In a 2021 interview, MERIT founder and CEO Katherine Power said the brand’s formulas comply with EU rules and Sephora’s Clean program, and that it removed 73 additional ingredients identified with esthetician Biba de Sousa as potentially acne-triggering. Power also said half the assortment uses at least 30% recycled or post-consumer materials, boxes are SFI- or FSC-certified, and shipments use dissolvable corn-starch foam.
Sources
http://web.archive.org/web/20250904052341/https://www.forbes.com/sites/karineldor/2021/09/14/exclusive-katherine-powers-beauty-brand-merit-completes-20m-series-a-funding-round-led-by-l-cattertons-growth-fund/
Another key element for MERIT is its stance on clean ingredients: “We prioritized multi-tasking, easy-to-use products and took a holistic approach to clean, creating safe products for the body, skin and planet. Clean can be a nebulous concept, so we broke it down into specific terms for our consumer to make their own choices. Our formulas are all EU-Compliant — removing 1300+ potentially harmful ingredients — and part of the Clean at Sephora program. We've also partnered with world-renowned esthetician Biba de Sousa to identify and remove an additional 73 ingredients that are clean but potentially acne-triggering, like coconut oil, often used in clean formulas). We also prioritized long-term efficacy, creating makeup products with skincare benefits that leave your skin looking better after wearing them. We added plant-based squalane, vitamin b5 and antioxidants, and more across the collection to create formulas that benefit the skin but are also comfortable to wear. Finally, we continue to innovate when it comes to sustainability — 50% of our assortment uses 30% or more PCR or recycled materials in componentry, our boxes are all SFI or FSC-certified, and we ship using green cell foam to protect your products — made of corn starch, it dissolves in your sink.”