I recently got to add a range of Merit Beauty's must-have products to my makeup arsenal. Rather than just taking them for a spin on my own, I enlisted the help and opinions of a friend who works as a local makeup artist. Her opinions left a 'hero' from Merit's make-up line falling short of the mark with a surprisingly low ranking. With five products, including skin prep products to blush and bronzers, on the chopping block, make-up artist Charlotte put Merit's icons to the test to see whether they're worth adding to your own make-up collection. Let's get into it...
READ MORE: We try Ryanair and EasyJet-approved bag that 'holds everything' and folds up to cabin dimensions. READ MORE: 'I wore Boux Avenue's top push-up bra on a girl's night and couldn't believe the comments'. Shop here for £26. The Merit Beauty Flush Balm is pitched as a cream tint that melts into skin for a 'lit-from-within' colour that offers a natural and radiant flush all day. When we tested this product, the colour was lovely and a more natural shade. However, the pigment wasn't what we'd home. It's definitely a blendable and buildable formula, and it's easy to add more to get a more noticeable colour and coverage.
If you're looking for a highly pigmented brush, this may not be your best pick.; Charlotte says you'll be better off with something like Rare Beauty's Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. With that being said, if you're after a subtle flushed look, ideal for no-make-up make-up days, this blush definitely scores points for its glowy and natural finish. Shop here for £33. Merit's Great Skin Moisturiser is a priming moisturiser set to prep the skin for makeup application and wear. It's also pitched as a moisturiser that helps soothe the skin barrier, provides hydration throughout the day (ideal in the winter), and makes the skin feel firmer and more elastic in just one week. While we can't comment on its long-term effects, this moisturiser does feel incredibly hydrating and nourishing when applied.
It sits beautifully under makeup and feels lightweight without pesky pilling or patchiness. It's unscented, which is always plush, and it did well, leaving my skin feeling softer and rejuvenated after just a few uses. Charlotte also noted that it didn't cause issues when other primers were applied on top of the moisturiser, which is a problem that can frequently happen with formulas that don't gel together. If you're seeking an alternative, I'd recommend checking out Embryolisse - Lait-Crème Concentré multifunction moisturiser.
The product that didn't meet expectations was the Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, which didn't add much of a tint of glow compared to other products, including Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Serum. Set to be a lightweight, bi-phase serum that instantly hydrates and plumps skin for a healthy glow, this product did provide some glow and a mild bronzed finish, but Charlotte commented that the overall look was closer to being shiny than a 'lit from within' glow. Unlike the moisturiser, this serum didn't leave the skin feeling overly hydrated upon application and didn't have much effect on the complexion once other makeup was applied on top.
Much like the Flush Balm, Merit's Sheer Bronzer provides a sheer pigment for those no-make-up make-up looks when you just want a subtle, sun-kissed finish without much colour. But, if you're a fan of viral bronzer sticks like Rare Beauty's Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick, which offers a more bronzed look, this Merit bronzer probably isn't the one for you. Charlotte pointed out that you must layer a lot on the product to get a noticeable bronzed effect. It's a seamless formula that applies beautifully and doesn't separate your base, and the shape of the applicator makes it ideal for targeting areas like your cheekbones or nose. Plus, the formula is very blendable and buildable, making it easier to get your desired finish. But if you're craving pigment, you'll have to build with this formula for quite some time.
Last but not least, my favourite product out of the collection, which I've been using for months, is the Minimalist Complexion Stick. Coming in a huge range of shades to best suit most skin tones and undertones, this complexion stick offers medium to full coverage that combines the effects of your concealer and foundation into one easy-to-use and buildable product. Whether you're striving for a more subtle coverage that conceals dark circles or breakouts or going for full glam with high coverage, this stick is versatile and pigmentated enough to do it all. Its pen-like design makes it easy to hold, and its silky smooth formula ensures it's a dream to apply straight to the skin and blend out with any tool, from your fingers to a blender to a brush. Charlotte notes that it's perfect for building your desired amount of coverage and it's ideal for covering pigmentation and dark spots.
