M&S Ups its Beauty Game | Brands You Have to Check Out

Marks & Spencer has never been on my radar for beauty – usually I don’t make it past the food department! However a few months back I was waiting on my boyfriend to come and meet me and somehow wandered into the beauty section (as you do). I was seriously impressed with the range of brands available at good old M&S and since then I’ve been a regular! Today I’m sharing with you the brands you can find in their beauty hall that are well worth checking out.

Pixi Beauty

This is a brand I absolutely love, especially when it comes to skincare and until the latter part of last year it was one I could only really get online or if I happened to be in central London. However you can now find their products in M&S stores nationwide. My favourite products are the Glow Tonic (£18 - post), Glow Mud Cleanser (£18 - post), Beauty Sleep Cream (£24 - post) and Copper Peach Eyeshadow Palette (£15). The packaging is a little divisive  (I’m not completely sold on it) and their makeup has been a little hit and miss in my experience, however overall I’m so impressed with their offerings. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with Pixi skincare and I really admire how its CEO Petra built up the brand.

The Glow Mud Cleanser is an AHA-based cleanser with an almost gel-like mud texture. It smells amazing and feels beautiful on the skin. I use it as a morning cleanser when my skin is looking dull or lacklustre. It immediately makes my skin look more fresh, healthy and glowing. 

The Glow Tonic is like a really concentrated version of the cleanser. You use it as a toner after cleansing and it works as a chemical exfoliant. As well as giving you that immediate boost of radiance, it really helps to fade any old acne or blemish scars through long-term use. 

The Beauty Sleep Cream is a really nourishing night cream that’s not heavy or greasy on the skin. It makes my face feel beautifully soft and hydrated without being overly rich. 

Finally, my makeup pick from Pixi is the Copper Peach eyeshadow palette. The formulation of these is amazing; they’re stunningly pigmented and have such a creamy texture (yes, even the mattes!) I also think the colours are so unique and beautiful. I've not actually done a post on this before so I've swatched it for you below.

Pur Minerals

I’m really new to the world of mineral makeup, however over the past month I’ve been trying some of Pur’s products, which are formulated to also have skincare benefits. I also like that the price range is nicely in the middle, especially considering mineral makeup can get expensive. I’ve heard incredible things about their complexion products but I’ve been trialling some of their other offerings. My favourite products have emerged as the Lip Lure in Belle* (£16), Volume Vixen Mascara* (£15) and Cheek Stain in Rose* (£16).

The Lip Lure is a really hard formula to describe; it’s sort of like a liquid lipstick but the finish isn’t completely matte and it is much more hydrating on the lips. It still leaves a stain and is very long-lasting but doesn’t feel drying. I have the shade Belle which is a warm pinky-caramel nude colour that’s just me all over. I think it’s the sort of shade that would work on a lot of different complexions and these deserve way more hype! 

The Volume Vixen mascara isn’t something I’d ever have picked up for myself, as I tend to go for length and I often prefer a rubber wand. However I took this for a spin and really liked it! It makes eyelashes dark and volumised without being clumpy or flaky at all. It also does add length, which is important for me as I hate feeling like my lashes look stumpy! It’s a really great all-in-one and can be built on for a more dramatic look, though I tend to wear it for the day. The ingredients are also said to nourish the lashes, which will hopefully help mine grow a bit! 

Finally there’s the cheek stain, which is just incredible for dry or flake-prone skin. It’s a non-greasy, gel-based formula feels so hydrating on my skin whilst adding the most natural flush of rosy-pink colour. It’s also a little bit highlighting, without emphasising uneven skin texture. Best of all it doesn’t wear off and become invisible after a few hours of wear.

Stila

Stila has been around for a while but it tends to get overlooked; perhaps due to the fact it isn't always the most accessible brand. However I think it's really underrated and there are some absolute gems in their range. It also sits comfortably in price below the likes of Nars, MAC and co, whilst still being more premium than the higher end of the drugstore. My favourite Stila products are the Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Carbon Black (£14.50) and the Eyes Are the Window Palette in Soul (£30 - post).

I think the eyeliner pen has finally dethroned Soap & Glory's Supercat as my holy grail! For a start it lasts for ages; I've been using the same one for about 6 months and it's still as pigmented and inky as it was when I first opened it. I love the thin, non-scratchy nib as it really helps me get that defined winged liner look I love and it doesn't transfer.

