Merit's tinted sunscreen had a 20,000 person wait list and is finally available: Why it'll be your new fave
When it comes to base products with sun protection in it, I'm a tough gal to please and in all honesty, I have never found a tinted SPF that has worked out for me. They are always a bit too claggy, the pigment is too thick and reads a bit grey – I know this is to cover the white cast that the SPF can leave, but I end up looking like a greasy, 2D mess. I much rather pop on my regular SPF and then deal with my makeup coverage afterwards, layering up rather than trying to kill two birds with one stone. Then the Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF50 dropped on my desk. Despite loving the brand, I did a little eye-roll – when will brands learn that mineral sunscreen will always leave a bit of a cast on darker skin tones? But I tried it in the name of beauty research, aka my job. Never have I had to eat my words so quickly, I was highly impressed. Fans are already clambering to get their hands on this, with the waitlist hit over 20,000 pre-launch. So before you part with your pennies, lemme tell you the tea on the best tinted SPF I have ever tried, which took 2 years to create...
If you aren't familiar with Merit yet, it's the brand that's It girl-approved to its core. White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood recently waxed lyrical about her fave Merit products, which she brought with her to Thailand to film the latest season of the hit show. It's a brand that speaks to you if you want beauty products that just enhance your natural, minimalist vibe. Take their Flush Balm, for instance, it's the easiest lazy girl blush that you draw on your cheeks and blend for the prettiest, natural-looking flush or the Solo Shadows, a cream-to-powder eyeshadow that is extremely hard to mess up. This brand is effortless beauty to the bones.
I began testing the Merit Tinted Mineral Sunscreen a month before it launched. It gave me a chance to see how it fit in with my day-to-day life, as someone that normally opts for separate sunscreen and base products. I noted things like how easy it felt to apply, wear time, whether it transferred, the shine breakthrough throughout the day and whether I noticed any changes in my skin.
Shades: 15 Coverage: Light to mediumFinish: Natural dewy
I applied two pumps on the back of my hand as I always do when applying a base product. I'd already done my skin care and primed so, 'here goes nothing' I thought ready to test The Uniform for the first time. I just never like tinted sunscreens and one that is 100% mineral? Nope, 0% success for me. Mineral sunscreens are notoriously tricky when it comes to leaving a white cast on any skin tone with melanin, not just deep, dark skin colours, so I have basically given up on them and tinted minerals are products I have typically found even worse. This is because they overuse pigment to cover the white/grey cast of the SPF in the formula and end up being way too opaque for me. This one is unique, it uses an ultra fine zinc oxide with a plant-based SPF booster so these meshed with thei clever 'proprietary pigment dispersion technology' (so much science) allows for a formula base with a lower mix of both ingredients so they could scale the pigment load across the shade range, reducing the likelihood of a white or grey cast to nil.
Ok, so, to applying. First impressions? A blendable dream. The colour match was impeccable (I'm 6, for reference) and with a few buffs of my blending brush it was honestly imperceivable with absolutely no pilling. The finish was exactly what I look for in a base product; natural and breathable but not shiny – I'm way too oily for a super dewy finish. It blurred my pores and did a decent job in covering some of my pigmentation, but I topped with a concealer when I was going for full face beat.
For the first wear, I tried it without powdering (risky, I know) to see how quickly I become a grease ball, and I have to say, it wasn't too bad. After about four hours I was shining like a literal beacon, but that's pretty standard for oily skin types like mine. When I topped it was my go-to powder on following days, it stayed set all day bar the tiniest breakthrough of shine on my forehead.
The only thing that I am ever so slightly dubious of is using this as your only form of SPF in sunny, hot climates. Knowing how much SPF you need to apply for sufficient coverage, I would gag at the idea of applying that much foundation. For this that would equate to about four or five pumps and that's way, way too much product for me. It's an SPF50 which is ample coverage but if you aren't loading it on, then it's not going to protect you properly and the same goes for reapplying when in the sun. To cover all bases during the heatwave I used a SPF moisturiser and then applied this on top, it kind of became my Uniform – geddit?
