As consumers become increasingly mindful of what’s in their makeup bags, new clean brands pop up on the regular—and we knew a Merit Beauty review was in order as soon as we laid eyes on the sleek packaging and dreamy campaign imagery. The “clean, luxury beauty brand” makes products that are undeniably photogenic, so we had to put the formulas to the test to see if they measure up to the aesthetics.
Our makeup routines have been pared down significantly over the past year, so we were intrigued by Merit’s less-is-more brand positioning and promise of a five-minute makeup routine. While skin care may be the north star of our beauty regimens right now, quarantine has proven that staying at home 24/7 doesn’t mean unlimited beauty rest. We still lean on reliable makeup products to brighten up our dark circles and help our faces come alive on daily Zooms (even when we’re guilty of doom-scrolling into the wee hours of the morning).
Merit’s seven-piece collection just launched at Clean at Sephora (which focuses on products free of parabens, sulfates SLS and SLES, phthalates, mineral oils, formaldehyde, and more), and includes an everyday complexion stick, creamy cheek tint, tinted lip oil, brow pomade, highlighting balm, mascara, and blending blush. It certainly encapsulates what the average minimalist beauty routine might look like right now, so we got six Glamour staffers to test a handful of products for an honest Merit Beauty review.
Ahead, our thoughts on the new clean brand on the block—plus selfies to show our final result. Get the tea below.
Brionna Jimerson, social media manager
This minimalist makeup definitely focuses more on accentuating the wearer’s natural beauty. The foundation stick is the hero product in my opinion: It’s great for allover lightweight coverage, or just dabbing over dark spots and under the eyes. The mascara, I’ll admit, shocked me. I’m used to major “blam!” Bambi-style lashes but was pleasantly surprised by the demure glam moment it delivered. If you’re not a fan of over-the-top beauty products and just want to look (and feel) like a dewier version of yourself, you’ll love this brand.
What I loved the most was the cheek tint, which doubles as a lip tint in a pinch. I even added a wash of it over my eyelids! It didn’t crease or leave a greasy feel, which is more than I can say for a lot of products. If you want a subtle “butter wouldn’t melt” beauty look that makes you feel cute AF, you’ll find everything you want (and more) in Merit. The concealer range has room for expansion, but I think this shade captured my deep skin pretty well, and it was very workable. No weird gray or red undertones. Definitely good for a Zoom beat, and I imagine in spring and summer I’ll reach for these products again when it’s too hot to think about makeup. My only regret? Not nabbing the lip gloss!
Talia Abbas, commerce writer
I’ve always loved the no-makeup makeup look (even before the pandemic), and Merit positions itself as a solution for anyone looking to feel put-together with little effort—I think the product range lives up to that promise. My favorite was easily the lip oil. I was worried the shade might be too bright for my pale complexion, but it’s actually more of a stain. I love how it just sinks into my lips, kind of like I just ate a bunch of strawberries or a berry-flavored Popsicle. I also had a feeling I was going to like the mascara the minute I twisted open the black-and-gold tube. The bristles are perfectly spaced—I have really long and heavy lashes, and the brush actually gives them the separation and volume I want without having to use an eyelash curler. The mascara isn’t heavy either—less “fluttering Bambi eyes” and more just “Hi, I’m awake.”
I had a hard time deciding on a shade for the complexion stick, but when I swiped it under my eyes, I was pleasantly surprised. Texture-wise, the stick is creamier than I’d imagined. I thought it would go on dry, but it’s smooth and thick, and blends in well. I can see myself wearing the line whenever—for work, on weekends, for date night. And I already know I’ll be giving the lip oil a permanent spot on my desk for Zooms!
Bonus: If you buy through Merit, your first order comes in the cutest little corduroy bag. I’m a sucker for muted tones and embossed gold lettering, and the makeup bag reminds me a bit of Rejina Pyo’s Nane—I could totally see myself using it for quick errands.
Michella Oré, beauty assistant
My favorite thing about this line has to be its simplicity. I don’t use a lot of makeup for my usual routine, so I’m here for less clutter and sticking to just the essentials. The brow pomade was my favorite—I like fuller, fluffier arches, and it offers sheer pigment that coats my brows while filling in the gaps. The final result were perky brows ready to take center stage. I also really liked the blush, which added a subtle flush to my cheeks with a couple of passes, and the rich pigment blends on smoothly while retaining its color. The mascara is a good one to keep in rotation when you want a subtle lift without the falsies effect.
