We tried Merit’s tinted SPF sunscreen, and loved its ‘blurred, glowy finish’

We tried various shades of the uniform SPF - (Sabrina Sahota/Daisy Lester)

Gone are the days when UV protection meant applying a heavy, cakey sunscreen that left a white cast. Now, SPF comes in all shapes and sizes – from hydration-boosting moisturisers to everyday gel-based formulas, and it’s even found in some fake tan products.

We all know the importance of sun protection (yes, even if you’re living in rainy England), with brands constantly innovating new products that slot easily into our morning routines, from hydration-boosting moisturisers to everyday gel-based formulas. Case in point: Merit’s uniform SPF.

Launched last year, it joined the cult brand’s lauded roster of minimalist make-up and skincare products. Loved for its low maintenance approach to beauty, Merit’s bestsellers include the complexion stick (a concealer and foundation hybrid), the beauty blush balm and the bronzing stick. Everything is designed to slim down your routine, including the uniform SPF – which aims to eliminate an extra step in your morning regime.

Offering SPF 50 protection, the uniform is a sheer tint that blends with your complexion in barely-there coverage. Its fans praise it as glow-boosting and lightweight – plus it’s a mineral sunscreen, making it ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin due to its gentle, non-comedogenic formula.

The brand has just added five new shades of the uniform SPF, meaning there are now 20 to choose from. Formulated with natural powders, the pigments are made to blur, smooth and soften the appearance of your skin. This pared-back approach is part of a wider trend in the beauty industry – less is officially more. The latest and best foundations don’t mask your skin but enhance it – throw SPF protection in, and what more could you want?

With Merit claiming that it’s never been easier to find your perfect match, I enlisted the help of two members of the team to test various shades in the uniform range – here’s how we got on.

How we tested

We tested for coverage and application (Lucy Smith)

Considering ease and speed of application as well as the formula’s value for money, we also assessed the Merit product’s coverage and how long it lasted into the day. When it came to SPF protection, we noted how it compared to our favourite facial sunscreens.

Merit the uniform SPF

There are 20 shades of the tinted SPF to choose from (Merit)

Daisy Lester

Rating: 4/5

Shade tested: 21

(Daisy Lester)

I’m a sucker for Merit products. The complexion stick, mascara, lip oil and bronzing stick are all staples in my make-up routine – so I had high hopes for the SPF. Despite launching last year, I was yet to try the formula. Sampling the new shade 21 – a light to medium, cool tone – I found the product complemented my complexion perfectly. It buffs into skin easily with a brush, offering sheer and glowy coverage. I tested during a flare up of hormonal blemishes, and found the SPF wasn’t able to blur or mask the spots – you’ll need an extra layer of concealer for that. But if this isn’t a concern, the coverage boosted radiance and matched my skin tone so well that it looked like I had no make-up on at all.

As for its SPF merits, the formula offers broad-spectrum mineral protection – but I find it’s better for minimal make-up office days and weekend jaunts. Offering SPF protection and serum-like coverage, it’s a low-maintenance option for everyday life. But when on holiday or during a heatwave weather at home, I’d gravitate toward something more industrial and long-lasting beneath make-up. Like any sheer coverage formulas, coverage begins to fade throughout the day, particularly around my T-zone – so you shouldn’t rely on it for long-term UV protection.

Sabrina Sahota

Rating: 4/5

Shade tested: 18

(Sabrina Sahota)

This is a glowy, easy-to-blend tinted SPF that I’ll definitely be taking on holiday with me. It’s perfect for warm days where you don’t want a full coverage foundation, but still want to even out your skin tone. I found it just as easy to pat it into my skin with my hands, as it was to apply with a brush.

Merit suggests reapplying every two hours if you’re in the sun – I’ve got combination skin and in the centre of my face (where I tend to get oily), it did start to feel heavy and let through shine towards the end of the day. With this in mind, I wouldn’t replace my SPF with this, but I’d certainly reach for it as an all-over glowy base.

Lucy Smith

Rating: 5/5

Shade tested: 25

(Lucy Smith)

I’ve been using the uniform for more than a year now, so I was eager to see if any of the new shades proved a closer match to my previous preference: fair warm. Applying shade 25 to freshly washed skin (with a touch of moisturiser underneath), I was initially hesitant that the hue might skew too orange. As it happens, I needn’t have been concerned, because the beauty of the uniform is how effortlessly it melds with your natural complexion, giving skin a blurred, healthy finish.

Coverage is super light, but perfect for summer make-up or days when full glam isn’t on the cards. At the end of a long working day filled with stuffy office air and sweaty commuter trains, I’ve found the uniform fares far better than a traditional foundation and, contending with my usual midday shine, it was refreshing to find a formula that neither turned patchy nor oxidised. I won’t be axing it from my make-up rotation anytime soon, that’s for sure.

Is the Merit uniform SPF worth it?

The consensus among our testers is that Merit’s SPF achieves glowy, radiant and super light coverage for days when you don’t want to wear full foundation. We all loved how it blended effortlessly into our natural skin tone for a blurred, barely-there finish. The extended shade range means it’s even easier to find your perfect match (I’d always go for one shade lighter than you think for skin tints). As for its SPF offering, we’ll still go in with the big dogs during the height of summer or on holiday – but the Merit formula is perfect for no make-up, make-up days when you want a little protection and flattering coverage.

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