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Any dermatologist or skin-care expert will agree that the mineral sunscreen is the supreme SPF, by creating “a physical shield or a barrier between the skin and the sun’s harmful rays, blocking the rays from reaching the skin,” as board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose previously explained. The thing about mineral sunscreens though, is that these UV filters—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—are naturally white in color, often leaving a chalky finish. The best way to counteract this is to make it tinted—utilizing iron oxide pigments to match one’s skin tone.
It makes sense then that Merit would create a tinted mineral sunscreen as its first ever SPF. “We originally started talking about doing SPF at the very beginning of the brand,” the brand’s chief marketing officer Aila Morin tells Vogue the idea dates back to its pre-launch days of 2019. After a host of surveys with customers, it became clear that their version had to be mineral, without being thick or oil-based—and never leaving a white cast. Basically, they wanted a mineral sunscreen with the attributes of a chemical one. It wasn’t until they found new technology in pigment dispersion— where the emulsion blends differently with zinc, meaning the shade range could stretch with such a high percentage of zinc and consistent pigmentation across the whole range—that they decided to revisit the project.
“A lot of the time you’ll notice in mineral sunscreens they separate,” Morin continues. The pigment comes apart from the zinc, which can result in a less-than-desirable tint. But with this new technology, it’s essentially one molecule for a better blend. “We would have gone a long time without an SPF had [we not found this change in pigment dispersion.]”
Reimagining this SPF nods to Merit’s beginnings when Morin and founder Katherine Power first bonded over the fact that they were adults with acne-prone skin, and wanted the line to address concerns of that group. It had to be clean, of course, but also non-comedogenic, not oily, and safe for sensitive skin. Both had struggled with chemical sunscreens for the latter reason, often finding them to be irritating.
Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF 45
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- Why We Love It: Described by Morin as an “SPF you don t feel on skin,” The Uniform has all the qualities of a chemical sunscreen but with the powerful UV-shielding qualities of a mineral one. Powered by 100% natural zinc oxide, this leans upon plant-based powers and a natural alternative to silicone, to balance out skin s moisture levels and deliver a soft, velvet finish. Two pumps of product is all you need to veil the likes of breakouts and dark spots, trusting that it will not settle into fine lines or budge all day.
- Key Ingredients: 100% zinc oxide, plant-derived emollient, plant-based mineral SPF booster
- SPF Level: 45
- Finish: Natural
- Coverage: Sheer-to-light
- Shades: 15
- Size: 50 mL
“We did so much panel testing on this,” she says, sourcing insights internally, from consumers, and from a third party in order to nail the right texture balance and the shades across all skin types and ages (their testing encompassed people from 20 to 80). At the base, The Uniform is not as emollient as the other tinted sunscreens you might have tried. “We only put in as much moisture as you need to remain completely balanced, so it balances the zinc, but it s not like super heavy, so you don t really feel it.” This is achieved via a plant-derived emollient that s a natural alternative to silicone, which alongside a fine natural powders, delivers a silky, velvety, blurred look to skin. The UV protection, in particular, is by way of a 100% natural ultra-fine zinc oxide SPF 45—sourced from a Coral Reef Alliance certified manufacturer. For what it’s worth, the formula is also EU compliant—a helpful note for those partial to how Europe evaluates their sunscreens. In order to enhance wear time and avoid irritation, the formula does not include any actives.
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They got the base right a few years ago, so most of their time was working on the shade range, the way each one changes over the course of the day because obviously the mineral SPF will oxidize, so you have to build the pigment to do that. “So it has to look great immediately and eight hours later it still needs to look really great on our skin tones.” There are 15 shades in total, based on that of its acclaimed Minimalist foundation-concealer stick. (There is not an even split between each shade. “Because zinc is white, it’s easier to stretch with super fair shares; while deeper shades stretch less, so there are fewer Minimalist shades per,” she says. Just check out the handy shade chart to find yours; I found mine quite easily in this way.)
“It s as sheer as it could possibly be without a white cast,” Mornin says. Though, I was surprised at how much coverage I received with just a few drops of product. On typical days, you can just wear it on its on, in place of your go to skin tint or foundation, and perhaps spot conceal to problem areas. It has a way of enhancing the look of skin in a way that s very Merit. Trust that you won’t look like you’re wearing anything at all—whether applied with your fingers (like your usual sunscreen) or with a brush (my personal favorite, because I hate getting complexion pigments on my hands!). Just be sure to use two full pumps to receive adequate UV protection! The finish is natural—not matte, nor dewy—which serves as an excellent salve for all skin types and concerns, from breakouts to wrinkles, and so far, it hasn’t pilled for me either.
The Uniform wins in its simplicity. Designed to work in tandem with Merit’s Great Skin serum and moisturizer, this serves as your daily sunscreen—your new facial uniform. “We considered all the things you don’t like and optimized it on every level.”
