Merit Studio, Viper, Nelson, Midnight Solo Shadows Reviews & Swatches
Studio
Merit Studio Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium-dark mauve with muted, neutral-to-warm undertones and a flat, matte finish.
- Semi-opaque pigmentation (not sheer, nearly impossible to build up)
- Moderately emollient, hard to apply evenly
- Prone to lifting up during blending due to drying down very quickly
- Best applied with a fluffy brush but still a mediocre application
- Short-wearing (creased after 3 to 4 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Mariposa (PiP, $4.50).
- MAC Ribbon Realness (LE, $17.00).
- Jouer Aubergine (PiP, ).
- Viseart Fleur (PiP, ).
- Dior Tutu #3 (PiP, ).
- Sephora Heather Grey (LE, ).
- ColourPop Big Fig (PiP, $4.50).
- Blackbird Cosmetics Vintage (DC, $8.00).
- KVD Beauty Silk (LE, ).
- Viseart Grenache (PiP, ).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.17 oz. - $141.18 Per Ounce
The product is described as a "buildable cream-to-powder formula that's impossible to mess up" that "creates a sheer wash of color." It is supposed to be "blendable" and will not crease or have fallout that can be applied "with fingers or Brush No. 2 for more precision."
They're not sheer. They're not buildable. They're not blendable. They do crease. They apply particularly poorly with fingertips. The formula is incredibly quick-drying to a budge-proof finish (at least, initially), and any attempt to blend, layer, or otherwise disturb whatever you managed to initially apply will immediately lift off, become patchy, and look like a disastrous mess.
As a result, it was hard to use them as a sheer product, but when I managed somewhat sheer coverage, I could not apply anything on top of it, whether that was layering the same shadow on top or using another eyeshadow over it. It was hard to apply the product evenly as it was quite emollient--I had waxy build up on the rims of most of my shades--yet it did dry down very, very quickly.
Normally, something so quick-drying would definitely be long-wearing, but I had trouble with these breaking down and creasing with three to four hours, not that I'd want to wear any of these out given how abominable the application was. I also felt like the dry down was a very flat, almost chalky, matte finish that was prone to emphasizing lid texture/lines.
If you use a fluffy, synthetic brush and quickly buff the color on, the results are decent (at best), but you won't be able to go back and correct anything, so you have to nail the laydown of product within five seconds.
Browse all of our Merit Solo Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera [Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax], Mica, Silica, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sh-Polypeptide-123, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tin Oxide May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 16035 (Red 40 Lake), CI 19140 Yellow 5, CI 77400 (Bronze Powder), CI 77400 (Copper Powder), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Studio
PPermanent. $24.00.
Viper
Merit Viper Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light-medium olive green with muted, warm undertones and a flat, matte finish.
- Semi-opaque pigmentation (not sheer, nearly impossible to build up)
- Moderately emollient, hard to apply evenly
- Prone to lifting up during blending due to drying down very quickly
- Best applied with a fluffy brush but still a mediocre application
- Short-wearing (creased after 3 to 4 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Local BB (PiP, $4.50).
- Sydney Grace Bravo (P, $5.25).
- NARS Thrill Seeker (LE, $19.00).
- Anastasia Destiny (DC, $12.00).
- Glaminatrix Camo (P, $7.30).
- Sydney Grace Ivy League (P, $5.25).
- Sydney Grace Enchantment (LE, $5.25).
- Make Up For Ever M322 Khaki (DC, $21.00).
- MAC Marsh (P, $17.00).
- Inglot J309 Olive (LE, $10.00).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.17 oz. - $141.18 Per Ounce
The product is described as a "buildable cream-to-powder formula that's impossible to mess up" that "creates a sheer wash of color." It is supposed to be "blendable" and will not crease or have fallout that can be applied "with fingers or Brush No. 2 for more precision."
They're not sheer. They're not buildable. They're not blendable. They do crease. They apply particularly poorly with fingertips. The formula is incredibly quick-drying to a budge-proof finish (at least, initially), and any attempt to blend, layer, or otherwise disturb whatever you managed to initially apply will immediately lift off, become patchy, and look like a disastrous mess.
