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Like most beauty lovers, I’ve had my eye on Merit for a while. With its sleek packaging, minimalistic approach, it always felt like the cool girl of beauty brands that always looks effortlessly put-together.
Truth be told, I don’t actively purchase a lot of makeup. What I have in my collection is usually things I’ve acquired through various beauty boxes and PR packages – I’ll perhaps pick up the odd thing from Boots if I’ve been desperate to try it. But that is why I’d never gotten my mitts on Merit, seeing as it wasn’t available anywhere but direct – until now.
To celebrate the brand’s launch into Sephora earlier this year, I attended a Merit masterclass and was able to finally try the products to see what I’d been missing out on each time I’d resisted an Instagram targeted ad. My only regret? Not giving in sooner.
Not only do these products look gorgeous on your vanity, they actually work. And more importantly, they work for you. Merit has nailed the concept of everyday beauty – products that fit seamlessly into your routine, make you feel pulled-together in five minutes or less, and are basically impossible to get wrong.
I’ve tested a lot of makeup over the years, but these products stood out immediately. They’re thoughtful and easy to use, no matter your skill level or how much time you have in the morning. Every single item I’ve tried has earned a permanent spot in my everyday makeup bag, so if you’re thinking about ordering, here are some of my favourites:
Great Skin Instant Glow Serum – £34
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to fall for this serum as hard as I did. It’s got quite an oily feel to it straight off the bat which, as someone who gets oily throughout the day, I’d typically steer clear of. But the formula is thin and super lightweight, absorbing immediately into the skin, delivering a bouncy and glowy complexion.
It’s packed with four types of hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturise, niacinamide to brighten, and cacao seed extract, which is rich in caffeine for a subtle plumping effect. It’s also non-comedegenic meaning it won’t clog pores, and will help support a healthy skin barrier over time. It’s been specially designed to work alongside The Minimalist, which I’ll introduce you to next, but it can be used with any complexion product, or on its own for healthy, dewy skin.
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick – £34
Described as “not a foundation or a concealer, but something that’ll replace both,” this hard-working stick immediately stood out during the tutorial and has been a go-to ever since. There are 30 shades available to choose from, and at the event, I was professionally matched to the shade Silk, which is perfect for my fair but warm complexion.
It offers light-to-medium coverage that looks and feels like skin, without clinging to dry spots or settling into lines. It’s so creamy and blends seamlessly with barely any pressure required to blend. The formula boasts hydrating ingredients like glycerin and fatty acids, which help lock in moisture, while sea daffodil extract helps increase brightness and reduce the appearance of temporary redness. The result? My skin but better, with a beautiful natural, satin finish.
The Minimalist is also incredibly versatile. It can be used to blur imperfections or you can go back in and build more coverage where you need it, without it looking cakey or heavy. If you get a darker shade, it can also be used to contour, while a lighter shade can act as a brightening concealer.
At £34, it sits in the mid-luxury price point, but the amount of product you get makes it feel like solid value. I twisted the stick all the way up and was pleasantly surprised. If it’s anything like my Milk contour stick (which has lasted me a year), I expect this one to last just as long.
The Uniform – £34
I never really got along with tinted SPFs until I came across The Uniform. And after using it near daily for the past few weeks (and naming it one of my June top beauty picks) it’s no wonder it had a waitlist of 25,000 people before it even launched in May.
It is an exceptionally lightweight formula feeling like skincare on my face, providing a sheer tint with a natural skin finish that’s never greasy or cakey. It gives just enough coverage to blur imperfections and even out skin tone, while still letting my skin shine through, but with that glowy, almost “marinated” skin look I’ve been living for lately.
It’s non-comedogenic, oil-free, and made without silicones, which means it’s been playing very nicely with my summer skin. It comes in 15 shades (I wear shade 28), and contains 100% mineral zinc oxide active for broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Never have I ever had so many people ask me what I’m wearing on my skin than when I wear Merit’s The Uniform. For those embracing more natural skin this summer, but aren’t ready to go bare-faced, it’s a must – not to mention the benefit of sun protection.
Brush No. 1 – £28
The Brush No. 1 is a gorgeous dense but soft applicator that can be used to seamlessly blend complexion products. It’s been made to compliment The Minimalist, but works with any foundation, as well as blushes, contour, bronzer – basically any cream or liquid formulation.
