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Autumn has arrived, and with it an annual turn to richness in colors and textures. For autumn 2023, that urge is best addressed with a smudge of single-tone eyeshadow pulled from the corduroy palette—think chocolate browns, navy blues, deep greens, and aubergines.
"There is something so striking about a single color wash all over the lid,” says celebrity makeup artist Jo Baker. “It’s timeless, elegant, and ageless, and requires minimal skills to execute, making it a perfect look year round, but these flattering, rich tones feel particularly more-ish as we head into fall.”
Merit may have something to do with the trend. The release of the brand’s new Solo Shadows—pots of cream-to-powder, matte color—came as an answer to shimmery shadows and palette fatigue. “I always looked at palettes with disappointment,” says Aila Morin, SVP of brand, growth, and innovation at Merit. “I’d hit pan on my two favorite shades then be holding a palette with dozens more that I was never going to use.” Through consumer surveys, Merit found that, though eyeshadow was the most requested product within its community, it was also the least used.
Merit’s minimalist means of creating a major look is also reflected in the color ways: four “neutral" shades and four “statement” shades comprise the entirety of the launch. “In the last decade, the eyeshadow category has leaned warm and sparkly, which can be beautiful, but isn’t designed for fine lines and maturing skin,” Morin says, who points to the “neutrals” as worthy, still-warm alternatives.
But it’s the vibrant velvets that we’re after.
“The statements are cool-toned shades that are true colors designed to be flattering,” Morin says. (“Viper,” the line’s olive green, came after more than 24 color iterations.) The final four were inspired by the ‘90s and ‘00s, each dreamed up to create a complete look sans excess effort.
“It gives a sense of pulled together glamour with a zero-fuss feeling,” says Baker of single-tone shadow as a general trend. The method is also particularly perfect as day and night begin to twin in time. Makeup artist Omayma Ramzy prefers to press on a subtler matte during the day, moving to something deeper and more sultry as the evening comes. But her color of the moment (and everyone else’s, it would seem) fits well within both categories. “I really love a mossy tone for fall,” says Ramzy. “I think it’s beautiful, and playing into velvet finish tones is perfect for this time of year.”
Application here is entirely personal: tap or brush onto the lid, opt for a sheer coat or build into a saturated shade, layer over primer or wear alone. The beauty lies in choosing a moody hue that works for you—and allowing it to stand alone.
