Ulta’s Early Black Friday sale has already started — here’s what’s worth buying

Whether you want to keep your skin hydrated through the cold winter months, refresh your makeup drawer or find a new shampoo, Ulta Beauty is currently having a big early Black Friday sale. Over the next few weeks, the beauty retailer is offering deals on a variety of skin care, hair care and makeup products from major brands like Solawave, Mario Badescu and more.

Ulta Beauty’s Early Black Friday Sale runs through November 23rd and you can get up to 40% off certain products. Every week of the sale, Ulta will discount a different category. From now until November 3, skin care is on sale. From November 3 through November 9, makeup and nail care items are being discounted. Hair care is on sale from November 10 through 16 and the final week focuses on fragrance.

To help you shop, we rounded up the items we think are worth buying based on our previous coverage and brands that experts have recommended to NBC Select in the past.

First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser

“This is one of my go-to cleansers,” says NBC Select editor Lindsay Schneider, who received it from the brand. “It’s really creamy and truly fragrance-free, which I appreciate. I like to use it when I’m having any sort of skin flare-ups because it’s really calming and doesn’t strip my skin. I never feel insanely dry after using it, which I appreciate.”

Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand

The Solawave wand uses red light therapy and facial massage among other techniques to reduce the appearance of dark circles and fine lines, according to Solawave. It’s about the size of a Sharpie and once you’ve applied some sort of serum or hydration to your skin, you can glide the wand in upward and outward motions along your cheeks, jaw, neck, forehead and under-eye area in five minute sessions. “It doesn’t really feel like much on your skin when you’re using it, which is part of the appeal (no tingling or discomfort),” says former NBC Select editor Christina Colizza.

Patchology Serve Chilled on Ice Firming Eye Gels

These are some of the best under-eye patches of 2024 because they mimic the feeling of sticking a cold spoon under your eye to reduce puffiness. They have peptides and bakuchiol (a retinol alternative) and you can store these in your fridge to leave the skin under your eyes looking a little tighter and depuffed. “These never slip or fall off my face,” says NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez. “Because they’re so soothing on my dry skin, I sometimes even forget they’re on.”

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

“I’ve been using this Mario Badescu drying lotion since high school,” says NBC Page Ella Morrissey. “Whenever I have a breakout, I apply a dab of it onto any spots and they’re basically gone by morning. Even though I tend to have dry skin, I don’t find this product too drying.” The lotion dries quickly but leaves a pink, chalky residue, so it’s better for nighttime use, according to the brand.

Lancôme Tonique Confort Hydrating Toner with Hyaluronic Acid

You can use this milk-like toner after cleansing to remove any lingering impurities or excess oil from your skin. It has almond oil and hyaluronic acid in it, which leaves skin soft and glowy, according to the brand. It also acts like a primer for the rest of your skin care products, so serums and moisturizers can sink in better, according to Lancôme.

Foreo Luna 4 Go Massage Tool

This silicone massage tool has eight adjustable intensities that you can use on your face in circular motions to get a deeper clean on your face. “I’ve been using this cleansing brush for years and I keep it in my shower to scrub my face free of dirt, oil and makeup,” says NBC Select updates editor Zoe Malin. “It helps my cleanser clean my skin much more thoroughly and on a deeper level compared to when I just use my hands. The battery lasts for weeks, which is very convenient, and it’s compact, so it doesn’t take up much room in my toiletry bag.”

Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots

Peace out makes some of the best pimple patches on the market. These use both hydrocolloid and salicylic acid (a BHA that removes sebum) to help minimize breakouts, according to the brand. Hydrocolloid is a soothing gel that’s responsible for absorbing any excess dirt away from pimples so it can heal, according to experts we spoke to. There’s also aloe vera leaf extract in these patches to reduce any remaining redness.

Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle.