The Five-Minute Morning: A Simple, Clean Makeup Routine With MERIT
Mornings can feel rushed, but your beauty routine doesnât have to suffer, or take hours. The Merit Five-Minute Morning Kit is designed for simplicity, combining clean, multi-purpose products that streamline every step while keeping skin cared for and polished. Whether youâre heading to the office, a weekend getaway, or just want a fuss-free routine at home, this kit shows that less can truly be more. In just a few minutes, you can hydrate, even skin tone, and add a subtle glow, all with formulas that are low-tox, skin-loving, and effortlessly chic. Follow along as we walk you through each step for a quick, radiant, morning-ready finish.
Step 1: Even + Brighten with The Minimalist
Start your routine by warming The Minimalist on the skin to even tone in seconds. Swipe it under the eyes, around the nose, and anywhere you want quick coverage, then blend with fingers or a brush for a natural, skin-like finish. It replaces both foundation and concealer, making your base the fastest part of your morning.
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Best for: Quick, seamless coverage that looks like real skin.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 2
Step 2: Add Healthy Colour with Flush Balm
Next, tap Flush Balm onto the apples of your cheeks to instantly wake up the complexion. The creamy, balm-like texture melts in without streaking, creating a soft, dewy flush that brings life back to your base. Blend upward toward the temples for a lifted, daytime glow.
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Best for: Fresh, effortless colour that blends in seconds.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 2-3 based on shade
Step 3: Create Glow with Day Glow
Once your colour is set, swipe Day Glow over the high points of the face â cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of the nose. The balmy finish gives a subtle sheen that catches the morning light without any shimmer or sparkle. Itâs the quickest way to look well-rested, even on busy days.
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Best for: Natural radiance that feels lightweight and lived-in.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 1-2 based on shade
Step 4: Define Brows with Brow 1980
Brush Brow 1980 through your brows to shape and add soft volume. The tinted gel grips each hair, lifting them into place for a fuller, more polished look. A few upward strokes instantly frame the face and make the whole routine appear more put-together.
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Best for: Fuller-looking brows with flexible, all-day hold.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 3
Step 5: Lengthen Lashes with Clean Lash
Apply a few coats of Clean Lash to open up the eyes. The tubing formula lengthens and defines without clumping or smudging, perfect for long days or humid mornings. It feels featherlight during wear and removes easily with warm water at night â no fuss, no flakes.
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Best for: Smudge-proof definition you donât have to think about.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 2
Step 6: Finish with Shade Slick
Complete your morning routine with Shade Slick, a hydrating lip oil that gives a soft tint and glossy finish. It nourishes the lips like a treatment while adding colour that ties everything together. Swipe once for a sheer wash or build for a stronger everyday lip.
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Best for: Comfortable, everyday colour that doubles as lip care.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 1-4 based on shade
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Five-Minute Morning Routine
⢠Prep intentionally: A light, hydrating base (even just a splash of moisturiser) helps The Minimalist blend more seamlessly and keeps the whole routine looking fresh longer.
⢠Start small: Each product in the kit is buildable, so begin with a sheer layer and add more only where you need it. This keeps the finish natural and prevents over-applying when youâre in a rush.
⢠Use your fingers: The warmth of your hands helps the balm and stick formulas melt instantly into the skin, making blending quicker and more intuitive.
⢠Create cohesion: Keep your tones consistent â a soft flush, subtle highlight, and tinted lip oil in similar undertones give an effortlessly polished look.
⢠Keep it portable: Toss one or two favourites (Flush Balm, Shade Slick) in your bag. Theyâre perfect for quick lunchtime touch-ups or refreshing your glow on the go.
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Final Thoughts
Meritâs FiveâMinute Morning Kit proves that a polished, lowâtox look doesnât have to take hours. The kit includes everything you need â from The Minimalist to Shade Slick, plus Brush No.âŻ1 for seamless blending â so your routine is effortless and your makeup bag stays minimal. In just five minutes, you can hydrate, even skin tone, add colour and glow, define brows, and finish with a soft lip tint, all with clean, skin-loving formulas. Buying the kit instead of each product individually also saves ÂŁ26, making it both convenient and smart.Â
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Faya Guide Tip: Keep this kit as your go-to for fast, radiant, fuss-free mornings.
