These Are the 6 Merit Beauty Products Our Editors Can’t Live Without
From their glowy cream blush to an acne-safe cleanser, these are the products we use on repeat.
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Here at Cosmo, we're wholeheartedly obsessed with Merit and all of their multitasking makeup and skincare. The brand was created amid the pandemic in the height of minimalist makeup, and it was one of the first to mainstream clean, everyday beauty products into major retailers and onto the faces of so many celebrities.
The brand has won multiple Cosmo beauty awards, from its hero perfume being crowned best fresh scent in our most recent Holy Grail Beauty Awards to a cleanser that earned a top spot in our 2025 Acne Awards. And if you're here, you probably are wandering into the world of Merit, or stocking up on some favorites. So, Cosmo's seasoned beauty team rounded up their picks of everything Merit we can't live without.
Ahead, the best Merit beauty products that have earned a permanent spot on our vanities.
Best Deal
One Cosmo editor says: "I'm a blush girl through and through, and Merit's Flush Balm is my desert island makeup product. It feels super lightweight and blends out so nicely, leaving my cheeks with a glowy finish that still looks natural on my skin."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
One Cosmo editor says: "I have super sensitive eyes, and this gentle-yet-lengthening mascara is one of the few that never irritates them. The brush itself is so soft on my lashes, and the formula stays put for hours, coming off easily with some micellar water at the end of the day."—JH
One Cosmo editor says: "I have about 50 lip liners at home, but these never make it into my pile since they live in my bag. I love how easy I can apply this sheer lip liner. I don't even really need a mirror, TBH. They glide on and smudge for a soft look that still adds dimension. They also come in a mix of the chicest browns, which totally makes sense for Merit. " —BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
One Cosmo editor says: "You know when you finally find the perfect (but slightly expensive) white T shirt and you’re like: “holy shit this is worth every dollar—I’ll wear this all the time and a million different ways?” That’s Retrospect. It’s indulgent, but good for everyday and the clean, skin-like scent easy to wear, whether you’re a perfume novice or full-on nose."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
One Cosmo editor says: "This tinted sunscreen has replaced all of my skin tints and tinted moisturizers. It’s the perfect amount of soft, sheer coverage (I just pair it with some concealer to hide zits or acne scars) with a slight dewy finish." —BG
One Cosmo editor says: “Most nights I’m too lazy to do a full double cleanse, which is why I love this face wash so much. It thoroughly removes makeup, cleanses skin, and gently exfoliates in one step. The light, foamy texture feels delicious on skin, and it rinses totally clean, too.” —LB
Why Trust Cosmopolitan
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about all the best skincare and makeup products. Merit has consistently been a Cosmo-favorite brand, and we narrowed down our favorite products to highlight them for their biggest sale of the year.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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