MAC Black Walnut, Cat's Meow, Squid Modern Twist Kajal Liners Reviews, Photos, Swatches
MAC Black Walnut Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Modern Twist Kajal Liner ($17.00 for 0.01 oz.) is supposed to be an “easy-glide formula” with a “soft texture that’s perfect for rimming the sensitive waterline” that has “colour intensity and extreme depth” in a “long-wearing waterproof formula.” It’s a slim, twist-up eyeliner thas has light slip–not enough to slide around too easily but enough not to tug–with semi-opaque to mostly opaque coverage in one stroke. They felt creamier rather than waxy to me. On me, the formula wore between six and nine hours on me before noticeably thinning. None of them lasted for more than a few hours on the waterline, and some shades applied better/worse on the waterline. Some shades flaked while they wore, between four and six hours in (noted by the shade).
Black Walnut ($17.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “brown-black.” It’s a medium-dark black with warm, brown undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had semi-opaque coverage in one stroke, which was buildable to opaque coverage with two passes. The consistency didn’t drag on the lash line, but it wasn’t really wet or emollient (usually a good thing!). It lasted for eight hours on the lower lash line, four hours on the waterline. KVD Beauty Puro Amor (PiP, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Definitely Black (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black (P, $21.00) is cooler (95% similar). MAC Blacktrack (P, $16.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Makeup Geek Obsidian (DC, $9.00) is warmer (95% similar). Sephora All Black Everything (P, $14.00) is lighter (95% similar). Tarina Tarantino Tommy Jet (DC, $15.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Black Brilliance (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). Hourglass Obsidian (P, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Zero (P, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). Haus Labs Punk (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Laura Mercier Noir (P, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar). NARS Gran Via (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Chanel Noir Petrole (931) (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Wayne Goss Obsidian (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Melt Cosmetics Inmortal (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). NARS Via Veneto (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Maybelline Deep Onyx (P, $9.99) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood (Matte) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Cat’s Meow ($17.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “black.” It’s a medium-dark black with a semi-matte finish. The consistency was smooth, lightly creamy, and glided on without tugging (the swatch of it looks drier than it felt) and yielded mostly opaque coverage in one stroke. The color lasted for eight hours on the lower lash line, four hours on the waterline. Moira Black (P, $7.50) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). MAC Definitely Black (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar). Sephora All Black Everything (P, $14.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Black Ice (P, $20.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood (Matte) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). MAC Black Brilliance (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). Buxom Call Me (P, $17.00) is brighter, less glossy (95% similar). ColourPop Swerve (P, $7.00) is cooler, less glossy (95% similar). Urban Decay Perversion (P, $22.00) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black (P, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar). LA Girl Blackout (P, $4.49) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Ardency Inn Black (P, $19.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Jet (LE, $24.00) is darker (95% similar). Wayne Goss Obsidian (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Urban Decay Perversion (P, $20.00) is glossier (95% similar). About Face Into the Void (P, $13.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Stila Stingray (PiP, $22.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). KVD Beauty Skully (P, $18.00) is darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Legend (P, $20.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Squid ($17.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “carbon black.” It’s a dark black with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had mostly opaque pigmentation in one pass with a lightly creamy consistency that applied without dragging on the skin. This one wore for eight hours on the lower lash line, five hours on the waterline. Moira Black (P, $7.50) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). MAC Blacktrack (P, $16.00) is less glossy (95% similar). MAC Smolder (P, $21.00) is darker (95% similar). Haus Labs Punk (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, less glossy (95% similar). Urban Decay Perversion (P, $22.00) is darker (95% similar). Zoeva Black to Earth (P, $7.50) is glossier (95% similar). MAC Definitely Black (P, $20.00) is darker (95% similar). Sephora All Black Everything (P, $14.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Black Ice (P, $20.00) is less glossy (95% similar). MAC Black Brilliance (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Cat's Meow (P, $17.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). LA Girl Blackout (P, $4.49) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar). Buxom Call Me (P, $17.00) is glossier (95% similar). KVD Beauty Skully (P, $18.00) is darker (95% similar). ColourPop Swerve (P, $7.00) is cooler (95% similar). Urban Decay Perversion (P, $22.00) is darker (95% similar). Make Up For Ever M10 Matte Black (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). About Face Into the Void (P, $13.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Ardency Inn Black (P, $19.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar). MAC Flourish Me Deep (LE, $18.00) is warmer (95% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Black Walnut
PPermanent. $17.00.
