordability. Hence, the Black Friday stock-up on this cult cream.
Black Friday sales cred: The only place where I have seen Augustinus Bader on sale till now is at Cult Beauty. The site is offering between 15-25% off, depending on how much you spend. Now, let’s do the maths. The 30ml size is available for US$170 stateside. It’s £104 on Cult Beauty, plus a 20% discount with the code NEWBLACK20 and free shipping to the US. So, it’s £83, in short. Which is about US$107. DEAL!
Lord Jones Royal Oil
You already know of my love for the broad spectrum Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Oil. It’s so good that I am now tempted to try the much more potent Royal Oil, which packs in an awesome 1000 mg of CBD (read why it matters here). And you can both ingest it and use it topically.
Black Friday sales cred: It’s at 25% off on the Lord Jones site, with the code THELORDSAVES.
NCLA Beauty nail polishes and lipsticks
NCLA Beauty is another brand that I keep buying constantly. Not only are their nail polishes and lipsticks clean and phenomenally formulated (I’ve never had a nail polish stay on for so long – an average of 8-10 days), they also have the most beautiful colors, with a sassy, cool California vibe that I love!
The ones I have on constant rotation: Pasadena Roses (soft pink mauve) and Down on the West Coast (deep rosy-nude) lipsticks and Clubhouse Cocktails (creamy lavender), She’s Overboard & Self Assured (deep, creamy pink) and 2″ Above The Knee, Yeah Right! (the perfect canary yellow) nail polishes.
Black Friday sales cred: Everything is 35% off on the site with the code BF19.
Tan-Luxe The Body
I am not much for tanning – must be some repressed Asian genes at work there! However, since I have recently taken the decision to occasionally move from my jeans-and-tee uniform to more dressed up skirts and dresses, it has become apparent that my legs are way too pale (from being covered up all the time, I guess!). Plus, they have a few old scars from the time I would bunk school by jumping over the fence (!!!!), so a nice, mild, golden tan seems just the thing.
All my beauty editor friends swear by Tan-Luxe’s The Body, which you simply mix into your regular body lotion and leave overnight. You can customise how dark you want to go – add 2 drops for a light cover and upto 12 for darker bronzing. Will keep you updated on how this one goes.
Black Friday sales cred: Everything is a superb 50% off on the site.
WelleCo The Super Green Elixir
This green powder created by supermodel Elle Macpherson and Dr Simone Laubscher is my go-to 365 days a year. I would go as far as to say that this is one of those rare things that I absolutely can’t live without. I have chronic problems with acidity, largely thanks to the constant travelling and eating out. And not only does acidity cause heartburn, it also results in fatigue, sluggishness, lacklustre skin, poor digestion and weight gain.
I came upon WelleCo’s Super Elixir three years back. It combines 45 cold pressed bio-live ingredients (including kelp, turmeric, aloe vera, shiitake mushrooms, barley grass, psyllium husk, and grape seed extract) into a water soluble green powder that’s completely synthetic free. And the clearest proof of its efficacy is that when I skip the Super Elixir, my body immediately knows the difference. It’s possibly the best investment that I’ve made in my health for a long time.
Black Friday sales cred: Use code INSIDER20 for 20% off on the site. If I may suggest, opt for the new Lemon & Ginger version… it’s far more pleasing on the tastebuds.
Otherland Candles
I already have two of Otherland’s limited edition Black Velvet candles, which are deep, dark evening florals that bring to mind “French 75s, sparkly LBDs, and rooms you’re not supposed to be in.” They are dark, and create a smoky, decadent with hints of violet, midnight jasmine and alpine violets. It’s like The Great Gatsby in a candle, basically. And I know that these ones will have prime place in my home long after the limited edition runs out. So, these go straight in the bag.
Black Friday sales cred: Otherland is having its only sale of the year, offering 20% with the code FIREDUP. Want to save even more money? Do like I did and ‘build a 3-pack‘. Individual candles are $36. The 3-pack is $89. Plus 20% off. So, I bought four 3-packs of the Black Velvet – to gift and to keep. Simple.
MDNA The Beauty Roller
This is definitely the best face and body contouring roller in the industry right now. It’s powered with Ultra-Infrared Energy waves (it actually melts ice – and no, it doesn’t feel hot on the skin!) for a noticeably sculpted effect. And you can use it everywhere, from your jawline, cheekbones, forehead and décolleté to arms, thighs, glutes, abs, and hips. This one’s a gift for someone but I can’t say who as they read this blog as well!
Black Friday sales cred: It’s 25% off on the site, which is a saving of US$50!
Boden silk shirts
Boden makes the most gorgeous, the softest, the silkiest silk shirts I have ever worn. But they can be expensive. Which is why I wait for sale time to stock up on both my basics and party-wear. The Silk Shirt is always a favorite and I own it in all existing colors. This time, though, I am eyeing the new Silk Collarless Blouse in ivory white (always wearable) and hoping to pick up a sparkly dress for my school reunion later this month.
Black Friday sales cred: Almost everything is 30% off on the site, with the code H7N3. Though, note that Boden is a British brand and things tend to be about 20-25% cheaper on the UK site. Just in case, you have someone coming in from there, it makes for really good savings. The UK code is F9T6.
Mejuri jewellery
This ultra-cool, ultra-hip jewellery brand never, ever goes on sale. So, this is kind of a big deal. Have you seen their Croissant collection, which references those delicious Parisian treats? I live out of them.
Black Friday sales cred: The more you buy, the more you save – it’s 10% off one item, 15% off two, and 20% off three+. I am getting one expensive item (the Oversized Thin Hoops) with two that are not so wallet-heavy (Disc Drop earrings and Croissant Dome earrings) to get the 20% bracket. The hoops for me, the other two for my BFFs. That’s two gifts sorted!
What are your Black Friday / Cyber Monday / Rest of Cyber Week picks for this year? I would love to discover something new.
Hands down the best Black Friday tips for the beauty lover. Thanks!