As the weekend looms, many of us are seeking ways to shake off the stresses from work and the dipping temperatures (it’s officially woolly jumper weather, people). With this in mind, it’s the ideal time to indulge yourself with something special — and we’re here to assist.
Every Friday, we showcase the top picks from high street favourites such as Dusk, Charlotte Tilbury, Boots and more. Our team of shopping gurus have scoured the new-in sections of your go-to retailers, snooped on A-listers Instagram stories and set up alerts for restocks to help you decide where to splash your hard-earned cash this weekend.
From Louise Thompson’s favourite Jo Malone Candle, to Aveeno and stylist Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, a.k.a. Melissa’s Wardrobe, there’s a multitude of stunning products guaranteed to upgrade your wardrobe, makeup bag and home.
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Here’s everything we’re adding to our shopping baskets this week:
Charlotte Tilbury’s Dewy, Pretty Blushed Cheeks Kit – £62.90 (was £72)
Charlotte Tilbury has launched several early Black Friday deals, including a discount on its beloved Dewy Pretty Blushed Cheeks Kit. The set contains two of the brand’s best-selling products: the viral Hollywood Flawless Filter and a Cheek to Chic blush.
The Hollywood Flawless Filter primer-foundation comes in 12 shades—fair being the lightest shade and deep being the richest. The blush is available in nine shades, and you can pick whichever shade you want to customise your kit. It is on sale now for £62.90, reduced from £72. This is a great way to try out some of Charlotte Tilbury’s most popular products at a reduced price.
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Hey Harper’s Allie Blue Necklace – £36 (was £71)
There are so many ace jewellery brands out there — Mejuri, Astrid & Miyu, Monica Vinader — that it can be tricky to pin down a favourite. Right now, though, my obsession is Hey Harper. The Portuguese brand, worn by Raye and Hailey Bieber, is famous for its waterproof wares, meaning you can shower, swim, or sweat without worrying about your precious jewels tarnishing.
I’ve got a wealth of rings, necklaces, and earrings from the brand, and I receive compliments every time I wear them. Naturally then, I was pleased to see the brand launch its early Black Friday sale, with up to 50% off sitewide.
My top pick is this stunning Allie Blue Necklace, now £36 from £71. Featuring a blue gem dangling from a thin gold chain, it’s ideal for layering with other gold necklaces, bringing a subtle pop of colour to proceedings. Be quick if you’re tempted, though — once it’s sold out, it won’t be restocked.
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Jo Malone’s Roasted Chestnut Candle – £59
Nothing helps create a cosy, inviting atmosphere quite like some scented candles, and Made In Chelsea’s Louise Thompson has shared one of her all-time favourites — and it’s a guaranteed hit for the festive season. Sharing it as part of her Louise Loves round-up to give her Instagram followers, she said the Jo Malone London’s Roasted Chestnut Home Candle, £59, “smells like chestnuts roasting on a fire.”
With a burn time of 44 hours, it combines notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and soft caramel, giving off a gorgeous festive aroma that really does smell like chestnuts roasting on a crackling fire. The Roasted Chestnut Home Candle fills your home with a cosy winter scent and comes in a limited-edition design , complete with a gold bow on the top, perfect for giving as a present on Christmas morning.
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LookFantastic Festive Fragrance Discovery Set for Her – £55
Whether you’re looking for a new fragrance for yourself, or are looking to get ahead on your Christmas shopping, the LookFantastic Festive Fragrance Discovery Set For Her is proving popular with shoppers. Priced at £55, it features five iconic perfumes in travel-ready sizes, essentially serving as the fragrance equivalent of a selection box.
Inside, shoppers can find handbag-friendly scents from top perfume houses like YSL, Armani and Lancôme, with a combined volume of 31.5ml worth of scent, which can last anywhere between a couple of months to a year. Shoppers who buy the box will also receive a £55 voucher to redeem against their favourite full-sized scent from the collection at LookFantastic. And if you consider the cost of the selection box as payment, it essentially means the full-sized bottle is ‘free’ — providing it costs less than £55.
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Dusk’s Evie 2 Drawer Bedside Table – £74 (was £159)
As a shopping writer (and having written for a wealth of interior magazines in previous roles), I love anything related to making a living space my own. You can imagine my sheer excitement when I recently moved into a new flat — a blank canvas for me to play with!
