The best last-minute beauty deals are on gift sets, brushes, and cult favorites marked down for final clearance. Shop now—popular items are selling out in hours, not days, and most retailers stop guaranteeing holiday delivery after today.
6 Beauty Deals You Need to Grab Before They’re Gone
1. The Brush Set That Does Everything
Ulta: IT Brushes for ULTA Airbrush Limited Edition Dual-Ended Face & Eye Brush Trio – $35
Three dual-ended brushes in limited-edition galactic purple that cover your entire makeup routine—concealer, foundation, powder, and eyeshadow. Each brush does double duty, making six tools in one compact set. IT Brushes are known for soft, dense bristles that blend seamlessly, and at 30% off, this is the best price you’ll see on professional-quality brushes this year.
2. Burberry Fragrance Discovery Set
Ulta: Burberry Mini Perfume 4-Piece Gift Set – $49
Four Burberry fragrances in travel-friendly miniatures—Goddess Eau de Parfum, Goddess Parfum, Her Eau de Parfum, and Her Eau de Parfum Intense. Each scent showcases different facets of vanilla, berries, and florals, giving you options for every mood. The miniatures are perfect for trying before committing to full bottles or for keeping one in your purse and another at your desk.
3. YSL Lip Gloss Luxury Duo
Sephora: Yves Saint Laurent YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick Duo – $45
Two full-size YSL lip gloss sticks in universally flattering nude shades—Healthy Glow Plumper and Nude Lavalliere. The jelly formula melts onto lips with the glossy shine of a gloss and the nourishing comfort of a balm. No stickiness, no mirror needed for application, and the signature YSL packaging makes this feel like a true luxury gift.
4. The Hyaluronic Acid Power Duo
Sephora: Peter Thomas Roth Full-Size Day & Night Cloud Creams 2-Piece Moisturizer Gift Set – $38
Two full-size Water Drench moisturizers with 30% hyaluronic acid complex—one lightweight formula for day, one richer version for night. This set addresses all skin types and tackles dryness, fine lines, and uneven texture with serious hydration that plumps and smooths. Getting two full-size products at this price is legitimately a deal, not holiday markup.
5. Complete Clinique Makeup Collection
Nordstrom: Clinique Full Face Forward: Simply Radiant Makeup Gift Set – $42
A full face of makeup in one curated set—full-size lipstick, dual-ended eyeshadow stick, highlighter, and mascara. Everything coordinates for a cohesive, radiant look without guesswork. The set is designed to work together: neutral eyes, natural lip, glowy highlight. Perfect for someone building their makeup collection or anyone who wants effortless, pulled-together makeup.
6. Laura Mercier’s Iconic Setting Powder
Nordstrom: Laura Mercier Indulgent Icons Ultra-Blur Setting Powder & Velour Puff Set – $34
The award-winning translucent setting powder that makeup artists swear by, packaged with Laura Mercier’s signature velour puff. This talc-free formula sets makeup for 16-hour ultrablurring wear without looking cakey or settling into fine lines. The travel size is generous, and the velour puff is the secret to flawless application—pressing powder into skin rather than dusting it on top.
Why These Deals Won’t Last
Last-minute beauty deals move differently than regular sales. Retailers are clearing inventory before year-end, which means deep discounts but limited stock. Popular items sell out in hours, not days, because everyone’s shopping with the same urgency. Many of these products won’t be restocked until January—once they’re gone, they’re gone. Add in shipping cutoff deadlines (most retailers stop guaranteeing holiday delivery after December 23), and you have a perfect storm of urgency. These aren’t scare tactics; they’re logistics. Shop now or pay full price in January.
Mini Formula: Last-Minute Beauty Shopping Strategy
First 10 minutes:
Add everything you want to cart immediately. Don’t browse—search for specific items and add them. Stock changes by the minute.
Next 5 minutes:
Review cart and remove anything you’re unsure about. Keep definite purchases and strong gift options.
Final step:
Check out immediately. Don’t wait to “think about it”—last-minute deals disappear while you deliberate. You can always return later; you can’t buy sold-out items.
Shipping insurance:
Choose fastest available shipping and check guaranteed delivery dates. Standard shipping may not arrive before Christmas at this point. In-store or curbside pickup is your safest bet.
Mini FAQ: Taking Advantage of Last-Minute Beauty Deals
Can I still get these delivered before Christmas?
It depends on the retailer and your location. Most retailers’ standard shipping cutoffs have passed. Your safest options are expedited shipping (check guaranteed delivery dates at checkout) or in-store/curbside pickup if available. Ulta and Nordstrom both offer same-day pickup at many locations. Sephora has limited same-day delivery in some cities. Always verify the delivery date before finalizing your order.
Are these deals as good as Black Friday prices?
Sometimes better, actually. Retailers are more aggressive with last-minute clearance because they’d rather sell inventory at a discount than carry it into next year. Black Friday focuses on doorbusters and planned promotions. Last-minute deals are often genuine clearance on items that need to move before year-end accounting, which can mean steeper discounts on premium products. The IT Brushes at 30% off and Burberry fragrances at 40% off are better than most Black Friday beauty deals.
✨ Beth’s Take: Why I Don’t Sleep on Last-Minute Beauty Deals Anymore
I used to think last-minute deals were picked-over scraps nobody wanted. Then I scored Laura Mercier setting powder in a holiday set for less than the powder alone typically costs, simply because retailers needed to clear December inventory. That’s when I learned that last-minute doesn’t mean low quality—it means retailers are motivated to move stock before year-end.
Now I actually watch for last-minute beauty deals on specific items. Luxury makeup sets get marked down because they’re packaged specifically for holidays and won’t be relevant in January. Fragrance samplers hit clearance because retailers over-ordered. Professional tools like IT Brushes discount deeply to clear limited-edition colors. These aren’t desperate sales on bad products; they’re strategic clearance on genuinely desirable items.
The key is acting fast. I’ve literally watched items sell out while I deliberated. Last-minute shopping requires decisiveness: if it’s a good price on something you’d use or gift, buy it now and think later. You can return it; you can’t un-sell-out an item.
These six deals are legitimately good—the IT Brushes trio at 30% off gives you six tools for $35. The Burberry set offers four luxury fragrances for $49. The Peter Thomas Roth duo includes two full-size moisturizers for $38. These aren’t inflated “deals” where they mark up then discount; these are actual clearance prices on quality products that need to move before January.
More Last-Minute Gift Inspiration
Check out Last-Minute Gifts for the Stylish Woman Over 50 and Jennifer’s Last-Minute Gift Guide for Women 25+: Gift Ideas Under $150 That Ship Before Christmas—both posts feature items still available with shipping guarantees.
Still need stocking stuffers?
My Last-Minute Beauty Stocking Stuffers Under $25 post features budget finds that don’t look like afterthoughts—perfect for rounding out gifts or filling stockings when time is tight.
Closing Thoughts
Last-minute beauty deals require fast action and decisiveness. These six picks are selling out in real-time at Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom—shop now or pay full price in January. Don’t deliberate, don’t wait to “think about it”—if it’s a good price on something you’d use or gift, add to cart and checkout immediately.
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