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Singles Day 2019: Best deals from Amazon, Asos, Superdrug and more in the sale that's bigger than Black Friday
This annual holiday is all about championing being on your own
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Your support makes all the difference.You might think you know what the biggest shopping day of the year is, but we reckon you’ll be wrong.
No, it’s not Black Friday or the classic Boxing Day, it’s actually Singles Day, which is estimated to have become about four times bigger than Black Friday.
Originating in China, it’s celebrated on 11 November every year because the number one symbolises a single person, and the 11th day of the 11th month written out numerically shows four single “sticks”.
Being single and happy about it is being championed by young single celebrities too.
Emma Watson recently said she's happy not being with someone, and coined the term as being "self-partnered".
In 2011, it was called the Singles Day of the century as the date had six ones in it.
Our IndyBest team has hand-picked every deal featured here. We may earn some commission from the links in this article, but our selections have been made independently and without bias. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
IndyBest's top picks:
Amazon
While the online retailer's sale isn't specifically dedicated to Singles Day, its hidden gems sale has some pretty impressive offers running until tomorrow, so snap them up to celebrate singledom.
Slumberdown anti allergy duvet, double, 13.5 tog winter warm – was £47.99, now £25.99
Philips sonicare diamond clean electric toothbrush, 2019 edition, black – was £299, now £99.99
Eufy robot vacuum cleaner robovac 30C – was £289.99, now £169.99
Furbo dog camera: treat tossing, full HD wifi with 2-way-audio – was £189, now £127
Ninja BL682UK2 1500W food processor with nutri auto-iQ – was £199, now £134.99
Braun FaceSpa pro 912 face epilator, 3-in-1 system – was £90.90, now £64.99
Oral-B genius x luxe edition with artificial intelligence anthracite grey electric toothbrush – was £179.99, now £139.99
Tarquin's rhubarb and raspberry gin, 70 cl – was £33.35, now £24.90
Slumberdown chilly nights, single, 15 Tog winter warm – was £41.30, now £29.90
Clarisonic mia smart facial cleansing device, pink – was £185, now £129.49
Olay regenerist 3 point firming anti-ageing cream moisturiser with hyaluronic acid, 50ml –was £30, now £10.12
Tarquin's Cornish the sea dog navy gin, 70cl – was £41.03, now £30
Asos
The fashion retailer has been teasing a Singles Day sale on its social media, but the Asos discounts are finally here. Get 20 per cent off everything using the code "OURTYPE".
Superdrug
Ghost midnight dream eau de parfum, 50ml – was £38, now £18
Davidoff cool water man eau de toilette spray, 75ml – was £41, now £20
Issey Miyake l'eau d'issey florale eau de toilette, 50ml – was £52, now £29
Diesel only the brave, 200ml – was £84, now £42
Versace woman eau de parfum sp, 50ml – was £40, now £23
Revolution we are the revolution starter make-up kit– was £100, now £60
I Heart Revolution Gingerbread House advent calendar – was £140, now £100
Hugo just different eau de toilette, 200ml – was £75, now £35
Oral-B pro 2 2000N electric toothbrush – was £79.99, now £34.99
Unineed
Beauty retailer Unineed is offering up to 70 per cent off its products, plus an extra 20 per cent off with the code “DOUBLE11”.
Elizabeth Arden visible difference refining moisture cream complex, 75ml – was £45, now £18.99
Philips sonicare diamondclean 2019 edition twin bundle – was £600, now £339.99
Clarins double serum – 25 per cent off with code “SD25”
Sisley ecological compound day and night, 60ml – 25 per cent off with code “SD25”
Clarins extra-firming neck anti-wrinkle rejuvenating cream, 50ml – 25 per cent off with code “SD25”
Clarins new v shaping facial lift serum, 50ml – 25 per cent off with code "SD25"
Elizabeth Arden retinol ceramide line erasing night serum, 30 capsules – 30 per cent off with code “SD30”
La Mer crème de la mer, 100ml – 20 per cent off with code “DOUBLE11”
La Mer the moisturising soft cream, 100ml – 20 per cent off with code “DOUBLE11”
Lancôme advanced genifique youth activating concentrate serum, 100ml – Up to 20 per cent off plus extra 32 per cent with code: “SD32”
Omorovicza queen of Hungary mist duo bundle, 2 x 100ml – 25 per cent off with “SD25”
Olay regenerist 3 point age-defying day and night cream bundle, 2 x 15ml – 40 per cent off with code “SD40”
Jo Malone
In a bid to help customers “celebrate you”, Jo Malone is offering a complimentary lime basil and mandarin body and hand lotion (100ml) when you spend over £100 this Singles Day. Use the code “SCENTEDGIFT” at checkout.
