By Lisa Petrison
Merit Beauty was launched in early 2021 as a minimalist clean brand, promoting the idea that its products can allow busy women to get their makeup done in five minutes or less.
It is headed by Katherine Power, a “serial entrepreneur” who also was a key founder in Who What Wear (an online fashion/beauty information site), Versed (a clean skincare company), and Avaline (a clean wine company).
She suggests in a video that the products were created for women like her – working moms who want to look like themselves but a little better and who have a minimal amount of time to spend putting on makeup.
The company offers a limited number of products, all of which consist mostly of “safe synthetic” ingredients.
They are sold primarily via Sephora and the Merit company website. Some of the products also are available through Kohl’s stores.
Merit Beauty is Clean at Sephora; Leaping Bunny certified (cruelty-free); vegan; and pro-choice.
The Merit foundation, blush and bronzer sticks include the ingredient BHT, which is a toluene-based preservative that may help to prevent the fats from going rancid but that also is said to have the potential of causing skin irritation.
While the BHT usage in those products disqualifies the whole line from being sold at Credo, the fact that the line qualifies as Clean at Sephora means that the BHT is less than 0.1% of the total formula.
The whole line also would be ineligible to be sold at Credo due to the fact that the mascara contains steareths (which are ethoxylated ingredients that could be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane).
EWG expresses only mild concern about the steareths or the BHT included in the Merit products, and I personally have done okay with all the Merit products.
I do feel somewhat concerned when companies include BHT in lip products, but Merit is not doing that.
In general, I consider Merit to be a pretty reliably good makeup brand and have been impressed with most of their products.
I do feel that the line is designed to provide a very natural look, which is what I prefer for most occasions but which some people may find to be too understated for their own tastes.
Mini-reviews of each of the Merit products are below, with the most highly rated products discussed first.
Links to my longer reviews, to my TikTok reviews, and to retailer websites are also provided.
In the photo at the top of the page, I am wearing a “full face” of Merit products. Included are the Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum; the Merit Perfecting Complexion Stick in Cream; the Merit Bronze Balm in Quince; the Merit Cheek Color in Terracotta and Beverly Hills; the Merit Clean Lash mascara; the Merit Day Glow highlighter; and the Merit Signature Lip lipstick in Millennial. I also am wearing the Persona Swipe-Up Brow Gel in Blonde, because I ran out of the Merit brow gel before taking the photo.
The next section contains affiliate links. Living Clean in a Dirty World may receive a commission if readers click on these links and then purchase products. Living Clean in a Dirty World also may accept product review samples but receives no other compensation from companies mentioned on this website.
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum – $38
Living Clean Rating: 10 out of 10
This product (which was released in Fall 2022) serves as a hydrating serum as well as a light primer.
It is stated as containing four kinds of hyaluronic acid (to hydrate); niacinamide (to brighten and smooth); and “caffeine rich cacao seed” (to stimulate blood flow and plump the skin).
It has the consistency of a toner and needs to be shaken up before being pumped into the hands and then applied to the face.
It has a very clean ingredient list, with no ingredients that are stated as problematic by EWG.
I have found this to be a nice product that provides my face with some hydration and that lays down a slightly tacky surface that serves as a good base for light makeup.
I need to use moisturizer under this product, but I believe that many people with skin that is less dry than mine could use just this.
EWG Problem Ingredients: None. (Contains Citric Acid.)
First Five Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Silicone Level: None
Options: Honest Stay Hydrated Hyaluronic Acid + NMF Serum ($30)
Merit Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil – $24
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
These lip glosses are unusually clean, with just a few synthetic colors being the only issue of concern here.
I think that they are among Merit’s best products.
They taste and feel really good to me, and they go on more easily than is the case with most other lip glosses that I have tried.
They also look rather professional and therefore would be appropriate for a work environment.
Compared to the Merit lipsticks, the lip glosses tend to feature colors that are clearer and brighter.
They look very pretty on the lips, I think.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Blue #1 (7), Red #7 (6), Red #30 (5), Rosa Canina Fruit Oil (3), Titanium Dioxide (3).
First Five Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ceresin, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Octyldodecanol.