Start your routine by warming The Minimalist on the skin to even tone in seconds. Swipe it under the eyes, around the nose, and anywhere you want quick coverage, then blend with fingers or a brush for a natural, skin-like finish. It replaces both foundation and concealer, making your base the fastest part of your morning.
â
Best for: Quick, seamless coverage that looks like real skin.
â
EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 2
Next, tap Flush Balm onto the apples of your cheeks to instantly wake up the complexion. The creamy, balm-like texture melts in without streaking, creating a soft, dewy flush that brings life back to your base. Blend upward toward the temples for a lifted, daytime glow.
â
Best for: Fresh, effortless colour that blends in seconds.
â
EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 2-3 based on shade
Once your colour is set, swipe Day Glow over the high points of the face â cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of the nose. The balmy finish gives a subtle sheen that catches the morning light without any shimmer or sparkle. Itâs the quickest way to look well-rested, even on busy days.
â
Best for: Natural radiance that feels lightweight and lived-in.
â
EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 1-2 based on shade
Brush Brow 1980 through your brows to shape and add soft volume. The tinted gel grips each hair, lifting them into place for a fuller, more polished look. A few upward strokes instantly frame the face and make the whole routine appear more put-together.
â
Best for: Fuller-looking brows with flexible, all-day hold.
â
EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 3
Apply a few coats of Clean Lash to open up the eyes. The tubing formula lengthens and defines without clumping or smudging, perfect for long days or humid mornings. It feels featherlight during wear and removes easily with warm water at night â no fuss, no flakes.
â
Best for: Smudge-proof definition you donât have to think about.
â
EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 2
Complete your morning routine with Shade Slick, a hydrating lip oil that gives a soft tint and glossy finish. It nourishes the lips like a treatment while adding colour that ties everything together. Swipe once for a sheer wash or build for a stronger everyday lip.
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Best for: Comfortable, everyday colour that doubles as lip care.
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EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating: 1-4 based on shade
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FAQ
The EWG Skin DeepÂŽ Rating is a safety score that reflects how clean and low-tox a productâs ingredients are. It evaluates cosmetic ingredients and ranks products from 1â10, with 1â2 being the safest, and higher numbers indicating the presence of more concerning or less-studied ingredients. Itâs a quick way to understand whether a formula aligns with clean, safer-beauty standards. This rating appears throughout Faya Guide to provide transparency for first-time readers.
MERIT is built around minimalist, non-comedogenic formulas that avoid unnecessary or irritating ingredients. Their Clean at MERIT standards align with global regulatory guidelines, and while they use both natural and synthetic ingredients, they always formulate without sulfates, phthalates, parabens, formaldehydes or formaldehyde-releasers, oxybenzone or octinoxate, hydroquinone, talc, coal tar, or mineral oil. They also exclude 73+ ingredients overall, prioritising safety, transparency, and skin health. Beyond formulation, MERIT partners with environmental organisations, uses recyclable or reusable packaging, and creates products that streamline routines rather than overwhelm them.
The Minimalist works like a foundation-concealer hybrid, so pick the shade closest to your overall skin tone. If youâre between two, choose the slightly lighter option for brightening â especially around the eyes and centre of the face.
Flush Balm shades are flexible and buildable, so you can choose based on the look you want: soft pinks for a natural flush, berries for deeper colour, or warm tones for a sun-kissed finish. All shades blend sheer, making them very forgiving.
Shade Slick is designed to give a sheer, hydrating tint, so most shades adapt to your natural lip tone. Go for nudes or soft pinks for everyday wear, or pick deeper tones if you want more definition while still keeping the finish lightweight and glossy.
Yes â MERIT has a small, curated skincare line including their Great Skin serum and Day Glow-inspired complexion enhancers. The focus is hydrating, barrier-friendly formulas that prep the skin beautifully for makeup while keeping routines simple.
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