Boohoo
Fashion brand Boohoo is offering 25 sitewide discount for Singles Day, there's no need to use a code as the offer is applied automatically as you shop.
Nike
Treat yourself to new sportswear with 22 per cent off online at Nike, today only. To claim the discount use the code "GAMETIME" at checkout, which cannot be used on products already discounted or Nikelab products.
New Look
Don't be fooled by the discount code, New Look's 25 per cent off sale ends midnight tonight. Use code “XMAS25” to enjoy the deal.
Dorothy Perkins
Another store offering 25 per cent off its whole site, the Dororthy Perkins sale ends at midnight tonight.
Steam
Gaming retailer Steam is offering discounts across a range of PC games, both single and multi player. Offers include 90 per cent off Stronghold Crusader 2, 70 per cent off Craft the World and Jurassic World Evolution and 80 per cent off Castle Crashers. Visit Steam's Singles Day page for more deals.
Scarosso
Luxury Italian shoe brand Scarosso are offering a £50 discount off its products, with a minimum order value of £200. Use the code "SINGLESDAY" at checkout to access the deal, this can’t be used on sale items.
Kate Somervile
A firm favourite in skincare, Kate Somerville is offering an £11 saving when you spend £50 or over on its website, using the code "SDAY19".
Oilixia
Natural skincare brand Oilixia uses ingredients that are “environmentally and socially sustainable” in its products, ranging from facial oils to cleansers. It’s offering 20 per cent off all products on its site for Singles Day.
Kit Stars
If you’re looking to freshen up your make-up brush collection, make the most of Kit Stars’ Singles Day deal. It’s offering three for two on all its single make-up brushes, from tapered blender to powder brushes.
UpCircle
Natural, vegan, and cruelty-free, UpCircle is worth checking out for eco-conscious skincare. Use the discount code "SINGLESDAY19" on any order that contains the brands cleansing face balm to receive two organic cotton muslin cloths worth £8.99 for free.
HBX
Clothing retailer HBX is offering a 20 per cent discount across its whole site for Singles Day, with brands ranging from Stone Island to Burberry.
Lovehoney
Get 20 per cent off lingerie, sex toys and other goodies from Lovehoney today with the code “11SINGLES11”.
How did Singles Day start?
Also known as “bare sticks holiday” because of the way it looks, the celebration day began in 1993 as a sort of anti-Valentine’s Day.
It was started by a group of students at Nanjing University who wanted to celebrate their singledom.
During its early days it was also known as Batchelor’s Day as it was mostly just men who celebrated the occasion, but now it’s championed by everyone.
To celebrate this holiday, people buy gifts but not for each other, for themselves.
What has Singles Day got to do with shopping?
Alibaba, essentially China’s version of Amazon which was founded by China’s second richest man Jack Ma, first commercialised the event in 2009.
In the space of just 26 years, it’s managed to amass to an event that’s bigger than any other online sale, including Black Friday, Christmas and Amazon Prime. The sales begin at midnight on 11 November and last for just 24 hours.
But even within that short time frame, last year the event had about £24bn worth of sales. This was up 27 per cent from the previous year.
The majority of the event happens on the Chinese website Tmall, which is owned by Alibaba.
Other websites including JD.com also partake in the event, which has since been dubbed the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival by Ma.
Although it has a global reach, unless you’re familiar with Chinese websites and language, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to read them as there’s no English translation.
But for shoppers outside of China, there are increasing amounts of American and European brands getting involved too with their own sales, while brands such as Asos, M&S and Waitrose which have marketplaces on Tmall.
But because the date in the UK and Europe is Armistice Day, it’s unlikely to become as big as the Chinese event. Although many British and European brands will have their own deals to help you celebrate singledom.