No beauty brand has captured my heart in recent years quite like MERIT Beauty. Their minimal, simplified approach to makeup felt refreshing. At a time when I was craving less, and wanted products that enhanced rather than concealed in that overly done up way. Quite a few of their products are on heavy rotation for my daily routine (post soon incoming), but the one I really wanted to talk about? The MERIT Solo Shadow.
Perhaps one of their most highly anticipated launches, the second it dropped in 2023 I knew I had to try these out. I’ve spent years trying to battle creasy eyeshadow (NARS Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base is your girl’s best friend), so I was curious if these lived up to their claims; smudge proof, crease proof, long wearing.
MERIT Solo Shadow
Billed as a buildable cream-to-powder formulation, MERIT’s Solo Shadow launched in eight colours, split into neutrals and statements.
The Neutrals include: Studio (cool taupe), Vachetta (warm beige), Midcentury (warm brown), and Brun (deep brown). The Statements include: Social (soft mauve), Viper (warm green), Nelson (soft grey), and Midnight (classic navy). Each sold as a single shadow, for $24 (USD).
Keeping in mind that MERIT is founded on this concept of enhancement, the Solo Shadow is designed to do exactly that. This isn’t overt glam, but a more approachable take on eyeshadow – basically, you can’t mess this up.
One of the things that really piqued my interest was the ingredient list. Including chamomile and calendula extract to soothe the eye area; peptides to reduce the appearance of fine lines; magnolia bark extract to smooth the appearance of skin; and sunflower seed oil for nourishment. They’re also Opthamotologist tested and approved, and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
Music to my ears, as my skin is quite sensitive – particularly around the eyes – and I’m quite conscious of what eyeshadows I apply these days. One wrong move and my eye makeup becomes a watery mess.
MERIT Solo Shadow Swatches & Review
Swatches on the eye – in situ – are always more telling than on the arm. How do they blend out? How does the colour interact with our complexion?
Here you can get a sense of the side by side.
- Top left: Studio (cool taupe)
- Top right: Midcentury (warm brown)
- Bottom left: Social (soft mauve)
- Bottom right: Brun (deep brown)
Studio to me looks very brown in the pan, but on the eye, more of a brown-mauve mash-up. Especially when paired next to Midcentury which is a very true orange-based brown.
I never really quite understood colour theory in action until I took these shadows to a friend’s house who swatched them direct to her skin. And I was shocked that Studio looked lilac-plum on her deep warm toned complexion. This is to say, that these may look slightly different on you than they do on me (I have olive skin for reference).
Social has a grey undertone, quite desaturated, best for cooler complexions. And Brun, well, a beautiful rich coffee hue, but I think the blend on the eye says it all.
This is a cream eyeshadow that looks like powder on the eyes. It does not budge once it sets, and the set down is swift. I recommend doing one eye at a time to get an even wash of colour. It’s not uncommon for darker colours to be a little patchier to work with, and I think, I may have been a little overzealous with my initial application (I just a brush to blend here but fingers also work).
Final Thoughts
There’s a lot I love about these. The easy-going formula and no fuss application. I typically will use any fluffy brush, swirl around in the pan (not too much pressure as a little goes a long way), and blend out on the eyes. One shadow wonder, which makes getting ready in the morning feel effortless.
Perhaps the most alluring point is that these truly are smudge and budge proof. My oily eyelids don’t crack a crease at all, even after 12+ hours of wear. Bulletproof.
I do sometimes find getting a soft blend on the edges can be tricky, as can mimicking the shape on each eye due to the fast dry down. But this is probably more reliant on my technique than anything.
Colours are very pretty, in particular I love Brun. The perfect, chocolatey brown. The Neutrals are highly wearable so it’s no wonder I find these easy to just reach for on rotation. One thing I do wish, is that there were some lighter shades – my personal preference more than anything else.
To hold one of these shadows in your hand, is to get that tactile sene of luxury. They’re weighty, and have a gleaming gold lid which securely fastens to keep the integrity of the shadows intact. And I like this approach; the single shadow. Because it attests to the fact that these are strong enough of an eyeshadow to be worn solo.
And I think, if you’re looking at adding a MERIT Solo Shadow to your collection, you really only need one or two key shades. While technically yes, they can be layered/built up, they perform best when worn alone.
Shop my MERIT Beauty faves below:
