"I'm pretty pale- it may be hard to tell." -Hannah, who is literally the color of the chair behind her

A haiku by HLP: I am just a ghost. I am simply transparent Floating through the world.

As far as I'm concerned, this is the gold standard for product review! The side-by-side comparisons are so helpful, but it's even more than that... It's the obvious consideration you have put in to the nuances which you then communicate with such clarity. I just went into Sephora the other day to swatch the new mattes, and seeing this video now has convinced me I don't need to buy any, but I'm over here just appreciating beautiful makeup for beautiful makeup's sake.

I have no idea how you kept the footage of each lipstick separate in editing. I'm sure this video was a TON of work, so I thank you, your lips & any additional support systems for this entertaining & informative video.

I love that your videos help us infuse decisions that could feel humdrum (choosing a lipstick) with artfulness, intentionality and self reflection. It turns makeup into a window into the soul. Thank you, Hannah! 🙂

Fyi Merit said that aperitif and vermillion is the same color, they just changed the formula to fit in line with the matte ! :)

I’m longing for brands to release plummy browns in their lip ranges. I would love this formula (or one from Lisa Eldridge, Tom Ford, etc.) in a brown that leans plum rather than brick.

I'm still not into makeup at all - but to see you here, after a pretty bad day, is just nice. So I guess I'll learn something about lip stuff now... 😂

The comparisons are WONDERFUL. Thank you for that detail! Also showing how each shade blots out. Your lips put in some serious work on this one 💋

The way Hannah (and Joe) approach any task is inspirational. I don't think this much information would exist collectively on the internet elsewhere haha. Such a thorough reference. I hope all brands are paying attention - this is how it's done. Slayed!

I actually thought that Baby washed you out and Classic made you glow!

Keep Classic and Court in your kit. I don't usually go for bright lips, either. When I do, the color has to be exact. Those two colors are that on you. They light up your face but don't overshadow it -- your whole face is in focus, not just your lips. Thanks for trying all these on!

I'm so tickled watching you pose with the different lips on, I feel like I'm playing an HLP video game haha

Classic is endlessly flattering on you. Please consider keeping it!

Antibes, forget the "iz" at the end and just say Antib. Town on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice 😊❤

Love these thorough videos. They are perfect for those who spend time researching before buying.

Ok Ms Hannah! You don’t give your lovely complexion enough credit! You looked good in almost all of the mattes!! My fav on you were: Antibes, Equestrian, Vermilion and Power ( Sunday was the only one, where I went ehh ) loved the mattes on you the most actually! I will say, it did feel as if all their mattes are sooo close in color, it didn’t feel like there was any true pinks for example ? Which was odd…overall loved them though!

Oooo... I've been wondering about Equestrian, especially!

I love how "Equestrian" looks on you,because it gives you the same contrast that you have ( fair skin with deep auburn hair). Yet, you have this soft/muted quality to your coloring,as this deep brown lip color has. It also has a neutrality that goes well with your olive skin. Just like in color analysis, I feel you are a Deep Autumn (aka: Soft/Deep/Warm).

I just have to say that I love the way you sign off all of your videos - very uplifting!

All hail our pale queen! I'm not quite as pale but I might be even more olive and desaturated than you Hannah, because the Merit lipsticks are all SO much and orange on me. I think all of these look amazing on you! So I know they won't be for me and my preferences, but knowing how hard it is to find lippies that work for us ghosties, I'm so happy that you've found a brand that works for you! (And can't wait for the next installment of the balm series!)

Yes with Baby!! It looks so fab on you. This makes me think that classic might work on me bc I’m not olive and actually have some peachy pink undertones. This is - as my students would say - ****amazeballs*** analysis. Only HLP can deliver!!!

Love the phrasing of "this is a grubby-enough peach" when reviewing the first swatch lolol. I love your word choice! Spot on.

You titles are getting better and better 🤣

Nice to come home to this video. As a fellow pale person (but very pink), I’m always amused by your search for the perfect brown. I’m always inspired to try them, only to recognize once again that I look like a dead body in brown. 😉

Really liked the side-by-side comparison views, sure helps distinguish these colors from one another!

I’m obsessed with equestrian on you

So helpful! I’m a red head with the pale skin problem of color looking garish on me but I have pink skin and blue eyes so I gravitate to the opposite Merit colors like the blue pinks and reds. Thank you for helping me figure that out!

Also! Thank you for noting that Vermillion is actually more down the middle than warm because I was leaning towards Vermillion initially for my red but I thought the photos made it look like that too. Now I’m going with Court because have Antibes and it’s my favorite lipstick formula ever.

i am a pale, desaturated olive. having 3 of the satins myself (because of you) makes this video *even more* helpful. based on how you wear tiger though, i know i'm not as pale as you but definitely more olive or desaturated. tiger almost presents itself as a proper red on me. heavily considering equestrian...

