If you couldn’t help but wonder what makeup Carrie Bradshaw wears in the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That, Sarah Jessica Parker’s makeup artist is here with the scoop. Turns out, Parker is a Merit girl through and through.
“I used Merit products for the first and second season of And Just Like That,” makeup artist Elaine Offers says in an Instagram post, where she shows herself prepping Parker for the AJLT Season 2 premiere—again, with mostly Merit products to give the actress a natural, vibrant glow that matches Bradshaw’s signature minimalist, fresh face in the series. If you’ve been watching (the second season premiered June 22), you’ve likely noticed how radiant Parker looks—and it’s all thanks to this one brand.
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Merit, a brand specifically engineered to be easy and seamless to use for everyday application, has gotten thousands of accolades on beauty TikTok, with influencers and W+G editors alike marveling how effortless the makeup is to use. “I realized there were many people just like me—busy individuals who want to look polished and pulled together in the time it takes to make a cup of coffee,” Merit founder, Katherine Power, said in an interview with Forbes. “I am not a makeup artist. I haven’t spent hours consuming beauty how-tos on YouTube, but I like makeup, and I want to enjoy it through a ‘less is more’ approach.”
And “less is more” is certainly the motto fictional character Carrie Bradshaw would abide by, considering fashion takes front and center in terms of her self expression. “The elegant and natural finishes were perfect for Carrie Bradshaw,” Offers explains. Bradshaw would opt for beauty products that will give her a five-minute full face of makeup so that she could focus the rest of her routine on her outfits—and the same goes for the actress who plays her.
Ahead, we have all of the details on what Offers used for Parker’s AJLT season premiere—and if you don’t already own some of these makeup mainstays, now’s the time to stock up.
Every Merit beauty product Sarah Jessica Parker wore for the ‘And Just Like That’ Season 2 premiere
Great Skin Instant Glow Serum — $38.00
When prepping SJP’s skin, Offers started with the Great Skin Instant Glow Serum to hydrate skin. Featuring four types of hyaluronic acid, this serum is designed to deeply nourish and replenish moisture while providing the skin with a touch of suppleness. In addition to hyaluronic acid, this serum is enhanced with the skincare benefits of niacinamide, which include brightening and smoothing, along with cacao seed extract for stimulating blood flow and Japanese goldthread root for soothing.
Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, cacao seed extract, Japanese goldthread root
Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil in Bel Air — $24.00
Next, Offers used the Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil in Bel Air to hydrate the pout with a touch of warm, clear gloss before makeup application. Thanks to its inclusion of squalane and quinoa oil, which moisturizes and restores barrier function, the lip oil nourishes the lips while providing a touch of pigment. Also available in neutral tones such as taupe, deep brown, soft peach, and pops of color like sheer pink, deep berry, and sheer red, this is the perfect everyday lip formula for skin care and makeup benefits.
Colors: Clear, warm naturel, taupe, pink beet, soft peach, soft red-orange, deep berry, deep brown, sheer pink, sheer red, sheer neutral, sheer brown
Ingredients: Squalane, quinoa seed oil
MERIT Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer in Siene — $30.00
To create a warm halo on SJP’s forehead, Offers used the Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer in Siene with a touch of the Flush Balm Cheek Color in Fox (more on that, below!). The Bronze Balm is one of Merit’s most coveted formulas and is loved for its sheer touch of blendable color and lightweight feeling on skin. We love it because in addition to creating a more natural glow, the makeup bronzer includes fatty acids that condition the skin and leave a light and nourished-looking glow.
Colors: Fair, light, medium, medium-deep, deep
Ingredients: Fatty acids
Flush Balm Cheek Color in Fox and Cheeky — $30.00
As an added touch to SJP’s forehead, chin, neck, and décolletage, Offers also used the Flush Balm Cheek Color in Fox — a gorgeous warm taupe — and followed up with the Cheeky color, which has a cool pink tone on the apples of her cheeks. This creamy blush stick comes in various gorgeous colors, including neutrals like tape and cream and colors such as berry and orange-red, that can elevate a bronzed summer look or add a nice flush to the complexion. We love it because it provides a touch of skin care with the inclusion of antioxidant-rich vitamin E for conditioning the skin and warding off environmental aggressors.
Colors: Warm taupe, soft orange-red, warm creme, soft peach, baby pink, cool pink, soft berry, deep berry, soft burgundy
Ingredients: Vitamin E
Day Glow Highlighting Balm in Bounce — $32.00
Offers also used a touch of the Day Glow Highlighting Balm in Bounce—which has a rose gold finish—for an added glow-up to the apples of SJP’s cheeks. This highlighter stick is formulated with lots of skin-supporting ingredients such as squalane, olive fruit oil, vitamin E, and a blend of phytosterol and amino acid to give the skin some extra TLC and support the complexion’s barrier function. In addition to rose gold, it comes in champagne and soft gold for two additional sparkling hues.
Colors: Rose gold, champagne, soft gold
Ingredients: Squalane, olive fruit oil, vitamin E, and a phytosterol and amino acid blend
Volumizing Brow 1980 Pomade in Blonde — $24.00
When it comes to eyebrows, we’re still bringing on the fluff. Offers used the Volumizing Brow 1980 Pomade in Blonde to provide some color and tame her brows. This formula is inspired by the eyebrow trends of the ’80s (hence the name) and features a flexible hold that can easily style the eyebrows while providing a touch of pigment. In addition to the makeup component, the eyebrow pomade also features vitamin B5 in its formula, which actually conditions and strengthens eyebrows for healthier-looking strands.
Colors: Blonde, brown, soft black
Ingredients: Vitamin B5, kaolin clay, pigments
Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara — $26.00
To finish off SJP’s And Just Like That premiere look, Offers applied Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara, which doubles as a treatment for conditioning and adding shine, thanks to ingredients such as vitamin B5, olive oil, and fatty acids. This clean mascara comes in a potent black hue that, despite its depth, elevates lashes with a natural finish. When applying to SJP, Offers said she used three coats to get that volumized look.
Colors: Black
Ingredients: Vitamin B5, olive oil, fatty acids
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