'I'm a shopping writer - these are my top Black Friday picks' (2024)

Black Friday 2024 is finally here and this year there are tons of big retailers in the world of fashion, beauty and tech getting involved. While that does mean that there are lots of impressive discounts to take advantage of, it can feel a little overwhelming at times - especially when you want to get yourself the best deal.

As a shopping writer, I've scoured some of the biggest brands offering top reductions to help make shopping this Black Friday easier. Whether you're in the market for a Ninja air fryer, or cutting heating bills with a discounted Oodie is on the agenda, this edit covers everything from home goods to skincare and clothing.

It serves as a great opportunity to get ahead of the game when it comes to Christmas shopping or nab an excellent discount on an item you've had on your wish list but couldn't justify the price. Keep reading for offers from Debenhams, LookFantastic, Shark, Boots and more.

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Boots Benefit Fresh Baked Beauty Exclusive Star Gift - save £61.50

Benefit is a fail-safe beauty option for all ages, and the Benefit Fresh Baked Exclusive Star Gift includes some of their bestselling products, as well as a few of my personal favourites. Now better than half price, the £34.50 set is worth a whopping £96 and comes in fun packaging that means you might not even need to wrap it if it's a present.

Inside the set you'll find a full size Badgal Bang! Mascara and the Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain, as well as mini sizes of the POREfessional Face Primer, Hoola Powder Bronzer and 24-HR Brow Setter. You can create an entire makeup look with this set and the mini sizes are ideal for popping in your handbag for on-the-go touch ups.

I swear by Benetint as a multi-purpose product that gives a gorgeous pink stain on your lips or cheeks. The pigmentation is excellent, however I do find that it needs topping up after eating or drinking. I've been using the POREfessional Face Primer for years and find it gives a smooth base to apply makeup. It has a pore-blurring effect and the formula doesn't feel greasy or uncomfortable on my skin.

Medik8 Crystal Retinal Age-Defying Night Serum - save up to £27.25

This Black Friday Medik8 are offering 25% off all their skincare, including the Crystal Retinal Age-Defying Night Serum. The serum is rarely reduced making this sales event an ideal time to make savings on something typically expensive like luxury skincare. The fast-acting and hydrating serum is said to improve skin texture and combat acne, using key ingredient retinol.

Retinol should be used gradually and at Medik8 you can choose from six progressive strengths so everyone from sensitive skin users to expert users can use it. Now on sale ranging from £33.75 to £81.75 for the highest strength, you could be looking at saving more than £27 on the serum.

The product has racked up an impressive 4.8 out of five star rating on the Medik8 website by 3,944 users with feedback stating that the formula takes just two weeks to see 'massive results'. One person said that their 'skin has improved immensely' since using the product and another noted that it 'does not irritate' the face. Not everyone is a fan of the packaging with some concerns over 'trouble getting it out of the tube'.

Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer with Storage Case - save £80

Shark's Black Friday sale means shoppers can save on everything from vacuum cleaners to spot cleaners. But, an offer that really caught my eye is £80 off the Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer with Storage Case. The coveted hair tool was £299.99 but has been reduced to £219.99 in both black and stone.

Allowing the user to style their hair in five ways, curl, straighten, volumise, smooth and define, it is still an investment at £220, but it's the only hair tool you'll need in your arsenal. Styling your hair from wet to dry with no heat damage, it'll save you time and give you salon worthy results at home.

Like most techy hair tools, it might take a few tries to master the technique, but once you've got it nailed, reviewers say that it is a 'total game changer'. One person wrote: "I initially thought this was an expensive piece of kit but it is simply worth every penny.

"It’s so well made and brilliantly designed. The instructions for use are easy to follow and achieve salon-standard results. What I particularly like is that it doesn’t dry and damage my hair in the way that a hair dryer and tongs used to. I would highly recommend."

Ninja Deluxe Black & Copper Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer - save £80

Ninja are highly praised for their air fryers and if you're in the market for an upgrade or haven't got your hands on one yet, the limited edition double-basket model is now less than £190. Saving shoppers £80, the Ninja Deluxe Black & Copper Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer with Smart Cook System was £269.99 but has been cut to £189.99. That price includes the air fryer itself, silicone tongs, apron, two non-stick crisper plates, one digital cooking probe and a recipe guide.

The stylish air fryer can easily feed eight people with an extra large capacity - ideal if you plan on hosting festive celebrations for family and friends. Ninja also promises that it uses up to 75% less fat than traditional methods and you can save up to 65% off your energy costs as you won't be heating an entire oven.

After purchasing the Ninja air fryer, many people say they 'barely use their conventional oven' and it's the 'best thing ever bought for the home'. However, someone else noted that it 'takes a bit of trial and error to get used to cooking different foods exactly as you want them', so you might want to experiment a few times before hosting.

Oodie Original - save £32.50

Those looking to keep warm throughout the colder months without the need to have the heating on might want to consider snapping up a blanket hoodie from Oodie, as the brand has discounted everything on their website by 50%. The Original Oodie is now £32.50, down from £65, and there are lots of colours and designs to choose from.

Mirror shopping writer Phoebe Barton got her hands on an Oodie and you can read her full review here. She said: "I couldn't resist buying it and have been wearing it every day since it arrived - I can now say I understand the hype. While my cheaper alternative blanket hoodies keep me warm, there are significant differences. The most notable is the length of the garments, as the Oodie is much longer than the others I own. The other big difference is the size of the hood, as it is huge, enveloping my whole head and the upper half of my face."

Phoebe mentioned a negative sizing option, saying: "Oodie only offers its blanket hoodies in one size, which is based on a 6XL hoodie." But ultimately found "the hoodie is like having a big blanket wrapped around me - it's the comfiest garment I own."

LookFantastic Sensse Elite 8 Light LED Face Mask - save £50.60

LED masks work by giving off light at different frequencies and wavelengths in order to penetrate various layers of your skin to target specific concerns. The Sensse Elite 8 Light LED Face Mask not only has a red light setting, specialising in collagen renewal, but features blue light to fight spots, yellow to promote skin elasticity and purple to tackle scarring and discolouration, among more.

Beauty tech doesn't often come cheap, so saving more than £50 off this LED mask is a great find. Now £179.39, down from £229.99, it's currently cheaper at LookFantastic than at Boots, Very, or ASOS. The Black Friday deals at LookFantastic don't stop there, though, and I couldn't help but highlight a few more. Revitalash' Advanced Eyelash Serum is 20% off, now £79.20 for a two month's supply, Tom Ford's Black Orchid Eau de Parfum 100ml is £121.60, a saving of £30.40 and the Sol de Janerio Bum Bum Jet Set is 30% off at £21.

Debenhams GV2 Milan Swiss Quartz Diamonds Watch - save £2,783

The Debenhams Black Friday sale is huge, spanning across beauty, fragrance, fashion, electricals, clothing and more. In particular, shoppers can enjoy mega reductions on luxury watches, including 93% off the GV2 Milan Swiss Quartz Diamonds Watch. The stylish watch was £2,995 but can now be yours for £212.

Reviews state it is a 'beautiful watch' that 'looks far more expensive than it is'. One person wrote: "Very nice watch, almost identical to Cartier." But they did add some disappointment, commenting 'I was surprised that it didn't come with extra bit of chain in case is small.'

It would make an excellent Christmas gift and there are lots more luxury watches to browse through with similar discounts here if you aren't keen on the colour or style.

'I'm a shopping writer - these are my top Black Friday picks' (2024)

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