Merit Makeup Review: The Go-To Minimalist Beauty Brand

By : Health Inspirers

November 30, 2024

I am super excited to share this Merit makeup review with you all today, because literally, this brand has blown up and is everywhere on TikTok and Instagram. If you've ever wondered if the stuff from Merit is worth your money, then keep reading for my honest, in-depth Merit makeup review.

Merit Beauty is just this great line of clean makeup and skincare stuff that makes your beauty routine way easier. So, I'm going to break down almost every single one of the Merit makeup and skincare products and share my thoughts on each, so you can make a smarter choice when you buy.

Real Talk About Merit Makeup

One of the things I really like about this brand is that it's great for sensitive skin. None of their products irritate my sensitive, acne-prone skin, and I really appreciate how simple and no-fuss it is. It is just a fantastic brand for anyone into minimal makeup. Or, you know, if you're a busy mom who doesn't have much time in the morning to make a full face every day.

So, I learned about Merith when a publicist reached out with an email regarding the new beauty brand all about minimalism. I thought it was cool that they had a foundation and concealer stick all in one. I would buy some of the products to try them out for editorial consideration for the different media outlets I write for.

So, Merit Beauty is this new brand that just launched in 2021. What's cool is that the founder, Katherine Power, isn't stopping there; she also co-founded the skincare line Versed, the clean wine company Avaline (which she launched with Cameron Diaz), and she's one of the minds behind the Who What Wear fashion and lifestyle site and its clothing line.

Top Merit Beauty Products

The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

Available at Merit ($38) I've spoken about the Merit Concealer before, and I am still utterly in love with it. As is pretty much everyone else in the U.S., I think this might actually be Merit's number one best-selling product. It comes in 30 shades, and you can wear it as a foundation or a concealer. I tend to reach for this on days when I just want a little bit of coverage and don't feel like slapping foundation all over my face.

The formula is super creamy and blends in really well. This is the only foundation/concealer I've used where sometimes I even forget I have it on because it just melds into my skin so well. I use shade Dune, and it literally matches my skin tone perfectly.

Blush Balm Cheek Shades

Available at Merit ($30) So, another best seller from Merit: Flush Balm. It's a cream blush in nine shades with a pop of color that your cheeks will love. I think that's kind of cool about this formula; it's also kind of infuriating, hahaha. It is so sheer, so sometimes you do have to layer it in order to actually see any color on your cheeks.

I don't think it necessarily lasts all day, but it probably lasts through most of the day. I really like that it gives your cheeks a nice, dewy-looking appearance. So, if you're not really into highlighter, I think this is a nice way to get a little something and have a bit of color on your cheeks.

Retrospect L'Extrait de Parfum

Available at Merit ($92)

This is one of the newer launches from Merit, and is its first foray into fragrance. I was so hyped to try this perfume—it blew me away. It's just so nice, an everyday scent that's fresh and soft. You have notes of flowers, musk, vanilla, and moss. Furthermore, because it's an extrait de parfum, it has nearly 30% fragrance oil in it, which makes it super concentrated. So yeah, it'll stick around on your skin all day!

I totally love the smell, and I can't get over how beautiful that abstract bottle is! This one’s definitely going to be a regular in my collection.

 Brush No.1 Blending Brush.

Available at Merit ($32) This is a really good blending brush that works amazingly with the blending in of the Complexion Stick, the Highlighting Balm, or the Cheek Color on your face. It's highly compact and feels very smooth on your skin.

I love how it's super versatile and works with a bunch of the brand's stuff. Yeah, it's a little pricey for a makeup brush, but honestly, it's worth every penny—you can just feel how high-quality it is, and it'll stick around for a while. I have zero complaints about this pick. 

Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color

 Available at Merit ($24) I'm not usually into matte eyeshadows. Not that I never use them, 'cause I totally do, but I usually reach for the shimmery ones more. When it comes to matte eye color, I'm actually really into these cream pots. They're super pigmented, and honestly, a little bit lasts forever. They dry pretty fast, so you gotta blend them out quickly.

Sometimes they can be a pain to blend in the crease, which can get a bit tricky. But the cool thing is, they seriously don't crease all day. I can skip the eyeshadow primer before putting these on, which is pretty rare for most of the eyeshadows I use.

I completely love using these pots as a liner. I grab the No. 2 Eyeshadow Brush and dip the liner end into one of the pots, then just swipe it across my upper lash line—super easy to put on. It looks amazing and super natural, and I'm all about how the liner ends up looking way more smudged and almost like I didn't even try.

Brush No. 2 for eyeshadow

Available at Merit ($20) This brush is pretty cool for using with the Solo Shadows. I really like that you can go big with the larger end on your whole lid, or you can use the smaller end to line your upper and lower lashes. One thing I have noticed with this brush is that it does get a little stiff the day after you use it with the Solo Shadows.

You should really wipe off as much excess product as possible after using it so it doesn't get all stiff I gotta say, the price for a little eyeshadow brush seems kinda steep, but it's also pretty high quality and should stick around for a while. Then, there's 

the Merit Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade for $24.

