MERIT Beauty Review for Mature Skin
One of the fun parts of my job is staying up to date with the latest beauty and skincare brands and sharing them with you! I discovered MERIT Lipstick a year or two ago, and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. I had no idea the brand would become so popular and extend its line, but I am here for it because the products are all vegan, certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, EU-compliant, and Clean at Sephora. As promised, here’s my Merit Beauty review for mature skin, along with my favorite products, and the ones I plan to try.
What is MERIT Beauty?
The founder of MERIT Beauty is Katherine Power, who also founded Versed Beauty and Who What Wear. She founded the minimalistic MERIT Beauty brand in 2021, focusing on the idea that we all aim to enhance our natural beauty rather than transform it. I’m personally all for the magic that makeup can create, but I also want to look like the best version of myself.
In collaboration with Biba de Sousa, a renowned Hollywood aesthetician celebrated for her “no-list” approach, they also removed 73 potentially acne-triggering ingredients from their formulations to ensure their suitability for all skin types.
Is MERIT makeup good for mature skin?
As a woman in her sixties, I would say that the MERIT Beauty products I’ve tried are great for mature skin! The blush and lipstick are especially nice and come in gorgeous shades.
Best MERIT Beauty Products to Try
Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick
This lipstick was my gateway into the brand and what made me want to dig deeper into their products. I started with the Millennial and ended up buying Fashion, which is a soft berry that looks red on me, so it’s perfect for the holidays.
I love a good lipstick, and this one has become my go-to. Unlike a lot of lipsticks, this one is hydrating and lasts a long time without feeling dry. It gives a nice satin finish that can be layered on if you want more color.
If you like more of a glossy finish, MERIT also has a Tinted Lip Oil as well. I haven’t tried it, but it looks luscious.
Flush Balm Cream Blush
When I put color on my cheeks, I prefer a cream blush to give a dewier, more radiant look that doesn’t feel cakey. The Flush Balm cream blush by MERIT is blendable and gives off a healthy glow. It’s so easy to apply that you can’t mess it up. Depending upon the look I’m going for, I’ll switch between Stockholm (baby pink) and the Cheeky which is a cool pink. There are 8 total shades you can choose from that all look pretty natural!
Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
I’ve tried quite a few clean mascaras like Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara and Ilia Limitless Lash that I’ve become pretty loyal to. That being said, I’ve heard so much about the MERIT Clean Lash that I decided to give it a try. All three mascaras are Allure Beauty award winners, and I’m usually quite happy with those.
Unlike regular mascaras that paint the lashes with pigment, tubing mascara works by creating tiny “tubes” around each lash. This type of mascara can be a great choice for those who have issues with smudging, flaking, or have sensitive eyes because the tubing formulas tend to be more gentle and non-irritating.
Tubing mascara also tends to wash off more easily at the end of the day. It goes on lightly, and you can go back to add additional layers to thicken the look. You’ll notice in the picture above that I have on more than one layer.
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation
Finding products as you get older that work for mature skin can be hard. What I like about the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation Stick is that it’s described as “not a foundation or a concealer.” It provides light to medium coverage without being too drying or heavy. Rather than cover your whole face, you apply to spots and marks you’d like to camouflage, then blend it in.
I’d recommend buying the MERIT Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush to help blend everything in. The MERIT website has a good description of each shade and the undertones to help you choose your best color, but it’s currently on sale at Sephopra so I’d order it there. I wear the shade, Dune.
Solo Cream-to-Powder Matte Eyeshadow
This eyeshadow by MERIT has been so hard to get my hands on! It was sold out until about a month ago almost everywhere. I eventually found it and ordered the Studio shade which they describe as cool taupe. It’s made with chamomile and calendula extracts to soothe your eyes, magnolia bark extract to smooth, and peptides to reduce the appearance of fine lines. This eye shadow is a buildable, cream-to-powder that actually stays on.
I bought their double sided brush to apply it but you could easily use your fingers. I anticipated a gooey mess but it went on very easily and with a lovely matte finish that didn’t crease, even after a long day. My one complaint is that this color is not cool so I returned it and ordered the Nelson shade which does look very cool, even in the store. I hope they come out with more shades because this really does stand up to all the hype.
Other MERIT Beauty Products to Try
I haven’t tried everything the brand offers yet but I wanted to let you know about a few others that I’ve heard good things about:
- Day Glow Highlighting Balm
- Brow 1980 Volumizing Eyebrow Pomade Gel
- Shade Slick Classics Tinted Lip Oil
Where to Buy MERIT Beauty Makeup
MERIT is sold exclusively online atĀ MeritBeauty.com, atĀ Sephora, and the Sephora inside Kohl’s.
