Regardless of age, there’s one thing almost every Hollywood It Girl has in common: Whether she’s in her 20s or 80s, she’s used Merit’s Minimalist Complexion Stick. The viral foundation-concealer-hybrid has been loved by editors for years, but recently, it’s become a beauty bag staple for so many celebrities (and their makeup artists, too). 

Martha Stewart, 83, showed how she applies the creamy complexion stick on Instagram, as did Laura Harrier and Aimee Lou Wood, who are both in their 30s. Ayo Edebiri’s makeup artist, Molly Greenwald, used the skin-blurring foundation to give the 29-year-old actress a blemish-free glow at her Sundance premier. And, just this week, Greenwald applied it to 52-year-old Tracee Ellis Ross before she hit the Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet.

Merit Minimalist Complexion Stick Foundation

I know all of those ages probably made your head spin (writing them definitely did), but it’s for the sake of proving a point: While some foundations are targeted at young or mature skin, Merit’s is the rare unicorn that works for both. That’s because the creamy foundation, which is made with fatty acids and hydrating glycerin, melts into skin, concealing spots and discoloration with a natural, dewy finish that goes practically undetected. 

Our Gen Z beauty writer described the buttery formula as “effortlessly blendable and extremely natural-looking,” while another said it hides redness without “emphasizing any of [their] skin woes.” Funny enough, that’s the reason shoppers are calling it a “must-have for the 50” and older crowd. While many foundations accentuate wrinkles, this formula conceals them. At Sephora, a 75-year-old wrote that the Complexion Stick is “the first product to just melt” into their skin, “making wrinkles less noticeable” while “blurring” imperfections. And per a 65-year-old, the creamy foundation is one of the few to not settle into their fine lines. 

That buttery formula is the primary reason why people across every generation keep adding this foundation to their makeup bag, but it’s also worth noting that the stick is beyond easy to apply. While you can grab the brand’s blending brush, many users say they just use their fingers to blend it in.

If you’re ready to understand the Merit craze, grab the Complexion Stick today in one of 30 shades, and grab more of the brand’s celeb- and shopper-loved beauty staples, below.

Great Skin Instant Glow Serum

Flush Balm

Bronze Balm

Five Minute Morning Core Collection Set