Merit and Brandon Maxwell Just Launched the Chicest Collab

I’ve brought my Merit Signature Bag to dinner more times than I can count. While technically a cosmetic bag you receive with your very first purchase, the double-lined brown corduroy pouch is a staple accessory in its own right. Not to mention, it’s essentially a signpost for minimalist-chic beauty fans; Merit, after all, is the go-to brand for a five-minute face. Cue Gisele’s iconic The Devil Wears Prada line: “Are you wearing the—?” The Merit Signature Bag? Yeah, I am.

I didn’t think the pouch could get any more elevated, but leave it to Brandon Maxwell to churn out a brand new classic. Today, Merit announces a collab with the luxury women’s ready-to-wear label, which includes two new must-haves: a limited-edition Lip Blush and a sophisticated black leather Signature Bag. Scroll ahead to discover how to get your hands on each.

Of course, we must begin with the designer accessory. It has a similar shape to the OG iteration, just with a more structured, bucket-shaped silhouette and wrist handle, which is finished with a metal knot detail quintessential of Maxwell’s signature hardware. The vegan leather bag also features a magnetic closure, as opposed to the original Signature Bag, which has a tie top. It’s luxurious, modern, and ultra-exclusive—only available while supplies last—and I suspect it’ll be gone in a flash once it officially launches on October 2.

To snag the soon-to-be-viral staple, all you have to do is spend over $125 on Merit Beauty items (the bag is not available for individual purchase), a relatively easy feat if you (like me) consider yourself a brand loyalist. Consider this a sign to restock the staples you know you’re going to wind up re-buying anyway, such as the Flush Balm, Complexion Stick, Bronze Balm, and Signature Lip. And voilá—the Brandon Maxwell-ified Signature Bag is yours.

While you’re at it, I highly recommend tossing the new Signature Lip Blush into your cart (especially if you need a bit more help reaching $125!). The formula features a blurred, soft-matte finish that adds a sheer kiss of color to the lips. (Imagine if a matte lipstick and tinted balm had a baby—that’s Lip Blush.) The new collab shade is, of course, called Maxwell, which dresses your pout in a rich, swoon-worthy berry. It’s also housed in a limited-edition silver packaging that, for what it’s worth, pairs perfectly with that knot detail on the aforementioned Signature Bag. I can only imagine how chic the two treasures will appear side by side IRL.