Fragrance Ingredients: Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Silicone Level: None
Options: HAN Tinted Lip Gloss ($16); Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss ($25); Roen Kiss My. Liquid Lip Balm ($26); Victoria Beckham Posh Gloss ($28)
Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick – $26
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
The Merit lipsticks are among my favorite lip products, to the point that I have purchased all the shades (including a special edition holiday red called Apertif) and use them often.
They feel like a balm to me in terms of how moisturizing and lightweight they are, but have the refined appearance of a lipstick.
The colors mostly tend toward being on the “mucky neutral” side, which may make them especially wearable by many people who (like me) do not do well with bright colors.
They include some artificial colors and the preservative phenoxyethanol, and thus may not be appropriate for everyone.
Although “natural flavor” also is mentioned on the ingredient list, a company representative told me that this is just raspberry oil.
They feel and taste quite good to me.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Blue #1 (7), Yellow #5 (6), Red #7 (6), Red #6 (6), Phenoxyethanol (4), Natural flavor (5), Titanium dioxide (3).
First Five Ingredients: Castor Seed Oil, Isostearyl Isostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Tribehenin
Fragrance Ingredients: Natural Flavor (Raspberry Oil)
Silicone Level: None
Options: Glossier Ultralip ($18); Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Color ($36); Victoria Beckham Posh Lipstick ($38)
Watch Lisa’s TikTok Review (Muted Shades)
Watch Lisa’s TikTok Review (Brighter Shades)
Merit The Minimalist Complexion Stick – $38
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
This product is stated as having the potential of replacing both foundation and concealer, providing spot coverage of of problem areas on the face while allowing as much bare skin as possible to show.
I feel that it has been quite successful at blending seamlessly into my face and making it seem that I am not wearing any product at all.
It also has done a better job than most foundation products at not emphasizing my wrinkles or other textural issues.
Like some of the other Merit products, this complexion stick includes BHT at the level of less than 0.1% (since it is Clean at Sephora).
The product also contains two silicones, but they are pretty far down on the ingredient list and thus do not seem to me to be a very big concern .
The Merit Brush No. 1 ($30) is designed to help this complexion stick to blend more seamlessly into the skin. While I do not see this as entirely necessary, and while other brushes could do the same thing, I do really like this brush and use it frequently.
EWG Problem Ingredients: BHT (3), Dimethicone (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3). Also contains Triethoxycaprylysilane (silicone).
First Five Ingredients: Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Polyethylene.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Problematic Colors: None
Silicone Level: Low
Options: Bare Minerals BarePro 16-Hour Concealer ($25); Bobbi Brown Skin Concealer Stick ($32); Glossier Stretch Concealer ($20); Jones Road The Face Pencil ($25); Rituel de Fille The Ethereal Veil ($34)
Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush – $28
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
This is a very easygoing blush that blends readily into the skin; looks very pretty and natural; and lasts reasonably well.
In terms of the final look, it seems very similar to some of the liquid gel blushes that I have used.
This product does contain BHT as well as a synthetic artificial color.
Two forms of silicone are used, but they are listed pretty far down on the ingredient list and don’t seem a big concern to me.
I feel that the shades Beverly Hills (a peachy pink) and Terracotta (a peachy neutral) have both worked well for me.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Red #7 (6), BHT (3), Titanium dioxide (3). Also contains Methicone and Triethoxycaprylylsilane (silicones).
First Five Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Polyethylene, Silica.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Silicone Level: Low
Options: Glossier Cloud Paint ($20); Jones Road Lip & Cheek Stick ($34); Kosas Color & Light ($34); Saie Dew Blush ($25); Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Balm ($20)
Merit Bronze Balm – $30
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
The non-shimmery bronzer (introduced in Summer 2022) reminds me quite a bit of the Merit blush, in that it goes on very sheer and disappears readily into the skin.
It has a light gel consistency and seems almost impossible to mess up.
In addition, the lightest shade of the five offered – Quince – is considerably lighter in tone that most bronzers on the market.
As a result, this bronzer is something that I can just throw on in a couple of seconds when I feel that my skin is in need of a pick-me-up, without having to worry about whether it is looking too obvious on me.
Like the Merit blush, this bronzer includes the fat preservative BHT as well as low levels of a couple of silicones.
