MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick Review
The Insider Score
Complexion sticksA foundation stick for the parts of the face that need one.
The Minimalist is worth $38 if you often want coverage around the nose and under the eyes while leaving most of the cheeks bare. Short strokes and a close shade match make the most of it.
I liked using the stick just where I wanted coverage.
Insider Beauty tester- Coverage and finish
- 4.5/5
- Targeted placement and blending
- 4.8/5
- Value per stick
- 3.8/5
How the score adds up
Our editors awarded 87 of 100 available points across these six criteria. Divide by 20 for the five-point rating.
- Coverage and finish
- 27 / 30 pts
- The cream evens out areas of uneven colour with buildable, natural-looking coverage.
- Targeted placement and blending
- 19 / 20 pts
- Its rounded tip targets the sides of the nose, cheeks or jaw with a short stroke, then blends with fingers or a brush.
- Value per stick
- 15 / 20 pts
- The $38 stick holds 0.23 oz. Targeted use stretches it further than an all-over base.
- Support for product claims
- 12 / 15 pts
- MERIT describes both its spot application and its buildable all-over use and publishes wear information.
- What sets it apart
- 9 / 10 pts
- One stick handles small corrections and broader foundation coverage with the same finish.
- Shade and formula disclosure
- 5 / 5 pts
- Bistre is the shade illustrated. The range identifies depths and undertones to help match exposed skin.
Our review of MERIT’s foundation-and-concealer stick, with tips on spot coverage, blending and choosing one shade for bare skin.
- Rank
- Not ranked
- Current price
- $38.00
- Listed size
- 0.23 oz
- Updated
Reviewed byInsider BeautyEditorial team ·
Editor’s cut
At a glance
Match the skin directly beside the area you plan to cover.
Blend the outside edge of each stroke first.
Keep a small amount of the stick exposed.
Where a complexion stick beats a bottle
The Minimalist makes the most sense on a day when you can point to the three places you want coverage. Beside the nose. A red patch on the chin. A little shadow under one eye. A foundation brush loaded for the whole face is a roundabout way to get there. The rounded MERIT stick can put a short stroke in each spot, leaving the rest of your skin exactly as you like it.
I like it as a foundation and concealer in the same shade. For that to work, match the skin immediately beside the areas you’ll cover. An under-eye shade chosen mainly for brightness can look conspicuously pale on a blemish. The shade in the illustration is Bistre. Look at MERIT’s depth and undertone descriptions and, if you can, judge the swatch at the jaw in ordinary daylight.
A few short strokes
Twist up only as much product as you need. Start with a short mark at the side of the nose, pat in the outside edge and see how much remains before adding another. For a spot, use a small brush to pick up product from the stick. You can keep the centre covered while softening the surrounding edge, without making a round patch the width of the bullet.
For broader coverage, put several short strokes across one cheek and buff them together. This lets you leave the thinner areas of the face alone and build the places where colour still shows. If you prefer a seamless all-over foundation every morning, compare the amount you’d need with what you normally use from a bottle. The flexibility of the stick matters more than how many uses the brand can name for it.
What the $38 buys
The 0.23 oz format slips into a small bag without a loose wand or a pump to protect. I’d pay $38 for that convenience if I wanted the same finish at home and for a quick touch-up later. One shade and some fingertips can handle most of the job.
For deep under-eye darkness that needs more concentrated pigment, Milk Future Fluid is the better comparison. The Minimalist earns its place when the aim is a few precise corrections that disappear into the skin around them.
Useful details
Frequently asked questions
Can The Minimalist be worn as foundation?
Yes. MERIT gives directions for targeted concealing and all-over buildable coverage.
Do I need a separate brush?
No. You can tap it in with fingers. A brush is helpful when blending broader areas.