8 Best Merit Beauty Products to Use in 2024
Beloved by celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie Grainge, the luxe beauty brand has officially launched in Australia.
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If you’re anything like me and follow one too many beauty influencers, I can guarantee you would have seen them rave about a brand called Merit at least once.
Inspired by the concept of minimalism, Merit is a luxe American beauty brand that has become a household name in the industry when you think of ‘no-makeup-makeup’ looks or rather the ‘clean girl makeup’ aesthetic.
Simplifying the process of getting ready into five-minutes or less, Merit champions itself as a clean, vegan, cruelty-free makeup brand with products that are buildable, easy-to-use and impossible to mess up – a win for the makeup newbies and lazy girls.
Plus, it’s beloved by celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie Grainge and Clairo to Zooey Deschanel, Sarah Jessica Parker and Greta Lee – need I say more?
Following suit of other American-based beauty brands, Merit is the latest to launch in Australia and I couldn’t be more excited.
With that being said, I tried out all the products that the ‘It Girl’ beauty brand has to offer and rounded up everything I think is worth picking up – including the viral The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick that thousands of TikTok users have reviewed and swear by.
MERIT BEAUTY: PRODUCTS THAT ARE WORTH THE HYPE
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick in Dune, $61 at Merit
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
As someone that despises the feeling of heavy makeup – Merit’s The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick has been my favourite for light, natural coverage that gives ‘my skin but better’.
It’s perfectly creamy and lightweight, and blends out effortlessly – you can blend it out with a brush or your finger (which is super convenient for those, like me, that are often in a rush).
The formula features fatty acids which condition the skin and lock in moisture, and sea daffodil extract which diminishes the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots.
It offers light coverage, so it’s perfect for spot concealing but can be built up to medium or full coverage, however, this would require a lot of product and considering the price is $61 a pop – it ain’t cheap.
It’s also worth noting that my experience with this complexion stick was a whooole lot of trial and error – I found that it’d cling to my dry patches or appear cakey if I didn’t prep my skin correctly or if my skincare products just weren’t compatible. So do be wary that this could happen, other than that though, once you get the prep downpat, you’ll be in for a gorgeous, natural skin-like finish that looks like perfection.
Flush Balm in Stockholm, $48 at Merit
Flush Balm
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
I’m a massive blush fan and after seeing this cream blush go viral on TikTok, it had been on my wishlist for a while. Fast forward to now and it’s my go-to for the spring and summer.
It’s creamy and dewy without being greasy, and it glides onto the skin like butter and can be blended out effortlessly with a brush or your fingers.
I’ve been loving the shade ‘Stockholm’ which is a sheer pink shade that adds a natural hint of colour and is super buildable. Plus, it’s super versatile – I love popping a bit of this onto my lips and eyelids for some colour!
However, if you’re after a beautiful ‘sunburnt’ blush look like Hailey Bieber, her makeup artist Leah Darcy, shared that she uses Merit’s Flush Balm in the shade ‘Raspberry Beret’.
Bronze Balm in Quince, $48 at Merit
Bronze Balm
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
I have never been one to gravitate towards bronzers because I always felt that they’d look like a muddy mess on me or just appear really orange, however the Bronze Balm single-handedly changed my mind. It has a buttery formula that’s lightweight and sheer yet buildable, and easily blends out for natural-looking definition and warmth. I appreciate how easy it is to work with and am pleasantly surprised at how much of a difference bronzer can make in my makeup routine – I’ve truly been missing out.
Great Skin Moisturiser, $61 at Merit
Great Skin Moisturiser
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
If you have dry and sensitive skin, Merit’s Great Skin Moisturiser is an incredible hybrid primer and moisturiser. It’s formulated with great skincare ingredients like peptides, spermidine and barrier polysaccharides to support skin elasticity, firmness and tone, as well as hyaluronic acid, oat extract and glycerin to soothe and moisturise. Plus, it’s ph-balanced to support your skin barrier.
The texture can be described as silky, smooth and cashmere-like for a blurring yet dewy finish and it has no strong scent which is perfect for those that are sensitive to fragrances.
I love applying this after washing my face and before sunscreen, and it evens out my skin texture, plus helps my makeup melt into my skin for a natural finish.
Brow 1980
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Although I’ve got thick eyebrows already, I’ve been loving this brow gel-pomade for adding a little bit more of a darker tint and fill out any fine hairs or sparse spots subtly. It’s so quick and easy to use, and super convenient for those days where I’m in a rush but want to look a little put together. It doesn’t leave a crunchy feeling or produce any fall out flakes (which I often experience with brow gels) and I love how subtle of a difference this makes.
It’s formulated with vitamin B5 for conditioning and strengthening properties, as well as kaolin clay and mineral pigments for a natural colour.
Clean Lash Mascara
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
As someone with short and stubborn lashes, I’m generally quite picky when it comes to mascaras – they have to be non-clumpy, lengthening but still natural looking and the Clean Lash from Merit ticked all those boxes. It has a ‘precision brush’ that makes it easy to lift and separate the lashes for a clean, feathery look and it uses proprietary tubing technology that adheres to and defines each individual lash.
Formulated with fatty acids and olive oil, this mascara keeps the lashes conditioned while the vitamin B5 gives them some shine.
The mascara wears really well throughout the day and comes off cleanly without leaving me with panda eyes.
Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil in Les Deux, $38 at Merit
Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
If you’re after a lip oil that’s not thick, greasy or sticky – you oughta try out Merit’s Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil. They’re formulated with plant-derived squalene and quinoa seed oil which effectively moisturise the lips and restores suppleness, as well as protects against environmental aggressors. The shade ‘Les Deux’ has been my go-to as it’s a sheer pink that adds a natural hue to my lips and a nice glossy finish, minus the tackiness of a gloss. I love wearing it on its own or over Merit’s Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick in the shade “Millennial”.
Signature Lip in Millennial, $42 at Merit
Signature Lip
Tried and Tested by Harriet Amurao, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
I’m a lip gloss girlie through and through, and hardly ever wear lipsticks. However, I’ve become a fan thanks to Merit’s Signature Lip. It’s buttery smooth and lightweight, doesn’t leave a thick and sticky feeling, and isn’t insanely opaque which is what I prefer.
It’s packed with plant-derived squalene and sunflower seed oil which makes it super hydrating and non-drying, and it has a lovely satin-finish.
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