To me this is a creamy, buildable formula. The different colors are slightly different in how glittery they are and Serpent is on the matte side, although if not in direct sunlight I'd say they all pass as satin (not in your face shimmer). It's not the most long-lasting shadow I have - I find myself reapplying in the afternoon with primer.

Serpent swatches as a dark purple but looks more like a shadow on the eyes. Looks great as a not brown nor grey shade or I blend with brown for a more neutral look.

At $39 this is extremely expensive for a single eyeshadow. I don't think the lasting power is worth even the sale price. You're really buying because the color is unique and possibly more interested in temporary photoshoots vs. all-day wear. The glass jar is nice and I am willing to pay more for it. The cream formula means this needs a lid and can't be sold in a palette but I would like to see offerings such as smaller sizes (with easier openings than the samples containers) or build your own sets for cheaper prices.

I started out with some samples to get a sense of this product and loved it. Although the samples are very generous, with the eye soots, they break so easily in those little sample jars, that after a few days, I had to toss them out but had gotten a good idea of how the shades and textures work. I have ordered seven of these now because (1) they're addicting and (2) each shade really has its own magical space. Serpent de Mer on the site looks like a bronzed deep violet/aubergine. When swatched on my hand, it looks like that too, but when I apply it gently on my eyes (fingers or brush), it gives me a softened warm gray. Definitely something I could do a smoky eye with. I haven't yet layered it up to get that violet tone, because I have been wearing it during the day and the soft smoke is working great.