The brush makes blending completely foolproof, giving a flawless finish in seconds, even when I’m rushing out the door or applying makeup in questionable lighting. The size is great for on-the-go (much like the products), plus it’s vegan, cruelty-free, made from recycled materials and really easy to clean.
Flush Balm Cheek Color – £26
I’ve had a love hate relationship with blush for some time and I’m still very much exploring what I like, and what I don’t in a formula. I definitely prefer cream and liquid blushes, but find many too pigmented and tricky to blend. These cream tints from Merit, however, melt into the skin like butter and give that lit-from-within, flushed look that makes you look instantly more awake. The
Enriched with vitamin E, they’re super creamy, and the pigment is sheer but buildable, delivering a healthy flush of colour in a juicy satin finish for a long-lasting glow. And because the formula is lightweight and formulated without acne-triggering ingredients, it never feels heavy or greasy.
I own four shades, Postmodern, Beverly Hills, Persimmon and Archival. The latter isn’t my best shade due to it being a cooler mauve, but the soft peachy pink of Beverly Hills is my go-to for everyday, and can be used on the eyes and lips for a really cohesive look. Initially I thought Postmodern would be too dark for me, but when it’s applied it sheers out to a dreamy deep pink brown that’s super flattering. Persimmon is a beautiful bricky hue, similar to Refy’s Amber Lip Blush.
Day Glow Highlighting Balm – £28
This is the most natural-looking highlighter I’ve ever used. So many formulas on the market are full of glitters but this one gives a glossy, balmy sheen without even a hint of sparkle. It just makes your skin look dewy and delicious.It comes in four shades, I have Soft Gold and Champagne, both of which are perfect for daytime, whether you’re heading into a meeting or just doing errands.
The vitamin-rich base makes them really moisturising, and the micro-fine pearls reflect light to illuminate the skin while squalane locks in hydration. While they do have a slight tint, they’re not particularly pigmented so you can be quite liberal with them. Celebrity MUA Zoe Taylor, who ran the masterclass I went to, recommends using them on the eyelids for a glossy look, which I’ve enjoyed trying out, too.
Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade – £24
Brows are incredibly important to me and I’ve been loyal to a particular brow gel for around a decade. However, my trusty Natural Collection tinted brow gel has recently been discontinued so I was desperate to find a new one I loved just as much, and Merit has delivered.
This pomade has been inspired by the fluffy, full brows of the ’80s, but with a modern twist. It tints, shapes, and gives a soft hold without crunchiness or flaking. The tiny brush makes it easy to control, helping groom unruly brows into shape while conditioning them with provitamin B5. The gel comes in four shades made with kaolin clay and mineral pigments for the perfect fluffy, natural-looking brows.
Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara – £23
Every tubing mascara I’ve tried previously, I just couldn’t get along with, but Merit’s mascara has absolutely changed my opinion of tubing formulas, and has quickly become an everyday essential for me. Clean Lash uses tubing technology, which means it wraps little tubes around each lash and stays put all day with no undereye smudging – a serious bugbear of mine.
As well as tinting the lashes, it lengthens and lifts, and is surprisingly buildable without clumping. The precision brush makes it easy to lift and separate each lash for a full, feathery look, while fatty acids and olive oil esters condition lashes for a flexible feel. But the real magic? It comes off with just warm water and a cleanser. No rubbing. No makeup remover. No lashes sacrificed in the process. If you’re into fluttery, natural lashes that don’t smudge or flake, this one’s for you.
Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil – £21
I didn’t think I’d love a lip oil this much, but here we are. These lip oils deliver a wash of colour and hydration without being sticky, making them great for all day wear. They feel more nourishing than a gloss, lighter than a balm, and makes your lips look plump and healthy.
The Classic formula features rosehip oil, shea butter, grapeseed oils and jojoba oil, which work together to support a healthy skin barrier function, lock in moisture and replenish lips. They come in 12 shades, I have one pink nude and a warmer nude brown (au naturel) which is the perfect 90s-inspired neutral that goes with literally everything. I throw it in my bag every time I leave the house.
As mentioned earlier, every one of the Merit products I’ve used have found themselves in my regular rotation. If you’re looking to streamline your routine, get back to basics, or just try something that genuinely works, this is your sign to give Merit a go.
