Are you struggling to simplify your makeup routine for the new normal? Well you’re not alone, and I was there too until I got a chance to try Merit Beauty to make makeup EASY! With masks my makeup routine became minimal. I just wanted to look like myself, but naturally more glamorous. You know, for the activities that can be mask-free. Oh are you also wanting makeup that is clean, but still performs?
Sometime ago I saw a few influencer friends using Merit Beauty and it sparked my curiosity. As I clicked my way through a rabbit hole I was drawn to the vision of simple, clean, and luxurious makeup. The Merit Beauty makeup routine is based on 6 products and you can even complete the application in 5 minutes.
Now a little fate stepped in and the Merit Beauty team reached out to send me over these products. Since then I’ve put them to the tests, have a few new favorites, but most importantly I’m able to share them with you! I will break down each Merit Beauty product and how it can simplify your makeup routine.
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick is your foundation + concealer in one! While you can of course add a concealer of your choice to brighten the under eye, like I do. If you’re in a rush you can use the complexion stick as an all-in-one with ease. I like this option if you’re just getting into makeup or needing to only take a few essentials. The forulat is easy to buff out with a face brush. You can go back and also concentrate product to conceal a certain spot as well.
There are 20 shades in the complexion stick. I went with Sienna – a deep tan with peach undertones. It seems to be a good match, and doesn’t oxidize heavily. I would have loved to see some combo undertones to give people a little more variety for a perfect match.
Have you ever tried a cream blush? Flush Balm Cheek Color makes it easy to add a little pop of color to the cheeks and lightly blend to a natural flush of the skin. You can build up the pigmentation for this one in case you want more of a flush. You can also use it as a base under powder blush if you need even more pigmentation.
On me is Raspberry Beret which is a classic raspberry color. There are a total of 5 shades to cover all skin to without being overwhelming. It was super easy to pick a shade that I felt was confident to work.
Day Glow Highlighting Balm is essential for giving the skin a healthy pop of glow with a little dewiness. This isn’t about strobing your entire face, but rather using the highlighting balm to softly accent high points of the face. You can use the pads of your fingertips to pounce on top of the product to blend to a natural glow quickly.
Merit Beauty doesn’t make it tricky to find your highlight. There are 2 shades to pick from Cava, a champagne, and Bounce, a rose gold. You just need to pick the only that flatters your undertones. I chose Bounce, since I felt as if Cava wouldn’t compliment my more rich undertones. Also remember that these aren’t designed to intensely highlight, but rather give a smooth glow.
If you’ve struggled with brush-on brow gels then you will be in for a surprise with the Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade. I wasn’t expecting this to become a favorite for me, but it made the cut for my April Favorites! The formula holds brows in place and the applicator dispurses product easily. You can get a natural, but fluffy looking brow with the pomade. There are 3 shades for the Brow 1980, but the undertones compliment a variety of skin tones without stress. Remember this line is very much about being to-the-point to get the job done, so having every hue of taupe isn’t necessary. You can build up the intensity of this product for the brow to stand out more or simply add a little bit of brow filling powder, pencil, etc to give more sparse brows more of a boost.
Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara gives your lashes a soft and easy finish. Remember it’s all about natural glam. It doesn’t dramatically lengthen the lash so don’t expect the same result as lash extensions. Also if you want more definition around the eye use a lash curler before applying the mascara. I use a teasing motion at the base of the lashes then pull out to get the most out of my mascara on my natural lash.
In place of traditional lipstick, Merit Beauty had the Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil that gives you a subtle splash of color. The formula also feels ultra luxurious on your lips since it’s infused with rosehip oil & shea butter. It glides onto the lips without being streaky or feeling tacky. I have the shade Marrakech, which is a shade of soft peach that meets terracotta. This is a shade that is flattering on most skin tones as well.
Are you ready to shop Merit Beauty? I’ve linked all of the products below for you to shop now. Don’t forget with your first order you get the iconic chic makeup bag that doubles for a clutch!
You can see my full “no makeup” makeup routine with Merit Beauty