With Black Friday sales launching left, right and centre, beauty retailer Lookfantastic - alongside it's 'warm up deals' - has launched a limited edition Black Friday beauty box edit and it's a real treat for those after a beauty bargain.
With its regular subscription boxes receiving consistent praise for the carefully curated and viral-packed hauls, we have no doubt that this limited edition edit will sell out swiftly - here's why. Having landed on the site last week, the neatly packaged box has already made waves amongst beauty enthusiasts - myself included.
Costing £40 - a step up from its usual monthly £15 box - the beauty haul contains five full-sized with one deluxe-sized treat whose total value amounts to over £175. That's a whopping saving of £135, which can be used towards extra Christmas gifts for your loved ones. What's more is that, the products inside, in my view, are perfect for indulging in some self-care after a long day's work as it features a mix of face masks, body scrubs and serums.
If you're a makeup lover, this may not be the box for you - I say this because you won't find any lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara etc. The next best thing you will find is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Extreme Hold Laminated-Look Sculpting Wax, ideal for those who want full-looking laminated-style brows that defy gravity.
As someone whose eyebrows are simply waxed and pencilled in every once in a while, I haven't mastered the laminating technique yet, but for those whose brows are a significant part of their look, this product will be fantastic. However, you do need your own brush to apply it as the box doesn't come with one, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Apart from that, the rest of the box is a great way to highlight your natural beauty and boost your skincare routine. The MZ Skin Anti-Pollution Hydrating Face Mask Single (worth £25) in the box is incredibly luxurious with its calming gold-toned gel-like face mask.
A real treat, the mask comes in two parts - one for your forehead and nose, and one for the lower half of your face. Infused with vitamin C, tranexamic acid, liquorice root extract, lumicease and cotton stem cells (for UV, infrared and blue light protection), and hyaluronic complex, it feels lovely on as it's quite cooling and forces you to keep still (so it doesn't slide off). After leaving it on for 15 minutes, my skin was left glowing, felt plumped and dewy.
My complexion was slightly sticky after I rubbed the remains of the formula into my skin, and it remained that way for a few hours. However, my skin was certainly brighter than before and felt gorgeously smooth.
As I have a relatively small head, I did find the mask sliding down a bit with the slides flapping about the side of my face and my nose not really fitting the mould, but that didn't ruin the experience. With only one mask in the pack too, this indulgence was short lived but if on sale, I'd certainly treat myself again to this face mask.
For a natural winter glow without the need for heavy bronzer, Tan Luxe's Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum (£36) is your answer, as it doesn't feel like you're applying fake tan - nor exposing your skin to UV damage. While the results aren't your typical 'few hours and bronzed' tanner, the serum has been designed to gradually build up a tan on your face and décolleté over time for a more natural look.
Although I haven't seen an Ibiza-style glow-up yet having only used it a few times, I appreciate how smooth and hydrated it left my skin. This is due to the serum being enriched with Cocoa Seed Extract, Hyaluronic Acid and vitamin E (to name a few ingredients), which 'delivers a wave of nourishing hydration' while providing 'anti-ageing benefits'. I'll happily take plumped-up, hydrated and youthful-looking skin that glows throughout winter.
And the summery nods don't stop there as Sol De Janeiro's viral Cheirosa 62 Fragrance Mist is also included in the pack. Despite us heading into the colder seasons, this really smells like summer in a bottle with notes of vanilla, pistachio and caramel. While this level of sweetness isn't my usual preference in a perfume (I'm more floral), it's certainly a lovely pick me up and gives me a sweet boost - plus, it's compact enough to fit in my bag on the go, which is perfect.
One of my favourite products in the box is the Rituals Ritual of Sakura Body Scrub (worth £18). The first thing I noticed when opening the full size tub was the beautiful scent. It was sweet and fruity thanks to its cherry blossom infusion.
Using it in the shower, the scrub left my skin feeling silky smooth - it even managed to tackle my dry elbows and knees effectively. With a blend of Japanese oils, including rice bran, Tsubaki and jojoba, it's incredibly moisturising and I'm eager to use it more frequently to achieve the smoothest skin I've ever had.
Because you can't just slap it on in a hurry, applying the scrub was a lovely way to take a moment to unwind before a hectic day. One product I'm keen on seeing the results of is the GRANDE Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum.
While I can't give feedback on it at the moment - as the award-winning serum promises impressive results in 12 weeks - I'm keen to see if my thin, wispy lashes will be revitalised without the need for mascara. The serum is filled with 'a mix of vitamins, peptides, and amino acids to promote the appearance of naturally longer, thicker looking lashes in 4-6 weeks, with full improvement in 3 months'. Customers say that it's an 'absolute must' for leaving their lashes 'long and luxurious'. So... watch this space!
Overall, the box and its contents are a real delight. Plus, they all come packaged in a tidy white box that is covered in a classy black sleeve with the LF monogram stamped on the front. My only gripe is that the mask didn't quite fit my small head and the brow wax didn't come with a suitable tool to apply it with. Apart from that, I can see myself using the other products daily and replenishing them when they run out.
With the Black Friday shopping frenzy in full swing, Lookfantastic is not the only beauty retailer delighting fans with special edition products. Glossybox, a favourite among beauty enthusiasts for its monthly subscription box, has announced: "Black Friday is one of the biggest events in the GLOSSYBOX calendar. Not only do we have our GLOSSYBOX Limited Edition boxes, but there are also a whole host of other incredible beauty bargains to enjoy."
For those who might prefer individual deals over a box, Boots has some epic Black Friday sales live featuring substantial discounts on a range of top brands and items.
For keen shoppers wanting to snag the Lookfantastic Black Friday beauty edit before stock runs out, head over here and grab it for £40.