M&S Beauty has been quietly building its impressive repertoire in recent years, cultivating an impressive edit of iconic classics and own-brand products. The introduction of Maine-based natural skincare range Burt’s Bees cements its status as a powerful player in the high-street beauty market.

Burt’s Bees products come all the way from a beekeeper’s backyard in Maine, and since the company’s establishment over thirty years ago, the brand has led the way in natural, earth-friendly products. Their story is a heart-warming one: in the summer of 1984, Maine artist Roxanne Quimby hitched a ride home with the eponymous Burt Shavitz, whose beard (which still graces some Burt’s Bees products today) was as famous as his road-side honey stand. They hit it off, and worked together to turn leftover beeswax from his hives into a range of products, starting with candles and ending up with the diverse range of body creams, facial cleansers and lip balms we’re treated to today.

Burt’s Bees’ philosophy has always been both simple and responsible. No products are tested on animals and don’t contain any nasty ingredients such as phthalates, parabens, petroleum or SLS.

This is partly a reason why the range is such a good fit for M&S Beauty. “We are thrilled to be launching Burt’s Bees into M&S”, says General Manager at Burt’s Bees Europe, Emma Atkinson. “M&S continues to innovate and enhance their shopper’s experience in branded beauty…specifically, the response of M&S shoppers to the natural beauty category at M&S energises us. We think that the M&S shopper will be delighted by Burt’s Bees unique and authentic heritage, and our portfolio of distinctive, effective natural skincare solutions,” she explains.

Shoppers will find a wide range of Burt’s Bees products at M&S Beauty, including favourites such as the Original Beeswax Lip Balm with Peppermint & Vitamin E, as well as the Almond and Milk Hand Cream and Intense Hydration Face Mask.

Here at StyleNest, we couldn’t get enough of the Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. A thick, luxurious cleanser, apply it to wet skin to remove stubborn makeup. Once you’ve washed it away, skin feels irresistibly tingly and extra clean thanks to the aloe, yet also soft and moisturised by glycerin and cocoa butter.

The Burt’s Bees range is available in store and online now, from £3.70 at www.marksandspencer.com