Merit's New Product Is So Good, We Asked Them to Launch It Early—They Obliged
Merit's Signature Lip Blush is about to become your new favourite, and you can shop it here before anyone else.
When it comes to new beauty launches, there aren't many that get me quite as excited as a Merit Beauty launch. From its minimalistic "no-makeup" makeup ethos to its heavenly skin scent, Retrospect, there's nothing not to love about the brand. And it would be remiss of me not to mention the Flush Balms, which have claimed a spot as one of our beauty team's favourite beauty products, and are a modern beauty icon in their own right.
So, when I heard last year that Merit was bringing out a new matte lipstick in 2026, my interest was instantly piqued. I've never really been a lipstick person (most are too high-maintenance for my liking, and tend to dry out my sensitive lips), but naturally, Merit has put its own less-is-more stamp on it. I've been testing the new Merit Signature Lip Blush over the past couple of weeks, and it's everything I want from a lipstick and more. Plus, you can shop the Merit Signature Lip Blush (£25) exclusively through Who What Wear UK until its official launch on 2 February. Scroll on for my full review and photos of my favourite shades I've tried.
The Formula
Honestly, the Signature Lip Blush feels more like a velvety lip balm than a traditional lipstick. It applies sheer, leaving lips lightly coated in a soft, matte veil of colour. But if you want to dial up the intensity, it’s easily layerable for a more statement shade. But even if you apply a generous amount, it still feels like a hydrating balm rather than a drying lipstick.
But what I love most about the Signature Lip Blush is that it delivers a blurred lip effect. Much like a makeup artist might artfully soften the edges of a lipstick to make it more modern and lived-in, this does it in one swipe. The result is soft-diffused, like your lips are naturally flushed with just-bitten colour. It also makes it low-maintenance to use. You can swipe it on comfortably (even without a mirror), and it fades evenly, so you don’t have to worry about meticulously topping it up. I appreciate that these are hydrating on my dry lips, too, thanks to sesame seed oil.
The Shades
As for the shade range, there’s really something for everyone’s tastes, from muted neutrals to understated pinks and statement reds. However, the sheerness of the formula means wearing a brighter colour is far less intimidating than wearing an opaque satin or matte lipstick. I like to gently pat the bullet onto my lips for a hint of colour, or swipe it on to get more pigment payoff, which is still beautifully blurred and soft. That being said, I am a neutral girl, and so I’ve most drawn to Archival (a muted pink) and Bespoke (a pinky-brown, which is also my favourite shade of the Flush Balms). Both bestow a sheer veil of colour that softly defines the lips. It doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything. It’s like your lips are naturally flushed with colour.
Archival
Bespoke
My Verdict
Since first trying them, the Signature Lip Blush has become a staple part of my makeup bag. As someone who doesn’t like wearing traditional lipstick (which always feels too fussy), this feels like a more modern way to wear colour, with the big plus of it being low-maintenance to wear and reapply. They feel velvety on the lips, offering cushion-like hydration that manages to keep my always-parched lips feeling moisturised and supple. Both the Bespoke and Archival shades live permanently in my handbag and makeup bag. And in my opinion, that’s a testament to just how good they are.
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