Merit Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm
by Merit · skin_care
Editor's Take
Merit gets the dewy-stick brief right: glossy mineral glow, no heavy wax drag, and enough skin-lipid thinking to feel less like makeup filler.
Four-pillar formula scores
- Efficacy: 8.2 / 10
- Modern Tech: 8.5 / 10
- Clean Beauty: 10.0 / 10
- Sustainability: 9.0 / 10
The Verdict
On cheeks, this behaves like a skincare-makeup hybrid: Mica and Titanium Dioxide give the visible gleam, while Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate adds a barrier-mimetic lipid touch. The efficacy score is 8.2 with strong efficacy alignment, and the technology score sits in the Highly Advanced band thanks to the Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide gelling approach. Clean is a perfect 10, and sustainability is in the Exceptional band, with the main trade-off being Hydrogenated Polyisobutene and Polyisobutene for that slick, cushiony glide. Worth it for a dewy cheek balm that wants glow without old-school wax heaviness.
Full INCI list
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, (+/-) Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)