When Merit Beauty—the brand that’s pretty much synonymous with gorgeous, minimalist makeup—dropped its first-ever skin-care product last fall, the no-makeup makeup girlies (myself included) went nuts. Because like the name suggests, the Great Skin Serum ($38), is actually glow-y, lit-from-within skin in a bottle. It hydrates, plumps, and preps skin for a smooth makeup application.
The holy grail serum is so good, in fact, it’s racked up over 1,000 reviews on Sephora and its DTC site combined, earning it a near 5-star rating. Everyone had to get their hands on it, which is why Great Skin inevitably sold out around the holidays. The good news, however, is that it’s finally back in stock. So, if you’ve been Great Skin-curious, now’s the time to order a bottle for yourself before it sells out again.
Reviewers (and Well+Good editors) have spoken—the Merit Beauty Great Skin Serum is 100-percent worth the hype.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid (4 types) to hydrate and moisturize, niacinamide to brighten and smooth, and cacao seed extract for a shot of caffeine-rich antioxidants.
For starters, Merit’s Great Skin Serum is a makeup and skin-care hybrid in every sense of the word(s). It’s chock full of proven, derm-beloved ingredients that’ll end up shaving a step (or two) off of your morning skin-care routine. It contains four types of hyaluronic acids, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the skin for maximum moisture and hydration, niacinamide to help boost brightness and support a smooth, glass-skinned complexion, and antioxidant-rich cacao seed extract, a natural source of caffeine that immediately perks up dull skin for a plump, wide-awake look.
In other words, Great Skin could easily replace your morning hydration or brightening serum. You can wear it underneath your makeup for an ultra-smooth finish, or alone for that “I just drink a lot of water” glow. “When worn under makeup, my makeup turns out really smooth and hydrated looking,” agreed one Sephora shopper in a 5-star review. “When worn alone my skin looks really healthy and dewy.”
Another Sephora shopper even said that the Great Skin Serum was like “Botox in a bottle” for her mature skin. “I tried it as a last-gasp, as the very last layer on my forehead, and lo and behold, Botox in a bottle,” she gushed in a 5-star review. “Creases gone, almost 60 year old skin [looked] smooth as glass. Amazing.”
What’s more, the Great Skin Serum feels unlike any other serum or makeup primer out there. Its unique, bi-phase formula feels weightless upon applying, and is instantly absorbed by the skin (no thick, goopy residue in sight). Even more impressive, it’s completely oil and fragrance-free, so the result is all glow, no grease—and every skin type can get in on its glassy skin benefits, even those who are more sensitive and prone to acne and blemishes. “This product is super lightweight and easily absorbs into my skin rather than feeling like an extra layer on top,” confirmed one Sephora shopper in a 5-star review. “My skin is soothed and moisturized which is what I need most as we enter these winter months.”
So yeah, the Merit Great Skin Serum is the real deal, and 100 percent worth jumping on while it’s back in stock. Order yours before it’s gone on the Merit website, here.