MERIT Day Glow Highlighting Balm

MERIT Day Glow Highlighting Balm

Efficacy75/100IrritancyLow
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Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing
Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, Squalane + 6 more
Good evidence
What the product description says
“The vitamin-rich base replenishes moisture for a dewy look that lasts beyond makeup.”
Source: Sephora CA

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: squalane, phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate.

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).

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~1.6–2.4%
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%
Olea europaea fruit oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation~5.8–8.7%
Tribehenin· EmollientEffect: LowUsed to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin~0.5–1.15%
Hydrogenated polyisobutene· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: LowUsed to improve the product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin~2.1–3.2%
Octyldodecanol· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation~4.4–6.6%
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~0.6–1.4%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
4 flagged ingredients
Low risk
We flag 4 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Olea europaea fruit oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammationMedium~5.8–8.7%est.
Dibutyl lauroyl glutamideHelps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~1.2–1.8%est.
Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamideHelps improve the product texture and soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~1–1.5%est.
Glyceryl behenateUsed to create a thicker product consistency and help soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~0.45–1%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
Olea europaea fruit oil~5.8–8.7%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation

More about Olea europaea fruit oil
Octyldodecanol~4.4–6.6%
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~3.2–4.8%
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
Polyglyceryl-10 pentaisostearate~2.3–3.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing
More about Polyglyceryl-10 pentaisostearate
Hydrogenated polyisobutene~2.1–3.2%
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~1.6–2.4%
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~1.2–1.8%
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
Tocopherol~0.6–1.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-inflammatory

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
Glyceryl dibehenate~0.55–1.3%
Formula
Tribehenin~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a thicker product consistency and soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Tribehenin
Glyceryl behenate~0.45–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency and help soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Glyceryl behenate
Silica~0.5–1.15%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to absorb oil and can temporarily mattify skin

More about Silica
Tin oxide~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A colorant that can add a pearl-like appearance to the formulation

More about Tin oxide
Ci 77891~0.15–0.55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Ci 77891
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
Ci 77491~0.05–0.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A red colorant made of iron oxide. Typically is not irritating

More about Ci 77491
Iron oxides~0.05–0.3%
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
Ingredient list view

Squalane, Olea europaea fruit oil, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Polyglyceryl-10 pentaisostearate, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/octyldodecyl lauroyl glutamate, Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, Dibutyl ethylhexanoyl glutamide, Tocopherol, Glyceryl dibehenate, Tribehenin, Glyceryl behenate, Silica, Tin oxide, Ci 77891, Titanium dioxide, Ci 77491, Iron oxides

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Amazon USPrice as of 10/22/2026 03:19 GMT
$32.00
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 5 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
  5. 5
MERIT Day Glow Highlighting Balm
MERITDay Glow Highlighting Balm

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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.