Cat's Meow
PPermanent. $17.00.
Squid
PPermanent. $17.00.
MAC Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Black Walnut Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Black Walnut Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Black Walnut Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Cat’s Meow Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Cat’s Meow Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Cat’s Meow Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Squid Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Squid Modern Twist Kajal Liner
MAC Squid Modern Twist Kajal Liner
It’s rather discouraging that no one has seemed have found the best formula for the waterline.
If MAC Chromaline pot came in Brown I’d be set for life though.
I can’t believe there’s no brown Chromaline, lol!
It a big fat “WHY!” to me as well. One of the few formula’s that does last on my waterline…. I need brown! 🙁
I feel like brown is basic and in a way, PRO line is kind of basic – you know, very primary, core colors and then you mix to get say, teal, or tangerine or whatever, and BROWN!!! is necessary!
Pass on the blacks. I get really good wear out of the hourglass mechanical for tightlining and Becca gel liner for upper lashline. I never line my bottom in black.. ever.. unless of course at some point I want to look like a substance abusing aging rocker babe. We’ll leave that option off the table.
I did like that they put out three blacks – a warmer black, mid-tone black, and a darker black (though the latter could be a little inkier to me).
Is it just me or do these look basically exactly alike? Black Walnut has the slightest, tiniest hint of red brown, but it’s subdued enough that on eyes it would just look black. On a good note, so far these are reviewing better than the relaunch of the technakohl liners a few years ago. Hopefully the rest in the line follow the same path!
These are soooo much nicer to work with than the Technakohls!! I was worried when I saw they were very similar in style (fine-tip, twist-up), but they’re infinitely more comfortable to use/wear.
I can tell from the rating these perform much nicer on the skin (look nicer too). If they DC the Technakohls I hope they add the shade RISQUÉ to this formula as nothing else is even close to my skin tone. *_*
These are disappointing. I actually just discovered liners this week that last forever and I bought them especially for the waterline since nothing ever lasts past a few hours. They are Pupa eyeshadow sticks. They’re so long lasting they won’t even smudge if I swatch them on my hand. They’re waterproof so they also last all day on the waterline. Its so awesome to finally have a liner in several colors (teal, purple, turquoise etc.) that actually last on the waterline. I don’t think they sell Pupa in America but they are totally worth buying online if you can!
Nice! So glad you found a good formula for you 😀
Am I missing something? They all look the same! D:
They’re all takes on black, but one is warmer and one is dark from a medium neutral black 🙂
Look like regular liners to me. I feel like I could find something just like this and way cheaper form ColourPop or at the drugstore. Maybe some of the colors will win me over. I almost prefer a pencil which can be sharpened because I feel like I can make a crisper line, smudge, and rim my waterline. Squid has potential for tightlining though. Five hours is good wear. Although, I think MJB Blacquer can beat it.
I was hoping for stronger waterline wear, since they called out the ease of lining the rim of the eye!
I love the warmth of Black Walnut, but I wish it applied as evenly as Squid does.
Totlaly understand!
It would be really great if Squid is comparable(or better?) than UD Perversion which in my opinion is the best carbon black eyeliner pencil out there.I try new ones constantly looking for something that is in the same realm as Urban Decay Perversion and I haven’t found anything even really close in quality.The UD waterline pencils were horrific I can’t believe they even released them to the public.I know it says that it is 95% similar but in comparison what do you think Christine?
Compared to the Urban Decay Waterline pencils? No, I could never recommend those!
No compared to Urban Decay 24/7 Glido On pencil in Perversion,I know the waterline pencils from U D are horrendous,lol!
