Tuesday 22 May 2012

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?
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35 comments

  1. I saw your tweets earlier, but wasn't prepared for so many great brands to be featured! I'm definitely stopping by High St Kensington this week!

    -Elodie x
    http://www.elle-yeah.com

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  2. This looks so exciting! I can't wait to go and have a look! x

    themusingsofflorence.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. It will be interesting to see how this develops. Another beauty department to browse is always a good thing :) x

    http://selfconfesionssofabeautyaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

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  4. Ooo! Sounds like a good idea, can't have enough beauty departments in the high street! :)

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  5. I wonder if it will hit Irish stores anytime soon! :)

    tobequitefranki.blogspot.com

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  6. The marks and spencer store I work at is getting this soon, cannot wait xx

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  7. Wow, this is a massive surprise coming from pretty baseline standard M&S! I can see why you were surprised - this is hugely exciting and foreign brands becomming available makes me want to do a little excitement wiggle :D.

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  8. It's not just any beauty hall, it's a M&S beauty hall. Hahaha sorry couldn't resist! Can't wait for it :) xx

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  9. Looks exciting, can't wait for it to roll out to the other stores! Laura x

    http://secrets-de-beaut.blogspot.co.uk/

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  10. Ooh this is exciting, but also very frustrating - The other month I went for a browse in M&S with the hopes of spending a giftcard I received for Christmas from my Granny, had a look at their beauty range and was pretty disappointed! Ended up buying my Mum's mothers day pressie instead!

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  12. feel like that horrible kid off willy wonka who always just says "i want it now" haha, excited :D x

    crazyforcoco.blogspot.com

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  13. This sounds very exciting! I can't wait to get a look at the new products :)

    http://hollysbeautyreview.blogspot.co.uk/

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  14. This is so exciting! Can't wait to see it in person! x

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  15. Ruth is so beautiful!

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  16. Ah! I so so wish I could come and see this for myself! It looks a dream!
    And Ruth's instagram picture IS nice! - lovely!
    I have spent a large chunk of my evening on youtube, watching flogs. haha. You are a lovely person to follow on blogspot and youtube! :)

    xxx
    rivasoave.blogspot.co.uk

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  17. It'll be interesting to see how well this does! xo

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  18. this is so cool, please tell me they had a humongous nail polish stand, i don't think any beauty hall is complete without one!

    sundancehudson.blogspot.co.uk

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  19. I can see this being a huge hit.
    I love the exclusive looks it has, much like higher end department stores.
    Bang on M&S. I just hope the Oxford store gets one :)

    ClaireRebecca.x

    www.glitterview.blogspot.co.uk

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  20. this looks lovely, I hope our local store does something like thias :-)

    http://sarahjanesobsessions.blogspot.co.uk

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  21. Wow, awesome step. Would love to browse thru there! N maybe pick up a Dr. Murad sample or two? x

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  22. Wow if you hadn't said this was M&S it would've been one of the last places I would've guessed, it looks amazing! :) xx

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  23. I do sometimes have a look through the m&s beauty, but this just makes it seem more appealing to a younger audience. Great!

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  24. I think it's a great idea for M&S, I can't wait to see if they launch this in my local one xx

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  25. this will encourage me to go to m&s more often, and the food they sell is amazing!
    http://cloudsandcuticleoil.blogspot.co.uk/
    xx

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  26. wow, i too wouldn't have expected something like that! looks really great, and good that M&S are doing this. Local for a lot of people :-)

    http://jodie-melissa.blogspot.co.uk/

    xxx

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  27. Hi Fleur..thanks for this. Sorry to be a pain but I have asked on a few different posts now about the affiliate links you mention ..can you please tell us which one's and how this works..I would be really grateful? Thanks x

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  28. i think it should deffo boost m&s sales,i do buy food from m&s so look forward if they bring it further down south,not heard of the brans but i will try anything at an ok price and their own range will be interesting too,thanks fleur xxxx

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  29. I work on High Street Kensington and actually saw you at the station yesterday! Was waiting to see what you'd got up to :)

    Will definitely have to check this out on my lunch break - who'd have thought it eh?!

    Sophie x

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  30. i love the idea of this! hope they do it in more shops up north!

    chlo @chlowitty blogs

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  31. You need to try their blusher in damson! it is almost an exact dupe for mac harmony!

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  32. I just wentto the out of town one at Fosse Park the other day - I loved it, I love how they now do more brands (leighton denny nail varnishes tom name one) and how it is so much more appealing to try out there own brand make up.

    I picked up a few bits from there and will let you all know how i got on with it .

    belleza14.blogspot.com

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