This goof-proof formula is so easy to use and works on mature and younger skin – it’s a must have for any beauty enthusiast
If I lost my entire makeup collection tomorrow, the very first thing I’d be repurchasing is The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick from Merit . Many people have a holy grail product they couldn’t be without, and usually, it’s one they’ve used for months, years if not decades. Me? I’ve owned mine for a week.
Last week I attended a makeup masterclass with the beauty brand to celebrate their launch into Sephora . During the event, celebrity MUA Zoe Taylor (whose client list includes Keira Knightley, Rihanna, and Tilda Swinton) delivered her top tips and tricks to achieving a gorgeously glowy makeup look in five minutes.
Described as “not a foundation or a concealer, but something that’ll replace both,” this hard-working stick immediately stood out during the tutorial. I got professionally shade-matched to Silk, and while I did play around with it at the event, I already had makeup on, so I couldn’t fully appreciate its magic until the next day.
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After prepping my skin with the Merit Instant Glow Serum, I ditched my usual concealer and foundation for the Merit Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick . Applying it directly to my face, it was notably creamy, gliding onto my skin with no dragging. The texture is lightweight, with a hydrating feel thanks to ingredients like glycerin and fatty acids, which help lock in moisture.
It melts seamlessly into the skin with barely any pressure required to blend. It contains sea daffodil extract, which is known to help reduce the appearance of temporary redness, with the stick offering a bright and radiant satin finish. It looked like my skin but 10 times better, perfect for a natural look. That said, it’s also incredibly buildable, going back in for more coverage where you need it, without it looking cakey or heavy.
I completed my makeup routine using more Merit products, including their Flush Balm Cream Blush and Day Glow Highlighting Balm . All of the products layered really well and are so fast and easy to use. It really does take five minutes to do and is really beginner friendly, with no makeup application skill required to achieve a really effective look.
I put the complexion stick through a full-day trial, applying it in the morning and then heading to see Primal Scream in the evening, so a pretty thorough testing to say the least. By the time I got home after midnight, I was amazed. No setting powder, no touch-ups, and yet my skin looked glowy rather than greasy. My makeup hadn’t settled into fine lines or gone patchy around the nose as many formulas often do. I almost couldn’t bring myself to take it all off.
At £34, it sits in the mid-luxury price point, but the amount of product you get makes it feel like solid value. I twisted the stick all the way up and was pleasantly surprised. If it’s anything like my Milk contour stick (which has lasted me a year), I expect this one to last just as long. Plus, it’s still cheaper than Charlotte Tilbury’s Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick , which is £35, or Ilia’s £48 Skin Rewind Complexion Stick , though the latter does come in a whopping 42 shades compared to Merit’s 30.
The stick format is genius for targeted application and perfect for travel or on-the-go touch-ups. There’s no waste, and it’s compact enough to throw in your bag without a second thought. The only downside I could think of was that makeup artists may find it less practical for hygiene reasons on multiple clients. But for personal use, it’s ideal.
On the Merit website, the stick has earned a 4.5 star rating based on more than 7,000 reviews , with a further 1,284 reviews on the Sephora site, averaging 4.1 stars. One wrote: “Such a beautiful complexion stick and glides onto your face effortlessly. Looks like you’re not wearing any make up but you actually did! Love it and for a 50 year old woman I couldn’t have asked for more!”
Another added: “I have been very faithful to my previous foundation for many years, this is my new one. I’ve ordered it twice now. Looks very natural and clean, “no makeup” look with good coverage. The colour finder (where you put in another brand you use ) was a perfect match. I like a glowy, fresh look but have some acne and scarring I like to cover up. Blends very well and doesn’t cause break outs.”
A third hailed it the ‘best invention ever’. They added: “Having a concealer and foundation stick is the best invention ever. I will never switch back to any other foundation. This one is so natural looking while actually covering any pimples or imperfections! If you need a new foundation or have been wanting to try this one, this is your sign to try it! I love the colour Linen all over but I also have the colour Silk when I want to do a little bit lighter under my eyes.”
Some have admitted to having ‘mixed feelings’ about the product. One three star review read: “The colour match was great and I liked the actual product but I pulled the cap off the tube and out fell all my product. I was so disappointed. Maybe Merit can improve their packaging.” Meanwhile another penned: “I have very mixed feelings about about this product. It was exactly what I was looking for. The right finish, coverage, blend-ability and shade match. However unfortunately it creases very badly under my eyes.”
But most people have thoroughly enjoyed using it, with another five star testimonial reading: “My favourite foundation yet! I was a bit hesitant on a foundation stick but this has amazed me!!! I like a medium coverage and it’s so easy to obtain with a small amount! Game changer.”
As a beauty writer, I have accumulated hundreds of beauty products and most get tried, tested, and eventually find themselves in my wider collection, but not this one. The Merit Minimalist Stick has earned a permanent spot in my daily makeup bag for its fast, fuss-free application, gorgeously glowy finish and impressive longevity. I’m actually eyeing up a deeper shade to use as a contour because it really is the product every beauty fan needs in their kit.
