I tested everything in M&S’s £30 Wellness Box, and it's the self-care treat you need for 2025
The items inside are worth over £100 and every single item exceeded my expectations.
I know it's January and you're probably holding off on spending any money, but after testing every product inside Marks & Spencer's 2025 Wellness Box, I can confirm it's worth breaking your spending ban for, with a whole selection of luxurious self-care treats that will make your otherwise dull first month of the year feel so much better.
M&S Collection The Wellness Box 2025
Boots Wellness Box
Skin Sanctuary Edit Beauty Box
Calm Collective Beauty Box
Costing just £30, it contains 10 premium, hand-picked products that are worth over £100. In fact, by my calculation, the box is worth £119 all together, which makes it an absolute bargain.
As soon as I opened the box, I was overcome by a scent that made me immediately want to test out all the products to see what it was.
This epic value beauty box features everything you need for some well-needed self-care and TLC in the new year, including luxury skincare items that will give you glowing skin and pampering bath treats.
I quickly discovered it was the Apothecary Restful Eau de Parfum, which has notes of black pepper, frankincense, cedarwood, and rose to create a wonderfully balanced and calming scent. It smells incredibly similar to my Le Labo Rose 31, which has similar notes of rose, cedar, and wood. However, that luxury scent sets you back £170 for a 50ml bottle. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the M&S expensive-smelling scent (also a 50ml bottle) was a mere £12 – talk about a steal!
Inside the box, you’ll also find a Calm Votive Candle (usually £8) from the same Apothecary range. It smells equally soothing and relaxing, with hints of lavender, cedarwood, and sweet orange.
Next, let’s move on to the skincare products, of which there are many – great news for those of us looking to rejuvenate our nighttime beauty routines.
✨ What's inside The Wellness Box 2025? ✨
Bloom & Blossom Hands Up Hand Cream (50ml) £18
Arkive The Future Youth Treatment Mask (180g) £14
Apothecary Restful Eau de Parfum (50ml) £12
Apothecary Calm Votive Candle (60g) £8
Bloom Sculpting Metal Facial Massager £10
Dr. PAW PAW Shea Butter Balm (10ml) £9.50
This Works Deep Sleep 5% Retinoid Complex* (10ml) £12.60
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (30g) £18
Fresh Elements Hydrate Face Mask (50ml) £9.50
Formula Sleep & Replenish Ultimate Sleep Cream* (15ml) £7.50
*sample-sized products, price estimated on ml
First, I tried the Formula Sleep & Replenish Ultimate Sleep Cream, which usually costs £22.50 for a 50ml pot. In the box, you get to sample a 15ml pot. I really wasn’t expecting much from the M&S own-branded product, even though our resident beauty expert has previously said M&S's skincare products were "seriously underrated", but after giving the cream a go myself, I have to agree!
The cream has a lovely thick and luxurious consistency, and most importantly, it's non-greasy and sinks into the skin quickly. It has also been formulated to work in harmony with your body's natural circadian rhythm to tackle dryness, dullness, and wrinkles overnight. While I haven’t been using it long enough to comment on the long-term benefits, it most definitely leaves my skin looking hydrated and feeling soft in the morning.
Shop the beauty box Shop the Restful Eau de Parfum
Products that help your skin hydrate during the winter months are especially important, as otherwise, wrinkles can appear more prominent and your skin can look dull.
To tackle your winter skin, there’s the Fresh Elements Hydrate Face Mask (£9.50), which is formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and smoothing squalane. I was surprised when the lightweight serum had an instant cooling effect that made my skin immediately feel tighter, which is all part of the overnight mask's ability to make your skin look more replenished and refreshed in the morning.
I took a quick look at some of the five-star reviews, of which there are plenty, and one customer said that, with continued use, their complexion "looks noticeably plumper and more hydrated, like I've just had a spa treatment. It's like a tall drink of water for my face!"
The most intriguing item in the box is, though, without a doubt, is the Bloom Sculpting Metal Facial Massager (£10), a two-pronged design made from cooling metal that is intended to be gently massaged over your skin to boost circulation and enhance product absorption.
My expectations for this were, to be honest, very low – however, I was quickly proven wrong. The massage balls (which, might I add, are weightier than expected) effortlessly glide over your jawline, cheekbones, and eye area to help define, soothe and de-puff. Top tip: Always roll from the centre of the face outwards and always in one direction only, not back and forth. You repeat the same motion four to five times in each area and it takes only a few minutes.
While you can use it in the evening over your favourite serum, oil or moisturiser to help it better sink into your skin, my favourite time to use the cooling device is in the morning, especially under my eyes to help make me look and feel a lot less tired and puffy.
It's also worth mentioning that this M&S facial tool is a bargain — after doing some research online, I found that most similar tools range between £20 and £40.
The other skincare products included are the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (usually £18), which I typically use in the evening to remove my make-up. It’s filled with essential oils such as rose and jasmine extracts and is very comforting and soothing, leaving my skin feeling super soft and rehydrated. There’s also a mini This Works Deep Sleep 5% Retinoid Complex, which not only helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but, thanks to its spa-like scent, makes you feel super relaxed before bed to help aid a good night’s sleep.
The box really is packed with products you'll actually use, which, if you've ever received a beauty box or beauty advent calendar before, you'll know is rare. The final three products are super practical winter essentials you're bound to use up in no time.
Buy your box before it sells-out
There’s a full-sized Bloom & Blossom Hands Up Hand Cream (£18), which has a subtle scent and is fast-absorbing; an Arkive The Future Youth Treatment Mask (£14), which will treat your hair to some TLC in the colder months and help restore its shine. Dr. PAW PAW Shea Butter Balm (£9.50) is the last product, which is unscented and has a lovely thick, buttery texture that leaves your lips feeling hydrated.
Overall, every single product inside the beauty box massively exceeded my expectations and I definitely recommend this box as a luxurious and budget-friendly pick-me-up to start off the new year right.
Shop now: The Wellness Box 2025 | £30 from Marks & Spencer
Boots has also just revealed its first-ever Wellness Box, bursting with £163.40 worth of products for just £35.
Designed to get you feeling fresh and energised for the new year, it comes with 17 different products, including skincare products and supplements — spotlighting brands like Gold Collagen, Liquid IV, Weleda, Myvitamins, and more. The box works out at just £2 per product, which is excellent value for money, especially since the highest-value item inside would cost £40 on its own. You can read our full review here.
Step into the new year with 17 health and wellness must-haves by your side, spanning everything from vitamins to sleep spray, hydration sachets to moisturiser.
If you're after something a bit more affordable Next has some great value options, too.
Next's Skin Sanctuary Edit Beauty Box is a bargain at just £20, and comes filled with a range of indulgent skincare products worth £136 altogether — giving you the chance to save a huge £116.
Upgrade your skincare routine with this luxurious selection of pampering products from Eve Lom, Emma Hardie, Elemis and more.
There's also the Calm Collective Beauty Box, which is perfect for enjoying some self-care as it's packed with eight luxury products from Neal's Yard, This Works and ESPA that have been carefully selected to help you relax and unwind in style.
If you're in need of self-care, this calming collection of treats is the perfect way to take some time for yourself. There's a selection of beauty gems to enjoy, including a full-size Neal's Yard Remedies Women’s Balance Foam Bath, This Works Stress Check Sleep Lotion, Beauty Pro Eye Therapy Under Eye Mask, alongside four travel miniatures.
