InStyle Editors Tried $498 Worth of Merit Beauty, Here’s Our Honest Review of the Line

When it comes to cream blush, we look for blendability, pigment, and hydration—this flush balm checks all of those boxes. Thanks to the formula’s vitamin E, it leaves your skin feeling conditioned and glowy. The flush is meant to provide a touch of color without masking your natural texture so it goes on lightly. You don’t have to worry about it looking cakey or overwhelmingly pigmented either: It’s super buildable. Senior editor Hayley Prokos, a no-makeup makeup connoisseur, loves it. “I love the super subtle and seamless finish of this blush. It’s creamy but lightweight and easy to build and blend,” she says. “Sometimes I’ll dab a bit on my lids for a little extra color there as well.” Who doesn’t love a versatile product? The flush balm comes in eight colors ranging from peach to sheer red. Plus, it’s a dream for all skin tones and types.

A product that claims to rival foundation, contour, and concealer sounds too good to be true but isn’t impossible, as this complexion stick proves. The formula of this is in a league of its own—it’s breathable, hydrating, and buildable. The hero ingredient in it is sea daffodil extract which diminishes the appearance of pigmentation. “It expertly hides my redness, acne scars, and pigmentation in a light, even coat that doesn’t emphasize any of my skin woes,” says writer Irene Richardson, who finds the stick to be a refreshing contrast to other foundations that are patchy on her textured skin. Another highlight? The only blending tool required to get the look is your fingers. “I really really hate spending time blending any product and with this stick-style tool, I can apply it directly (like say, in an Uber, as I am doing right now) rub it in with my fingers, and forget about it altogether. Bye, bye dirty makeup brushes!” While minimalist is the name, the shade range is far from that. There are over 30 for light, medium, and deep skin tones.

Few things are more confidence-boosting than a “you smell nice” compliment. Writer Essence Wiley says she gets several of them every time she reaches for Merit’s new Retrospect Parfum. This scent is the definition of demure—it screams quiet luxury thanks to the initial fresh smell that evolves into a warm amber one throughout the day. “My favorite perfumes are musky so I was immediately drawn to this scent,” says Wiley. “It’s a divinely feminine perfume that will make you feel expensive and put together in three spritzes.” The fragrance has a musky base with notes of bergamot, jasmine, rose, vanilla, and moss. The staying power is incredible—even after eight hours of wear, Wiley says she can still smell it on herself. “It lasts literally all day, surviving my busy commutes through New York City with ease.” The dimensional smell makes it easily transferable from days in the office to date night on the town. Plus, it’s subtle so that you can layer it with your other favorite scents. Wiley recommends moisturizing then spritzing the fragrance on your neck, wrist, and around your body. 

The secret to perfecting your minimalist makeup routine is quality skin prep. With a skin care arm of the brand, Merit provides everything you need for that illuminated look. It’s packed with four types of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and cacao seed extract for a bright, plump, and hydrated base before applying makeup. The formula is weightless so you can relax at the thought of no residue after massaging it into your face. Writer Bianca Krakty swears by this serum for tropical vacations. “I don’t like to wear makeup when I’m at a beach getaway, but this Instant Glow serum brings the best out of my tan, adds a little hydration post-sun bathing, and just makes me look glowy and healthy,” she says. The serum is designed to work in tandem with the Minimalist Complexion Stick but works well as an addition to your daily skin care routine.

Bronze cheeks are pivotal to achieving the infamous no-makeup look. Merit’s Bronze Balm puts the “less” in effortless. It’s a sheer formula that adds skin-like warmth in buttery, even swipes. The depth that the balm adds is subtle but poignant. “Even without another stitch of makeup on my face, the subtle highlight brightens my features and makes me look, for lack of a better term, more alive,” says Richardson. “I simply pat in the creamy formula with my fingers and hit the road.” True to the brand’s multidimensional theme, it can also be used to sculpt and contour. Sometimes, you just need a little something to wake you up—and this is it.

Kratky has extremely sensitive lips, so when she vouches for a lip product, we listen. She adores Merit’s Signature Lip—in fact, she owns three of them. She raves about how moisturizing this lipstick feels which makes sense as it is concocted with sunflower seed oil, papaya-derived papain enzyme, and vitamin C. The ingredients work to soothe, hydrate, and smooth fine lines for an instantly supple pout. Writer Sophie Wirt also testifies to the creamy, moisturizing feel. “I love this formula so much, in fact, I’ve gifted it to my similarly dry-lipped best friend, who has since purchased it in more shades,” she says. Gone are the days of lipstick cracking with this product in your arsenal. It has a sheer satin-finish so you have a lot of autonomy in your desired look. “They’re lightweight lipsticks, so they’re not as intensely pigmented as a traditional lipstick,” says Kratky. “It makes it much easier to apply casually.” There’s room for everyone to find their signature lippie (as the name suggests) with 17 satin and matte-finish shades. Keep this lipstick in your back pocket the next time you want to add a subtle pop to your light makeup.

Glossy lips are the cherry on top of subtle, skin-like glam. We love that this one leaves your lips moisturized and pigmented upon application. Jojoba oil, shea butter, and grapeseed oil make up the lightweight yet high-shine formula. There are two categories to choose from: The Classics and The Gelees. The latter uses blooming pigments that create a customized lip stain with your lip’s natural pH—innovative, right? Both leave your pout protected and nourished with a buildable wash of color. Another huge plus is that the lip oil can stand alone as your chosen lippie for the day or on top of your favorite lip combo, according to Krakty. “This tinted lip oil works wonders on its own, but I love applying it over some lipstick when I want a glossy finish,” she says. “I use the clear version, and it seals the color of my lipstick underneath perfectly.”

While many flock to Merit’s makeup section, this blending brush is a huge highlight of the collection. It’s a small, soft-touch, densely packed brush that seamlessly blends all of our go-to products. Kratky, who is a perpetual hand blender, only owns two makeup brushes and this is one of them. “It blends my blush and contour seamlessly, and the bristles feel delightfully soft. I’ve owned this brush for two years now and not a single bristle has fallen out yet,” she says. For the price, the quality you get with this brush is impeccable. The easy-to-blend nature of the tool makes it perfect for beginners and makeup experts alike. Merit gets extra cool points for the design too—it’s sleek and luxurious but compact enough to throw in your bag.