I was musing to myself about why we sometimes prefer colors that maybe aren’t on trend or why some color might feel dated on one person but fresh on another. I think it has to do with individual coloring. I get why you prefer the warmer toned versions. It is in keeping with your personal coloring, skin, hair and eyes. Your hair and skin are both muted and while a mix of color, both lean to the yellow side of the spectrum more than the blue. Right now, modern feeling is being in keeping with your coloring rather than trending, I think. I am a medium skin tone and both my hair and skin lean cool (very dark with red highlights not yellow and cool olive leaning more blue). It being winter and me being paler, I almost give off walking dead vibes with the silvery gray green undertone I have going on😂. I love me a deep berry, which somehow looks modern and like me, rather than vampy. Anything with even the slightest bit of orange goes neon on me while pink, mauve and berry look normal as long as there is gray mixed in.

It's the story, of a lovely lady! Who was trying oh so many lipsticks on. Each of them had pros and cons and claims a plenty, And that's the way we got the Poston/Merit bunch! It's not great, but there you go 😂

All the Hannahs at the end smiling and looking this way and that were giving me Brady Bunch vibes!😂

Court & Classic look so stunning on you!! 10/10! Thanks to you & Joe for all the hard work you put into this video. 🩷

i thought Classic would be more up my alley than Sunday, but now that i saw swatches it's the other way round actually. Sunday is gonna get got 😄

I find it a little sinic to choose French names for lipsticks that you cannot buy in France... Merit, when will we be able to buy your brand in France???

LOVE all of your descriptions HLP!

Your incredibly thorough overview and swatch party is much appreciated💜 Thank you.

Love this, so helpful for those who can’t swatch in person! I would love to see this for the merit lip oils too x

You suit them ALL! I love Equestrian, Maison and Classic on you. I understand Court isn't your vibe but I think you could rock it in the summer

Love your videos. They are so in depth and thorough. I would love an in depth video about finding your skin tone and undertone. Your base makeup is always so flawless and everything you put on your face just looks so good. I wish to be able to understand my own skin colouring to be able to be able to assess things like you do.

I got to go get my eyes checked. They look so similar, depends on lite or heavy wear.

This is one of the best lip swatch videos I’ve ever seen! Thank you Hannah 💄

This is so helpful, thank you! It really helps to see the color on your lips.

Absolutely fantastic. This is exactly what I needed today! Well done, and many thanks.

thank you for such a thorough review! i hope you know all the work that went into comparison footage was worth it, it’s so helpful 💜💜💜

Love this, Hannah! Your reviews are music to my ears ❤

LOVE the swatch format of this and the Brady Bunch-esque framing of all the Hannahs comparing the reds-strangely satisfying to see someone move and groove with different lip colors in an identical frame allows for really great comparisons!

I got the shade Sunday and I'm in love. It's the kind of pink that looks sophisticated and brings that Spring / Summer vibe without being too much 💓

Yesss! Was so excited for this video to be uploaded

I absolutely loved this video and your previous Merit lipstick video. Now that I am actually in the market for a red lipstick, they have both been so helpful. Thank you for creating both and for sharing your commission link!

I love seeing these lipsticks on you and hearing you talk about shades, comparison, so helpful. It would be incredible if you did this with a friend with a different skin tone!

You are just delightful in every way. You did do the most, it was helpful and entertaining, and I thank you.

Forgot to say, try "Catwalk" by Charlotte Tibury. It's a nude/peach but it's very neutral, soft in color and it's flattering against olive skin. And lip liner from Hourglass in color "Expose 1".

Love that you did the most!!! Thank you!!!

Your personal coloring is so special, that on my screen You look like a black and white photo with slight brown filter and colored lips (when You have lipstick on). So artistic!

Actually, I think a cool red is stunning and unexpected on you

This is the best lip swatch video I have ever seen! The side by side lip pics are so helpful! Bravo. Also, you are beautiful already but seeing you smile with your fav shade 1990 was so cute.

You looked wonderful in all of these! I personally adore the vampy look though, so I’m sure it’s just an aesthetic preference! Great video.

Thank you, as I've been considering these Merit mattes, although I've not been into mattes in the past, I do love Merit. Such a thorough, thoughtful and smart review. Subscribed.

Thanks for such a thorough video-- I thought I wanted Equestrian, but watching this as a fellow pale olive, I think it is too warm and bold for what I'm actually aesthetically in the market for. My dream is that Merit eventually does a color approaching the likes of Maybelline Gone Griege! I wish Baby looked more putty-ish on me, but it goes quite pink instead, and 1990 goes quite red-- I might be even more olive than I thought

Fabulous! Thank you for this. I have Sunday (love pinks) but might need Court, too. I like this formula very much.

Very thorough! All of these colors being so warm will definitely make them a miss for me. Not very fun but it saves me money!

So helpful!! I wanted to try this formula and Baby is my absolute favorite in the Satin formula but Classic just won’t do. Decision made. Thank you so much for such a thorough review and comparisons.

Equestrian looks amazing on you! Though I may be bias, as those brick browns are my go-to lips.

