Despite there being a wide range of SPF face formulas, finding one you’ll want to wear every day isn’t easy. But Merit might have solved that problem in the form of its uniform SPF.
Having recently added five new shades of the tinted SPF, there are now 20 to choose from. Formulated with natural powders, the pigments are made to blur, smooth and soften the appearance of your skin.
This pared-back approach is part of a wider trend in the beauty industry – less is officially more. The latest and best foundations don’t mask your skin but enhance it – throw SPF protection in, and what more could you want?
With SPF50 protection, the sheer tint promises to melt into the skin for a barely-there finish. It all sounds good on paper, but how does it perform in practice? Three beauty testers trialled out a few shades from the uniform range – here’s how we got on.
Daisy Lester
Rating: 4/5
Shade tested: 21
I’m a sucker for Merit products. The complexion stick, mascara, lip oil and bronzing stick are all staples in my make-up routine – so I had high hopes for the SPF.
Testing the new shade 21 – a light-to-medium, cool tone – I found it complemented my complexion perfectly. It buffs into skin easily with a brush, offering sheer coverage and a glowy finish. It doesn’t blur or mask spots – you’ll need an extra layer of concealer for that. But if this isn’t a concern, the coverage boosted radiance and matched my skin tone so well that it looked like I had no make-up on at all.
As for its SPF merits, the formula offers broad-spectrum mineral protection – but I find it’s better for minimal make-up office days and weekend jaunts. Offering SPF protection and serum-like coverage, it’s a low-maintenance option for everyday life. But when on holiday or during a heatwave at home, I’d gravitate toward something more long-lasting beneath make-up. Like any sheer coverage formula, coverage begins to fade throughout the day, particularly around my T-zone, so you shouldn’t rely on it for long-term UV protection.
Sabrina Sahota
Rating: 4/5
Shade tested: 18
This is a glowy, easy-to-blend tinted SPF that I’ll definitely be taking on holiday with me. It’s perfect for warm days when you don’t want a full-coverage foundation but still want to even out your skin tone. I found it just as easy to apply it with my fingers as with a brush.
Merit suggests reapplying every two hours if you’re in the sun – I’ve got combination skin, and in the centre of my face (where I tend to get oily), it did start to feel heavy and let through shine towards the end of the day. With this in mind, I wouldn’t replace my SPF with this, but I’d certainly reach for it as an all-over glowy base.
Lucy Smith
Rating: 4/5
Shade tested: 25
I’ve been using the uniform for more than a year now, so I was eager to see if any of the new shades proved a closer match to my previous preference: fair warm. Applying shade 25 to freshly washed skin (with a touch of moisturiser underneath), I was initially hesitant that the hue might skew too orange. As it happens, I needn’t have been concerned, because the beauty of the uniform is how effortlessly it melds with your natural complexion, giving skin a blurred, healthy finish.
Coverage is super light, but perfect for summer make-up or when full glam isn’t on the cards. At the end of a long working day filled with stuffy office air and sweaty commuter trains, it fared far better than a traditional foundation. It neither turned patchy nor oxidised, but coverage had lessened somewhat by 5pm, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re planning on taking your look from day to night. I won’t be axing it from my make-up rotation anytime soon, that’s for sure.
The consensus among our testers is that Merit’s SPF achieves glowy, radiant and super light coverage for days when you don’t want to wear full foundation. We all loved how it blended effortlessly into our natural skin tone for a blurred, barely-there finish. The extended shade range means it’s even easier to find your perfect match (I’d always go for one shade lighter than you think for skin tints). As for its SPF offering, we’ll still go in with the big dogs during the height of summer or on holiday – but the Merit formula is perfect for no make-up, make-up days when you want a little protection and flattering coverage.
How we tested
Considering ease and speed of application as well as the formula’s value for money, we also assessed the Merit product’s coverage and how long it lasted into the day. When it came to SPF protection, we noted how it compared to our favourite facial sunscreens.
Discover more of the best facial SPFs for spring and beyond
