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Today, I would like to help you find the best MAC eye liner and eye pencil shades, no matter what your skin tone is.
I have actually never written much about MAC eye products, but I have written about the best MAC eyeshadow palettes and will keep going with single eyeshadows for blue eyes, green eyes, and brown eyes very shortly .
In the meantime, in this new post, I really wanted to let you know about some of the best MAC eye liner products – and this, whether you’re looking for an eye pencil or a gel eyeliner.
I was a MAC makeup artist for over a year, both in makeup stores in London and Paris, and I’ve been able to do makeup on countless skin tones.
I have also learned about the very best MAC eye liner shades, those that last all day and won’t budge, even if you have oily eyelids or hooded eyes.
12 Best MAC Eye Liner & Eye Pencil Shades For All Skin Tones
Unfortunately, one of my favorite MAC eye pencil ranges, the Pearlglide range, was discontinued not too long ago.
That’s a shame because they used to be waterproof, really bold in color and also kind of glittery/metallic.
While those have been discontinued, MAC Cosmetics has released new ranges, including the Colour Excess gel pencils, which are amazing when you’re looking for a waterproof eyeliner that really won’t move.
There are plenty of other eye pencils and eye liners available at MAC.
Yet, in this guide, I want to tell you about the shades that will really match each and every skin tone – and every eyecolor.
So get ready to discover your new favorite MAC eye liners!
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil in Perpetual Shock
Cobalt blue
First up, you have the MAC Colour Excess gel pencil in Perpetual Shock, which is described as a cobalt blue, and I really couldn’t describe it any better.
I am utterly and unconditionally in love with any kind of electric blue eyeliner color.
It simply looks amazing whether you are a redhead or have a medium to really dark skin tone.
The Colour Excess gel pencil eyeliners are completely waterproof and MAC promises over 24 hours of wear on the eyelids.
You can also use those in the waterline, which is something you should remember because I will be talking about other Colour Excess gel pencils in this guide.
Wear Perpetual Shock with some mauve lipstick.
Or, build a good colorblock look with some matte bright red lipstick, but don’t forget to match the lipstick to the blush – I would probably use the MAC Frankly Scarlet blush for that type of look.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: Brushstroke Brushblack
If you’re looking for the best MAC eye liner products, you should take a look at the Brushstroke eyeliner in the shade Brushblack.
There is also the Brushbrown shade, amazing if you are blonde and have very light eyes. In those cases, you might feel that black eyeliner looks too powerful on you, so that’s a good alternative.
The Brushstroke eyeliner is made of very fine brush hairs, just like the NYX Epic Ink Liner, which I am very fond of since it’s one of the best black eyeliners ever released.
Like, really.
The Brushstroke eyeliner is probably one of the best MAC products overall, and obviously, since it’s black, it does look amazing on quite anyone.
Also, if you’re really new to doing eyeliner, or are a beginner in makeup, you will find that the Brushstroke liner is actually very easy to use.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: Pro Longwear Fluidline in Macroviolet
Deep smoked violet with red pearl
If you’re more of a gel eyeliner, type of person, take a look at the Pro Longwear Fluildline range, which hosts a couple of really beautiful shades.
That obviously includes Blacktrack, one of the most famous black eyeliners of all time.
I have chosen to include here the Macroviolet eyeliner, which is described as a deep smoked violet with red pearl, but can actually be summed up as a plum eyeliner.
If you’re read my guide to the best eyeshadow palettes for blue eyes, you will have found that plum and purple eyeshadows look incredible on blue eyes and green eyes.
When it comes to brown eyes, you can legit wear anything you want and make it work.
The Pro Longwear Fluildline eyeliners are easy to wear and you can really work with the product before it dries down.
It lasts all day and while it is small, you only need a little bit of product because it is just that pigmented.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil in Incorruptible
White
The second MAC Colour Excess gel pencil I will mention here today is the shade Incorruptible, a super pigmented white eyeliner.
If you feel that eye pencils are actually not as precise to use as a gel eyeliner with a brush, just remember that you can apply white eyeliner as is.
Then, just clean up the edges with some concealer or some make up remover if you haven’t done your face yet.
The MAC Colour Excess gel pencil in Incorruptible is a fully pigmented white eyeliner.
It lasts all day, and really is of the kind that is usually hard to find unless you’re used to the Inglot gel eyeliner in the shade 76.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack
Soft flat black
I mentioned the Pro Longwear Macroviolet eyeliner, and now is the time for you to learn about the Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack.
I said before that this is one of the best black eyeliners ever created, and it is completely true.
The finish is matte, and just very wearable on a daily basis – and super easy to use with a brush!
My go-to eyeliner brush for the Blacktrack eyeliner is the Zoeva 317 brush, as it is very precise, and precision is something I love in makeup.
And just like the Macroviolet eyeliner, Blacktrack comes in a very small pot, but it is an investment that will last you a good few months, to well over a year.
Unless you’re a makeup artist, that is.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil in Serial Monogamist
Hunter green
The third Colour Excess gel pencil in this guide is the shade Serial Monogamist, which is a beautiful metallic khaki eyeliner.
I have always loved khaki eyeliners and anyone looking for the best MAC eye liner and eye pencils should take a look at this one.
Why?
Because khaki looks amazing whether you have green eyes, blue eyes or brown eyes.
The shade Serial Monogamist is described as a hunter green color, and if you would like to wear some champagne eyeshadow or some very light green eyeshadow underneath, it could create a very beautiful look.
Then, I would also pair this beautiful MAC eye pencil with either the Cherish or Mocha lipsticks, or probably just a simple lip liner like the Spice lip liner.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: Eye Kohl Minted
Vibrant mint green with pearl
Another one of the best MAC eye pencil shades for all skin tones is the Eye Kohl in the shade Minted, a beautiful mint green with shimmer.