The only product that I have found that stays in my waterline ALL day is a L’Oreal one called HIP Khol. They don’t even make it anymore. My guess is that people tried to use it as a regular liner and gave it crap review because they didn’t know how to use it, and used it everywhere but the waterline!
Btw it can still be found on ebay and amazon!
Have you tried the L’Oreal Infallible ones? I have had really good luck with those.
Same here! I really, really liked those. The only other powdered kohl I’ve seen was by Guerlain. Can’t remember if it was LE release or not, but it was in the $30-40 range, which is a lot for a tiny pot of loose powder.
I think there’s a twofold problem: the fact that the product usage was a little obscure, and, if I remember correctly, they weren’t sealed!
Well, these all kind of look black to me. Do eye liners normally last 4-5 hrs on your waterline?
That’s pretty average, I would say.
Not worth it for me, if it doesn’t last any longer in the waterline than anything else.
Thank you for review! If flaked Not trying. Do not want product in eyes! Interested to see other colors. Hourglass obsidian in a favorite of mine! No flake stays on. 🙂 Better dupes!
Newer MJB Big Eyes are perfect for waterline! I want them to add more colors.
These three didn’t flake, but a few did for me (to be reviewed).
Skip all for me then. Flakes in eyes can damage! ? Thank you for info! Recommend MJB Fine liner ultra skinny gel eye pencil. Budge proof. Not going in eye. MAC you can do better. Technakhol rancid. These are doing better but not there yet. 🙁
Sorry, don’t like that eyeliner personally!
Not 100% sure these are “it” for my upper tightline? Or not. Although I really love the depth of black in Squid!
I do many times also wear black on my outer bottom lashline for better definition of my eyes, of which is easier to find a long-lasting liner, Nyx Slide-On in Jet is *decent*. But I was really hoping for something that stays on that upper tightline WITHOUT transferring later in the day giving me blackened eye boogers! LOL
I want Squid and Cat’s Meow just for the names but I’ll stick with UD’s Perversion.
I just really like the name ‘squid’ for an eyeliner. 🙂
I kinda like Black Walnut, but these are going to require a trip to a MAC counter to examine. I use Guerlain Khol Me Kajal and have for years to tightline, but I prefer a thinner pencil to line my lids. Brown would be great!
I like that there are different blacks to chose from. They could have had a bit more omph, been more opaque in one single layer. I can see myself using all three, I like tightlining sometimes, I never line the lower waterline, it makes my eyes look like small pigs eyes. Well. I shouldn’t say never it has happened, just not the best look for me.
I doubt I’ll buy any of these as I have a lot of black liners, I really need to finish a few before getting new ones.
Damn, I wanted to like these. Had high hopes 🙁
All of these colours look very similar to me and on a person’s face, you couldn’t tell the difference.
I used to not to see the difference between warm and cool until I started blogging my makeup too! haha! Anyway, I rarely put on any product on my waterline because they flare up for some reason but I hope to find the one!
I like the brown black shade. I find those are good for us pale folk that need something a little softer than your average bold black. The waterline wear is a no-go, though. I own dozen of liners and have yet to find one that actually lasts more than two hours on my waterline, sadly. They all wind up dripping out the side of my eye and have to be wiped away, which makes any bottom liner look a high-maintenance look for me. I usually wind up getting lazy and just doing a cat eye, lol.
Chromaline should definitely come in brown. Btw, how would u compare squid( i think thats the darkest black in this line) to feline….
Feline is glossier, so in some ways, it looks richer.
Before reading your description, I can barely tell the difference among these three… I guess personally I don’t mind if this black has a cool tone or warm tone. I want my black to be neutral and very inky, otherwise I would go for a black purple, black green or so. IMO MJB’s high liner in blaquer works the best on my lid.
I get what you mean, Fuji! I think the differentiation is good for those who tend to wear mostly black eyeliners, but you can definitely get more variance with a blackened ____ shade instead.
Did you actually purchase these yourself? Because the links don’t take you to these eyeliners just the Nordstrom beauty page, and I can’t find them even on MAC’s website.
Hi Xena,
It’s disclosed right at the top of the post – “SAMPLE.” These launch February 25th.