Finding Your Best Makeup Shades: Merit Beauty Picks for Every Seasonal Palette
When it comes to makeup, the right colours can make all the difference—bringing out your natural glow, enhancing your features, and making you look effortlessly put together. But with so many options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless choices.
That’s why I love Merit Beauty, a clean beauty brand known for its minimalist approach and effortless 5-minute face routines. Their products are designed to enhance—not mask—your natural beauty, making them perfect for anyone who wants a fresh, polished look without the fuss.
But the key to making any makeup product truly work for you? Choosing the right shades for your seasonal colour palette.
In this post, I’m sharing my top Merit Beauty picks for each of the four main seasonal palettes, helping you find the colors that will enhance your unique features and make your makeup routine even easier.
And if you’re looking for even more guidance, stay tuned! My digital makeup guides—a true labor of love—are launching soon. They’ll include all my carefully curated shade recommendations from your favorite Sephora brands, making it so much easier to find those wow colors and cut through the overwhelm.
Ready to discover your best shades? Let’s dive in!
Makeup Tips for True Spring
Since True Spring has a naturally warm and radiant complexion, the goal of makeup is to enhance that glow rather than overpower it. The best approach is light, fresh, and luminous—think soft washes of color that add warmth without heaviness.
Complexion
• Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick: Stick with warm, golden undertones in foundation and concealer. Avoid anything too pink or cool.
• Bronzing Stick: A golden bronzer is a must for enhancing your natural warmth. Lightly sweep it across the forehead, cheekbones, and nose for a sun-kissed effect.
Blush & Lips
• Flush Balm in new shade Lusitano (soft peach) brings a youthful, natural warmth to the cheeks, mimicking the fresh glow of a spring morning.
• Shade Slick in Marrakesh (soft peach) keeps lips hydrated while complementing the warmth in the complexion.
• For a more polished lip look, Signature Lipstick in Ginger is the perfect warm, golden coral that enhances your natural coloring without looking too heavy.
Eyes
• Solo Eyeshadow in Vaccheta (warm peachy beige) enhances the eyes with a fresh, natural warmth.
• For a bit more definition, choose soft brown or warm gold eyeliners, avoiding cool or overly deep shades like black or gray.
• Finish with a brown mascara rather than black to keep the look harmonious and light.
Merit Beauty picks for a True Spring.
Makeup Tips for True Summer
True Summer’s beauty is soft, cool, and harmonious. The goal is to enhance their features with cool, dusty pinks and soft neutrals, avoiding anything too warm or intense. Think of a misty morning, a watercolour painting, or soft, diffused light—this is the essence of a True Summer makeup look.
Complexion
• Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick: in a cool or neutral undertones to harmonize with the skin’s natural coolness. Avoid anything too yellow or golden.
• Skip warm bronzers—instead, soft, cool-toned contouring works best to add subtle definition.
Blush & Lips
• Flush Balm in Archival is the perfect muted cool pink, adding a delicate and natural-looking flush that enhances True Summer’s soft beauty.
• Shade Slick in Pink Beet is a cool pink lip tint that provides just the right amount of fresh color while staying sheer and effortless.
• For a more polished look, Signature Lipstick in Baby is a soft, cool-toned pink that enhances the lips in a subtle yet elegant way.
Eyes
• Solo Eyeshadow in Studio (cool taupe) is the perfect neutral base for a softly sculpted eye look, adding depth without heaviness.
• Solo Eyeshadow in Social (cool mauve) brings out the delicate, misty hues that flatter True Summer’s natural coloring.
• Charcoal, slate gray, or soft cool brown eyeliner works best for definition without looking too harsh. Avoid jet black, as it can overpower the soft coloring of a True Summer.
• Finish with a soft black or cool brown mascara to maintain a gentle, blended effect.
Merit Beauty Picks for a True Summer.
Makeup Tips for True Autumn
True Autumn’s beauty is warm, golden, and naturally radiant. The goal is to enhance their features with rich, warm hues while avoiding anything too cool or pastel. Think of a golden sunset, a forest in the fall, or sunlit amber—this is the essence of a True Autumn makeup look.
Complexion
• Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick: Look for a warm, golden, or peach undertones to complement the natural warmth in True Autumn skin. Avoid anything too pink or cool-toned.
• Bronzing Stick: A warm bronzer is a must! Lightly sweep a golden-brown bronzing stick or powder across the cheekbones, forehead, and jawline to enhance natural warmth.
Blush & Lips
• Flush Balm in Fox is the perfect warm, earthy terracotta shade, adding a natural flush that blends beautifully with True Autumn’s golden undertones.
• Shade Slick in Au Naturel is a soft, warm nude that enhances the lips with a subtle wash of color while keeping them hydrated.
• For a more polished lip, Signature Lipstick in Antibes is a muted, warm peach that complements True Autumn’s natural tones and enhances the warmth in their complexion.
Eyes
• Solo Eyeshadow in Mid Century (warm golden brown) enhances the eyes with a soft, earthy definition that brings out their natural depth.
• For eyeliner, opt for warm brown, copper, or deep bronze rather than black, which can look too harsh against True Autumn’s rich tones.
• A warm brown mascara is perfect for keeping the look soft and harmonious.
Merit Beauty picks for a True Autumn
Makeup Tips for True Winter
True Winter’s features are naturally striking and defined, so their best makeup includes cool, crisp shades with strong pigmentation. The goal is to enhance their natural contrast while keeping the look polished and effortless. Think of icy landscapes, jewel tones, and deep, dramatic shades—this is the essence of True Winter beauty.
Complexion
• Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick: Look for a cool or neutral undertones to complement the natural clarity in True Winter skin. Avoid anything warm or golden.
Blush & Lips
• Flush Balm in Le Bonbon is the perfect cool pink that adds a fresh, natural flush without overpowering True Winter’s striking features.
• Shade Slick in Pink Beet is a bold cool Pink lip tint, ideal for a sheer pop of color.
• For lips Signature Lipstick in Fashion is a berry tone, making it a standout choice that perfectly complements True Winter’s high-contrast beauty.
Eyes
• Solo Eyeshadow in Nelson (soft Grey) provides a soft yet defined base, enhancing the natural depth of True Winter’s eyes.
• Solo Eyeshadow in Midnight (deep cool navy) adds the perfect touch of boldness, making the eyes pop with a rich, cool-toned definition.
• For eyeliner, opt for black, deep charcoal, or cool navy to intensify the eyes without warmth.
• A jet-black mascara is a must for True Winters, as it enhances their natural contrast beautifully.
Merit Beauty Picks for a True Winter.
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