The brand makeup artists swear by has launched a 3-step skin set - and it's the secret to FLAWLESS makeup
- Cult minimal beauty brand MERIT has launched their Great Skin Trio
- Featuring a glow serum, makeup priming moisturiser and 2-in-1 cleanser
- Beauty expert Elise Wilson gives her honest verdict on each sell-out product
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As a beauty-obsessed woman with far more face-perfecting products than I know what to do with, I spend a lot of time thinking about what actually makes makeup look good.
And despite what many people assume, it's rarely the makeup itself but the skin that's underneath it that makes all the difference.
If your complexion is hydrated, smooth and balanced, everything from foundation to blush simply sits better. But if your skin is dry, irritated or congested, even the most expensive makeup won't save you, trust me.
So, when cult minimal beauty brand MERIT Beauty launched its Great Skin Trio - a skincare set designed specifically to prep skin for flawless makeup - I was curious to see whether it lived up to the hype.
The trio, which includes a cleanser, serum and moisturiser, promises to simplify your routine while delivering the kind of healthy, glowing base that makeup artists are constantly chasing.
If you're even vaguely interested in beauty, chances are you've heard of MERIT.
Launched in 2021, the brand quickly built a cult following among celebrities, influencers and professional makeup artists thanks to its pared-back philosophy: products designed to be effortless, skin-enhancing and almost impossible to mess up.
Instead of complicated routines or full-coverage formulas, MERIT focuses on what it calls 'well-edited essentials' with streamlined products that help you look polished without spending an hour in front of the mirror.
Cult minimal beauty brand MERIT has launch the Great Skin Trio ($154) featuring a Bi-Phase Cleanser, Glow Serum and Priming Moisturiser
The MERIT Trio promises to simplify your routine while delivering the kind of healthy, glowing base that makeup artists are constantly chasing. Pictured: Daily Mail's beauty expert, Elise Wilson
The Great Skin Serum
The Great Skin Moisturiser
The Great Skin Double Cleanse
The brand's hero products include the Flush Balm cream blushers, Bronze Balm, and the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Sticks, which are a clever hybrid that work as both foundation and concealer.
But while many people first discover the brand through makeup, MERIT has been quietly building its skincare offering too, designed to create the perfect canvas before any makeup goes on.
That's where The Great Skin Trio comes in.
The set costs $154, and includes three of the brand's skincare staples: a cleanser, serum and moisturiser designed to hydrate, brighten and prep skin for makeup in a matter of minutes.
As someone who constantly tests beauty launches - and whose skin is in her mid-thirties and on the oilier side - I wanted to see how each product actually performed in real life.
The Great Skin Serum
The first step in the routine is the Great Skin Serum, a bi-phase formula designed to hydrate, brighten and help reduce redness.
When I first saw the bottle, I'll admit I was slightly hesitant. Because it's a bi-phase serum, it needs to be shaken before use, and anything that looks remotely oil-like for daytime use is usually a bit heavy for my liking as makeup can slide straight off.
Fortunately, my fears were completely unfounded.
Once shaken, the formula becomes beautifully lightweight and sinks into the skin almost instantly. I found that about four drops were more than enough to cover my entire face and neck as it glides on so well.
Rather than feeling oily, the texture is surprisingly fresh and silky, leaving my skin looking hydrated and subtly glowy without any heaviness.
After a few days of use, I started noticing the kind of healthy, slightly plumped look that makeup artists love, and the sort of skin that makes you want to apply less foundation rather than more.
My verdict: A surprisingly lightweight serum that delivers instant hydration and glow without feeling greasy. If you love dewy skin, this is a great first step before makeup.
The first step in the routine is the MERIT Great Skin Serum, also a bi-phase formula designed to hydrate, brighten and help reduce redness
The Great Skin Moisturiser
For step two, MERIT describes this as a 'priming moisturiser' designed to both hydrate the skin and prep it for makeup.
This is where the set really started to impress me.
The formula contains a proprietary blend of peptides, spermidine and barrier-supporting polysaccharides, alongside ingredients like oat extract, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to soothe and deeply hydrate the skin.
I've been using it morning and night for the past two weeks, sometimes under makeup and sometimes on bare skin.
On makeup days, my routine has been simple: cleanse, apply serum, then use one to two pumps of the moisturiser before sunscreen and makeup.
And I have to say, it really does create a beautiful base with my foundation, concealer and blusher gliding on smoothly and seeming to last noticeably longer, even on warmer days.
For step two, MERIT describes this as a 'priming moisturiser' designed to both hydrate the skin and prep it for makeup
On days when I skip makeup entirely, the moisturiser still delivers. My skin looks smoother, brighter and more hydrated, which is something I don't say lightly after years of dealing with oiliness and dull patches.
There are a few more details I particularly appreciate. First, it's completely scent-free, which is a welcome change from the heavily fragranced skincare that seems to dominate the market. And as a makeup artist myself, this is fab for clients with varying skin types and issues.
Second, a little goes a long way. One pump is often enough for my entire face and neck.
And perhaps most importantly for anyone with reactive skin, it didn't trigger a single breakout on me.
My verdict: Lightweight, soothing and genuinely great under makeup. If you're looking for a moisturiser that doubles as a primer, this one has earned its place in my kit.
The Priming Moisturiser formula contains a proprietary blend of peptides, spermidine and barrier-supporting polysaccharides, alongside ingredients like oat extract, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to soothe and deeply hydrate the skin for perfect makeup application
The Great Skin Double Cleanse
Finally, there's the Great Skin Double Cleanse, a bi-phase foaming cleanser designed to remove makeup, sunscreen and impurities in one step.
For anyone familiar with skincare routines, you'll know the concept of double cleansing - first removing makeup and SPF, then cleansing the skin again to properly clean the pores.
MERIT's cleanser promises to combine both steps in one product.
The formula may look oil-based at first glance, but it's actually oil-free, instead using oat-derived surfactants to dissolve makeup and impurities while plant-derived humectants help maintain moisture.
The Great Skin Double Cleanse is a bi-phase foaming cleanser designed to remove makeup, sunscreen and impurities in one step. It also contains PHA (polyhydroxy acid), which is a very gentle exfoliating ingredient that helps smooth the skin without disrupting the skin barrier
It also contains PHA (polyhydroxy acid), which is a very gentle exfoliating ingredient that helps brighten and smooth the skin without disrupting the skin barrier.
As someone who prefers low-effort routines, especially at night, the idea of a one-step cleanse was immediately appealing, but I always do two for peace of mind.
This foaming formula removes makeup and sunscreen effectively, leaves my skin feeling clean but not stripped, and - perhaps most importantly - hasn't caused a single post-cleansing breakout.
My skin looks noticeably brighter, and I haven't experienced the tight dryness that some cleansers leave behind.
My verdict: A gentle but effective cleanser that genuinely simplifies your routine. If you want the benefits of double cleansing without the extra products (and expense), this is a great option.
My final thoughts
Elise says the MERIT trio makes achieving healthy, hydrated skin that makes makeup look better surprisingly easy.
After testing the trio, I can see exactly why MERIT has built such a devoted following.
The products are simple, effective and genuinely easy to use, which perfectly aligns with the brand's philosophy of less-is-more beauty.
Rather than promising miracle results or complicated routines, the set focuses on what actually matters, which is healthy, hydrated skin that makes makeup look better.
And for anyone who loves a streamlined routine, the trio makes achieving that kind of skin surprisingly easy.
As someone who tests dozens of products every month, it's rare that I finish an entire routine and think, you know what, I'd happily keep using all three.
But with this set, that's exactly what happened.
