How do you feel when someone brings up the topic of lipstick? Does it excite you? Give you anxiety? Make you want to have a night on the town? When I think of lipstick, I’m often taken back to a job interview I had as a teenager, where I had no clue that my lipstick had smeared on my teeth—for the entire interview. When I got home and saw myself in the mirror, I wanted to curl up in a ball and go into hiding. I’m pretty sure that’s why I’ve stayed far away from lipsticks in my adult years, which, let me tell you, isn’t easy to do as a beauty director. It took more than a decade and the launch of Merit’s Signature Lip ($26) collection for me to change my tune.
The new line has eight classic shades from the perfect brick red to the prettiest soft berry, so it’s easy for anyone to find their signature color. The formula means business, too. Plant-derived squalane and sunflower-seed oil provide a comfortable finish and offer long-lasting moisture. Stabilized vitamin C promotes collagen production, which helps diffuse the appearance of lines, while raspberry oil soothes and moisturizes your lips. Long story short: It’s a comfortable lipstick with the feel (and benefits!) of a balm—and it’s not here to play. But we are! I tapped a mix of beauty- and fashion-loving editors and content creators to pick their own signature shade and share their thoughts on the launch.
“Having a signature lip color makes me feel like I can accomplish anything on my to-do list. Merit’s lipstick checks all my boxes. It’s moisturizing, buildable, pigmented, and stays on beautifully without drying. I love the shade ‘Baby’ because it’s so versatile! Just one swipe and you have a romantic, natural shade. A few swipes and you have a bolder nude.”
“Having a signature lip color makes me feel seen. I love my dark, deep natural lips, but sometimes I do want to add just a subtle wash of color to hide my hyperpigmentation. And I think ‘L’Avenue’ is the perfect color to do that. I love how buildable it is.”
“Having a signature lip color makes me feel empowered. I like my lips to feel buttery soft even after excessive application—that’s how I know that the lipstick passed the vibe check. With Merit, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t need a lip liner or gloss before or after application. I love the shade ‘Tiger’ because it’s such a great transitional shade from winter to spring. It also looks so nice on my skin tone, and it’s the ultimate match for my everyday blush.”
“Having a signature lip color (now) makes me feel confident. I love that Merit made a formula that I’m excited to wear. No more flaky lips. No more color on my teeth. Just a solid formula and really good shades that all bring me extreme joy—but ‘Millennial’ has stolen my heart. It’s a classic petal pink and is the ultimate shade to wear day or night.”
