Priced at £40 but worth £230, the M&S Summer Beauty Bag contains 11 products from top brands like Floral Street, Clinique and Estee Lauder
There are few annual beauty deals quite as highly sought after as the Marks and Spencer Summer Beauty Bag. I’ve unboxed the coveted edit for four years running, and 2026 marks their highest value haul to date – with some seriously impressive brands in the line up, too.
The Summer Beauty Bag has earned a reputation for its strong price to product value ratio, and the 2026 version is no exception. I’ve taken a look inside this year’s version and compared it to launches from 2025, 2024 and 2023, and while there are some notable absences, this year’s curation is one of the most exciting to date.
One thing to mention is that the price has steadily increased over time, rising from £25 in 2023 to £40 this year, at increments of £5 per year. But so has the value, which now sits at an impressive £230, up from £155 in 2023.
In previous years, shoppers needed to spend a minimum amount on clothing, home or beauty to qualify for the Summer Beauty Bag, but that threshold was abandoned last year. Shoppers no longer have to spend £35-40 first in order to then purchase the edit, making it far easier to justify as a standalone buy, rather than using it as an excuse to spend more to get the deal, which often felt like it was eating into the overall value.
As for the products, there are 11 products this year, compared to last year’s 10, with a selection that leans heavily into skincare, haircare and bodycare. There’s a stronger focus on established, high-end names like Estée Lauder and Clinique, though I must admit, it was a shame to not see more of the M&S-owned formulas from the highly popular Discover perfume range, or the newly revamped Fresh Elements skincare line.
M&S 2026 Summer Beauty Bag, worth £230
Get ready summer ready with this new beauty edit. The sell-out M&S Beauty Bag for 2026 is packed with 11 seasonal staples across skincare, haircare and makeup, with five being full-size. Packed inside a reusable mesh bag, it is perfect for taking on all your travels this year.
One of my favourite items in the edit is Floral Street’s Wonderland Peony Eau de Parfum. With notes of candy floss, pink pepper and blackcurrant, it’s a sweet, feminine floral that’s perfect for everyday. Meanwhile, the 10ml size makes it ideal for taking on holiday or throwing in a handbag for on-the-go.
Another highlight is the Color Wow Colour Security Shampoo, which is a product I already use regularly, particularly for maintaining the vibrancy of my copper-dyed hair. Again, the size is ideal for hand luggage or wash bags, while serving as a great trial size if you don’t want to commit to purchasing a full sized formula.
The only makeup inclusion this year is the ICONIC London Prep, Set and Glow, which is a full-size setting spray that delivers a radiant finish great for weddings and beach days. It does feel quite skincare-adjacent though, so I’d have really liked to have seen another makeup item in the edit to make it feel more well-rounded.
Perhaps the most impressive inclusion is the Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean 2-in-1 Cleanser. As a full-size product worth £35, it almost justifies the cost of the entire bag on its own. But it’s actually the Hair By Sam McKnight Sundaze Seasalt Spray I’ve found myself reaching for to add texture to my hair for that effortless ‘just back from the beach’ vibe.
As always, there are one or two products that will inevitably come down to personal preference and lifestyle. The Leighton Denny nail polish, for example, is a lovely summer shade, but not something I’ll personally get any use out of due to having monthly manicures, making it an easy one for the ‘regifting’ pile.
The Ultrasun SPF 50 fluid is another thoughtful inclusion, but is noticeably small at 20ml. It’s useful for trialling the formula, but not particularly practical if you’re hoping to rely on it for a trip away.
Alternatively, the Chasing The Sun Skin Edit from Cult Beauty is worth over £185, but priced at £42. It’s more expensive than Marks and Spencer’s edit, with a lower overall value, but contains some seriously impressive brands such as Medik8, 111Skin and Supergoop!.
For something a little cheaper, at Boots, the Mini Holiday Beauty Edit is priced at £35, and contains more than £139 worth of products, meaning shoppers save over 75%. Designed with summer travel in mind, the edit includes nine holiday-ready beauty essentials, with two full-size products included, including a Fenty lip formula and Huda mascara for those seeking some more makeup picks.
Back at Marks and Spencer, here’s everything inside the Summer Beauty Bag 2026:
- ICONIC London Prep, Set & Glow – Full Size, RRP £26
- Hair By Sam McKnight Sundaze Seasalt Spray – Full Size, RRP £26
- Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean 2-in-1 Cleanser – Full Size, RRP £35
- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion SPF – Full Size, RRP £27
- Floral Street Wonderland Peony Eau de Parfum – 10ml
- Skinkind Mini SOS Balm
- Ultrasun Photo Age Control Fluid SPF 50 – 20ml
- This Works Perfect Body Vitamin C Glow
- Color Wow Shampoo
- Color Wow Dreaming Mask
- Leighton Denny Nail Polish – 135ml Full Size, RRP £12.50
Now in its ninth year, the M&S Summer Beauty Bag has cemented its status as a must-have buy, with products that are exciting to unbox and for the most part, genuinely useful. For anyone looking to refresh their skincare and haircare routine ahead of summer, or simply try a selection of premium products without committing to full sizes, it’s definitely one of the strongest value beauty edits available on the high street.
