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Summers should consist of three things and three things only: logging off at 3 pm, drinking cold beverages in the sun, and a tinted sunscreen with adequate staying power. So when Merit dropped The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen ahead of this season’s hottest months, I knew I had to give it a try. Read on to see how it held up after a full day’s wear and beyond.

Sun protection. This mineral sunscreen provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with SPF 45. Most facial sunscreens I use only have SPF 30, so I was excited by the prospect of not having to reapply as much. I wore this sunscreen for seven hours at an outdoor event and was happy to report zero sunburn. I’ve since used it multiple days while working outside and had the same results.
Texture. I like how smooth this sunscreen is. It practically melts into your skin and isn’t sticky like other SPFs. Plus, it left minimal residue on my fingers when I applied it, so I wasn’t itching to wash my hands immediately after.
Coverage. While the sunscreen has a light and airy texture, it puts in the work when it comes to coverage. When I first applied, I could tell how quickly it evened out my skin tone while still letting my freckles peek through. My rough patches were less noticeable, but the finish itself was nongreasy and undetectable. At said outdoor event, I danced, jumped, ate, drank, and ran around, and my complexion looked just as good as it did hours before.

You’ll find this smaller-than-your-palm cream blush balm in most of our editors’ bags. It’s pigmented but extremely blendable and goes on smooth. Pro tip: Apply it from just outside the outer corner of your eye, toward your cheekbone for a lifting effect. ($30)

In my expert-ish opinion, Merit’s Shade Slick is basically two-thirds gloss, one-third lip color, meaning it’s tinted enough to pop but lets a good amount of your natural lip color shine through. Don’t be surprised if you’re reaching for this lip oil more times a day than your ChapStick. ($24)

It’s neither a concealer nor a foundation, but it has excellent coverage while taking up the same amount of room in your bag as a tube of lipstick. It uses sea daffodil extract to help reduce any signs of redness and is formulated to wear comfortably all day. Stash this in your bag anytime you feel a pimple or blemish coming on. ($38)

If you value clean, cruelty-free formulas that give you lasting effects and results over time, you’ll love this mascara. Not only does it never smudge, but it also strengthens and conditions your lashes. I especially love that it’s not impossible to take off. Just use cleanser and warm water. ($26)
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