Marks & Spencer is one of the best places to buy clothes and food, but I’ve always loved this store for its underrated beauty products. Not only does M&S now stock some of the UK’s biggest beauty brands, including Clinique, Murad and Ren, but it is also home to a very impressive range of its own brands.
In recent years, M&S’s perfume range, Apothecary, which offers budget-friendly candles, diffusers and perfumes, has gained a legion of loyal fans for its expensive scents at affordable prices. M&S also has its own popular skincare range called Formula and a body care range called Burst, both of which are very underrated in my opinion – and as a beauty journalist I’ve tried hundreds of skincare products in my time.
Shop the Formula skin care range from M&S Shop the Burst body care range from M&S Shop the Apothecary fragrance range from M&S
I’ve been testing a wide variety of Formula and Burst products over the past six weeks, ranging from the best-selling Sleep Cream moisturizer to lesser-known products, like the Soothing Hot Cloth Cleanser.
Combined, there are more than 50 products in the Formula and Burst families, but I’ve narrowed them down to the top five that deserve a spot in your bathroom cabinet.
🛍️ Products reviewed: M&S Formula skincare range and Burst Bodycare
⏰ Tested on: Six weeks
⭐ Judgement: 5/5
💸 Reasons to buy: Affordable, effective and luxurious without the price tag
✋ Reasons to avoid: None at all – every product is well worth the money.
💰 Best deal we found: M&S offers a handful of gift sets with minis and money-saving bundles available for purchase, so you can try out multiple products before purchasing the full sizes
Shop the best-tested skin care products at M&S
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This creamy, soothing, buttery moisturizer has quickly become my favorite and I’ve tested hundreds of products over the years as a beauty journalist. It’s the perfect balance of creamy and nourishing, but not too heavy, rich or greasy for my combination skin. It takes seconds to massage in, leaves no unwanted shine and leaves my skin hydrated. If you try anything from the Formula range make sure it is this, there is a reason it is a bestseller.
Although I’ve tried the newer Light Sleep Cream, the original version (Sleep and Replenish Ultimate Sleep Cream, £22.50) would probably suit you best if you have a drier skin type.
- Perfect for combination skin
- Smoothes the texture
£23 at Marks & Spencer
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If you suffer from dry skin, then you must try this facial oil. Not only does it smell fantastic, it only takes a few days to see results with daily use. I normally get dry patches around my nostrils and on my cheeks and I found that a few drops of this every night made them disappear. It’s great for improving texture and adding suppleness.
I also love how well the pipette bottle absorbs the product without it leaking or dripping down the side.
- Lightweight, fluid texture
- Nourishes dry areas
- Has a lovely fresh scent
- Better suited for non-oily skin types
£20 at Marks & Spencer
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While I’m the first to say that an eye cream isn’t essential, I’ve enjoyed using this jar from the Formula line. It both soothed my tired under-eyes first thing in the morning, but was also a lovely, hydrating base to apply makeup on top, especially concealer. It’s a very light, creamy texture that doesn’t leave your skin feeling heavy no matter how much I apply. Thanks to a formula rich in shea butter and marula oil, it would also be perfect if you have dry eyes.
- Fast absorbing and lightweight
- Perfect for priming the skin before makeup
- Not essential for your skin care routine
£18 at Marks & Spencer
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This is a cream-based cleanser that can be used on bare skin first thing in the morning, or to remove makeup before going to bed. I loved how it was equally efficient on both, leaving skin super soft and smooth after every use.
The formula is rich in squalane, marula oil and a retinol complex, which work together to soothe dryness and aging. While I can’t speak to the latter after just a few weeks of use, I immediately saw a big improvement in the texture around my nose and on my cheeks. For £15 this definitely feels much more luxurious – I’ve used cleansers from more expensive brands that haven’t been as good at both cleansing the skin and removing make-up in one go.
- Removes make-up easily
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Feels luxurious for a reasonable price
- Using it to remove mascara takes a little longer
£15 at Marks & Spencer
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I love a body scrub. It’s a great addition to your shower routine because it keeps ingrown hairs on your legs at bay and is the fastest way to smooth skin and remove dead skin cells. However, I firmly believe that a body scrub doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
This cherry-scented scrub meets all requirements. It costs less than a tenner, it’s quite a large bath that fits on the side of my bath without falling off, smells wonderful and leaves the skin silky soft. For £8 you can’t go wrong.
- Instantly smoothes the skin
- Smells fantastic, but not overpowering
- Fragrance may not be suitable for very sensitive skin
£8 at Marks & Spencer
If you’re thinking of making a big M&S beauty splurge, don’t miss M&S’s coveted Summer Beauty Bag, which is back for another year and is filled with a whopping £170 worth of products for just £30. We’d In fact, we can say that this is one of the best M&S beauty bags we’ve ever seen in terms of the excellent value for money, the high-quality brands and the variety of products. One shopper said: “I’ve already found a few new favorites in this collection, which I’ll replace when they’re done.”
To pack the £170 bag for just £30, you’ll need to spend £35 on clothes, home or beauty products in store or online at full price. But let’s be honest: reaching that spending limit won’t take long. To get the discount, simply add the bag to your cart along with the other additional items and the money will appear at checkout.
Marks & Spencer
Filled with a range of sought-after brands such as Clinique, REN, L’Occitane and more, this sumptuous beauty bag, complete with a reusable make-up bag, can be yours for £30 when you spend £35 on clothes, home or beauty in-store or online.
£30 at Marks & Spencer