MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm

MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm

Efficacy75/100IrritancyLow

Works for

Moisturizing
Squalane, Caprylic/capric triglyceride + 5 more
Works
What the product description says
“What Else You Need to Know: Packed with squalane and olive fruit oil, this formula locks in moisture and nourishes skin to visibly enhance your natural glow.”
Source: Sephora

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, squalane.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

SqualaneKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.~25–38%
Caprylic/capric triglycerideKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~7.3–10.9%
Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamateKey active· EmollientEffect: HighA mix of amino acids and plant-based lipids. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce water loss over time~2.2–3.2%
Octyldodecanol· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation~4.7–7.1%
Hydrogenated polyisobutene· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: LowUsed to improve the product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin~2.6–3.9%
Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamideEffect: LowHelps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skin~1–1.5%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.1–0.5%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
5 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 5 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~7.3–10.9%est.
Dibutyl lauroyl glutamideHelps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~1.3–1.9%est.
Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamideHelps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~1–1.5%est.
Polyhydroxystearic acidUsed to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulationMedium~0.4–1%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.3–0.75%est.
Comedogenic
Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients
None flagged

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Squalane~25–38%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.

More about Squalane
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~7.3–10.9%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Octyldodecanol~4.7–7.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation

More about Octyldodecanol
Mica~3.4–5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Creates an illusion of smoother and more radiant skin tone. Adds shimmer to the skin by reflecting light

More about Mica
Hydrogenated polyisobutene~2.6–3.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to improve the product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated polyisobutene
Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate~2.2–3.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

A mix of amino acids and plant-based lipids. Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and reduce water loss over time

More about Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate
Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide~1.3–1.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide
Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide~1–1.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide
Synthetic fluorphlogopite~0.85–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A mineral that is used as an optical filter (makes the skin looks nicer through light reflection) and to improve the texture of cosmetic products

More about Synthetic fluorphlogopite
Polyhydroxystearic acid~0.4–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency and stabilize the formulation

More about Polyhydroxystearic acid
Tocopheryl acetate~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Tocopherol~0.1–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Iron oxides~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

An umbrella term for the following three colorants: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499. They might be able to offer some protection against visible light, but the degree of the protection is not clear

More about Iron oxides
Titanium dioxide~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Sun protection

Works as a UV filter when used in high concentrations. It is photostable and is effective mostly against the UVB light, with some protection in the UVA range. In small concentrations, used for its ability to improve the color of cosmetic products. Is usually well tolerated by the skin

More about Titanium dioxide
Ingredient list view

Squalane, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Polyhydroxystearic acid, Tocopheryl acetate, Tocopherol, Iron oxides, Titanium dioxide

Compare prices

Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.

Sephora
≈ $30.86
Buy
Amazon USPrice as of 11/11 18:23 GMT
$32.00
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
MERITDay Glow Dewy Highlighting BalmYOUR PRODUCTINNBEAUTY PROJECTFace GlazePixi+C UnderEye Brightner - Peach Flash
Match—21%10%
Price≈ $30.86$24.00≈ −$6.86$17.13≈ −$13.73
Shared key ingredients—2 of 32 of 3
Key difference—PhytosphingosineFerulic Acid
Irritancy Low Medium Medium
Drying alcohol———
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 3 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
MERIT Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm
MERITDay Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.