 I'd say it's your average brow pomade. It's a good product, gives my brows a nice little darkness without being too much. I use the shade Dark Brown, and I think it's pretty close to my actual brow color.

I literally am in love with how simple brow pomades are to just comb through your brows quickly, but I almost always have to break out a Q-tip to perfect the edges.

It's not a big deal, but can be annoying for some. But I prefer to use brow gel most of the time instead of a brow pencil since it's easier and saves some time. I really dig how it usually looks way more natural than the whole brow pencil vibe. 

The Brow 1990 Sheer Gel Pencil 

you can cop at Merit for $24 is pretty cool, too. It's got this ultra-fine tip that gets all that definition. I'm using dark brown, and I find it so easy to apply.

So, like, some brown pencils I've used usually feel super dry and it's really hard to get any product on your brows without having to make a ton of strokes. That's not the case with the Brow 1990 Sheer Gel Pencil.

You literally just have to tap the same area once, and the brown pencil will do the rest. Anyways, 

 this Day Glow Highlighting Balm 

that you can grab at Merit for $32. Bummer, but I don't have a photo of it since I think I tossed it in the trash. Honestly, I really wasn't vibing this product when I tried it a couple of years ago.

It feels a little damp on the skin, and I was thinking it didn't really give much of that highlighty shimmer to my cheekbones either.

It kind of felt like I was rubbing something damp and cool over my cheeks.

So, when I read reviews on Sephora, tons of people are whining about the smell of the stick. Honestly, I don't remember it smelling bad, but it's totally possible—I just can't remember. Another thing people are saying is that this highlighter can mess up your foundation. I can't say if that happened to me either, but since it's super wet, I totally can see that happening.

If you're into a super subtle highlight and want your cheeks to have that extra dewy, radiant glow, definitely give this a try. If that's not your thing, I'd reach for a different highlighter. Of late, I've been loving the Ogee Sculpted Face Stick in Opal ($48), the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer ($40), and the Wander Beauty On-The-Go Blush and Illuminator in Coral Rose ($38). And don't even get me started on the ;

Great Skin Moisturizer Priming Moisturizer!

You can pick it up at Merit for $38. Honestly, I think it's a good moisturizer, but it's just not my first choice. So according to Sofie Pavitt's Non-Comedogenic Ingredients Checker, this stuff has two pore-clogging ingredients: ethylhexyl palmitate and haematococcus pluvialis extract. That kinda makes me not want to use it all the time. Great Skin Moisturizer Priming Moisturizer formula.

Got to say, it's a really smooth formula and feels great on the skin. Very lightweight, yet still keeps you hydrated. I did see some pilling when trying this out, though. Not ideal since it's meant to be a primer for makeup.

I really think this moisturizer is good, though I don't think I would use it all of the time. I like to stick with my go-to Skinfix Triple Lipid Peptide Cream ($54).

Great Skin Instant Glow Serum

Available at Merit ($38) I wasn't really a fan of this product, and I'm pretty sure my skin didn't vibe with it either. When I first got it from the brand, I didn't really get what it was all about. It says you can use it before or after your moisturizer. I guess since it's called what it is, it's supposed to give your skin a nice glow.

Man, when I applied this to my skin, it felt so greasy. I waited around for a while, thinking it would sink in, but it never did. I definitely could feel it making my skin somewhat itchy. Honestly, had I actually worn it all day, I'm fairly certain it would have broken me out.

Honestly, I feel like there are other products that give your skin a nice glow without feeling super oily. I'd probably skip this one unless you're into that greasy vibe, lol.

Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara

Available at Merit ($26)] I haven't tried this yet because I currently have eyelash extensions on, but I will report back when I have put it to the test!

Is Merit Makeup worth it?

I definitely think Merit Makeup is worth it. And honestly, I don't usually say that about most beauty brands, but I feel like pretty much all their products are legit! They've done such an awesome job creating high-quality makeup that looks great, in beautiful packaging with a good variety of shades for different skin tones.

It's just a perfect clean beauty brand for minimalists who don't want to spend an hour in the morning working on their look. Prices are mid-range compared to those fancy luxury beauty products, and quite frankly, I think they're quite reasonable considering the nice packaging and quality, clean formulas.

Honestly, I don't think this minimalist beauty brand is overhyped at all. It totally deserves all the praise it's getting. I mean, I've said this before, but there are a few products where I'm more into them than others. Really, you can't go wrong with this brand. Just a heads up: if you're all about that full-coverage, glam makeup life, this brand isn't for you. It's really more for the minimalist vibe, like if you don't want to slather your face in foundation. 

Where To Buy Merit Makeup

 You can buy Merit products from only two places. They are: Merit Beauty Sephora Hi, I hope you enjoyed my Merit beauty review! If you want to read more reviews on makeup brands, make sure to check out my Laura Geller Makeup review—it's actually my most popular blog post!

 *Disclosure: The brand provided this product to me for free. I don't need to see it, and everything I say is just what I think.