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan on ‘The White Lotus' Cut Scenes: ‘There Are Things You Won't See That Are a Part of Our History'
There's nothing quite like working on 'The White Lotus,' where cast members live on the same hotel set where they're filming for as long as six months. And for Season 3 stars Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan — who played three lifelong friends on a girls' trip to Thailand — it's something they're forever bonded by. 'We'd spent half a year together making this thing far from our homes and our families and our routines,' Coon tells Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast. 'And it's so fraught when we watch it in a way that it will never be for anybody else. We'll never be able to explain it. There's no way to express the fulsomeness of that experience. I've said, It's like being an astronaut. The only person who knows what it's like is another astronaut.' More from Variety 'There Is No Feud': Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood Tell All on Their 'White Lotus' Connection, a Cut Love Scene and Yes, Why He Unfollowed Her on Instagram Bridget Everett on How 'Somebody Somewhere' Was the Best Experience of Her Life: 'It's Like, Now What Am I Gonna Do?' How 'The Studio,' 'Yellowjackets,' 'Monsters' and 'White Lotus' Make Bad Behavior Appealing That's true of 'White Lotus' cast from other seasons too. 'We're in this very specific club, this amazing experience that is so singular that Mike [White creates], and you get to say his words and live your life in this alternate reality,' Bibb says. 'It's so immersive, and it makes, I think it makes the work better in a strange way. You're so far from anything that is your reality or your touchstones, which can be so hard.' On this edition of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, we talk to Coon, Bibb and Monaghan about what it was like to be immersed for so long in 'The White Lotus' universe, and how it bonded them much like their characters. They talk about the scene they're bummed ended up being cut, as well as whether they like to do more episodes, and where they think 'The White Lotus' might go next. Also on this episode, the Roundtable discusses the death of 'King of the Hill' voice actor Jonathan Joss, just days after he crashed an ATX TV Festival panel hosted by Mike. And we look at the nomination possibilities for the massive 'White Lotus' cast. Listen below! When it comes to iconic 'The White Lotus' moments, Carrie Coon's speech to her character's friends in the Season 3 finale ranks up at the top. 'I mean, that's a classic Mike White moment, right?' she tells the podcast. For much of Season 3, things are becoming more passive aggressive between longtime pals Kate (Bibb), Jaclyn (Monaghan) and Laurie (Coon) as their girls trip exposes some tension in the group. But in the finale, over dinner, Laurie gets honest about how really the trip had just exposed she much she had struggled with the mistakes she made in her own life. In the emotional speech, Laurie realizes that despite her regrets, both time and this friendship, has still made her life meaningful. 'What was lovely about the language of that speech is that it was in in many ways, speaking into the experience we had,' Coon says of their shared journey moving to Thailand and shooting 'The White Lotus' over the course of six months. 'We got to have that experience together near the end of shooting, and so I think we were all processing the ending of this thing while that was unfolding at the table.' Bibb says in shooting that scene, she remembers how the three of them 'felt very dialed in, all day, like I couldn't stop crying every time [Coon] said it. I kept improvising these 'I love yous,' and then Michelle would say 'I love you,' and I think Mike was getting annoyed! But it was so genuine, and I'm so glad they kept it in there… these three people are seen by each other.' Adds Monaghan: 'We all knew what the dialog was, but it was the way in which Carrie performed it. It really spoke to our hearts at that point, personally and professionally. It was a really special ending for us.' As for moments that didn't make the final cut, Coon describes the puppet show that wound up not on the show. 'It was really sweet,' she said. 'So there are things you won't see that are a part of our history.' The different 'White Lotus' groupings were mostly siloed from each other, but Monaghan singles out Patrick Schwarzenegger for being 'a fantastic gentleman and not this douche you see. And I lived with Parker [Posey], and I didn't even know Parker was utilizing a Southern accent!' Would they do 'The White Lotus' again? Bibb was bowled over by the fact that she was able to work so closely to two more actresses her age — 'I never get to work with these two! Mike really knows how to write great women, and we're so lucky to have that.' Where might 'White Lotus' end up next? Bibb agrees that White will never pick any place that's cold. 'I sent him a picture of this location I was in, it was at the Shining hotel up in Oregon, and the snow was up past the window,' she says. 'He was like, 'I'm fearful. I don't trust where you are right now. I hate the cold..' They'll never do a cold one. No way.' Variety's 'Awards Circuit' podcast, hosted by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, who also produces, is your one-stop source for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode, 'Awards Circuit' features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives, discussions and debates about awards races and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or anywhere you download podcasts. Best of Variety 2025 Tony Winners Predictions: A Starry, Stacked Broadway Season Sets the Stage for an Unpredictable Ceremony What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
‘The White Lotus' Stars Walton Goggins And Aimee Lou Wood Reveal The Truth Behind Instagram ‘Feud'
Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins Rick and Chelsea, the tragic lovers from the third season of HBO's The White Lotus, were fan favorites during the show's run earlier this year. The actors who played them also became the center of much gossip after the season came to a close. This was partly due to comments made by Jason Isaac, who played troubled investment banker Timothy Ratliff, in the third season. The cast lived on-set in Thailand for months during the shoot, and Isaac said that tensions could sometimes run high, noting that there were 'fewer deaths but just as much drama' behind the scenes. Rumors of a split between Walton Goggins, who played Rick, and Aimee Lou Wood, who played Chelsea, reached fever pitch when fans noticed that Goggins had unfollowed his co-star on Instagram. Fandom is always thirsty for this kind of drama, but perhaps especially so for a series like The White Lotus, which is all about scandal, betrayal and the woes of the rich and famous. There was blood in the water, and the sharks came circling. Goggins also didn't join his fellow cast members at the finale event, watching it alone instead, though he was in New York for a late-night appearance at the time. I never commented on these rumors. Tawdry gossip has never been something I feel the need or desire to comment on. Gossip journalism is certainly big business, but it's not my cup of tea. I am happy, however, to report on the outcome. In a lengthy interview with the two co-stars over at Variety, they clear the air and put the rumors to bed once and for all. After a discussion of the infamous SNL sketch that mocked Wood's appearance, and Goggins' regret at posting about it on social media, they clear the air. From the interview: He also addressed the NYT interview in which he refused to answer multiple questions about the supposed feud, saying he wouldn't answer them without Wood present. When Wood is asked about the Instagram unfollowing she replies: Goggins makes it clear that saying farewell to co-stars is just part of his process. When he left the show Justified "I went up to Tim [Olyphant], and I hugged him and I said, 'I love you, and I hope I see you in rooms for the rest of my life. I didn't talk to him for almost two years. I've done that with every single thing that I've done.' He continues: It's all part of his 'catharsis' according to Goggins. He would have done the same thing if he'd been following Olyphant or his The Shield co-star Michael Chiklis on Instagram at the time. Still, during the interview he gets up, grabs his phone and follows Wood on Instagram. 'It's all so ridiculou. It's just a part of me just saying goodbye to this character so that now Aimee and I will be friends for *#$&ing ever.' Read the full interview at Variety. Read my review of the Season 3 finale of The White Lotus here. So now that the rumors have been put to bed, can we talk about something important again? Like where we think the next season of The White Lotus will take place? I'm hoping it's Africa or maybe Eastern Europe. Or perhaps somewhere in South America or Mexico. It's a big world, after all.
