The new Marks and Spencer Fresh Elements skincare range offers a range of science-led formulas at prices designed not to break the bank
Thanks to the likes of The Ordinary, The Inkey List, and a rising number of affordable, stripped-back, science-led skincare brands, many of us are now much more informed about what we’re putting on our faces, and what our skin needs.
The latest brand looking to capitalise on this, while also hoping to reach a wider audience, is Marks and Spencer with the launch of its new Fresh Elements collection.
M&S describes its Fresh Elements range as “a new smart… results-driven selection” that includes toners, cleansers, and moisturisers you can use to build a routine that suits your skin.
There is a total of 17 products across the entire range, and you if you’re not sure which collection you need, M&S lets you filter the range by skin type. You can also keep reading to learn more about the new Fresh Elements range, and what we think are the best products to try first.
Shop the Fresh Elements range
Each of the Fresh Elements products falls within one of three categories – Glow, Clarify, or Hydrate.
Shop the Fresh Elements range
M&S The Fresh Elements Glow range is designed for dull, normal, and dry skin.
The Vitamin C across this range is also great for helping to get rid of acne scars.
Which products should you start with? Our favourite products from the Glow range are the Radiant Overnight Serum and the Brightening Eye Cream.
Not only does the serum contain 10% Vitamin C to brighten the skin, but it also contains glycolic acid, to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells, and squalane to help smooth and moisturise.
Meanwhile, the Brightening Eye Cream is great for helping to get rid of dark circles. The Vitamin C brightens and lifts the dark pigments in the skin around your eyes, while hyaluronic acid hydrates and tackles fine lines, and jojoba oil locks this hydration in to make you look more awake and refreshed.
If you want to know more about why Vitamin C is so good for the skin, how to use it, and get other Vitamin C serum and cream recommendations, check out our: Get brighter, smoother skin and reduce acne scars with the best Vitamin C serum and creams guide.
M&S The Fresh Elements Clarify range has been designed for oily, acne-prone skin. It’s also suitable for combination skin.
Which products should you start with? The standout products in this range include the Skin-Perfecting Jelly Cleanser and AHA Pore Minimising Toner.
The cleanser gently cleanses the skin and clears the pores by removing product build-up, dead skin cells and acne-causing bacteria. It contains mandelic acid, to exfoliate and fight blemishes; white willow bark to help increase skin cell turnover. This, in turn, helps boost the production of collagen, and elastin and helps with your skin barrier; while witch hazel has astringent properties to remove bacteria and balance the skin
The cleanser alone is great for clearing your pores, but if you want an added boost, the AHA Pore Minimising Toner uses the same mandelic acid, and willow bark to exfoliate the skin but additionally comes with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and calm the skin after exfoliation.
M&S As you may have guessed from the name, the Fresh Elements Hydrate Range is designed for dry, dehydrated skin.
If you don’t know if your skin is dry, dehydrated, or both, read our guide: Do you have dry skin or is just dehydrated? Here’s how to tell the difference
Which products should you start with? The Overnight Moisture Cream and Micellar Water are two great products to get started with from the Fresh Elements Hydrate range.
When applied before bed, the cream spends the night hydrating the skin and helping to repair your skin barrier thanks to the use of hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5 which helps to keep skin soft, smooth, and healthy, and an ingredient called Sweet White Lupine which helps to maintain the quality of your skin barrier.
The Overnight Mask is good too, and if you’re suffering particularly badly with dry, flaky patches, you may want to start there first. However, it’s thicker and is designed for use once to twice a week, so the Overnight Cream may be a better all-rounder.
If you find most cleansers and toners have a tendency to strip the skin of its natural oils and make your dry skin worse, the Soothing Micellar Water helps remove dirt and build-up while soothing and hydrating the skin. It contains hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5 as well as cucumber extract to calm redness and irritation.
Victoria is founder and editor-in-chief of mamabella, freelance journalist and Mum. She has a passion for empowering people to feel beautiful whatever their age, size, skin type and budget
