This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you choose to purchase through links I provide.
If you’re on the hunt for a minimalist makeup brand that delivers on both performance and aesthetics, look no further than Merit Beauty. From the sleek packaging to the carefully curated ingredients, Merit Beauty offers a luxurious experience.
In this review, I’ll be sharing my experience with all of Merit’s beauty products in this unsponsored and honest review. Ultimately, I want to make sure you have enough information to determine if Merit is the brand for you.
About MERIT Beauty
Merit Beauty is a clean beauty brand that offers minimalist, high-quality products. Founded by Katherine Power in 2020, Merit Beauty was inspired by the idea of creating a simplified approach to beauty that was both easy to use and effective. Power, who is also the co-founder of Who What Wear, drew on her experience in the fashion and beauty industry to create a brand that was accessible, inclusive, and focused on elevating natural beauty.
The ethos behind Merit Beauty is centered around celebrating individuality and the idea that beauty should be effortless and enjoyable. Power wanted to create a brand that felt luxurious and elevated, while still being accessible to everyone. The brand’s mission statement is to “elevate your everyday beauty routine” through clean, vegan, and cruelty-free products.
MERIT Beauty Brand Review
Great Skin Instant Glow Serum
The Great Skin Serum is a lightweight, bi-phase serum that hydrates the skin and preps it for makeup application. This serum contains four types of hyaluronic acid that work together to target multiple layers of your skin, locking in hydration for all-day moisture. Niacinamide helps brighten your skin and smooth texture, while caffeine-rich cacao seed extract stimulates blood flow for an immediate plumping effect. Japanese goldthread root provides soothing and antioxidant protection, supporting a healthy skin barrier over time.
The Great Skin Instant Glow Serum is the perfect partner for the Minimalist Complexion Stick. It gives just the right amount of plumping and hydration to the skin, allowing your makeup to apply seamlessly. While Merit markets this as a serum, I like to think of it as more of a primer because it leaves the skin so dewy and plump.
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick is a foundation and concealer stick in one. The creamy formula is buildable allowing you to get the coverage level you prefer from light to medium coverage. With its lightweight, hydrating formula, this foundation stick effortlessly blends into the skin, providing a seamless, natural finish. It is currently available in 20 different shades for fair to dark skin tones.
While a stick formula is usually not my preference, I was quite impressed with this one. When using a stick foundation, it is important to make sure you have prepped your skin well. A well-hydrated base is key to making sure you do now have any dry patches and will help the foundation stick go further. I also recommend using a blending brush to apply the complexion stick. You need the stiff bristles to work the product into the skin. Fingers or a beauty blender just don’t work as well.
I do have to mention that it was a touch difficult to pick out a shade. I originally thought I needed the shade Linen, which is described as a light with medium undertones. However, the shade was too yellow. I ended up going with Dune which was a perfect match.
Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer
Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer is a stick bronzer that allows for easy and precise application, ensuring that you only add color where you need it. Its microfine pigments work to enhance your skin tone without leaving behind any orange hue, while fatty acids condition and moisturize the skin.
I really enjoy this bronzer because there is no way to mess it up. It goes on sheer and it blends easily, so you never look like you have overdone it. If you want more impact you just need to apply another layer of the buildable formula.
I do recommend using a blending brush with this bronzer over using a beauty blender or fingers. Also, I prefer to apply the bronzer to the brush and then apply it versus applying the stick directly to my face. I prefer the brush method so I can have more control over the bronzer.
Flush Balm Cream Blush
The Flush Balm Cream Blush is a cream tint that melts into the skin for lit-from-within color. The buildable balm deposits a creamy veil of color to let your skin show through. Infused with Vitamin E, the lightweight formula also nourishes and conditions the skin
Merit’s Flush Balm is one of my all-time favorite blush formulas. I’m not even a blush girl and I own it in three colors! My favorite color is Cheeky, which is a cool pink. Like Merit’s Bronze Balm, this blush is formulated in a way that makes it mistake-proof. You can apply just a little for a natural-looking wash of color or layer it up for more impact.
For application, I use my fingers. The warmth from my skin is all that is needed to help this blush blend beautifully into the skin.
Day Glow Highlighting Balm
Day Glow Highlighting Balm is a versatile, ultra-hydrating highlighting balm that adds a natural-looking radiance to any skin tone. Infused with a blend of nourishing ingredients like plant-based squalane, olive fruit oil, and vitamin E, this balm delivers a luminous, healthy-looking glow.
I’ve been raving about the highlighting balm since I first tried it. I love that it is super easy to apply, doesn’t have glitter, and comes in multiple shades. I just love the subtle balmy sheen. I highly recommend the shade Cava (a subtle champagne color)for anyone with a fair or light skin tone.
Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara
The Merit Clean Lash Mascara features tubing film-formers that lift and separate lashes without clumping, while plant-derived rice bran wax adds length and structure. Fatty acids and olive oil esters nourish and condition lashes.
If you like natural-looking lashes, you will like this tubing mascara. It gives your lashes just a bit of oomph, while also conditioning them. I personally prefer, a mascara that is a bit more dramatic so I only reach for this one when I am doing a super minimalist look of just mascara and lip gloss.
Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade
This tinted gel shapes, grooms, and holds your brows for a fuller, natural-looking finish. With nourishing Vitamin B5 and mineral pigments, this vegan brow pomade adds flexibility and natural-looking color.
I don’t usually use brow pomades or brow gel. If I do my brows I reach for a pencil. However, I have to admit this brow product is growing on me. It gives just a small amount of color to the brows without leaving them crunchy.
Signature Lip
Merit Signature Lip is a sheer lipstick with a satin finish that hydrates like a lip balm but without the heaviness of a traditional lipstick. Its hydrating formula contains squalane and sunflower seed oil to lock in long-lasting moisture, while papaya fruit extract soothes lips and raspberry oil moisturizes and adds a soft aroma.
This is another product from Merit that I absolutely love. I like that I can get a variety of pigment levels from this product. Blot it on for sheer color or layer it for more color payoff. I currently own it in the shades Baby (neutral pink), L’Avenue (berry brown), and Millennial (classic pink). I do have my eye on Fashion, which is a soft berry.
Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil
The Merit Tinted Lip Oil is the perfect hybrid of lip oil and light stain, adding a subtle touch of color to your lips. Infused with nourishing ingredients like rosehip oil, essential fatty acids, shea butter, and grapeseed oils, this lip oil helps maintain your lips’ natural moisture levels and provides antioxidant benefits. Jojoba oil creates a protective barrier that locks in moisture, while shea butter and grapeseed oils condition and soften your lips.
I will sound like a broken record, but this is another lip product I love. I currently own Sangria (deep berry) and Pink Beet (cool pink) and would love to add Marrakech (soft peach). I love that they are sheer but not too sheer.
Shade Slick Gelée Sheer Tinted Lip Oil
The Gelée Sheer Tinted Lip Oil offers an ultra-sheer tint of glossy color, thoughtfully infused with blooming pigments that interact with your lips’ natural color and pH to leave a subtle, unique stain. The lightweight and non-sticky formula ensures a comfortable wear, making it feel like you have nothing on your lips. Enriched with plant-derived squalane and quinoa seed oil, this lip product provides enduring moisture and barrier protection, promoting a soft and supple lip texture.
Since I really enjoyed the original, I thought I was going to love the Gelée version. As soon as I saw the color Mapleton, I just knew I had to order it. Unfortunately, I did not end up loving this lip stain. I found that it was pretty sheer and didn’t give me the color that I wanted. Because this is a ph pH-adjusting product, the color ended up looking more pink once applied.
Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color
The Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color offers a buildable cream-to-powder eyeshadow experience, designed to provide a soft-matte finish without any creasing or fallout. Whether applied with your finger or with Brush No. 2 (sold separately), this foolproof formula allows for a sheer wash of color that can stand alone or be layered for added depth, ensuring a captivating look with all-day lasting power. The ophthalmologist-tested and approved formula ensures a safe application for both contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes.
When it comes to eyeshadow, I am a one and done kind of girl. I want to be able to easily swipe it on, blend it out, and be done with it. If you are into the same vibe, you will enjoy the Solo Shadow. If you are into more complicated eye looks or want all-day wear, this is probably not the product for you.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoy MERIT Beauty. Why do I love their products so much? Because I love the minimalist makeup aesthetic that is at the core of the brand.
If minimalist makeup isn’t your thing, I still think there are MERIT products that you should try. I’d highly recommend the Day Glow Highlighting Balm, Signature Lip, and the original Tinted Lip Oil to anyone and everyone.
Because I enjoyed this brand so much, I will be watching MERIT as they grow and evolve. I can’t wait to see what they release next.
PS. I know that Merit Beauty is available for purchase at Sephora, but I encourage you to make your order from Merit Beauty directly. With your first purchase, you will get a super cute makeup bag with your order. If the free makeup bag isn’t enough to convince you, they also offer really great sets on their site. If you are planning on buying multiple products, buying a set is a great way to save a few dollars.
Recommended Reading
If you enjoyed this Merit Beauty review, you may also like:
