L360 editor and qualified aesthetician Mattie Lacey-Davidson reveals her top picks to snap up while they’re discounted this week.
Before I encourage you to snap up some of my favourite luxury skincare products, I want it to be known that there are plenty of fantastic affordable skincare brands out there — The Inkey List being one of my favourites.
However, skincare brands are quite often at higher price points because they invest in research and development to formulate innovative and extremely effective skincare for targeting specific concerns. This is certainly not always the case, but it is for the brands I’ve picked here.
Get more when you shop Skinceuticals
Disappointingly, it looks like the brand isn’t doing a sale this Black Friday. However, Skinceuticals does have an array of offers, which are as follows:
- Get a free luxury washbag when you spend £165 with miniatures of products such as the HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan Hydrating Serum.
- Pick a free antioxidant serum (including the famous C E Ferulic) when you spend £190 or more.
Shop the offers here.
Save 25% on Medik8
I don’t exaggerate when I say Medik8 produces some of the best skincare on the market right now. Here are my top picks…
Crystal Retinal
This serum is, in my humble opinion, the best retinal on the market right now. (Closer to the retinoic acid, the strongest form of topical vitamin A, it works much faster than retinol). It comes in different strengths — most people can start at a three — and has a slow-release formula to reduce common side effects like dryness and irritation. Buy it here.
Liquid peptides
This promises to reduce expression lines and deep wrinkles in just one bottle — I used it alongside the Crystal Retinal for three months and saw impressive results. It contains 10 peptides — making up 30% of the formulation — giving a multitude of varied pro-ageing benefits as well as increased hydration. Buy it here.
Press & Clear Exfoliating 2% BHA
Usually, I tell BHA beginners to steer clear of 2% formulas, but Medik8’s Press & Clear is also slow-releasing to reduce dryness. It’s even formulated to gentle enough to be used with Crystal Retinal, a brilliant combination for anyone dealing with oiliness and breakouts. Buy it here.
View this post on Instagram
Score 35% off Allies of Skin
An extremely expensive skincare brand, Allies of Skin formulates skincare so innovative I’d argue its worthy of a higher price tag — so what better time to buy it than Black Friday? Here are my top three to try…
Multi Hyaluronic Antioxidant Hydration Serum
I first used this in 2023 and in just four weeks saw a noticeable improvement in my skin’s firmness — it’s been a staple in my morning skincare routine ever since. With hyaluronic acid to hydrate, peptides to boost collagen and an array of antioxidants to protect from free radical damage, it’s both firms, hydrates and protects. Buy it here.
Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum
One of the most innovative skincare products to hit the shelves in recent years, the before and after images that came out of the brand’s own clinical research into this product are astounding. I’ve yet to use this, but it’s in the post now after I snapped up the Black Friday deal myself. Buy it here.
Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment
A nourishing but lightweight moisturiser perfect for all skin types, this promises to undo a year’s worth of ageing in one month – with research findings revealed on the website. It has ingredients promising to brighten, firm, increase cell turnover and protect from environmental damage. Buy it here.
Save over £700 on the LYMA Laser with up to 30% off
Even for a Black Friday deal, this represents a hefty investment. But LYMA’s laser is the first medical-grade laser technology to be available for use at home. Without any pain or downtime the laser can help reduce signs of ageing, as well as breakouts and scars all over the face and body. Buy it here.
Get 25% off Caudalie with a discount code
This French brand has some extremely effective but also exceptionally nourishing skincare products. My two top picks have to be the Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum, which fades hyperpigmentation and helps prevent dark spots forming, and the Resveratrol-Lift Instant Firming Serum, which can increase collagen — both of which are also hydrating and moisturising and safe to use alongside all other skincare products, and at any time of the day. Use the code FRIDAY25 here.
Get up to 50% off Murad
The Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum was the first retinol I ever used five years ago, and it remains one of my all-time favourite. Unbelievably gentle for such an effective retinol, it’s an ideal choice for beginners and retinol veterans alike and the one product I recommend above all else by the brand. Buy it here.
