Chances are you’ve heard of Merit Beauty. Since its UK launch in early 2023 (it launched in the US a couple of years before that), it’s a brand that has truly gone from strength to strength.
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Known and loved for its minimal approach to makeup, skincare and fragrance, Merit creates products that leave your complexion better after wearing them. How? By utilising hardworking, kind-to-skin ingredients – like plant-based squalane, vitamin B5 and a blend of antioxidants – that promise to make your skin look and feel good.
The brainchild of Katherine Power, the same person behind Versed skincare, Merit is a brand I first became aware of during a trip to LA in 2021. I picked up a few bits in Sephora, including Flush Balm Cream Blush in the shade Beverly Hills, mostly because of its name, but it wasn’t long before it became a daily staple in my routine.
Since then, Merit has been prominent not only in my makeup bag, but also in that of my fellow beauty editor friends and a bunch of celebs – everybody from Hailey Bieber, SJP and Cameron Diaz are said to be fans of the brand. And, well, if it’s good enough for them…
But with just under 20 products in the line-up, which ones are worth splashing your hard earned cash on? I’ll be honest, I’ve never met a product I didn’t like so I don’t think you can go far wrong with any Merit products – there’s a reason it’s as popular as it is, right? – but if you’re looking to be enabled, keep scrolling and hopefully I can help you decide which bits you should add to your basket first.
Meet the reviewer
- Lucy Partington has been a beauty journalist for well over a decade. She loves a lightweight, glowy foundation, is on a mission to find the best daily sunscreen and is constantly trying to find the best ingredients to target her acne- and rosacea-prone skin. She first used Merit Beauty in 2021 and has since been lucky enough to try almost every product the brand has launched.
How I tested Merit products:
As previously mentioned, Merit Beauty has been part of my makeup routine since before its UK launch. The products I use vary, but for the purpose of making this article fair, I used every product in the line-up at least five times before writing reviews. I considered the ingredients used, assessed the packaging, and used makeup products in a variety of settings – from days working from home to nights out and press events. All to see if they'd stand the test of time. Here are my honest thoughts.
Ahead, the very best Merit Beauty products according to a beauty editor who has tested them all.
1. The Uniform, £34
- Product Type: tinted sunscreen.
- Price: £34.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: I was so excited about this launch when I heard about it earlier this year and I’m happy to report it doesn’t disappoint. The shade range is great (and I like that it goes against the grain with the darkest shades first in the line-up), the formula itself has impressive longevity and it really does apply like a dream and blend into skin seamlessly.
Mineral sunscreen is usually thick, heavy and greasy, and so Merit has clearly worked hard to create a tinted product that’s none of those things. It also feels really lightweight to wear which I love, and the fact it’s SPF50 really is an added bonus. However, as with all tinted sunscreens, I would always say it’s best to apply a separate sunscreen first rather than just relying on this product alone – simply because chances are you won’t be applying enough to get adequate protection, especially in warmer countries or on hot days in the UK, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
2. Retrospect, £79
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- Product Type: perfume.
- Price: £79.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: If the quiet luxury trend had a signature scent, Merit’s Retrospect L’Extrait de Parfum would be it. With its fresh, fruity top notes of bergamot and pear, the jasmine and rose in the middle and the base of vanilla musk for both warmth and familiarity – it really is the epitome of wrapping yourself in a cashmere scarf, and it’s that reason alone I fell in love at first spritz. It’s clean and refined, it’s rich without being overpowering and it lasts really well, too. But the thing I’m most obsessed with is that smells a lot more expensive than it actually is – and let’s be honest, that’s the real coup, isn’t it?
3. The Minimalist, £34
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- Product Type: foundation stick.
- Price: £34.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: This really is makeup made for real life. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but this foundation stick is so incredibly lightweight yet so well pigmented. I love that it can act as concealer, contour, or foundation depending where it’s applied and what shade you use. It covers redness and blemishes really well without feeling heavy, and leaves my skin looking fresh all day long – plus it can be applied all over or just in the places I need the most coverage. It also contains nourishing antioxidants and it has a satin finish with a natural, lit-from-within glow.
4. Flush Balm, £26
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- Product Type: blusher.
- Price: £26.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: The very first product from Merit that I ever tried and it’s still a firm favourite four years later. Creamy and easy to swipe on directly from the pot, the colour is subtle but easy to build up depending on the level of intensity you prefer. I’m somebody who spent a lot of time scared of blusher, but I think this product really helped teach me that, if you choose the right product and shade, it’s really not as hard to wear as you think. One thing to note, though, is that the finish is quite balmy and glowy, so if you’re somebody who prefers a matte look then definitely be wary of that – but remember you can always dial down the dewiness with some carefully-placed pressed powder.
5. Day Glow, £28
- Product Type: highlighter.
- Price: £28.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: If you’re looking for hydration and subtle radiance, this highlighting balm is a true game changer. It creates that fresh-faced glow that we’re all so desperate to achieve, but – thankfully – it doesn’t contain any glitter, instead the healthy sheen is achieved with a blend of squalane and humectants. It’s definitely not an attention-seeking highlighter, but if you dab it on cheekbones and gently tap it up and out like I do, it gives such a great natural-looking finish. It layers easily over foundation too, and if you’re braver than me, I reckon it’ll also be perfect for those no makeup days.
6. Great Skin, £34
My review: Consider this to be a real primer/serum hybrid: it’s hydrating, infused with a blend of hardworking ingredients (including four types of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and cacao seed extract) and is entirely weightless, leaving skin plumped, glowy and prepped for makeup. I always like to massage a pump into slightly damp skin – I use a mist beforehand – and then let it absorb before putting foundation on. I find it really helps to smooth texture, quench any dry patches and makes my skin look radiant. I’ve never had any issues with pilling, either, which is something I always look out for.
