Marks and Spencer's have entered the men's skincare arena with their new range, Formula for Men.
With five products on offer, the collection is an impressive blend of your staples such as a classic shaving balm but also features some advanced offerings such as the deep cleansing face mask and a toning eye gel. The sleek looking collection contains a 3 in 1 cleanser, facial scrub, moisturiser, shaving balm, eye gel and a face mask.
M&S claim the range is everything you need for a perfect step-by-step routine and looking at what's included, it's hard to argue that.
You could add to it with some further serums but the six products here are considerable and probably all most people need to give them that little boost after a shower.
What's in the range?
Formula For Men 3 in 1 Cleanser - £9.50
I was always sceptical of anything that's sold as a '3 in 1' or products that claim to clean your hair, body and face in one bottle and out of all the products in the range, this is the one I'm least excited about. Don't get me wrong, its mix of caffeine, Lime Caviar and Vitamin B5 is feisty combination that does the trick and it gives you a clean feeling post use, but the lime scent is quite minimal and I'd think i'd rather stick to specialised products when it comes to my hair and face.
Formula For Men Gentle Facial Scrub - £8.50
This is a powerhouse of a product. I was on the hunt for a strong yet gentle exfoliator as I find the trickiest thing about looking after your face can be getting the grit and dirt out of it at the end of a long day outdoors. Using this, either morning or night, really cleanses my face, and with its firm and grainy texture you really do feel like you're giving your skin the best care while digging out any deep lying grime.
Formula For Men Hydrating Facial Moisturiser - £19.50
I usually stick with Nivea's Anti-Age Face Moisturiser Hyaluronic Acid as it contains SPF, plus it isn't thick or greasy, however, this is absolutely a worthy alternative.
This moisturiser features Matrixyl 3000, which M&S says is "a powerful peptide blend, which helps to smooth wrinkles and improve tone and elasticity" as well as Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid, which aims to unlock moisture in the skin. It's impressed me so much that when I run out of my go-to moisturiser I would happily return to this, however the price tag might be off-putting, especially when there's many solid alternatives out there.
Formula For Men Post Shave Balm - £15.00
A shave balm has become a classic for many men after a shave and it's easy to see why, it's a soothing and gentle treatment after dragging a razor over your face for a few minutes.
This version contains Aloe Vera and Lime Caviar and it's probably the best post shaving balm i've used so far. It managed to conquer any irritation or harshness the razor blade left in its wake and only an hour or so later any redness or coarseness from the shave had all but vanished.
Formula For Men Toning Eye Gel - £17.50
I've been using the HEATH Eye Serum for a few weeks now and the results have been pretty good as there's minimal irritation, if none at all, and it's super refreshing.
This version from M&S pledges to reduce the appearance of dark circles and under eye puffiness, and I have to say I found that it delivers after a week's worth of usage. It also contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E so it's not too abrasive on that softer skin under your eyes. The price is a little steep but you only need to use a small amount and so it should last you for quite some time.
Formula For Men Deep Cleansing Face Mask - £9.50
Again, due to unpleasant bursts of Psoriasis and general blemish eruptions on my face, I was always hesitant to apply a face mask. I also found them slightly awkward as I thought I'd have to sit there motionless for 15 minutes looking like I'd just taken a bath in wet cement, however, this is not the case.
This cleansing mask has been revolutionary for me in looking after my face in how it absorbs any oil and unwanted moisture and leaves you looking taut and glowing. Using once a week and I have found my face looking softer and cleaner for days after.
Overall, this is ideal if you want to pick up a few products that compliment one another as well as not having to think too much about what you really need then this is a great starter kit. Each product does what it says on the tin and after one week's use some of the range has found its way into my regular routine.
Most guys I know have all secretly harboured to have a routine akin to something like Patrick Bateman's and, while this may not be as exhaustive or as obsessive as that, I found this to be just enough with some surprisingly positive results.
You can browse and buy the range here
