My Honest Review of Merit Beauty: The Clean Makeup Brand Worth the Hype
Hey there beauty lover! If you‘ve been curious about Merit Beauty, the buzzed-about new luxury clean makeup brand, you‘ve come to the right place. As a beauty editor and self-proclaimed makeup minimalist, I‘ve been eagerly testing Merit‘s lineup of effortless, glow-boosting essentials. Now I‘m ready to spill the tea on whether these viral products are truly worth the hype (and your hard-earned cash).
In this comprehensive Merit Beauty review, I‘ll be sharing:
- An overview of the brand and its bestselling products
- My honest thoughts and experience with each product (with pics!)
- Insights on the clean beauty industry and "skinimalism" trend
- Answers to your burning questions about Merit
- My final verdict on if these luxury makeup multitaskers are worth it
But first, let me back up and share what initially drew me to Merit. The brand launched in January 2021 with an alluring premise: A tightly edited collection of clean, fool-proof essentials that instantly elevate your natural beauty in mere minutes. Sounds dreamy, right?
Intrigued, I did a little digging into the brand story. I learned that Merit was founded by Who What Wear co-founder Katherine Power, a veteran entrepreneur with a track record of creating hit brands like Versed skincare. Power set out to create the antidote to the complicated, 12-step makeup routines we‘ve been sold for so long. Her goal was to curate a minimalist "merit badge" kit of 7 products that work together to deliver a polished, natural look with minimal effort.
The products are formulated to be easy-to-use, mistake-proof, and most importantly, good for your skin. Every Merit product is clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, formulated without 73 potentially harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Instead, they‘re packed with nourishing, plant-based ingredients like squalane, antioxidants, and fatty acids to actually improve your complexion over time.
Celebs like Mandy Moore, Bella Hadid, and Chrissy Teigen give Merit their stamp of approval. Plus, the brand has already racked up an impressive 120k Instagram followers and glowing reviews in Allure, Vogue, Byrdie, and more.
Needless to say, my expectations for Merit were sky high as I unboxed my goodies. Read on for my in-depth thoughts on each product after a few weeks of testing!
Merit‘s 7-Piece Minimalist Makeup Wardrobe
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick Review
Let‘s start with the product I was most excited to try – Merit‘s bestselling complexion perfecter. This innovative foundation-meets-concealer stick is described as an "impossible to mess up" base that delivers lightweight, buildable coverage with a natural, skin-like finish.
The component has sleek, weighted packaging that twists up to dispense the perfect amount of product. I chose the shade Linen, a light neutral beige, from the inclusive 20-shade range.
The texture is a dream – creamy and blendable but not at all greasy. It melted into my skin and masked redness and dark spots while still letting my real skin peek through. I was amazed that it didn‘t settle into pores or cling to any dry patches, a problem I often have with stick base products.
I applied it directly from the bullet in short strokes on my cheeks, forehead, and chin. Then I blended it out in circular motions with Merit‘s Brush No. 1 for an seamless, diffused finish. The coverage was light but ample enough to even out my skin tone. It wore well for 6+ hours without creasing or fading.
The Minimalist feels less like a made-up base and more like an enhanced version of my natural skin. The subtle radiance and lightweight feel are perfect for everyday wear, especially in the summer heat. If you‘re into the your-skin-but-better look, I highly recommend adding this overachieving complexion stick to your routine.
Flush Balm Cheek Color Review
Cream blush is having a major moment, and Merit understood the assignment with their Flush Balm. This mistake-proof cheek color has a bouncy, balmy texture that melts into skin and leaves behind the perfect natural flush.
I tried the shade Beverly Hills, a soft, rosy pink that perks up my light olive complexion without looking clownish. The color payoff is sheer but buildable, so you can easily layer it on for a more intense look. I love tapping it on the apples of my cheeks and blending it out with my fingertips for a healthy, dewy glow.
Unlike powder blushes that can look flat or cakey, the Flush Balm has a skin-like finish that mimics a natural flush from within. The vitamin E-rich formula actually feels good for my skin, keeping my cheeks plump and hydrated all day.
Day Glow Highlighting Balm Review
Another staple in my everyday Merit routine is the Day Glow Highlighting Balm. This cushiony balm has a translucent base with just the slightest hint of pearl to impart a subtle, lit-from-within radiance.
I tap the shade Cava on the the highs of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and on my Cupid‘s bow for a soft, candle-lit sheen. It doesn‘t have any obvious chunks of glitter or shimmer, just an effortless, dewy luminosity. The balmy texture feels nourishing on my dry skin, thanks to fatty acids and plant-derived squalane.
I love how it blends seamlessly over the Minimalist Complexion Stick without disturbing my base. It plays well with the Flush Balm too for the ultimate natural, glassy-skinned combo. This is the perfect everyday highlighter for when you want to look fresh and glowing but not sparkly or overdone.
Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil Review
If you‘ve been on the hunt for your perfect everyday lip product, look no further than Merit‘s Shade Slick. This innovative lip oil delivers the shine of a gloss, the comfort of a balm, and the color of a tinted lip balm in one chic click pen.
