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I just bought Merit’s newest holiday kit, The Winter 2026 Set made with the fashion house Erdem. I’ve also used their Flush Balm in another shade before this. So I’ve had time to live with these products.
And wow. These products are so effortless.
I love the French girl makeup look. The kind that takes almost no effort. I don’t do much to my eyes besides mascara. I don’t wear foundation, just a tinted SPF. So Merit’s whole “5-minute makeup” idea is so my speed.
Here’s my honest Merit Beauty review: the 5 products worth your money, and the one I’d skip.
My Merit picks at a glance
| Product | What it is | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Volume Mascara | Volumizing, lifting mascara | Must try. It made me quit drugstore mascara. |
| Flush Balm in Carnation | Cream blush | Buy it. Fresh, bright and feels like skin. |
| Solo Shadow Sheen in Mink | Shimmer cream shadow | Buy it for nights out. A little goes a long way. |
| Retrospect | Fresh floral perfume | Buy it if you like fresh, not sweet. |
| New Wave | Spicy floral perfume | Buy it if you love warm, smoky scents. |
| Day Glow in Tulle | Highlighting balm stick | Skip. I don’t see any glow. |
1. Merit Clean Volume Mascara: it blew me away
I’ve always been a drugstore mascara girl. Honestly? Never mind. Now I’m a Merit mascara girl.
The brush is slim, and it separates every single lash. So your lashes look clean and even. No clumps. No spider legs.
But it doesn’t stop there. It also gives you length, and it lifts your lashes so they stay up. Clean, separated lashes that still look long and strong. That’s a hard combo to find.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants lashes that look done, but not “done up.” If mascara is the only eye makeup you wear, this is the one to buy.
My verdict: Must try.
2. Merit Flush Balm in Carnation: heavenly
The Flush Balm is Merit’s cream blush. Carnation is a soft, warm pink, and it’s heavenly.
It makes you look so fresh and bright. And very natural, like you just came in from a walk outside.
The formula is very hydrating too. It doesn’t sit on top of your face. It melts in and feels like skin.
I’ve used the Flush Balm in another shade before this one, and I loved that too. So this isn’t a one-shade fluke. The formula is just good.
How I use it: I dab it on my cheeks with my fingers and tap it out. That’s it.
My verdict: Buy it.
3. Merit Solo Shadow Sheen in Mink: perfect for date night
Mink is a soft brown-gray with shimmer. I’m not wearing eyeshadow every day. But I tried it for date night, and I loved it.
Just a small amount goes a long way. One swipe with your finger is enough for both eyes. And the shimmer is perfect. Pretty and glowy, never glittery.
Who it’s for: the girl who skips eyeshadow most days but wants an easy upgrade for a night out.
My verdict: Buy it if you want one easy shadow for special nights.
4. Merit Retrospect: the fresh one
Merit doesn’t just make makeup. They make perfume too, and it’s good.
Retrospect is a floral. The first thing I notice is pear, and I love how fresh it is. There’s only a light hint of vanilla. I like my perfume like I like my white wine: fresh, but not sweet. Retrospect fits.
My verdict: Buy it if you want a clean, fresh everyday scent.
5. Merit New Wave: the warm, smoky one
New Wave is Merit’s newest perfume. It’s a spicy floral with a smoky base. There’s a cinnamon-like tobacco sweetness that I couldn’t stop smelling.
Le Labo Santal 33 has been my signature scent for seven years. So I’m picky. New Wave still won me over.
Read my full New Wave review →
My verdict: Buy it if you love warm, musky, woody scents.
What I’d skip: Merit Day Glow
Ugh. I wanted to love this one.
Day Glow is Merit’s highlighting balm stick. My set came with the shade Tulle, a rose bronze. I had also tried my mom’s Day Glow before this.
Honestly, it does nothing for me. Both times. I put it on, and I don’t see the glow. Nothing happens.
I don’t think it’s worth your money. Spend it on the mascara or the Flush Balm instead.
The best way to try Merit: The Winter 2026 Set x Erdem
This is the set I bought. It’s a limited-edition holiday kit made with the London fashion house Erdem, and the box is covered in their florals. It comes with:
- Mini Clean Volume Mascara
- Mini Flush Balm in Carnation (limited-edition shade)
- Solo Shadow Sheen in Mink (limited edition)
- Day Glow in Tulle (limited-edition shade)
When I wrote this, Sephora had it for $68, down from a $92 value. That’s three products I love plus one I’d skip, and you still come out ahead. It also makes a really pretty gift.
It’s still available at Sephora. But if you miss it, don’t worry. Most of these products are sold on their own all year, set or no set.
Merit Beauty FAQ
Is Merit Beauty worth it?
For a low-effort makeup routine, yes. The Clean Volume Mascara and Flush Balm are worth it on their own. I’d skip Day Glow.
What is the best Merit product?
For me, it’s the Clean Volume Mascara. It’s the one that made me give up drugstore mascara. The Flush Balm is a close second.
Is Merit good for a “no-makeup” makeup look?
That’s exactly what it’s made for. My whole look is a tinted SPF, Flush Balm and mascara. It takes about five minutes.
Is the Merit x Erdem Winter Set worth it?
Yes, if you want to try the mascara and Flush Balm. You get them plus the shadow for less than buying them one by one. Just know I didn’t love the Day Glow inside.
How I tested
I bought everything in this review with my own money. No one from Merit sent me anything or asked me to write this.
- Real life, not one swatch. I wore the mascara and Flush Balm in my everyday routine, over my tinted SPF.
- The right occasion. I tested the Solo Shadow where I’d actually wear it: date night.
- More than one try. I’ve used the Flush Balm in two shades and Day Glow in two shades (mine and my mom’s) before giving my verdict.
- My skin. I have combination, acne-prone skin and keep my makeup minimal. If you wear full coverage, your results may be different.
About me
I’m Sofia. I work in e-commerce consulting for beauty brands, so I spend my days inside the beauty industry. I see how products get made, launched and sold. That makes me hard to impress, and quick to tell you when something doesn’t live up to the hype.
Got a question about any of these? Leave a comment and I’ll answer. You can also see my everyday makeup on Instagram at @by_sofiadediaz.
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