Merit Holiday Sets are here! I picked up the Mini Flush Blush Balm Trio ($39) and the Archival Lip Essentials Gift Set ($52). Both are available now at Sephora. You can see both in action here and here in case you want a live demo.

Archival Lip Essentials Gift Set

The Archival Lip Essentials Gift Set has three full-sized lip items with a new mauve shade called Archival. The set includes a Signature Lip Lightweight Lip Blush, Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner and the Tinted Lip Oil.

The pencil and lipstick both pull very cool toned on me. I wasn’t sure they would work for my skin and lip tone since most cool colors look greyish on me, but they work! And the gloss really pulls the entire look together.

The Merit Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner is very different from any other liner on the market. It’s almost like a glossy crayon in lipliner form. Unique for sure and nice for those who like a minimalist look. I love that they glide on the lips and have that glossy finish. Lasting power isn’t quite as long as a matte, but I think they’re really interesting.

The Lip Blush has a very lightweight feel, it’s a subtle kind of lip product but pigment is still very good. Texture is smooth even though it’s matte. This is very different from their other Signature Lipsticks. I tried their lipsticks a while ago when they launched and wasn’t a fan. They felt a little to waxy for my taste, but I might give them another look since so many of you love them. The new Lip Blush in this set is almost like a diffused matte lip tint instead of a regular lipstick. I’m still a glossy lip lover at heart, but I do like the texture and finish of the Lip Blush.

Lip Oils are nice for a subtle tint. These also pull on the sheer side for me but I really like them on top of a lipstick to add dimension and shine. They are very thin in texture so they’re not sticky. Also since the texture is thin they won’t have very long lasting power, but they do stay on longer when you pair them with a lipstick or liner.

I shared a demo of the lipliner and oils in this post here back in April. I don’t think I did a blog post on these so I swatched the shades I have so you can see the new Archival tones next to some of the existing colors.

Mini Flush Blush Balm Trio

I’ve had such mixed feelings about the Merit cream blushes because they’re usually too dewy and sheer for my skin but so many of you asked for a review on this year’s Mini Flush Blush Balm Trio Set. This year has definitely been a transition year for me with our move, aging and skin changes and it’s been noticeably more dry. I’m still in the process of finding a dermatologist since we moved, but since it’s been more dry I can wear more creams.

I think these are so cute but I still think they are too dewy and creamy for my taste. They’re fun for a pretty flush of color and if you’re into cream blushes that blend to a sheer tint or like that dewy look then I think you’ll really like them.

I will be able to wear these for a night out but will most likely have to top them with a powder blush to set. For a dewy cream blush I think the Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Sticks are better. For something that isn’t quite as dewy the Victoria Beckham Cheeky Posh Cream Blush Sticks or Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks are better options (for me).

Le Bonbon is a bright but sheered out pink

Redux is a tan brown shade

Postmodern is a wine colored berry kind of stain

I really love the look with these blended out, I just wish they weren’t as dewy looking. A satin or semi matte finish would be 100% perfect for me.

If you’ve had your eye on these I hope this review is helpful! You can find these now at Sephora.