Archived Post

Best Gray/Black Eyeshadows: 7 MAC Eyeshadows

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.

101 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Christen Avatar

Great recommendations – I have Carbon and love that I can deepen the intensity. The one addition I would add to this group of shadows is Scene – it’s a classic gray that is great for a smoky eye.

Saira Avatar

Yeah, I agree – I’d definitely add Scene as well. It’s a really great satiny grey colour. I was really glad when I found this shade, as I had been looking for a true grey eyeshadow for a while and this one fitted what I was looking for perfectly. It’s pretty versatile – I sometimes use it for a smoky look by putting it on the lid, with darker colours in the crease or I use it more subtly in the crease with a lighter colour on the lid.

UD Strip is also a great silver colour – I think it’s pretty similar to Mac Silver Ring. I got Knight Divine a while ago and really like it – it’s a really nice, shimmery dark grey colour.

Violet Avatar

I have scene and it is horrible to work with. Creases with UDPP and TFSI. You really have to pack it on too.

I love the way Scene looks on the lid with UD Fishnet and Carbon in the crease! <3

Natalie Avatar

What a great list Christine!! I also love Pincurl and Knight.. Don’t have Forgery though, so I should check it out at MAC! 😀 How does Rose Romance Silverthorn rate against these great shadows?

Jacquelyn Avatar

I love Carbon e/s! One of my most favorite e/s to use with a smokey eye look! I’ve been eying on White Frost, Print, Typographic, Silver Ring and Electra for sometime! Divine Night in the Wisteria Trio is amazing to pair with Carbon!

Liana Avatar

can anyone let me know which shade is nicer, im on maccosmetics.com right now and im not sure which one to get a Rose Romance Silverthorn e/s or Silvering e/s ?

Leah Avatar

I second Knight Divine! That’s one of my faves in addition to print, vex and carbon. What collection was Black Gold from? It sounds gorgeous.

Arika BH Avatar

Silver Ring, ElectrA and Carbon aRE must haves! I want Typographic. My favorites for purples are Beautiful Iris, Nocturnelle, Trax, and Shadowy Lady.

Victoria Maria Avatar

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 🙂

AbbyL Avatar

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!!

Stephanie D Avatar

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!

Nathalie Avatar

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!).

Jennifer Avatar

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!

Nicole15 Avatar

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.

Nicole15 Avatar

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.

Jennifer Avatar

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.

gilnar Avatar

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?

Kate Avatar

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

Nicola Avatar

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

Sarain Avatar

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.

CB Avatar

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!)

Vannie Lee Avatar

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.

Stephanie Avatar

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.

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!