Have not tried Merit yet. But will check it out. Especially the lipstick and mascara (the clean one).
Thanks for more great make up ideas.
I have several of their eye shadows. Initially, I applied them with the matching brush, but found that they dried before I could blend them out. I almost gave up on them, until I tried them with my fingers. Thereās something about the warmth of the fingerās that makes them blend beautifully (at least the lighter shades, such as vachhetta). I use Nelson as a liner and absolutely love it. With my light coloring, most liners look way too harsh. This one gives definition without being too stark. For the liner, I do use the Merit brush and it works very well. I will try their blush next.
I was thinking I would do the same with the Nelson. A smudged line looks softer and better on my eyes.
I purchased the Cheeky blush. I think it will work with my complexion. We have similar coloring. So here goes on a new cosmetic product!
Itās a beautiful color! I hope you like it too. Itās my favorite
Really loved the earrings I saw up in the corner!! Can you tell us about those?
My daughter gave these hoops to me for Christmas last year. I wear them ALL the timeā„ļø
I have tried both the eye shadow and the blushes. I use Fox or Terracotta blush and I enjoy them but I find if I want them to last all day I need to apply a fine layer of powder blush over top. I have your coloring and had purchased the eyeshadow in Studio and as you stated itās too warm, I should have returned it as I rarely use it. The Nelson looks quite dark but let me know how you like it , if itās not too dark Iāll order too. I love the way they apply and last. Thanks for the report. Iāve started using Ciele tinted serum with sunscreen as a foundation and I love it. One of the very few foundations that doesnāt cling to my very dry skin.
I will let you know how it goes.
I literally just discovered Merit two weeks ago, although for me I had run out of my favorite BB cream and discovered the company I was using stopped making it (temporarily bc of production issues) anyhoo, I only use clean beauty products (btw there is a great app that you just scan your product labels and it will let you know) I didn’t end up buying any bb cream from the Merit brand but did buy the Tinted lip oil in Merrakech and absolutely love it, the color is perfect and it’s funny I have not worn any lip color since the pandemic, just clear balms, and so many compliments – I also purchased the Flush balm cream blush and again love it, highly recommend both products
I love the Meirt lipstick. I bought the Millennial twice already. Next I will try the Mascara.
I’m 74 and stopped using mascara years ago because I never found a product that didn’t flake or smudge on me. I got tired of having to do a mirror check constantly and carrying Q-tips so I could clean-up my brow bone and under eyes where my mascara ended up…ALWAYS! A couple of weeks ago, I read on a blog that Merit was a clean product and never flakes or smudges. Before ordering it online, I read the reviews. There were some that said it does flake and smudge, however, I have been wearing it for a week now and not once have I had any smudges or flaking. Double plus, it washes off easily with warm water and my usual cleanser, Cetaphil.
I’ve never heard of Merit beauty products but I will look into it. There are so many products out there it’s hard to know what to try. Thanks for your great info!
This Sephora sale is a great time to try some.
I recently tried Merit mascara after your glowing recommendation after your trip. I must say, you were absolutely right, it doesnāt clump or smudge at all. Goes on smoothly, and even with a second coat doesnāt clump at all.
I also tried the 1980 brow gel. It also goes on smoothly, and makes my sparse brows look fuller and longer. This company makes great products and I look forward to trying more of them. Thanks recommending Merit.
Thanks for referring the brow gel! Iāll give it a try. Iām very impressed with their products.
Thanks to you I tried the lipstick in Fashion (berry). The formula is outstanding: moisturizing, doesnāt migrate into fine lines, color stays pretty true. (On me many colors oxidize pink). I find the packaging a bit bulky. My main complaint for the lipsticks and the whole line is not enough cool colors. I agree some of the colors they call cool are not. Itās all very 90s brown! I have the one shade I can wear. Let me rave about that #1 brush. Itās the best for blending anything creamy. Iāve used B. Brownās foundation stick for years, same concept as merit. This brush is magic. I donāt love blending w/fingers. Iām going to get a second for blending cream blushes. Thanks for the review. Even though the pics on the site are young, dewy skin I believe as we get older less is more!
Yay, Iām glad you like it. I agree about the brush too! Itās great! I used a brush to stipple my cream blush in and it leaves a great finish.
Does this lipstick bleed? I have a horrible time with that and consequently can only use stains . Do you use a lip liner under?
I always use a lipliner to prevent lipstick from bleeding into the lines. This isnāt goopy so it stays put.