I was desperate for new bedroom furniture, and without even having to browse, I knew that Dusk would be my go-to. I’ve previously waxed lyrical about the homeware brand’s affordable yet quality bedsheets, and I’ve been desperate to try its furniture since it launched last year.
There are SO many chic designs on offer, but I went for two Evie bedside tables to set off my forest-green walls and Piglet in Bed blue and white checked sheets. True, I had to ask a friend for help building two bedside tables (a self-confessed DIY novice over here), and it took longer than the one-hour predicted time, but I’m thrilled with the end result. They’re sturdy and top-quality, look more expensive than their reasonable £74 price tag suggests, and the deep drawers have plenty of space for all my bits and bobs.
You can see the whole bedroom furniture range here — and note Dusk’s Black Friday sale is already live, meaning you can save some pennies in time for Christmas. PSA: Use the code BF20 at checkout for an extra 20% off.
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Nip + Fab Teen Skin Shine Saviour Kit – £13 (was £21.50)
If you’ve got a young skincare enthusiast on your gifting list this year, Nip + Fab have a range of skincare bundles reduced ahead of Black Friday, one of which makes the perfect Christmas stocking filler. The Teen Skin Shine Saviour Kit has been reduced from £21.50 to £13, saving £8.50 on the RRP. Inside the set are three products that work together to cleanse and treat skin.
The Teen Skin Fix Pore Blaster Day Wash is specifically crafted to remove excess oil, impurities, and makeup. There’s also the Teen Skin Fix Wasabi Sheet Mask, which soothes oily skin and improves the appearance of breakouts—as well as being nice for pamper sessions. If you or your teen wants a quick treatment for spots that encourages healing, then the Teen Skin Fix Spot Patches are ideal, and can be worn day or night.
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MAC Go For Gold Golden Heroes Set – £39 (was £94)
For lovers of MAC makeup, this Boots MAC Go For Gold Golden Heroes set has been reduced as part of the health and beauty retailer’s latest rotation of star gifts. Priced at £39, the edit contains four full-sized best-sellers and has an overall value of £94. All are housed in a lip-shaped keepsake tin, and the products cover the eyes, lips, and face, ensuring you’ll be ready to take on the Christmas party season.
Among the contents is a MACXimal Silky Matte Lipstick in the iconic shade Velvet Teddy — a universally flattering deep-tone beige, which is a perfect nude colour to wear all day and is suitable for most skin tones. As well as the lipstick, shoppers will also get a lip pencil for lining and defining your lips, as well as an Extended Play Gigablack Mascara for fluttery lashes, and the Fix+ Original Setting Spray, which is perfect for keeping your glam in place.
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Rehab Essential Dry Shampoo – £18 (was £24)
As part of its Black Friday sale, Stacey Solomon’s co-owned brand Rehab is offering up to 50% off its hair care heroes, a free mini brush, and a trial of its popular hair oil capsules with every order. I’ll be stocking up on their Essential Dry Shampoo.
I recently dyed my hair copper for autumn, so I’ve been trying to wash my hair less frequently to maintain my colour. Their newly launched dry shampoo, currently down to £18 from £24, has been a game-changer in helping me get away with second and three-day hair.
Perfect for a midweek refresh, their essential dry shampoo is a non-aerosol formula that instantly absorbs excess oil without feeling gritty or leaving any unwanted residue behind. Made with kind-to-scalp ingredients, it’s fuss—and mess-free, and the jasmine fragrance is absolutely beautiful.
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Aveeno x Melissa’s Wardrobe Vanity Case – £55
Good ol’ Aveeno is one of my staples for affordable beauty; its best-selling Skin Relief Body Oil Spray is basically never off my dressing table. In an exciting new collaboration, the beloved brand has teamed up with celebrity stylist Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, a.k.a. Melissa’s Wardrobe, to launch a limited-edition vanity case available exclusively at ASOS.
Even better, the travel-friendly bag contains three Aveeno goodies (including the aforementioned body oil, Skin Renewal Gentle Body Scrub, and an exfoliating dry brush) to keep you gorgeous on the go. And for all you eco-conscious girlies, the case is made of recycled leather— a thoughtful bonus.
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