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
Twelve Golden Rules From The Kitchen: 'Going The Extra Mile'
Jacob Orrin is COO and cofounder of Merit, transforming government programs with digital identity solutions and driving rapid growth. getty Working in the catering business taught me another key lesson: Customers appreciate when you go the extra mile—but only when it's done thoughtfully and with intention. Overextending can backfire. For example, agreeing to create a custom gourmet dish for one guest at the last minute might seem generous, but it can derail kitchen flow, add unexpected costs and compromise service for everyone else. Every business, in any sector, must keep a close eye on margins. Just look at dining out today: It feels expensive, but the profit margins are slimmer than most people realize. Labor, rent and utilities eat away at revenue quickly. Often, the difference between breaking even and turning a profit comes down to balancing the value of extra effort with what it actually returns. When I traded in my apron for a business suit, I found that this 'extra mile' philosophy applies just as much to client relationships and partnerships as it does in the kitchen. Going above and beyond in business can set you apart, but just like in a restaurant, it's not about indiscriminately over-delivering. Instead, the key lies in finding intentional, impactful ways to add value that resonates with customers and partners. Here's how taking that extra step without overextending can create lasting impressions in business. In catering, every staff member hustles, and efficiency is the name of the game. I used to encourage our waitstaff to use quiet moments wisely. If there was downtime, they'd fold napkins into fun shapes or prepare small personal touches for dinners, like a handwritten note wishing someone a happy birthday. These small gestures didn't cost much but added memorable touches that showed we cared. In business, a similar principle applies. For example, one of our clients won an award for technological innovation in their category based on the work we did together. Instead of mailing them a trophy, we flew out to deliver it personally and took them to dinner to celebrate their achievement. While gestures like these require additional time and expense, they show that you genuinely care about your clients, which can lead to future opportunities. Often, it's not the scale of the gesture but the sincerity behind it that builds trust and a real relationship. I once sent a thoughtful birthday gift to a customer—a gesture that, in hindsight, stretched our budget more than it should have. I never really knew if it made the impact I hoped for. That experience taught me an important lesson: Meaningful relationships in business are not built on grand, one-off gestures but rather on consistent, genuine actions over time. Take the example of 'autograph books.' Since the early days of the Disney parks, children have brought books to collect signatures from beloved characters like Mickey or Cinderella. One lifelong fan recalls a time when he was eleven and lost his autograph book. When calls to the park didn't result in finding the book, he and his family gave up hope—only to receive a surprise in the mail weeks after they went home. The park had replaced his autograph book with a new one that contained all of the park character's signatures, many also bearing personalized messages to the young fan. This impacted the guest deeply all the way into his adult life. There were no forms, no hassle, no attempts to gain more money from the family after their vacation was ended—just joy, because creating unforgettable moments is what truly matters. Meaningful customer interactions can build loyalty, but there's also power in collaborating with the right partners. Going the extra mile with strategic partners can create added value for both parties. For instance, we made a point to hold regular data-sharing sessions with one of our key clients during a virtual monthly meeting. This was not something they were expecting from us. Still, by proactively sharing trends and insights, we helped them identify growth areas and inefficiencies, strengthening our relationship and generating additional business for us. Working with partners in this visible and intentional way can create mutual value, encourage long-term collaboration and create loyalty. In business, just as in a restaurant, the right partnership moves can provide rewards for everyone at the table. The magic of going the extra mile is not doing more than anyone else—it's choosing the right moments and gestures to enhance relationships without exacerbating resources. Whether you're running a kitchen or leading a go-to-market team, being intentional about these efforts can help keep your business sustainable and memorable. Going the extra mile should be thoughtful and deliberate, creating a lasting impact without breaking the bank. Ultimately, business—like any well-run restaurant—is about understanding what truly resonates. Doing this right, going the 'Extra Mile,' can keep people coming back time and time again. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