Be aware that the MAC Eye Kohl products are not waterproof, but they are some of the best eye pencils to apply in the waterline.
You could create a full look with teal eyeshadow and yellow eyeshadow, and apply the MAC Minted eye pencil in the waterline to give even more impact to your look.
For the lips, you could just go for some clear lipgloss, and really let the eyes do the talking.
The Eye Kohl pencils are some of the best MAC eye liner products, simply because they are so creamy.
They are also some really great products to apply as a base for some colorful smoky eye looks, and will help the powder last all day without creasing.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil in Glide or Die
Carbon black
If you’d like to start wearing black eyeliner but aren’t sure how to handle a brush with some gel liner, MAC Cosmetics has released the Colour Excess gel pencil in the shade Glide or Die.
It is ultra black, waterproof, and utterly pigmented.
Neither totally matte, nor totally vinyl, the Glide or Die gel pencil is perfect when it comes to precision.
Also, don’t forget you can always clean off a little bit of mess you might be making with a brush and some concealer.
Another one of the best MAC eye liner shades, designed for absolutely everyone, especially if you’re looking for make up for oily eyelids.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: Eye Kohl Prunella
Shimmering black-eyed plum
I told you about the Eye Kohl in the shade Minted above.
Yet, one of my ultimate favorite MAC eye pencil shades is Prunella, described as a shimmering black-eyed plum.
It’s actually more black, with almost a duochrome of purple eyeliner color.
Again, this is an Eye Kohl, which means it is creamier than many other waterproof eyeliners you might find on the market.
And in my opinion, this is one of the best MAC eye liner shades because it creates the perfect base for a dark smoky eye look.
The color you apply on top does not really matter.
You could definitely pack on some grey eyeshadow, or some dark red eyeshadow on top, and it would cover the eyeliner completely.
A perfect eyeliner for the waterline as well, and to the best of my knowledge, there is no one purple eyeliner does not look good on.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil in Full Sleeve
Neutral Tan
The last MAC Colour Excess gel pencil I will mention here today is the shade Full Sleeve, described as a neutral tan color, and perfect to create negative eyeliner looks.
Remember in the 2000s, how we were advised to wear white eyeliner in the waterline to make our eyes appear bigger?
Well, I prefer to use nude eyeliner to make the eyes appear bigger, and especially to give the whole look a more natural outcome.
Again, with the Colour Excess Full Sleeve pencil, you will find that the color does not budge during the day – and does not crease.
It looks good on fair skin, but the people I would most definitely apply the Full Sleeve eyeliner on are medium to really dark skin tones, to get a full contrast.
Then, all you have to do is apply some nude lipstick on your lips, or maybe a dash of lipgloss on top of some brown lip liner.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Chromaline in Basic Red
Basic Red
In my honest opinion, some of the best MAC eye liner shades come straight from the Chromaline range.
I owned quite a few of these back when I used to work at MAC Cosmetics, including the bright pink one, and the red and purple shades I will mention here today.
On hazel eyes, green eyes and brown eyes, I love applying red eyeliner.
This is one of my favorite kind of products along with gold coral, blush and teal eyeshadows.
The MAC Chromaline in Basic Red is that super bright gel red eyeliner, completely waterproof, and designed to create details either on the face or the body.
That means you could definitely mix it with some type of mixing medium, and do some body painting with it, or just apply it as a winged eyeliner, which is the way I used to wear it.
Best MAC Eye Liner Shades: MAC Chromaline in Rich Purple
Rich Purple
Last in our guide to the best MAC eye pencil and eyeliner shades is the MAC Chromaline in Rich Purple.
I used to own this shade, and loved the fact that it’s neither too warm toned, nor too cool toned.
It’s true that burgundy eyeliner looks amazing on anyone, but bright purple eyeliner has something very different to it.
You could apply it on fair skin with warm undertones, on really dark skin, on Indian skin, or olive skin.
Almost anyone, really.
It’s really hard to find a person on whom purple eyeliner does not look good.
I have said it before, and I will say it again.
The Chromaline range has plenty of other shades to try, like a beautiful green eyeliner, a yellow, a pink eyeliner, and even a bright sky blue eyeliner that you can use either on the eyes, the face, or the body.
12 Best MAC Eye Liner & Eye Pencil Shades For All Skin Tones
There you have them, all the best MAC eye liner and eye pencil shades for all skin tones!
I have tried to select some of my favorites, as well as some of the shades that were most requested when I was working at MAC Cosmetics.
As usual, I tried to pick also a few MAC products that I know would look good on many skin tones, and would set you apart from the crowd who only wears mauve eyeshadow and light pink lipstick.
And as always, makeup is made it to be experimented, so don’t be afraid to try out new things!
Until next time!
Other Eye Makeup Posts
- The Best Blue Eyeshadow Palettes
- The Best Rainbow Eyeshadow Palettes
- The Best Metallic Eyeshadow Palettes
- The Best Juvia’s Place Eyeshadow Palettes
- The Best Yellow Eyeshadow Palettes
- The Best Pink Eyeshadow Palettes
Other Makeup Posts
- The Best MAC Lipsticks for Grey Hair & Mature Skin
- The Best MAC Bridal Lipsticks
- The Best Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks
- The Best Makeup Revolution Dupes for MAC Lipsticks
- The Best Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dupes
- The Best NYX Lip Liner Dupes for MAC
- The Best Colourpop Lippie Stix for Brown to Fair Skin
- The Best Charlotte Tilbury Lipsticks for Fair Skin
The Working Line
Sam is a certified fashion makeup artist, a freelance writer, a blogger and a digital nomad. Since 2019, she roams around the world, from London to Rome and shares her knowledge about makeup, scented candles, travel, blogging and the digital nomad lifestyle.