MERIT Beauty: A Review of the Skincare & Makeup Brand

*This post contains PR items from MERIT. Please see the end of the post for more details.

Chances are, you may have seen this skincare and makeup brand pop up on your Instagram and/or TikTok feeds. It's certainly notable for its minimalistic appearance, from the product to its packaging. MERIT Beauty is a brand that has become a household name for MUA's and skincare specialists. It's a brand that I've tried lately, and I am utterly obsessed already - and I've only used 4 products. 

Allow me to introduce MERIT.

MERIT is a modern, minimalist skincare and makeup brand that creates well-edited beauty essentials that help you do more with less. MERIT Beauty's products are designed to be buildable, easy to use and impossible to mess up. As someone who is not the hugest makeup expert, this brand suits me perfectly!

The brand was founded in 2021 and is based in Los Angeles, California. Merit Beauty was launched in the UK in 2023.

Is MERIT Beauty a vegan and CF brand? 

They certainly are! The brand is the Leaping Bunny-certified, a badge of honour in the skincare/makeup world. The brand is also vegan and is part of Sephora Clean; their products are free from sulphates and parabens. MERIT focuses on using safe and effective ingredients in their products, so no nasties within their ingredient list!

So, in terms of sustainability...

The brand uses recyclable and reusable mailer packaging. The packaging is compostable and fully recyclable. When placing your first order with MERIT, you will receive your items in their Signature Bag (it'll be inside the box, don't worry!). The bag is reusable and is machine-washable. It's such a cute bag which I store my MERIT items in.

Wait a minute, I haven't shared which MERIT Beauty products I have yet!

As I said, I have four products from MERIT:

• The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
• Great Skin Double Cleanse Cleanser
• Great Skin Double Instant Glow Serum
• Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil 

The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50

I was eager to try this one as I've tried many tinted moisturisers and sunscreens before. In previous ones I've tried from different brands, I've found that they make me look orange and give me that look of an Oompa Loompa. *This Tinted sunscreen blends in like a dream! I like that this product comes in different shades, so you can find the ideal shade for your skin. If you're not 100% sure of what shade to buy, there is a shade finder tool on the product page to help. 

What I also love about this sunscreen is that it's super lightweight. I find other mineral sunscreens are super greasy, thick and leave a horrible film on your skin. The fact that this mineral sunscreen has SPF 50 is an added bonus. I would say that you should always apply your normal SPF prior to applying this. I do this so I know that I get that added protection. I like to wear this on non-makeup days. It gives me that nice tint without the need of caking my face with foundation.

I'd highly recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a lovely tinted sunscreen which gives a gorgeous shade and glow on the go!

Great Skin Double Cleanse Cleanser

This *foaming cleanser works effectively at removing makeup and sunscreen while providing gentle, daily exfoliation. Thus leaving skin feeling soft and smooth. When people see the word exfoliation, they think "ooh, it's going to be harsh on the skin". MERIT say you can use this cleanser morning and evening if you'd like. It can't be that rough for the skin, then, can it? The oil-free cleanser balances your pH to help support your skin's natural health barrier. 

I use this cleanser as part of my evening skincare routine. Makeup or non-makeup days, I use this every night, and it makes my skin feel so soft and supple after use. The bottle is just so aesthetically pleasing! I love the gold top and the minimalistic design! One thing to remember, guys, shake the bottle before use. Otherwise, you're not going to get the full magic from this cleanser.

Great Skin Double Serum 

The perfect accompaniment to the cleanser above. *This lightweight serum contains four types of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to leave the skin feeling plumped, glowy and prepped for makeup. I like using this serum for both my morning and evening skincare routines. As I said, this serum is great for prepping your skin for a day of makeup, but it's also great to use to give your skin that much-needed hydration before bed. 

This serum can lock in moisture, so your skin feels luxurious and prepped for the day or night ahead! Just apply the serum after cleansing and before moisturising. As with the Double Cleanse Cleanser, shake well before use.

Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil

If you're after a pearlescent finish, this *MERIT tinted lip oil is the one for you. I have the shade 'Pointelle', which leaves a cool baby pink shade on my lips. I know some may not fancy using a lip oil and will rather opt for lipstick, and that's fine. But this tinted lip oil is perfect if you're looking to add a subtle, rather softer splash of colour. 

The tinted lip oil comes in three different shade varieties - The Sheens, The Classics and The Gelees. My shade, 'Pointelle', falls under 'The Sheens' variety. 

All tinted lip oils are buildable, moisturising, lightweight and provide a high-shine finish. The formula is infused with rosehip oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and shea butter so it gives your lips that little bit of nourishment.

This product is so great for on the go and I always have it with me in my bag.

The big question is...

Would I recommend MERIT Beauty? Absolutely! 

I adore the brand's ethos and their dedication to making products that are cruelty-free, vegan and free from parabens/sulphates. The items I have used are of the highest quality and I will definitely be buying from MERIT in the future. 

If I had to choose a favourite out of these four items I've reviewed and would happily buy for myself, I'd definitely choose the Tinted Sunscreen. It's honestly perfect for non-makeup days and it's not cakey and gives my skin a lovely tint and glow. Also it has SPF 50 - a win-win!

There are some MERIT products I'd love to try next:

• Flush Balm Blush
• The Minimalist Complexion Foundation & Concealer Stick
• Brow 1980 Volumising Pomade
• Great Skin Moisturiser
• Retrospect parfum

I'd love to know your thoughts on MERIT? Would you buy any of these items for yourself?

*These items from MERIT were sent to me, but not in exchange for a blog post. All views are my own. There are affiliate links in this post; they're marked with an asterisk (*). For more information, please read my disclaimer. Thank you for your support!