The Soul palette is one I've rediscovered in a big way lately. Firstly the formula is creamy, pigmented and long-wearing but also the shade selection is just stunning to me. It's amazing for everyday wear and for a really unique bronzy smoky eye. There's a good mix of warm and cool tones as well as matte and shimmer finishes.

Amazing Cosmetics

I hadn’t heard of this brand before however a quick look on Cult Beauty revealed it has a whole host of celebrity fans. I've only tried the Little Amazing Concealer* (£19.50) but I'm definitely up for giving more of their products a go, as it is some good stuff!


The Amazing Concealer really is one-of-a-kind; I've never tried a concealer that's so high-coverage whilst being so natural and hydrating. It isn't dry or cake-y at all so if you're a more dry-skinned girl looking for a heavy-duty concealer then this is for you! It works just as well under the eyes as it does on blemishes, which is another reason why I love it. I always make sure to set it when I use it under the eyes though as the hydrating formula means it can crease if you're not careful. It is pricey but you only need the tiniest amount (I learnt the hard way by applying way too much the first time I tried this!)

Rosie for Autograph

Autograph makeup tends to fly under the radar but the things I have heard have all been very positive. I love Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's lingerie collection for M&S and of course she is so beautiful; I love the makeup look she goes for. In keeping with that, her collection isn't anything crazy or edgy; it's all about enhancing your natural beauty and everything in it is timelessly elegant. I can't say the rose gold packaging didn't move me to check it out too though! I have the Cream Eyeshadow Stick in Almond Eyes (£12.50) and the Cream Blush in English Rose Flush (£14).

I love cream eyeshadow sticks and had heard the regular Autograph ones were good but the rose gold packaging meant that when Rosie H-W's version I had to snap one up.  I chose the shade Almond Eyes which is a creamy off-white colour with a lovely metallic sheen. It's actually very similar to Laura Mercier's Rose Gold. I tend to wear it as an inner-corner highlight but you can also blend this out all across the eye on a minimal makeup day. It's impressively creamy but also long-wearing. All-in-all I'm impressed.

English Rose Flush is a beautifully-packaged cream blusher is one of the best I've tried! I love the creamy, mousse-like formula; it applies so nicely and looks incredibly natural on the skin. It's not greasy or shiny in the slightest and wears well throughout the day. The colour is just a natural rosy-brown matte which is beautiful for everyday wear.

REN

REN is a British brand and it has to be one of my favourites for treatments and cleansers. It focusses on delivering clean skincare that's effective and functional. The aesthetic isn't exactly luxurious but the products inside do deliver. It was hard to choose but my favourite products are the Clearcalm3 Clay Cleanser (£18 - post) Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (£32 - post).

The Clearcalm3 Clay Cleanser is unlike anything I've ever tried; it feels so beautiful on the skin and doesn't dry it out at all. It really helps my spot-prone skin whilst being gentle enough for everyday use. This is definitely a holy grail product for me and I'm on my second bottle (it lasts forever!) 

I talk about the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask all the time so I'll keep it brief! It's packed full of AHAs and makes my skin look incredibly glowing in just ten minutes. I've never tried a product that gives such amazing results in such a short space of time.

Rituals

Rituals is a brand I want to try more from - I seem to buy their products as gifts for other people more than anything else! It's a fragrance, skin and body focussed brand that has a spa-like feel to it. The prices are comfortably mid-range so it's a way to get some luxury pamper products into your routine without breaking the bank. My top Rituals products are the Heavenly Hammam Body Mud (£14) and Sweet Sunrise Candle (£19.50).

The Hammam Body Mud has the most invigorating eucalyptus scent. It's a sort of body mud and scrub in one so I apply it then leave it on to dry for a few minutes before gently removing it in circular motions to remove any dead skin cells.

I love the Sweet Sunrise Candle for a relaxing evening in. It's quite a subtle scent but it's perfect for winding down. It's a warm but sweet fragrance with notes of orange and cedar wood.

Neom

Neom is another spa brand and my mum and I have been a bit obsessed with their candles lately! They only use natural, organic ingredients in their products and their brand is built around relaxation and wellbeing. Although I have a couple of others I like, my favourite Neom product has to be the Happiness Candle (£30).

The Happiness candle is a gorgeous, relaxing blend of lemon, neroli and mimosa that has great throw. I love how clean and evenly this burns. It's definitely a pamper evening must-have for me.

You can also find a few other blogger-favourite brands including Nuxe, Emma Hardie, Living Proof and GlamGlow in M&S's revamped beauty hall.

Have you tried any of these brands? What are your favourite products or the ones you have your eye on?

 

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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. 
PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.