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Cameron Diaz also uses the line.
I delight in introducing friends to Merit Beauty. The relatively under-the-radar, minimalism-forward brand is an InStyle editor favorite. It’s also a go-to for countless cool girls, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz, and Nicole Richie, to name a few.
I’ve tried the vast majority of Merit products, and they have yet to disappoint. Perhaps most impressive of its offerings, however, is its latest release, the Great Skin Moisturizer, which boasts skin-plumping, smoothing, and strengthening properties in a lightweight, seasonally-aligned formula. Hot on the heels of the brand’s aptly-named Great Skin Serum, the moisturizer marks the first of its kind for the brand. And, wow, does it deliver everything its title suggests—and then some.
Merit kept its latest launch hush-hush until this morning: Currently, you can sign up for a waitlist, which will remind you to snag a bottle the second it launches on August 22. (Seriously, don’t miss out; Merit’s products have a reputation for selling out, after all.) Below, see my review of the new moisturizer—plus, more of my Merit favorites you can, and should, shop today.
Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer
Buy Now for $38
The Merit Great Skin Moisturizer is ultra lightweight, hydrating, and skin-smoothing. Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, it’s suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone skin. It wears like a second skin, and the formula contains classic anti-aging ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid, and a few other lesser-known powerhouse ingredients.
According to the brand, spermidine is an ingredient that offers anti-inflammatory benefits. I can attest to that, because the moisturizer seemed to soothe my puffy morning skin. The formula also has polysaccharides, which help to strengthen the skin barrier. In doing so, they improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture, ultimately making it look and feel more plump.
Merit’s moisturizer also features peptides. The protein ingredient is a building block for skin-firming collagen. Dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshik, M.D., previously told InStyle that “peptides may be a good option for someone looking to firm the skin and improve fine lines and wrinkles.”
Hyaluronic acid is the preeminent hydrating ingredient of the skincare world. In Merit’s moisturizer, it floods skin with hydration and, in turn, helps to fade the appearance of fine lines on contact.
In addition to an anti-aging moisturizer, Merit’s Great Skin formula functions as a makeup primer, making it particularly beneficial in the sweaty summer months. Initially skeptical of its priming claims, I tested the moisturizer a few days ago prior to an outdoor event in New York City. Normally, my makeup would have melted off within 20 minutes of sitting outside. To my surprise, my foundation and blush looked remarkably fresh when I checked myself in the bathroom an hour or two into the festivities.
Speaking of makeup: I’d be remiss to skip over my Merit must-haves. The Minimalist Complexion Perfecting Stick (Cameron Diaz’s go-to), for instance, packs the punch of both a concealer and foundation in one, smoothing imperfections without reading makeup-y. Merit’s cheek products, like its Flush Balm and Highlighting Day Glow Balms, are similarly noteworthy in that they’re dewy, radiant, and effortless to use. I’m also fond of Merit’s brow gel, which lifts and secures my wiry hairs into fluffy arches (the likes of which have garnered compliments). Finally, the celebrity-used Great Skin Serum is the product I most frequently recommend to friends, given that it enlivens my complexion and gives me an ethereal glow in seconds.
Shop these Merit essentials—and, for a firmer, plumper complexion and longer-lasting makeup, even in the balmiest months, mark you calendars: Merit’s Great Skin Moisturizer, the lightweight moisturizing primer I can’t stop using, will be available on August 22 for $38. In the meantime, shop my favorite products from the brand below.
The Minimalist Complexion Perfecting Stick
Buy Now for $38
Flush Balm Cheek Color
Buy Now for $30
Day Glow Highlighting Balm
Buy Now for $32
Brow 1980 Volumizing Brow Pomade
Buy Now for $24
Great Skin Instant Glow Serum
Buy Now for $38