EWG Problem Ingredients: BHT (3). Also contains Triethoxycaprylylsilane and Methicone (silicones).
First Five Ingredients: Octyldodecyl Myristate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Diisostearyl Malate.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Silicone Level: Low
Options: Milk Bionic Bronzer ($30); Salt New York Sculpt + Bronze ($16 + Case)
Merit Clean Lash – $26
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
This is one of the few cleaner tubing mascaras on the market, and I really like the way that it performs.
I have found that it goes on especially easily without clumping or smudging (meaning that I don’t need to use my spoolie to try to declump my lashes after applying the product).
It also wears well and is easily removed at the end of the day with just warm water.
I have found that this product also makes it quite easy for me to achieve a natural lash look.
People who prefer a more dramatic look might not like this as much, though.
The product includes steareth-20 and steareth-2, which are surfactants that contain PEG’s and that have the potential of being contaminated with 1,4-dioxane or other problematic substances.
As a result, the product would not be eligible to be sold at Credo (but is listed as Clean at Sephora).
It also contains phenoxyethanol, a preservative with some potential for irritaiton. Alcohol and simethicone (a silicone) are also mentioned on the ingredient list.
I have very sensitive eyes and was a little afraid to try this product, but I have since used it many times and have not found that I have experienced any irritation at all from it.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Steareth-20 (3), Steareth-2 (3), Acacia senegal gum (3). Also contains Alcohol, Simethicone (silicone).
First Five Ingredients: Water, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Rice Bran Wax, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Problematic Colorings: None
Silicone Level: Low
Options: Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara ($24)
Merit Brow 1980 – $24
Living Clean Rating: 9 out of 10
Of the 27 brow gels that I have tried out so far for this project, this product from Merit was one of the better ones.
I have found it easy to apply and to create a natural-looking brow.
I also found that toward the end of its life, the Merit brow gel started to cause my eyebrow area to ache in the way that other brow products with problematic ingredients often have done.
The Merit product does include a few problematic chemicals, so I wonder if they became more concentrated as the product got dried up.
Although there are some other brow products out there that I feel better about in terms of the ingredients, I would consider buying this product again.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Chloroxylenol (3), Dimethicone (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3). Also contains Polyacrylate-21 (not rated by EWG), Triethoxycaprylylsilane (silicone).
First Five Ingredients: Water, Mica, Carnauba Wax, Polyisobutene, Propanediol.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Silicone Level: Low
Options: Jane Iredale PureBrow Brow Gel ($24); Kosas Air Brow Tinted ($24); Persona SwipeUp Brow Gel ($19); Vapour Architect Brow Gel ($25)
Merit Day Glow – $30
Overall Rating: 6 out of 10
This highlighter started out seeming very nice, providing a refined and non-shimmery glow that would seem to be appropriate for all occasions and all users.
The problem is that this product seems to have a strong propensity to develop an unpleasant rancid smell within a short period of time after purchase.
I have heard six different YouTube beauty influencers complain about this problem, and the user reviews mention it frequently as well.
For me, the product started to smell bad after about five months of use, but I have heard other cases where people have said it happened for them sooner (in some cases almost immediately after purchase).
A Merit representative informed me that that the squalane in this formula is derived from sunflower oil, and I am guessing that this is the cause of the rancid smell.
The fact that (unlike some of the other Merit products) this highlighter does not include any BHT or other preservatives also is likely a factor.
Although the product also contains a substance called glyceryl behenate, EWG states that this is a concern only if the product is to be used in the eye area.
I wouldn’t be inclined to buy this again because I feel that it is wasteful to have to throw things out when they go bad within a short period of time.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Glyceryl Behenate (3).
First Five Ingredients: Squalane, Olive Fruit Oil, 2- Octyldodecanol, Mica, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate.
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Silicone Level: None
Options: Violette_FR Baume Shine ($28); W3LL People Supernatural Stick Highlighter ($22); Westman Atlier Lit Up Highlight Stick ($25+)
Notes:
Living Clean Rating: This takes into consideration the performance of the product as well as its ingredient list.
EWG Problem Ingredients: Ingredients rated as 3 or higher (yellow/red) by EWG.
Options: Other products that provide similar benefits and that I believe are worth considering.
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the “Beginner’s Guide” book).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
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