Of all the products, I have to say the Clean Lash Perfect Black Mascara, Great Skin Instant Glow Serum and the No.1 Blending Brush were definite standouts for me. The serum gives such a beautiful, healthy-looking glow to the skin without feeling heavy or greasy on my normal, dehydrated skin, and the brush makes blending cream and liquid products a total breeze. It works really well with cream products from other brands too. I also really loved the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick - it offers light, buildable coverage that blends seamlessly with the serum. That said, I'm not sure how well it'll work for dry skin. 

A few products didn't quite hit the mark for me, though. I found the the Bronzer Balm in Siene was a huge let down. It is really lightweight on the skin and blends well - but almost TOO well. It blends into nothing on my skin and takes a long time to build up. The formula is similar to the Flush Balm which I also think is a waste of time due to the lack of pigment. 

Overall, I am still really impressed with the quality and performance of most of the Merit Beauty products I tried. The brand's focus on essential makeup staples is really refreshing, and I can see their products becoming a staple in my routine. If you're looking to streamline and simplify your beauty routine, I'd definitely recommend checking out Merit Beauty - just make sure you watch a lot of reviews first to make sure the products will work for your tastes. You could start with my full review video here.

Hampstead is one of the most beautiful areas of London and the *perfect* place to window-shop for the dream house. Nestled near Hampstead Heath overground station, Silverberry Cafe is a must-visit spot. This is a relaxed cafe that serves great coffee and has a really lovely team. If you go, you definitely have to try their signature vegan banana and blueberry bread – it's a work of art! The perfect balance of vanilla & fruit, with a cake-bread texture. 

They've also got outdoor seating for a weekend brunch if you fancy some fuel before exploring the natural beauty of Hampstead Heath.

WAVE | Hackney & Stoke Newington, North East London

For an exclusively vegan experience, I recommend heading  to WAVE Cafe in Hackney or Stoke Newington. I am very passionate about supporting businesses that commit to making their entire offering vegan-friendly - but these guys are also quite adventurous with their menus.

Cafe Van Gogh | Brixton Road, South London

On Brixton Road, South London, Cafe Van Gogh is a pioneering 100% vegan community cafe and non-profit social enterprise. With a focus on ethical practices, they provide employment opportunities for marginalised groups and use fully compostable packaging for any takeaway options. 

They have various options on all-vegan daytime or evening menus, including Sunday roasts (with vegan Yorkshire puddings!).

Keep reading for my full review and comparison to MUA's Hydra Juice Lip Balms to Rhode's lip tints.


Price Point
MUA's Hydra Juice Lip Balms retail for £2 each which is an amazing price point! To compare, Rhode's lip tints are £16 each. That's over £14 in savings for what I found to be a comparable, if not better, formula. The MUA balms are available on their website here and I would assume also coming soon to Superdrug stores.

Product Performance
Now, I've tried a LOT of lip balms in my time. Some amazing, some not so much. It's also worth noting that vegan lip balms are usually not as good as non-vegan lip balms because so many non-vegan ingredients such as beeswax and lanolin make for a great thick lip balm formula. 

That said, the Hydra Juice Balms provide really good lasting hydration with a soft tint to lips. They last a good 30-60 minutes on my lips, which is much longer than any other lip balm I've used. And like I say, I've tried a LOT. They contain a three amino acid peptide complexes to nourish lips over time. The shades range from a deep cherry tone to soft neutrals. Each balm also has a corresponding scent, which I find light and not overpowering. 

MUA vs Rhode
After testing both formulas extensively, here's how the MUA Hydra Juice Lip Balms compared to the Rhode lip tints:

• Smoother, less grainy texture
• Longer lasting tint, up to 1 hour per application. Don't need to reapply often.
• More hydrating, leaves lips soft
• Shades Heartfelt Hun and Caramel Glaze similar to Rhode's Toast
• Shade Watermelon Sorbet (why didn't they call this one Watermelon Sugar??) is similar to Ribbon
• Slightly less pigmented than Rhode, subtle tint
• Light fruity scent vs Rhode's unscented lip tints
• They are nicer scents compared to Rhode's scented lip treatments too as they are more subtle
• £14 cheaper than Rhode! A huge plus point considering how often I use lip balm.

The MUA balms deliver on hydration and a natural, luminous tint for lips. The formula glides on smoothly without any grittiness. The tint lasts a solid hour before needing reapplication. And the balms leave lips noticeably softer.


The full lineup includes:

• Cherry Kiss: Deep black cherry with black cherry scent
• Heartfelt Hun: Warm nude with a vegan honey scent
• Caramel Glaze: Nude with a caramel scent 
• Coconut Sugar: Clear with coconut scent
• Watermelon Sorbet: Neutral pink with watermelon scent
• Berry Bliss: Pinky red

It's also worth noting that I much prefer the Hydra Juice lip balm scents than Rhode's scented lip treatments (Salted Caramel, Vanilla etc) because they are much more subtle and you can't taste them. The Rhode scented balms smell really synthetic to me. The MUA Cosmetics balms, by contrast, are not sickly or synthetic in scent or taste. (Side note: I really adore Rhode's skincare! You can probably tell that I'm not as big of a fan of the lip balms but their Glazing Milk & Glazing Fluid I use everyday. See here for my review of the full line).

Final Thoughts
I'm genuinely so impressed with MUA's new Hydra Juice Lip Balms. They provide hydration, a smooth and subtle tint, and truly lovely lip care. If you love the look of a Rhode lip but not the price tag, these MUA's balms are a fantastic and affordable alternative. I highly recommend giving these new lip balms a try - your lips will thank you - and then you can thank me.


Have you tried the MUA Hydra Juice Lip Balms yet? Let me know your thoughts if so!

Fortunately, London boasts a thriving vegan ice cream scene, and I'm here to guide you to the best spots in the city that I've tried.