7. Great Skin Moisturiser, £34
- Product Type: moisturiser.
- Price: £34.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: One of Merit’s strengths is creating products that really do feel light as air, and this priming moisturiser is no exception. I’d usually expect a product like this to be on the heavier side in terms of texture, but despite being rich in ingredients including hyaluronic acid, peptides and glycerin. I’ve actually found myself applying it in the evenings on particularly dry areas of skin (which come thanks to the introduction of tretinoin into my routine) for an extra hit of moisture, but when I wear it underneath foundation, it prevents flaking, adds glow and I really think it helps improve the longevity of my makeup, too.
8. Clean Lash, £23
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- Product Type: mascara.
- Price: £23.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: First things first: this is a tubing mascara, which I know is a bit like marmite – you either love them or hate them – but for what it’s worth, I'm in the love camp. There’s nothing to hate about a mascara that lengthens, separates, never smudges and is easy to remove at the end of the day. And that’s exactly what this mascara does. I never use eyelash curlers, but I found this gave me really good length and it also feels really lightweight too. It’s not overly dramatic so I’d say it’s definitely more of a daytime formula, but it does build up well and after a few layers, it gives good definition. Plus, anything that doesn’t require excessive scrubbing to remove is a win in my eyes.
9. Solo Shadow, £21
- Product Type: eyeshadow.
- Price: £21.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: A beautiful cream-to-powder matte eyeshadow that’s really easy to use, super forgiving and blendable. Available in a range of earthy tones, I’ve been wearing the shade Midcentury – a cool brown shade – which really reminds me of MAC’s iconic Groundwork (if you know, you know). It’s a great everyday shade that doesn’t need precision when you apply it, you can either swipe it on with your finger or use a brush, and I just like to blend it slightly up and out for an effortless finish that’ll last all day. I’ve worn it alone and over eyeshadow primer and although it does crease slightly over time (which I quite like because it creates that cool girl ‘lived-in’ look), the colour doesn’t seem to fade.
10. Brow 1980, £21
- Product Type: brow gel.
- Price: £21.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: A brow pomade that works to add volume and colour to brows without stickiness or stiffness. I did find that the spoolie is bigger than some others I’ve used, but I have quick thick brows so it was a good size for me and helped distribute the product evenly, but if yours are on the thinner side then you might struggle a little bit with it. However, the finish is soft and natural-looking – I use shade Soft Brown – and it prevents my brows from looking overly done or harsh, plus it holds shape all day.
11. Brow 1990, £21
- Product Type: brow pencil.
- Price: £21.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: Let it be known that I’ve never quite got to grips with using an eyebrow pencil properly. I can never sketch tiny hairs, and so I end up just scribbling the product into any sparse areas which creates a heavy brow that I don’t love. However, this pencil is really thin, the colour is buildable (I use Taupe which I thought would be too light for my naturally-dark brows but it isn’t) and it’s really forgiving, but I do only tend to use it when I have a bit more time on my hands. I’m pleased to report that I can still use my scribbling technique, and I follow that with the spoolie to blend the product in, to get rid of any harsh lines and to neaten them up, and then I’m done. I’ll sometimes finish with a slick of gel but that’s not always needed.
12. Signature Lip, £23
- Product Type: lipstick.
- Price: £23.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: A true satin-finish lipstick that feels like a hydrating balm but packs exceptional pigment, it’s formulated with plant-derived squalane and sunflower seed oil – and is all wrapped up in sleek, chic packaging. I swipe once for sheer colour or layer for more opacity, and I love that it never feels drying or cakey. I’ve been wearing Slip, described as a warm neutral, it does sit on the more browny end of the spectrum but it has a sultry, 90s vibe that I’m very into – it’s easier to wear than you might think.
13. Signature Lip Liner, £21
- Product Type: lip liner.
- Price: £21.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: A late arrival to the Merit line-up, but well worth the wait. Launched earlier this year, Merit’s lip liner is creamy and doesn’t drag, but isn’t so creamy that it’ll just disappear as soon as it’s applied, and this product just about strikes that balance. I’d like it to be slightly less creamy so it lasts slightly longer, but regardless, it’s still a great lipliner that comes in a nice range of neutral shades. I’ve been wearing Coupé, a cool pink, which is great for everyday. It’s easy to use, adds definition and, importantly, it pairs well with balm, oil and lipstick – but it could actually be worn alone if you wanted.
14. Shade Slick, £21
- Product Type: lip gloss.
- Price: £21.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: We all love lip oil these days, but this gloss-meets-balm feels luxurious and adds a subtle wash of colour alongside a hefty hit of hydration. Available in three different varieties – The Sheens, The Classics and The Gelees – my favourite is Pink Beet, which sits in The Classics collection. The formula is infused with rosehip oil, shea butter, grapeseed oil and jojoba oil so it really is incredibly nourishing. It’s perfect for low-effort lips, or to add a hint of gloss to a matte lipstick. I like to keep it in my bag because it’s so easy to apply on-the-go and without a mirror.
15. Brush No. 1, £28
- Product Type: foundation brush.
- Price: £28.
- Tested By: Lucy Partington.
My review: I’m quite particular about the makeup brushes that I use (there’s a reason I’ve got four It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush on rotation), but this one has become a staple in my makeup bag. It’s designed to be paired with Merit’s complexion stick, but even when I’ve used it with other foundations, it buffs the product really well and gives a seamless, second-skin look that I always want. The bristles are dense but soft, and the slight angled shape means it fits neatly into the contours of my face. I have washed it a couple of times too and haven’t found that it sheds, either.
