A New Destination for Beauty... in M&S?!

I was invited along to a top secret launch this evening that promised to unveil an exciting new beauty shopping concept coming from none other than Marks and Spencer. This being M&S, to be totally honest I wasn't expecting to be 'wowed', but when my lovely friend Ruth (from amodelrecommends - if you don't know her you need her videos in your life!) arrived at the High Street Kensington store, catching a glimpse of the new beauty department at the top of the escalators, we gasped with excitement.

Artist's impression of the new beauty departments

M&S have launched their very own beauty hall. The 'Your Beauty' department not only sells their own beauty and skincare brands, but a whole host of carefully selected brands ranging from Dr Murad, Leighton Denny, Apivita, Nuxe, Skyn Iceland, H2O+, Roger & Gallet, I Coloniali to name just a few. A lot of the brands are exclusive to M&S in the UK, and others have released limited edition sizes or sets exclusively for the department.

The High Street Kensington store

I was so impressed with the layout and feel of the new concept. It reminds me a little of SpaceNK, only a lot less intimidating and significantly more affordable. I've definitely got my eyes on a few different brands that have been previously unavailable, or hard to purchase in the UK.

The selection of Les Senteurs Gormandes fragrances, I fell in love with the fig one!

They've also got a very exciting collaboration in the works with renowned perfumer Lyn Harris, the creator of Miller Harris, set to launch in September (SO excited!). All in all I think this is a fantastic move for M&S, for whom beauty has not been a strong point in the past. I think this adds a new string to their bow and will attract young and more mature clientele alike - a big hit in my books!

You can find the very first 'Your Beauty' department on the first floor of the High Street Kensington Store now, but they will be incorporated into over 100 M&S stores over the next year. They've also added the department to their website, including a virtual makeup feature that you can also experience in store.

Useless photo of Ruth & I perusing the aisles...  but I thought you might like it! (Courtesy of Ruth's Instagram!)

What do you think girls? Do you see M&S being a new destination for your beauty shopping?