Today I’m doing a deep-dive review of two brands I love, Westman Atelier vs. Merit Beauty. Both brands have polished, minimal aesthetics with sleek, sophisticated packaging. Both brands are “clean”, claiming they are formulated without ingredients like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oils. Westman Atelier is touted as a luxury brand with ingredients that actively improve the skin, while Merit Beauty is known for their “no-makeup makeup” and less-is-more approach. So how do they compare?
Brand Philosophy and Who It’s For
Westman Atelier is created by esteemed celebrity Makeup Artist Gucci Westman, whose career I’ve been following since my days working as Beauty Advisor at Lancôme. At the time, Gucci was Lancôme’s International Artistic Director and designed the 2005 Spring French Riviera collection. I fell in love with her color selections and natural, sun-kissed glow she showcased on Drew Barrymore (who was the face of the collection) and have been following her career ever since. She launched Westman Atelier in 2018 with a focus on artistry-led, high quality clean ingredients that are meant to improve skin with use. It’s a luxury brand that intentionally infuses products with skincare actives, meant to make your skin look and feel better. Her product packaging is seamless and sleek, with a focus on sustainable practices. Westman Atelier offers a recycling program through Pact Collective and some of their products are refillable, too.
Merit Beauty was founded in 2021 by Katherine Powers (who you may know her from Who What Wear) with a focus on polished minimalism. Their products are meant to give you a simplified, five minute makeup routine: multi-use products and blendable balms that apply with ease. Merit also uses clean ingredients and all of their products are vegan and cruelty-free (certified by Leaping Bunny). Their products are all about a second skin look – lightweight, buildable formulas that wear comfortably throughout the day. If you’re looking for foolproof products that you truly cannot mess up, Merit is for you. These products are perfect for everyday makeup. The packaging reflects the brand’s streamlined approach, with smaller, travel-friendly components that slip easily into a bag or your pocket. The trade-off is that the compact size may feel a little pricey for the amount of product you receive.
Texture & Finish: How They Actually Wear
Complexion Products:
Vital Skin Foundation Stick – Westman Atelier
Of Westman Atelier’s two complexion products, I reach for the Vital Skin Foundation Stick most often. The formula is creamy and emollient, giving a medium, buildable coverage with a natural, slightly radiant finish. On my 40+ skin, it does a nice job of blurring texture, though in Florida humidity I do find I need a light set of powder to set.
It wears comfortably through the day, but I avoid using it under the eyes where it can crease. On very humid days, I notice slight breakdown around the nose (especially where my sunglasses sit).
Available in 20 shades (I currently wear Atelier I for fair yellow undertones).
$68 for 0.31 oz / 9g
The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick – Merit Beauty
Merit’s stick feels lighter and slightly drier by comparison. It gives light to medium, buildable coverage with a soft-focus, skin-like finish. It performs especially well on normal to combination skin, though those with dryness may prefer a more emollient product instead. For me this holds up well in the humidity, even without setting powder.
The finish is undetectable and easy to blend, making it ideal for quick application and touch-ups. The slimmer packaging is travel-friendly, though you get significantly less product for the price.
Available in 30 shades (I wear Silk for very fair warm tones).
$38 for 0.23 oz
Cream Cheek Products:
Baby Cheeks Blush Stick – Westman Atelier
Baby Cheeks was my first Westman Atelier purchase, and it remains one of the brand’s standout products for me. The formula is creamy, smooth, and highly pigmented — a small amount goes a long way. The finish leans softly dewy without feeling slick, and on my combo skin in Florida humidity, it sets surprisingly well and lasts throughout the day.
Although it can be applied directly, I prefer a brush (I use BK Beauty’s 109) for more controlled placement because of the high pigment. The color payoff feels richer than Merit’s.
Available in 9 shades (Petal and Minette are favorites).
$48 for 0.21 oz
Merit’s Flush Balm offers a sheerer, more balmy application with a soft, diffused finish. It’s ideal for everyday minimal makeup and gives that subtle, “lit-from-within” flush without putting in much effort. It gives a gorgeous glow to the skin. While the round component allows for a direct application to the cheeks, I prefer using a brush (BK Beauty 112) to avoid disturbing my foundation underneath.
Compared to Westman Atelier, the pigmentation is lighter/sheerer and the wear time is slightly shorter on my skin, though the ease of use makes it a great option for quick, everyday routines.
Available in 13 shades (Lusitano and Beverly Hills are favorites).
$30 for 0.31 oz / 9g
Contour/Bronzer Products:
Face Trace Contour Stick – Westman Atelier
Face Trace is designed specifically for sculpting. The cream formula has enough slip to blend seamlessly, yet enough structure to hold its shape once set. It creates a soft shadow effect that mimics natural bone structure rather than adding overt warmth.
The undertones are thoughtfully selected to read as true contour — neutral to slightly cool — which prevents the muddiness that can occur with traditional bronzers. It makes it a standout contour product and one that I always have in my collection. On my 40+ skin, it blends without patchiness and does not emphasize texture. The inclusion of kaolin clay in the ingredients helps it set down and stay put. In Florida humidity, I find it holds up well without turning greasy.
Available in 8 shades (I wear Biscuit, although the newly released shade Au Lait looks like it could be a better match in the fall/winter).
$48 or 0.090/2.500
Merit’s Bronze Balm serves a totally different purpose. This is a true balm bronzer…designed to add warmth and a subtle glow rather than sculpted definition. The texture is lighter and more emollient, delivering a sheer, satin finish that looks healthy and effortless.
It blends very easily and feels weightless on the skin, making it especially suitable for normal to dry skin types. On my combination skin, however, I do find that I get more extended wear setting it lightly with powder, particularly on humid days. While it won’t create the same contour effect as Face Trace, it excels at providing a soft, sunlit warm glow. I love wearing this in the winter when my skin tends to look dull/tired.
Available in 5 shades (I wear shade Seine for a warm, bronzed glow).
$32 for 0.44 oz
The Verdict: Who Wins and Who Should Choose Which?
After testing both brands, the honest answer is that neither one “wins” outright. I believe they’re designed for different routines, preferences, and ways of wearing makeup day to day.
Choose Westman Atelier if…
You’re looking for a true luxury makeup experience with a strong skincare component. The formulas tend to offer richer pigment, more dimensional finishes, and thoughtfully selected ingredients that support skin health over time. The products require a bit more intention in your application, but the result is polished and elevated…particularly if you enjoy the artistry side of makeup.
Choose Merit Beauty if…
You prefer a streamlined, everyday routine that feels intuitive and quick. Merit’s lightweight formulas and blendable balms are designed for effortless application, delivering soft, skin-like finishes with minimal effort. The compact packaging and approachable price point make it easy to build a full routine, especially if you value simplicity over technique.
The bottom line:
Westman Atelier leans toward refined artistry and more sculpted, luminous results, while Merit excels at the polished minimalism look. Personally, I tend to reach for Merit on relaxed, everyday makeup days and Westman Atelier when I want a slightly more perfected finish. In many ways, the two brands complement each other well, offering different approaches to clean, skin-focused makeup.
Have you tried either of these brands? If so, which is your favorite?