Oh! I love Court! I’ve been wanting a soft watermelon brick red that’s not too fuchsia/cool!

I am so impressed with Merit. They stand behind their products and customer service was incredibly responsive. I am surprised by how much I love their stick foundation. And I can’t stop, won’t stop purchasing the Great Skin!

They all look so good on you!!!

So sooooo incredibly helpful! Thanks!

I bought Merit Tiger and it has never been quite what I’ve wanted because with my undertone it pulls almost too brown for my comfort. But I love a brick red typically. Seeing you compare it and Court, I think that may be ✨the one✨ for me.

WOW what a detailed swatching video, thanks a lot Hannah (and lips)ç

Now this is a lipstick comparison that is intelligent, intensive and actually helpful in making a decision about what shade and formula to try. I actually do not tend to prefer mattes, but I did buy the shade Sunday. It is soft and comfortable and I may add a gloss to the middle of my bottom lip because I tend to like that look. I realize this video must have taken a ton of work, so thank you guys.

You look amazing...I love your lashes and have adopted your application (or adapted my application to your method...lol) and I really like it. Thank you for another video! BTW, Antibes looks great on you!

These matte lipsticks and the eye shadows are also a foray into providing products for the mature market. As we age and lose our lip line and colour, these formulations help to delineate the lines and enliven our faces. This very thorough review was very helpful. Thank you Poston 😊

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS REVIEW. SO HELPFUL. ❤

I lost my Aperitif and I was absolutely gutted!!! Probably my favorite red I’ve ever worn. I’m so excited that Vermilion is very very similar, I’m 100% going to pick it up.

This video was absolutely everything I wanted. Thank you! Now, I'm so interested in the reckoning of the mattes.

Thank you Hannah for such a beautiful video. It really did help me with differences in color. That must get painful😮

This was wildly helpful and thorough. Thank you! 👌🙌

This video (actually all your videos) was SO helpful - thank you! I purchased 'Baby' (via your link) after watching.

You’re THE BEST, What lip product do you have on when the video starts, please?

Maison looks absolutely incredible on you actually. I have light olive skin. I love this on you.

So excited for this! I was expecting to get a side by side of Antibes and tiger but I will screen shot them and make my own😆

Vermillion was the one I had my eye on but Merit said Aperitif (I already have) was Vermillion in a matte. As of now I am not sold on matte so my next purchase will be Cabo. So far, Tiger is my favorite. Love this video. I love that you were able to feature all the shades.

Love this side by side comparison. 👍

I SO appreciate your videos. We’ve got very similar, almost the same, coloring - I have a pale/light olive skin tone, brown eyes, and red/auburn hair (which, in my case, is ‘browning’ as I get older and the red pigment is beginning to fade/dull). Our taste isn’t quite the same - I’d choose Equestrian over 1990 (I lean more vamp than grey/grunge). But oh, how I appreciate your videos! Not only for the 'true color' insights, but also for the thoughtful reviews you provide :)

Wow. Power looks like the blue red of my dreams!

Thank you for the review! Already purchased two, but will definitely use your code in the future...BTW, love the mattes and I'm not a matte lover.

Some of the colors do look very different on your lips in a good way. I only bought Antibes and it washes me out. I would have to invest in a lip pencil to use with Antibes. Very nice and thorough video of the swatches.

I really liked Maison on you!

Great format ✔️

It’s so interesting to see how the same colours appear on different skin tones. On me, tiger is positively orange!

My favorite red lip (not that I have many, because red is pretty overpowering on me) is Kitty Belly in the Nyx Smooth Whip formula. It's a matte cream but it's the only matte I can wear for hours and it never dries me out. Also, it has this dimensional matte look without layering really dark on the lips like the Merit mattes do. I'm really curious what you would say about it, to me it's such an interesting formula.

I just love Sunday on you. I think you might even get into it if you wore it a bit!!

I got the four-pack with Maison, Antibes, Classic, and Power. I am also super pale, but with pink undertone, so I turn everything pink. So Power turned into a cherries in the snow type deal, which is fine--it's a richer, more luxe version of Colour Pop Solo, which is welcome. I will try Vermilion, because I love Apertif, and yes, Cabo still wins!

You should try the YSL love shines! They’re re formulated to be like sheer lip balms

Baby is my jam. She is my everyday, no mirror needed lip. On my4th tube….LOVE it.

I'd ordered Vermillion and Power to find a daytime red; i'm a shade darker than you and neutral and Vermillion was truly fluorescent and Power was a straight-up raspberry on me (seemed similar to Fashion). Ended up returning them and getting Court, which isn't as true a red as you said but is definitely more wearable on me.

The lipsticks are beautiful but on a side note your eyebrows look absolutely perfect how did you get them looking so perfect ❤

Taking advantage of being early with a video requesf: makeup to nap in. I want this to be a trend. Hannah, would you be into that? People of KZfaq, what makeup do you wear when you anticipate a nap later?