The foundation stick is compact and extremely easy to apply—I swiped a few times on each side of my face and blended in with my fingertips, and while the formula started off creamy, it dried down to a semi-matte finish that provided light to medium coverage. Khaki was the closest match to my skin tone, but it’s a bit too light. I have olive undertones, and I looked a bit red and slightly ashy with this shade, which I think is the closest match for me. Unfortunately, the stick broke after the first use–the foundation bit just popped up and flew into my bathtub.
I’d say Merit is ideal for five-minute makeup routines when you need to get up and go, or you just want to apply some face before starting your day but don’t want to commit to a drawn-out routine.
Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate
I really liked both the cream blush and mascara, and loved the brow pomade. I’m usually scared of tinted brow gels, but this one blew me away. It adds just enough tint to make my brows pop without overwhelming me, and makes them look fluffy yet polished. It stays all day but doesn’t feel flaky or crunchy, just cool. Consider me a convert. The mascara was a great formula—I just prefer my lashes with a side of drama. It makes my lashes look long but not spidery, doesn’t clump, and doesn’t flake or smudge despite being super black.
As someone with acne and scarring, I was extremely dubious about the complexion stick’s claim to work as both a foundation and a concealer. While it’s nice as a concealer under my eyes, it’s too greasy to use anywhere else on my face. I think someone with flawless skin could get away with this as a spot treatment, but I need more matte coverage from my base products. I’d love to see more of these chic, It girl brands making full coverage “cool” too.
As for the cheek tint, I love the hot pink/berry shade, and the dome-shaped applicator is so cute. It’s dewy and lifelike but not shiny and thick, and it doesn’t slide around or break up. If you like your blush on the subtler side, this is a great buildable option.
Erin Parker, commerce writer
I’m all here for the rise of the lip oil, and while I’ve only tried a few of the newer tinted options, Merit’s Shade Slick proved to be something I’d reach for on the daily. The sheer tinted lip oil is infused with rosehip oil and shea butter, and I can honestly say my lips felt nourished (not sticky), and the product brought a pop of shine and a wash of color. I went with Au Naturale, a subtle peach that reads neutral without washing out my medium skin tone.
The Day Glow Highlighting Balm was my second favorite of the bunch, because it was far from glittery and offered a touch of natural sheen and a hydrated, balmy glow I like on the high points of my face (cheekbones, brow bones, and Cupid's bow). I will say the foundation and concealer stick is definitely more of a concealer (it’s too dry for a full-face application in my opinion), but thanks to its compact size and mess-free formula, it’s ideal for keeping in your bag for midday touch-ups.
Main takeaway is I’m planning on keeping that lip oil on deck for regular use thanks to its nourishing properties and versatile pigment and shine payoff.
Shanna Shipin, commerce editor
My favorite thing about this line? The sheer convenience of it. There’s no powder spilling or liquid oozing out of the packaging, so you can throw everything in your bag and go (even if it’s just to your living room)—and the formulas are so precise, you’re most likely never going to end up “doing too much” and having to wipe off and start over. The shining star of the lineup has to be the highlighter stick. Since it has no sparkles or glittery flecks, it really gives you a lit-from-within glow that’s low-key but impactful.
The complexion stick was a breeze to apply (you can totally use your fingers to blend, but I used a concealer brush since the formula is a bit on the tacky side)—however, picking the right shade wasn’t the easiest. The models for the two options I was between (Camel and Sand) struck me as more fair-skinned than the people I think might actually use them, so it was difficult to choose the right one. Also, for someone with dry skin and fine lines (hi, hello), I found that the semi-matte finish caused some creasing around my eyes.
The brow pomade came through with a truly minimalist appeal—you can swipe it on without finessing. It doesn’t leave your brows stiff or crusty, and it does a good job of fluffing your hairs out. The mascara was subtle on my short lashes (not a ton of volume, but a decent amount of lift to give my eyes dimension) and easy to take off, which is crucial for an everyday product. True to its L.A. founding, this line feels perfect for warm-weather wear when you want to feel like nothing is on your skin.
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