Merit Shade Slick Lip Oil Review

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This has been a long time coming! I’ve been saying I’m going to review Merit’s Shade Slick Lip Oil for ages and it keeps getting pushed further and further back. Not for any longer, though, because I’m finally here to share my thoughts!

Earlier in the year, Merit sent me two of their products to try out. The first being their Signature Lip Liner, a completely new, creamy gel lip pencil. And the second, an existing fan favourite, Shade Slick, which was just released in a bunch of new shades.

But that’s not all there is to it…

Because this new Shade Slick collection, The Sheens, isn’t just four new shades. It’s actually a whole new formula.

So, how exactly is this new Shade Slick formula different to the other collections? I’ll break it down for you below…

How do The Sheens fit into the Merit Shade Slick family?

Merit has three Shade Slick collections: The Sheens, The Classics, and The Gelées.

The Classics are your traditional lip oil. They’re moisturising and glossy, with a bit more pigment than the other Shade Slick collections. If you’re looking for good colour payoff, these are your best bet.

The Gelées are the sheerest of the lot. These have just the tiniest hint of colour, achieving a really subtle, bare-lip finish.

The Sheens are the newest collection, and the sparkliest too. These have a pretty, pearlescent finish and are again a little sheerer than The Classics.

Shade range

Each collection has four different shades. I like this pared down offering, as it makes choosing your lip oil a whole lot easier. When there’s 20+ shades, it’s almost impossible to pick!

For The Sheens, we’ve got:

• Biarritz – a nude pink
• Twin Set – a mauve
• Tabby – a rose brown
• Pointelle – a cool baby pink

I opted for Pointelle as I felt I’d get the most use out of it. It’s the perfect ‘my lips but better’ shade for me (just with an added bit of sparkle).

Packaging

Merit’s luxurious packaging never disappoints. Their Shade Slick lip oil comes in a squared tube (I love the flat sides as it never rolls away!) with a gold cap.

The applicator itself is a tiny doe foot, which is just the cutest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one so small. It’s great though because it allows for really clean and precise application.

Formula and finish

Now, I mentioned earlier that the formula of The Sheens is slightly different to The Classics and The Gelées. Here’s how…

Merit says The Sheens are meant to be more cushiony and longer-wearing. They don’t exactly break down why. But scanning through the ingredients list it looks like they’ve swapped out a couple of plant oils that are in the original formula (like Jojoba, Grape Seed and Rosehip) for plant-based Squalane and Quinoa Oil instead.

This lip oil certainly does feel really nourishing on the lips, and I like how it hydrates without feeling sticky. It kind of feels like a hybrid between a lip balm and a gloss in that sense.

The finish is shiny and slightly shimmery. I like how subtle the pearlescent effect is. It’s not totally metallic, you just see the little flecks when the light hits.

Application

The doe-foot applicator on this lip oil is so small. I love it, but it does make applying your lippie a slightly longer (and more fiddly) process.

With a large doe foot, you can get your lip oil on in a couple of swipes. With the smaller Merit Shade Slick applicator, you’re probably going to have to do a few extra dabs just to make sure you’ve covered everything.

Pigmentation

The Sheens collection is sheerer than the The Classics, so expect a little less pigment than the original Merit lip oil.

These still provide a nice, natural wash of colour but it’s not intense or super noticeable. I view these lip oils as a way to enhance your natural lip colour, rather than mask it completely.

Wear Test: How long does it last?

Merit claims this is their longest-wearing lip oil yet. I haven’t tried the other two Shade Slick collections, so I can’t verify if The Sheens last longer than The Classics or The Gelées.

What I can say is that the longevity is… just ok. This lasts for a couple of hours before I need to reapply it, and it mostly wears off after I eat.

This is pretty typical for a lip oil so I’m not disappointed. But I did think that with this new hyped up formula, the staying power might have been just a tiny bit better.

Where to buy the Merit Shade Slick lip oils

If you’re in the US, Canada, Australia, UK or France, you can order this lip oil directly through the Merit Beauty website. Standard shipping is free over $40 USD/$50 CAD/$75 AUD/£50/€50.

Alternatively, you can order Merit products from Sephora, along with all your other beauty goodies.

The Shade Slick lip oil (no matter which collection you buy from) usually retails for £21.

Merit Lip Liner Pairings

Since Merit launched the Signature Lip Liner to complement their new Shade Slick collection, I think it’s only right to quickly run through which lip oil and liner combos work best together.

Merit actually has a discounted lip liner and oil duo, so it’s worth grabbing the set if you can.

My recommendations are:

• Pointelle + Coupé – I’m slightly biased as this is the duo I have, but it creates the perfect soft pink lip.
• Twin Set + Bespoke – A warm mauve-brown look that’s made for autumn.
• Tabby + Capricorn – Such a stunning rich brown combo. This is so flattering on deeper skin tones.
• Biarritz + Tabac – A slightly corally, peachy duo which looks really natural. No orangeness here.

Final Verdict: Is Merit’s Shade Slick worth it?

I’m always hyper critical of lip oils, simply because I don’t think you need to spend a fortune to find a good one.

There are loads of drugstore lip oils that I think are equally as good as their luxury counterparts. Check out my comparison of the internet’s favourite lip oils if you’re curious as to which ones I think are actually worth buying!

Merit’s Shade Slick has me slightly torn because I do think £21 is a lot of money for a lip oil, but – I have to admit – it’s also been one of my most reached for products this year.

For me though, I think this is mostly due to the colour of the lip oil rather than the formula itself. I really love how subtle and natural this looks on. If I want a ‘my lips but better’ type look, this is the first lip product I search for.

It looks great on its own but it looks just as good with a liner. I really don’t think you can go wrong with this!

Overall, if you’re a fan of muted shades and a natural finish, I think you’ll enjoy this lip oil – especially if you don’t mind splashing out a bit. If you’re looking for bold colour and super long wear, you’ll probably find a better fit elsewhere.

Have you tried Merit’s Shade Slick? If so, which collection? If you’re a fan of The Sheens too, let me know in the comments below!