Best Gray/Black Eyeshadows: 7 MAC Eyeshadows
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
7 Must-Have Gray/Black MAC Eyeshadows
About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series
A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.
Silver Ring eyeshadow is a medium-to-dark shimmery, silver-gray color. It’s one of my favorite colors to use for a classic smokey eye!
Electra eyeshadow is a bright silver that works really well to brighten up a look, because it’s not so dark like Silver Ring.
Print eyeshadow is a deep newsprint gray. It’s a great shadow to add dimension to a look beyond just smokey eyes. I just love the smooth texture of this shadow.
Carbon eyeshadow is a must-have matte black eyeshadow. It’s pretty black, though not the blackest shadow I’ve come across–but it’s the right shade of multi-use black. It can be softened while it can also be built up into a darker black.
See three more, plus pairing recommendations!
Forgery eyeshadow is another bright silvery shade, but it has a glittery texture as it is a lustre. I feel like it is a more workable lustre than the average one, and the subtle shimmer is excellent for layering over dark shadows.
White Frost eyeshadow is a shimmery white shade, and the reason why I mention it here with grays and blacks is because you can use it to help modify the shade of gray or black to the perfect one for you!
Typographic eyeshadow is a dark gray matte shadow. It’s extremely smooth, pigmented, and pretty blendable, because it has a newer matte texture.
Pair these shadows with…
purples (like Parfait Amour), blacks (like Carbon), silvers (like Silver Ring), golds (like Nylon), greens (like Humid), blues (like Freshwater)
Check your stash for a few awesome limited edition finds…
Garcon Gray, Black Gold, Gentle Fume, Night Owl, Suspicion
What are your favorite purple eyeshadows?
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of great eyeshadows — these are shades I personally think are worth getting as a whole. I also only list permanent eyeshadow colors (and eyeshadows only–no other eye products, *just* eyeshadows for this list), which is why limited edition colors do not make the list.
I am obsessed with silver, grey and charcoal eyeshadow, so I am so please you posted this. I've got Electra, typographic, and print, also knight divine. I'm working on purchasing the rest.
my biggest question is about "carbon" from M.A.C. is that does it move around? I only have 2 things from M.A.C. Studio Finish concealer, and Burnt burgundy pigment.I've been wanting a perfect Matte Black eyeshadow, and i noticed most I've used have moved around. I would take a stuff angle brush just to but on the outer part of my lash line, and it would transfer to the outer corner of my eye, then to my socker/crease area. Does Carbon do that? And btw, yes, I use primers, and suitable bases for underneath my matte black eyeshadows that I've used.
No Copperplate :(
hi i don't know which one is better Mount Black or Typographic
Typographic
I've been wanting to try a dark grey eyeshadow for awhile now (Typographic could be the one), but I was wondering: can people like me, with warm medium skin (yellow undertones!) even pull off a grey like this? (P.S. This reminds me..can yellow undertones wear reddish browns? I'm at loss with what I can and cannot wear when it comes to these simple shades - I never thought about it before!)
Yes!!
Hey so I'm putting together a smokey eyes quad. So far I have Idol Eyes and Black Tied. I'd like to get Forgery too but I'm missing a grey color. I don't want something too dark or shimmery. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Hi Sarain, How about Scene or Print?
Knight divine is no silver ring, silver ring is much nicer, if you want a darker silver ring go for knight out of blonde brunette redhead! <3
i love this silver gray color. looks great on my sister
Silverthorn (greenish, warm grey) - excellent for green & blue looks Smoke and Diamonds (dirty grey) - good for brown and smoky looks Knight Divine (a darker version of Silver Ring)- awesome for smoky looks to deepen the crease Idol Eyes (silver with purple sheen)- nice for brightening inner corners
how about when you want to create a soft morning smokey look with brown colors? what eyeshadow colors are to be used, and can you explain also on the applying techique please christina?
Please see this post: http://www.temptalia.com/8-must-have-mac-neutral-eyeshadows
What about smut?? I use it all the time
Smut is a dark brown, isn't it?
I, too, am also shocked that Knight Divine didn't make the cut. I need to stock up on more blacks and greys...
I always reach for Silver Ring over Knight Divine :(
WHAT ABOUT KNIGHT DIVINE??!!
LOL! Seems like a lot of people are with ya on this one, Nice!
Christine - have you swatched Silverthorn yet from A Rose Romance?? Pics have it looking a bit like Silver Ring, but I'm not sure. Maybe you can give us some insight on this newbie.
It's lighter than Silver Ring!
Yes, it's lighter than Silver Ring and also seems to have a blue hue about it. I think it would give a much different look for this reason.
Black Tied is a great black too just because it has the slight shimmer effect that Carbon doesn't since it is totally matte. Black Tied is great for dramatic "night-out" looks.
I've always felt Black Tied was dupeable if you had Carbon, but you can't use Black Tied to dupe Carbon!
Copperplate and apres ski are great grey shades
I like Copperplate, too!
Hey I have a question for all of y'all! I have SO much trouble with black eyeshadow. I want to a DARK black smokey eye but I cannot get the black shadow to go on correctly. Do you have any tips for bases or techniques that work for you? Thanks!!
If you have the Blacktrack Fluidline, put it all over your lid as a base and then do the smokey eye. It really makes it look more intense and stays on alot better. HTH!
Thanks Stephanie! I will definitely try this soon!
Good tip!
You can also use Blacktrack paint pot as a base, then apply Carbon over it. It will have an excellent staying and great intensity (that's what I do when I want dramatic intense black eyes and it works!).
Paint pot in "Blackground", sorry. It's late on here. ;)
A good way to help the black more intense with staying power is to use Sharkskin shadestick underneath your shadow. It intensifies any color and it would really make your black smokey eye the darkness that you are looking for. HTH!
I always like Blacktrack underneath, too, for a super black!
I love Smoke & Diamonds and obviously Carbon
I co-sign Carbon. It's beyond <3. Im so intrigued by black gold.
LOL! :)
Well.....I have a very old MAC eyeshadow called ISSUE, it's the most amazing light grey colour with very subtle silver and blue shimmer in it, it's a satin! Why they have never repromoted this is really beyond me....I've have 14 other grey ones from different brands, but I just cannot find a dupe! I just finished my grey/black palette this weekend, and I love Mont Black...black with gold glitters :-)
That is an oldie, Victoria Maria!
Silver Ring, ElectrA and Carbon aRE must haves! I want Typographic. My favorites for purples are Beautiful Iris, Nocturnelle, Trax, and Shadowy Lady.
Those are great picks, Arika!
Mmm I like Copperplate and Knight Divine!
Seems like two popular favorites!
I'm suprised to see Knight Divine wasn't there! My fav grey would have to be Pandemonium because it's a really dark grey!
Knight Divine seems too similar to Silver Ring, yeah?
I have black tied and i love the colour and the texture but never wear it because i dont really know how to :( maybe carbon is better?
I think I must be the only one who doesn't love Black Tied, LOL!
I would add Knight Divine, Smoke and Diamonds, Charred and Vex to the list you have going there!
Vex is a definite must-have! I'll have to amend this post!
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