Merit Vachetta, Midcentury, Brun, Social Solo Shadows Reviews & Swatches
Vachetta
Merit Vachetta Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light-medium, yellowed peach with warm undertones and a flat, matte finish.
- Medium pigmentation (supposed to be buildable but was nearly impossible to build up)
- Moderately emollient, hard to apply evenly
- Prone to lifting up during building OR 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
- KKW Beauty Baby (PiP, ).
- MAC Bamboo (DC, $17.00).
- ColourPop Wake Up Call (P, $4.50).
- Sephora Saddle (LE, ).
- Tarte Loveee (LE, ).
- ColourPop Rocker (PiP, $4.50).
- ColourPop Maple Syrup (LE, $4.50).
- Morphe M.F.E.O. (LE, ).
- Dominique Cosmetics Fringe (LE, ).
- ColourPop Chai (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.
Vachetta
PPermanent. $24.00.
Midcentury
Merit Midcentury Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light-medium, rosy brown with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish. The first swatch photo shows it immediately applied, and the second photo shows an attempt to blend it out after 3 seconds.
- 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
- Fenty Beauty She a Problem (P, $22.00).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Glitz Blitz (P, $24.00).
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.
Midcentury
PPermanent. $24.00.
Brun
Merit Brun Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a darker, red-tinted brown with subtle warmth and a flat, matte finish.
- Medium pigmentation (supposed to be buildable but was 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).
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.
Brun
PPermanent. $24.00.
Social
Merit Social Solo Shadow ($24.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a light-medium, pinky-peach with subtle, warm undertones and a flat, matte finish. I had some issues with the ingredients separating a bit (what looked like wax buildup) and resulted in glossier, clear bits.
- 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 Bare with Me (P, $8.00).
- ColourPop Cheek2Cheek (PiP, $4.50).
- ColourPop Cha Cha (LE, $4.50).
- LORAC Hot Toddy (LE, $19.00).
- ColourPop Labyrinth (P, $4.50).
- ColourPop Pond (LE, $4.50).
- ColourPop Dreamboat (LE, $4.50).
- ColourPop Candy Crush (LE, $4.50).
- Kaja Smoky Sepia (PiP, ).
- ColourPop Sprung (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.
I guess I’m lucky because the two I have (Brun and Social) have worked beautifully and I really enjoy them. I use primer and apply with a brush and they stay all day without creasing.
No, I wasn’t given these in exchange for a review. Bought them myself, as I have enjoyed the brands other products.
So happy they are working for you, Mindy!
I have Studio and Brun and they have worked great for me, too. But I’m pretty used to liking the products that everyone else hates, LOL!
The early creasing immediately took Midcentury out of play for me to use in a very simple, basic eye look. What a shame that these are such an epic fail!
I found it very interesting that all the social media promos for this product was just a brush being pushed into the product and not even showing anyone swatch them. I immediately thought to myself that they must know this product is complete crap and is going to try and sell it with their name alone. Looks that my initial thoughts might be right.
At first glance I thought they were cream blushes.
I knew these were going to be problematic after swatching just a couple when I was in Spokane. I initially attributed the dryness to the shadows sitting out uncovered for a long time in the store. But, even when I could get the swatch on my hand/arm I couldn’t get it to move around to even attempt to blend it out. Sorry you had to wear these. I imagine there are some people who will love them and for whom they will work well but not for me!
😱How horrendous!
OMG – another run of dud products! What are the brands doing? Where is their quality control? What a waste of money for you Christine and for the hapless purchasers who don’t read this site.
Poor copywriter clearly forgot a word when they typed, “impossible to mess up.”
I am actually really curious to swatch these in person, since opinions have been so divided!
I’m glad I waited for review! I almost bought one thinking for the price point it must be great.
I would say you got a dud batch but that doesn’t make sense if they’re all that crappy. The ones I have swatched have done so beautifully and have blended nicely as well. If consistency across batches really is a problem then that’s not good news for merit.
One thing for sure, we all have different preferences and while I know that Christine uses a strict algorithm to score her product reviews, that doesn’t mean that others won’t love the things that make these duds for most of us. I am so happy that they are working for you and for others because makeup is expensive and returning things is a real hassle. I rarely do, even if I hate a product I just figure it is just me and I should have paid more attention to reviews and done my own investigation. I have to admit, none of the shades really wowed me either so that could be part of it for me.
1 of the YTube influencers I watch on & off had nothing bad to say about these. I watch her because we have very similar coloring and these looked great on her.
I’m grateful you reviewed these because I was interested in these colors–especially Vachetta–it would have been a great daytime color for me. And of course, I’m a tightwad and it’s painful to spend $24 on something that is that poor of a product! Would MAC’s paint pots be a good substitute?
Yes, MAC Paint Pot would be a good substitute!
I don’t hate the Merit pots but I will say that MAC Paint Pots are always a good choice! I keep hoping they add more “matte” colors, like a pinky-brown like Merit Studio. Who am I kidding, I’ve been trying to dupe ColourPop SSS in Wattles for years in a more reliable brand, LOL!
I would hate to spend $24 on one of these and have them perform like this.
I swatched some of these in person at Sephora a few weeks ago and chose to purchase Social. I wonder if there’s a quality control/ inconsistency issue with these, as I am really happy with my purchase! This is a simple one-and-done shadow look for me that I can apply with a finger in the morning and have it last a long time. The color is very flattering, and it reminds me of my mother’s eyeshadow looks in the ‘90s.
It’s so unfortunate that some of these swatch so poorly!
Merit has disappointed me from the start. I do not get the hype! I wanted to be into it, but the whole brand has turned out to be a miss for me. Thanks for telling it like it is!
I have not liked most Merit products I’ve tried (the little blush balm didn’t last on me at all and I really don’t like the lip oil) and find them to be overhyped. I do, however, like these. I only have one, Midcentury, and have worn it every day for the past week. Although it doesn’t really build up, I don’t have a problem with blending and it doesn’t crease at all on me (I’ve checked each day because I’ve read that’s a problem with them). It does fade throughout the day but I’ve found it to fade in a consistent, even way that I don’t mind. It’s nothing earth shattering, but for me is a nice natural one and done eyeshadow. I swatched the other neutral shades at Sephora and didn’t have an issue with the swatches. It does make it seem like there might be some bad batches out there.