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For every beauty consumer who books a trendy treatment (“salmon sperm facials” are the latest fetish in London), there is another who values a tight edit of effective products in simple packaging. Meritalthough presented with style, it appeals to those firmly in the second camp.
The affordable price beauty The brand founded by entrepreneur Katherine Power has built a loyal following in Los Angeles in just three years. I first learned from a fashion designer friend that she is the spitting image of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and prides herself on a similarly minimalist skincare routine. She recommended Merit’s Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, which quickly became a favorite for my extremely dry, acne- and psoriasis-prone skin thanks to its super lightweight formulation and hydrating staying power. (At £40, it’s also more affordable than similar offerings from “no makeup” brands.)
Great skin moisturizer (£40) is its sister product and Merit’s latest success. It debuted in August and an early access offering garnered 15,000 signups; After its launch, it immediately entered the top 10 best-selling moisturizers in North America at Sephora. Thanks to a formula that combines peptides, spermidine and polysaccharides, plus hydrating hyaluronic acid, early reviewers praised its makeup-priming properties, and as someone who never bothers with foundation and has nothing to do with makeup routines 15 step skin care. , I have to agree. I found that the airy yet moisturizer-rich cream absorbed quickly, leaving my skin feeling refreshed and without that sticky, Krispy Kreme-like shine that results from so many serum and moisturizer combinations. The makeup sits pleasantly on top and, best of all, a skin-smoothing effect was noticeable after several weeks.
“We really focused on creating a routine that makes preparation easy,” says Aila Morin, CMO of Merit. “That means you can reduce the number of skin care steps you’re doing [and] you can get out the door faster.” Guess who isn’t running for the bus anymore?