As a result, it was hard to use them as a sheer product, but when I managed somewhat sheer coverage, I could not apply anything on top of it, whether that was layering the same shadow on top or using another eyeshadow over it. It was hard to apply the product evenly as it was quite emollient--I had waxy build up on the rims of most of my shades--yet it did dry down very, very quickly.
Normally, something so quick-drying would definitely be long-wearing, but I had trouble with these breaking down and creasing with three to four hours, not that I'd want to wear any of these out given how abominable the application was. I also felt like the dry down was a very flat, almost chalky, matte finish that was prone to emphasizing lid texture/lines.
If you use a fluffy, synthetic brush and quickly buff the color on, the results are decent (at best), but you won't be able to go back and correct anything, so you have to nail the laydown of product within five seconds.
Browse all of our Merit Solo Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera [Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax], Mica, Silica, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sh-Polypeptide-123, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tin Oxide May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 16035 (Red 40 Lake), CI 19140 Yellow 5, CI 77400 (Bronze Powder), CI 77400 (Copper Powder), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Viper
PPermanent. $24.00.
Nelson
Merit Nelson Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a medium-dark, grayish-taupe with neutral-to-cool undertones and a flat, matte finish.
- Semi-opaque pigmentation (not sheer, nearly impossible to build up)
- Moderately emollient, hard to apply evenly
- Prone to lifting up during blending due to drying down very quickly
- Best applied with a fluffy brush but still a mediocre application
- Short-wearing (creased after 3 to 4 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Makeup Geek Friend Zone (DC, $6.00).
- Makeup Atelier Natural Chestnut #5 (P, ).
- ColourPop Fate (LE, $4.50).
- Buxom Jetsetter (P, $12.00).
- KVD Beauty Smoke (Base) (PiP, ).
- Smashbox Punked (PiP, ).
- Huda Beauty Jaguar #2 (LE, ).
- Sephora Violet Gray (LE, ).
- ColourPop Vintage Queen (PiP, $4.50).
- LORAC Silent Mary (LE, $19.00).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.17 oz. - $141.18 Per Ounce
The product is described as a "buildable cream-to-powder formula that's impossible to mess up" that "creates a sheer wash of color." It is supposed to be "blendable" and will not crease or have fallout that can be applied "with fingers or Brush No. 2 for more precision."
They're not sheer. They're not buildable. They're not blendable. They do crease. They apply particularly poorly with fingertips. The formula is incredibly quick-drying to a budge-proof finish (at least, initially), and any attempt to blend, layer, or otherwise disturb whatever you managed to initially apply will immediately lift off, become patchy, and look like a disastrous mess.
As a result, it was hard to use them as a sheer product, but when I managed somewhat sheer coverage, I could not apply anything on top of it, whether that was layering the same shadow on top or using another eyeshadow over it. It was hard to apply the product evenly as it was quite emollient--I had waxy build up on the rims of most of my shades--yet it did dry down very, very quickly.
Normally, something so quick-drying would definitely be long-wearing, but I had trouble with these breaking down and creasing with three to four hours, not that I'd want to wear any of these out given how abominable the application was. I also felt like the dry down was a very flat, almost chalky, matte finish that was prone to emphasizing lid texture/lines.
If you use a fluffy, synthetic brush and quickly buff the color on, the results are decent (at best), but you won't be able to go back and correct anything, so you have to nail the laydown of product within five seconds.
Browse all of our Merit Solo Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera [Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax], Mica, Silica, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sh-Polypeptide-123, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tin Oxide May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 16035 (Red 40 Lake), CI 19140 Yellow 5, CI 77400 (Bronze Powder), CI 77400 (Copper Powder), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Nelson
PPermanent. $24.00.
Midnight
Merit Midnight Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a deep blue with strong, cool undertones paired with a flat, matte finish. This type of color is difficult to do in general but especially in a cream or liquid format. Merit continued to add to the disappointments in this hue with an exceptionally poor offering!
- Medium pigmentation (not sheer, nearly impossible to build up)
- Moderately emollient, hard to apply evenly
- Prone to lifting up during blending due to drying down very quickly
- Best applied with a fluffy brush but still a mediocre application
- Short-wearing (creased after 3 to 4 hours of wear)
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Style and Ease (P, $6.00).
- ColourPop Stunner (LE, $4.50).