I‘ve been wearing the shade Cara Cara, a sheer caramel rose, on repeat. It has a cushiony, non-sticky texture that glides over lips and leaves them looking plump, juicy, and slightly tinted. The warm nude shade is the ultimate my-lips-but-better color on my light-medium skin tone.
What I love most about Shade Slick is how nourishing the formula is. It‘s packed with hydrating ingredients like squalane, rosehip oil, and shea butter to keep my pout soft and supple for hours. I don‘t have to worry about it settling into lip lines or leaving my lips dry and irritated like many glosses do.
Even after the glossy shine wears away after a few hours, my lips still feel moisturized and have a hint of tint. This is a true handbag staple I can swipe on without a mirror for a low-maintenance lip look.
Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade Review
Soap brows and laminated arches may be trending, but I much prefer a fluffy, natural-looking brow. Merit gets it right with their Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade. Inspired by the full, brushed-up brows of ‘80s supermodels, this tinted brow pomade defines, fluffs, and sets your arches in a few easy strokes.
The standout for me is the angled precision brush it comes with – it deposits just the right amount of product and makes creating hair-like strokes easier than ever. The rectangular component also has a handy mirror inside, making it great for on-the-go touch ups.
I use the shade Brown in light, upward motions to fill in my sparse brows and amp up my natural arch. The color blends in seamlessly with my dark brown hairs for a soft, shadow-like effect. I finish by brushing the hairs up with the spoolie end for a feathery, laminated look without the commitment.
The pomade has a unique mousse-like texture that feels completely weightless yet locks hairs in place all day. It contains mineral pigments and kaolin clay that adhere to brows for longwearing, transfer-proof wear without flaking. Finally, a brow product I can trust to keep my arches on point in the summer heat!
Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara Review
As a clean beauty enthusiast, I‘ve tried my fair share of natural mascaras – and been consistently disappointed. They often lack the drama and staying power of their conventional counterparts. But Merit‘s Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara has restored my faith in clean, high-performance lash products.
This tubing mascara uses an innovative patent-pending formula to wrap each lash in a flexible, water-resistant film. The hourglass-shaped brush grabs and coats every little lash, even the stubborn inner corners, for a wide-eyed effect.
I‘m amazed by how much longer, fuller, and more lifted my lashes look after a few coats of Clean Lash. The rich black pigment makes my eyes pop and stays put all day – no smudging, flaking, or raccoon eyes in sight. It holds the curl from my lash curler, too, which is a must for my stubborn, straight lashes.
Even more impressive, the mascara washes off effortlessly with just warm water, thanks to the tubing technology. No harsh rubbing or oily makeup removers necessary. If you‘re a clean beauty fan who misses the volumizing, lengthening power of traditional mascaras, I can‘t recommend Clean Lash enough.
Is Merit Makeup Worth The Hype? My Verdict
After putting Merit Beauty‘s entire lineup to the test, I can confidently say these products are the real deal.
Merit truly delivers on its claims of mistake-proof, everyday essentials that make you look instantly put-together. The formulas are a breeze to apply (even for a makeup newbie like me) and have that elusive second-skin finish we all crave. I love how the sheer, buildable formulas enhance my features in a flattering, natural-looking way without masking my real skin.
Equally important to me is Merit‘s commitment to clean, good-for-you ingredients. All of the products are packed with nourishing, plant-based actives that actually improve my skin over time. As someone who‘s experienced irritation from makeup in the past, I appreciate having products I can feel good about putting on my face everyday.
At $24-$38 a pop, Merit‘s products are definitely an investment. But in my opinion, the sleek, sustainable packaging, skin-loving formulas, and foolproof results make them worth every penny. A little goes a long way with each product, so I can see them lasting in my routine for months to come.
If you‘re someone who‘s over complicated, 12-step makeup routines and craving a more natural, effortless vibe, I think you‘ll love Merit. The curated lineup takes the guesswork out of getting ready and delivers reliable results in minutes. I‘ve never felt so confident in such a pared-down routine!
While Merit‘s lineup is small (for now), there‘s truly something for everyone. The complexion stick caters to a wide range of skin types and tones, while the lip oil and blush come in shades to flatter every complexion. Even as a beauty minimalist, I felt like I had everything I needed to create a fresh, glowing look.
My personal favorite products are the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, Flush Balm in Beverly Hills, and Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara. But honestly, I‘ve gotten so much use out of every single product and can‘t imagine my routine without them!
If you‘re on the fence about trying Merit, I highly recommend snagging one of the brand‘s starter sets. You can choose between warm and cool-toned edits that include travel sizes of the brand‘s top sellers. It‘s a great low-commitment way to test out the products and find your perfect shades.
The brand also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can shop with confidence. And with free shipping over $50 and a free makeup bag with purchase, you really can‘t go wrong.
I hope my Merit Beauty review helped shed some light on this exciting new brand! I truly believe Merit is the future of luxury makeup – clean, sustainable, and effortless. Trust me, your 5-minute face never looked so good.
Have you tried anything from Merit Beauty? I‘d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
