The biggest shopping event of the year is over folks, and safe to say - Black Friday 2023 was massive. But guess what - until the New Year, there are still plenty of discounts to be found. Instead of scrolling through endless deals and wondering whether you were getting the best price online, we've done all the hard graft for you, finding the biggest online deals across homeware, beauty and more. What can we say - we're the discount deities.
We've got a list of the best places to shop for deals, from fashion to beauty, to gadgets that the TikTok-obsessed have yet to sell out, as well as the must-have products we're snapping up as quickly as our internet connection will allow.
Where to find the best fashion and beauty Christmas sales online
Fashion Sales
PrettyLittleThing: Up to 70% off in the Christmas sale
Boohoo: 25% off almost everything
Uniqlo: Holiday offers
SSENSE: Up to 50% off
Beauty Sales
Boots.com: Christmas offers on gift sets and Dyson
LookFantastic: 30% off selected Beauty Icons
Beauty Bay: Over 50% off products on offers page
Cult Beauty: Save 50% in sale
The best online deals to snag right now in time for Chrimbo - run, don't walk...
Hunting for a deal? We're on it. Here are some of the latest fashion and beauty deals that you can shop at the click of a button.
60% off
www.prettylittlething.com
Save major dough on these fashionable visor sunglasses, perfect for any chic chicas.
better than half price
www.boots.com
Get better than half-price off selected No7 make-up collections on Boots - including this eight-piece make-up set.
68% off
ego.co.uk
Prepare for your next night out with these Fiji Square Toe Block Heels from EGO. Get an extra 30% off its already 68% discount with the code PAYDAY30.
on sale
www.superdrug.com
Superdrug always has an amazing deal happening on their site, and currently, they've got great discounts on vitamins and supplements.
SAVE £40
www.very.co.uk
Getting yourself a video doorbell during the Very sale is just smart thinking - save a ton of cash and keep your home safer.
NOW UNDER £100
www.polaroid.com
The Holiday Sale has begun at Polaroid, where you can snap up this Polaroid Go Generation 2 Starter Set for under 100 quid. Can confirm, this is a good one.
on sale
uk.gymshark.com
Gymshark's famous Vital 2.0 Leggings are in the sale - cue everyone rejoicing. This product is made using dope dyeing technology that uses less water, energy and chemicals.
10% off
www.charlottetilbury.com
Aren't we all just obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury? This kit, now 10% off, includes the Flawless Filter Foundation and the Magic Away Liquid Concealer.
Looking for something specific?
We'll be rounding up all of our favourite products from the top categories to make it even easier for you to save.
What is Black Friday?
If you've been living under a rock for the past few years, Black Friday is basically a day when you can get loads of fantastic deals in the shops. For 24 hours, retailers like Amazon, Argos, John Lewis and more drop their prices in the hopes that people will splash the cash as Christmas draws near.
It originated in America as an annual sale on the day before Thanksgiving, but in recent years the tradition has moved over to the UK. (Yay!)
Traditionally, the day was mostly about getting discounts on tech gadgets and the like, but recently there have been big discounts on fashion, beauty, and even flights.
Now it tends to last more than just one day, too - often you'll find deals and sales last for the whole month leading up to the day itself!
Why is it called Black Friday?
There are a number of reasons put forward for how Black Friday earned its name, but the most popular theory is that it was coined by police to describe the utter carnage of the shopping day after Thanksgiving. It was a busy day for the authorities, with masses of shoppers heading out, causing congestion and incidents.
Some say it’s because shops often ‘move into the black’, which means they have enough money to cover their costs for the year.
Another theory is that it refers to the 'black ink’ on the balance sheets from the big profits businesses rake in on BF – as opposed to being in the red.
Be prepared
Many shops release info about their sales items way BEFORE the day, so you can prepare beforehand if you’re savvy.
Also, keep your eyes peeled in the run-up, rather than just focusing on Friday. Sometimes you can get better deals during the week.
It's a good idea to sign up for newsletters now to find out about exclusive deals, and to get registered on your favourite sites to save time on the day. Plus, consider signing up for Amazon Prime to make sure you get next-day delivery on most things. Amazon always goes BIG on BF so get ready for deals to be released almost every five minutes!
What is Cyber Monday? And when is Cyber Monday 2023?
Cyber Monday is the Monday following Black Friday – this year it is Monday 27th November. It's basically the UK's 24-hour online shopping bonanza.
Cyber Monday is exclusively online, so you can literally shop all the best deals while enjoying a nice breakfast in bed. Or on your lunch break at work. Or on your phone out and about. Isn't the modern world wonderful?
Black Friday dos and don'ts...
So you wake up super early on BF, drink a huge coffee and head out ready to take on the rest of the bargain hunters in an epic battle for the last half-price leather jacket, sofa or boombox. Whatever floats your boat.
Well, here's what you should and shouldn't do.
DO shop online
Why wait until Cyber Monday to bag an online bargain? Some of the best deals are online from midnight on Thursday and you don't even have to get out of bed.
DO save your details
Create yourself an Amazon membership if you haven't already and keep your card details saved for ease. You don't want to miss out on a bargain because you checked out as a guest! Gasp.
DO sign up for Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime members usually get early access and exclusive deals, so you can beat the crowds by signing up. What's more, you can get next-day delivery on lots of items so you can have your purchases in your hands in a matter of hours.
DO wear comfy shoes
If you do decide to brave the actual shops, wear trainers. HECK wear Uggs because you're going to be racing from shop to shop and no one wants to end the day with a nice array of blisters.
DO plan your day
Make a list of all the shops you want to go to, what you want to buy and what time each sale starts. You're going to want to be prepared. Thousands of people running around a shopping centre or marching down the high street can be very disorientating. Stick to your plan, stay focused, and win (spend) big.
DO set a budget
You really don't want any unexpected surprises when you check your bank balance on Tuesday morning.
DON'T buy things just because it's Black Friday and it's super cheap
We've all been there - that multi-coloured-pom-pom-faux-fur coat at 60% off seemed like a great idea at the time. But when it's sitting in your wardrobe (unworn) four years later, you'll regret dropping that £150. Trust us.
DON'T wake up too early
Unless you're knocking back espressos every 15 minutes (which we defo DO NOT recommend) you're going to lag by midday if you've already been up for eight hours stalking the sale rails for THAT dress.
DON'T get into a fight over an electrical appliance, pair of shoes or (sharp) homeware
We all remember the great ASDA battle of 2014. We do not want a repeat of that stampede, people! Things get ugly and no one wants to end up in A&E with a TV smashed over their head and a stiletto where the sun doesn't shine. Play nice.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for heat, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.