- Anastasia D5 (Norvina Vol. 2) (LE, ).
- NARS China Blue (P, $19.00).
- NABLA Cosmetics Blue Hour (PiP, $8.00).
- Charlotte Tilbury Super Blue #4 (LE, ).
- ColourPop Merryweather (LE, $4.50).
- NABLA Cosmetics Blue Velvet (P, $8.00).
- Make Up For Ever M226 Abyssal Blue (P, $17.00).
- ColourPop Wise One (LE, $4.50).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.17 oz. - $141.18 Per Ounce
The product is described as a "buildable cream-to-powder formula that's impossible to mess up" that "creates a sheer wash of color." It is supposed to be "blendable" and will not crease or have fallout that can be applied "with fingers or Brush No. 2 for more precision."
They're not sheer. They're not buildable. They're not blendable. They do crease. They apply particularly poorly with fingertips. The formula is incredibly quick-drying to a budge-proof finish (at least, initially), and any attempt to blend, layer, or otherwise disturb whatever you managed to initially apply will immediately lift off, become patchy, and look like a disastrous mess.
As a result, it was hard to use them as a sheer product, but when I managed somewhat sheer coverage, I could not apply anything on top of it, whether that was layering the same shadow on top or using another eyeshadow over it. It was hard to apply the product evenly as it was quite emollient--I had waxy build up on the rims of most of my shades--yet it did dry down very, very quickly.
Normally, something so quick-drying would definitely be long-wearing, but I had trouble with these breaking down and creasing with three to four hours, not that I'd want to wear any of these out given how abominable the application was. I also felt like the dry down was a very flat, almost chalky, matte finish that was prone to emphasizing lid texture/lines.
If you use a fluffy, synthetic brush and quickly buff the color on, the results are decent (at best), but you won't be able to go back and correct anything, so you have to nail the laydown of product within five seconds.
Browse all of our Merit Solo Shadow swatches.
Ingredients
Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Cera [Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax], Mica, Silica, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sh-Polypeptide-123, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tin Oxide May Contain (+/-): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 16035 (Red 40 Lake), CI 19140 Yellow 5, CI 77400 (Bronze Powder), CI 77400 (Copper Powder), CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder)
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
There’s bad, and then there’s these, which are so far BEYOND subpar in every way. It’s a real shame, too. Because I believe that this brand is very capable of producing very good to excellent products. This sure ain’t one of them!
Out of all the shades I was most drawn to Viper and Nelson but they look horrible. I liked their undertone but no way do I want to work this hard and since I have dry skin, including my eyelids, it would just mean tugging and tugging for a terrible outcome. Again, for those who purchased them and are enjoying using them, I am so glad they worked out for you. I love the idea of one and done eyeshadows, especially on days when I am not doing anything exciting but still want to look decent for the mailman or the guy at the dump! So, I have been re-evaluating my shadows and have found that a lot of the Chanel quads and older Dior quints have shades that make beautiful one and done shades. Occasionally I will toss a neutral light or medium toned brown into the crease for some depth but my eye looks have simplified so much and I am really enjoying the cleaner look to my makeup. I also think that using one and done shadows has ignited an interest in blush which has fueled my recent blush purchases.
They’re beautiful shades in concept, a shame.
Oh dear! Not one of them is good….or even partially good. Straight to the Most Disappointed List for the end of the year – along with Tom Ford’s latest and Dior’s Backstage blushes. At least these products are in good company.
I feel sorry for your lids, Christine!
These eyeshadows are horrible. Maybe a primer would help, but a product should work on its own. I think especially a cream eyeshadow. A lot of us use cream eyeshadows as a base product, instead of a primer.
I do like the colour of Nelson, I’m happy I have a dupe
I tested these out at Sephora the other day and wondered if the testers had dried out. Looks like it’s just the shadows themselves. 🙁
I was a bit surprised by the less than stellar review of the Merit cream shadows. I purchased Venetta and I have found it to be a great color for my skin tone, easy to work with and long lasting.
I have had a great experience with these shadows! I really love the ones I have! Two of the lighter colors. Studio and Vachetta. Use a primer and a soft synthetic brush to gently pat where you want it. Very minimal but polished. They stay all day for me with no creasing at all.