Merit Beauty is a newcomer to the minimalist beauty brand niche and offers branded makeup products that are easy to use and contain clean and non-irritating ingredients. Popular for its stylish and minimalistic product packaging and its motto ‘less is more,’ Merit Beauty seeks to make their customers’ makeup regimen much simpler than it currently is while simultaneously providing quality results. Here’s a detailed review of the brand, including its core offerings, performance, and overall user experience:

1. Brand Philosophy

From its packaging to its products, Merit Beauty markets itself as a ‘less is more’ beauty brand. The brand’s ethos is centered around:

• Simplicity: Presenting fewer exits to cover more client needs and functions in their beautifying process.
• Clean Beauty: Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances are not included in any of the products formulated by the firm. They claim to be animal cruelty-free and vegan, unlike a bunch of other beauty brands.
• Skin-Friendly: Cosmetics, being some of the products, are made to complement the natural body looks; they do not block the pores or cause skin rash.

2. Product Range

However, the interesting thing about Merit Beauty’s products is that they are a carefully edited list of essentials that women can put on instantly. Here’s a breakdown of their key products:

The Minimalist – Perfecting Complexion Stick.

This one is Merit Beauty’s claim to fame, a product that is both foundation and concealer in one that provides only a slight coverage. It belongs to the stick type, which is easy to apply between social events and covers the skin brilliantly. The product promises to give skin a ‘digitized filter,’ enhancing the skin while deleting imperfections for luminous, even-toned skin without the cast, dryness, or porcelain feel associated with the most flawless finish products.

Pros:

• Buildable coverage and easy to blend.
• Natural, skin-like finish.
• Applying and mixing with a finger or brush is non-stain and simple.

Cons:

• Limited shade range.
• It may not give a comprehensive insurance policy to those who wish to have full coverage insurance.

Flush Balm – Cheek Color

It is an ideal product for people who desire a sheer but buildable amount of color on the cheeks. When used on the cheeks, the Flush Balm leaves a very natural luminescent sheen on the skin, which may be likened to dew. It can also be used as a lip balm that will give lips a color that matches the cheeks for a monochromatic appearance.

Pros:

• Natural, smooth, blendable finish that is closely akin to washing with water, leaving the skin moist and radiant like that of a newborn baby.
• Buildable pigment allows for even more intensity, should you wish so.
• It can be used on the cheeks as well as on the lips.

Cons:

• It’s not very long-lasting, especially on oily skin. It can easily fade off midway through the day.
• Limited shade selection.

Shade Slick – Tinted Lip Oil

This face product gives blurring coverage with a smooth, shiny, and non-tacky finish. Most importantly, it has been formulated with the powerful nutrients of rosehip oil and intensely nourishing shea butter, so it mimics the effects of chapstick by delivering moistening while giving the lips a hint of sheen.

Pros:

• It does not leave skin heavy and oily like many other moisturizers on the market.
• Fruit pigment that enriches your natural lip tone.
• It does not stick to the skin like the previous types we have looked at, and it is convenient to wear.

Cons:

• Needs frequent reapplication.
• It’s quite translucent and good for those who don’t want their lips to stand out too much.

Brow 1980 – Volumizing Pomade

A tinted brow gel that offers the appearance of fuller brows and a neat and uniform shape. The applicator is small with bristles perfect for the application, gives a sheer wash of color, and holds to the brow without making it appear set in concrete.

Pros:

• Convenient for the moments when you just want to tidy your brows quickly.
• Tops make you look natural but in a thick and fully covered kind of way.
• Long-lasting hold.

Cons:

• Limited shade options.
• It may lack the desired volume of density for people with thin eyebrows.

Clean Lash – Lengthening Mascara as advertised and appeared on various social media platforms.

Contrary to what most mascara companies advertise today, they don’t promise to make Miranda Kerr’s eyes ‘pop’ with massive hair follicles. Instead, Merit Beauty’s mascara aims to separate and elongate the eyelashes for enhanced appearance. It is a simple formula that does not cause discomfort for sensitive eyes; it can also be easily washed off by water.

Pros:

• Sleek and smooth without build-up of hair.
• It is non-transferable and waterproof, so it is suitable for long-lasting looks on the face.
• It did not require excessive friction to remove the products tested.

Cons:

• It is not volumizing enough for those who want amazing, big-looking eyelashes.
• Some users claim it makes their skin feel dry after some time and within a short while of applying it.

3. Performance and Wear

• Natural Finish: Almost all of Merit’s products, such as the Complexion Stick and Flush Balm, provide a glowing nude finish instead of a completely opaque and matte finish. This makes them perfect for everyday or effortless use because they are not easily destroyed.
• Blendability: The formulas of both bases are extremely velvety and lactified, and the creams are perfect for amateurs and professionals who seek an easy and moderately elegant appearance.
• Longevity: All the products give an excellent finish to the lips but require retouching during the day as the Flush Balm and the Tinted Lip Oil wear off after a few hours.
• Skincare Benefits: Some products contain hydrating skin elements, such as squalane, vitamin E, and rosehip oil, that help improve skin health.

4. Sustainability & Packaging

Merit Beauty also has a concept of sustainability in its packaging since it possesses sustainability. Its orders arrive in reusable cosmetic bags instead of the usual cardboard boxes. The care is also taken that the brand uses recyclable items wherever it is feasible.

5. Price Point

Merit Beauty can be classified under the mid-luxury beauty segment. Thus, these products’ cost position is substantially higher than that of drugstore cosmetics but lower than that of high-end designer brands. The price further complements the no-nonsense packaging, plus the purity of the ingredients that go into making those products.

6. Pros & Cons Summary

Pros:

• Straight-forward, simplistic products.
• Gentle, easy on skin formulas.
• Dual-phase make-up products that save time.
• Cruelty-free and vegan.
• Attractive and appealing packaging design.

Cons:

• Few companies offer varied shades within the complexion products category.
• It cannot be worn for full coverage or glamour makeup applications.
• The lip oil does not last very long, and the blush does as well.
• Lack of wallet-friendly items for the makeup Minimalist.

Final Thoughts

Merit Beauty is incredibly suitable for people who prefer minimalistic makeup without using many cosmetic products or those who like makeup without special effects. Still, immediately after it, the skin looks beautiful and returns to its natural state. Therefore, it is suitable for everyday use as their proposition is based on the idea of polishing up rather than concealing skin. It may not be ideal for those who want complete coverage, such as during special occasions or other formal events, or anybody who wants long makeup. Those who want light, washable makeup with a purity of composition might find it useful to take a closer look at Merit Beauty.