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MAC Fluidline Eye Pencils Reviews, Photos, Swatches

MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is a new, twist-up pencil eyeliner from the brand available in seven limited edition shades. Overall, the formula has good pigmentation that is buildable to fully opaque color in two layers, wears about eight hours on me, and has a lightly creamy consistency. These will launch with the A Novel Romance Collection on August 14th online and August 21st in-stores. The ratings are preliminary! I won’t have official product information/claims for about a week — once I have those, the ratings may change. Right now, they’re being rated as an average MAC eyeliner formula (long-wearing, glides on, pigmented).

Atomic Ore ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “gold.” It’s a muted, medium gold with a dirty tone to it–makes it less yellow, rather green-tinged–with a frosted finish. It had semi-opaque color in one stroke, and it was buildable to mostly opaque color. The consistency was a little on the drier side. It lasted for seven hours on me before fading. MAC Powerline (P, $20.00) is darker. Make Up For Ever #9L (P, $19.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Black Brilliance ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “black.” It’s a dark black with a satin finish. It had good pigmentation in one pass, and it had a really creamy, glide-on consistency that worked well on the lash line. This shade wore well for eight hours before migrating to the outer corner of the lash line. There is no shortage of black eyeliners on the marketplace, so here are some comparison swatches / view dupes.

Deep Blue Sea ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “deep ocean blue.” It’s a medium-dark, brightened blue with a pearly sheen. It had nice color payoff in a single stroke, and it was easy to build to fully opaque color coverage. It wore well for eight hours before migrating slightly to the outer corner of the eye. Urban Decay Radium (P, $19.00) is lighter. Urban Decay Abyss (P, $19.00) is lighter, brighter. MAC Mountain Air (P, $20.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Earth Sign ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “deep brown.” It’s a deep, plummy burgundy with a soft sheen. In one stroke, it had semi-opaque color coverage, but it was opaque after two layers. On me, the color wore well for eight hours before thinning. MAC Nightshade (LE, $16.00) is lighter. Tarina Tarantino Ultraviolet (P, $15.00) is similar. Urban Decay Blackheart (P, $19.00) is similar. MAC Strong Willed (P, $20.00) is lighter. Urban Decay Rockstar (P, $19.00) is similar. MAC Dark Diversion (LE, $16.00) is richer. Chanel Cassis (P, $30.00) is lighter. Bobbi Brown Black Plum (P, $24.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Evil Twin ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “blue purple.” It’s a brightened, medium-dark cool-toned violet with a pearly finish. It had fairly good pigmentation in a single pass (and that’s even better for purple eyeliner, since most are weak in regards to pigmentation!), and it was buildable to opaque color after two layers. The color wore well for eight hours before fading on me. Sephora Collection Eccentric Diva (P, $9.00) is warmer. Tarina Tarantino Amethyst Android (P, $15.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Metropolis ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “deep metal gray.” It’s a dark gray with cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation in one go, and it was opaque after two layers were applied. The consistency was lightly creamy, while the eyeliner wore well for eight hours before thinning. Urban Decay Uzi (P, $19.00) is less pearly, darker. Chanel Gris Scintillante (P, $29.00) is more shimmery. bareMinerals 11PM (LE, $15.00) is darker, warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Water Willow ($16.00 for 0.01 oz.) is described as a “deep khaki green.” It’s a dark, forest green with cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff in a single stroke, and the color itself stayed on well for eight hours before migrating slightly. MAC Black Ivy (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery. Urban Decay Invasion (P, $19.00) is darker. Make Up For Ever #4K (P, $17.00) is brighter, lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil (with Dior Pied de Poule palette on eye)

MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Black Brilliance Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Atomic Ore Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Deep Blue Sea Fluidline Eye Pencil (with Dior Pied de Poule palette on eye)

MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Earth Sign Fluidline Eye Pencil (with MAC An Amorous Adventure palette on eye)

MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Evil Twin Fluidline Eye Pencil (with MAC A Passionate Quest palette on eye)

MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Metropolis Fluidline Eye Pencil (with MAC A Novel Romance palette on eye)

MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil (YSL Fetiche Palette on eye)

MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil

MAC Water Willow Fluidline Eye Pencil
MAC Fluidline Eye Pencil

67 Comments

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Hafsah Avatar

THANK YOU for mentioning this Christine! I have always had the biggest problem finding truly pigmented purple eyeliners and shadows and just figured I wasn’t looking in the right places! Brands really need to work on the formulation of their purples! In your opinion, what are the best vibrant purple liners and/or shadows?

Christine Avatar

I didn’t have any issues with them on my water line, but Black Swan has a fair amount of glitter, so it’s not a surprise that one would cause you some issues! I don’t wear contacts during the day, though, and unless it’s REALLY big glitter, my eyes are usually fine.

A Name Avatar

I love the eye looks you did with these – especially the Dior palette one!

I’m holding out on buying eyeliner until the next urban decay set (ocho loco 3?), but deep blue sea and water willow are pretty and it’s nice that they’re twist up.

neni Avatar

I was looking at your YSL Fetiche Palette review and I found that same picture but instead you say it’s the sephora eyeliner. So which one is it?

Christine Avatar

They’re actually two different photos! Or at least they should be… I will double check, but I took two separate photos. I applied Good Mood for when I took the photo for the YSL palette, because I wasn’t allowed to post about MAC’s yet – but I needed to test MAC’s, so after I took the YSL photo, I removed Sephora Good Mood and re-applied MAC Water Willow. They’re very similar (which is why I went with Good Mood!), but MAC’s leans a little bluer.

Janna Avatar

Random question~
I have really been wanting to Tarte Cheek Stain Vault! I had it in my shopping cart on the Tarte website about a week ago and since they are having a sale I thought I’d go back and and get a deal on the Vault, but it is no longer on the website!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
I thought maybe you would know if it would be back on the site or if they are no longer selling it!
Thanks so much!

Debra Avatar

Hmmm, so this Fluidline is a new product from MAC?

I’ve discontinued use of eye pencils over the past year and replaced them with automatic/twist-up or gel liners – sharpening the pencils is a waste of time for me, along with cleaning the sharpener. Plus I noticed pencils aren’t what they used to be; there are gaps within the interior and I don’t like wasting product by sharpening the pencil. I miss UD colors, especially the more complex ones.

But these look good!

Evil Twin (once a nickname for me!) is on my list. My eyes are blue with lavender so this one will do. I agree that purple/plum eye liners are short on pigmentation or durability.

Water Willow looks very complex, so that’s made the list too!

Love the look of it with that YSL Fetiche palette on you.

I read that your review is preliminary. Since these beauties are LE I hope they match up to the official product info/promo. Why does MAC create a new Anything and then make it LE? I really don’t like the stampede effect!

Christine Avatar

Yes, this is a new formula from MAC! They routinely put out new formulas that are LE! It’s not a bad idea – it is essentially a test. If they do exceptionally well, they might make them permanent, and if they don’t, it was a limited run, but sometimes they never bring back really outstanding formulas, too.

Amy Avatar

I love how you did this review with different palettes! I’m not sure about these eyeliners, but you’ve sold me on Dior Pied de Poule!! 🙂

Lynne Avatar

Hi Christine,

I don’t mean to sound stupid but I have the fluidline pencils and I love them but I can’t figure out how to sharpen them. I turn them and nothing happens. Am I missing something?

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!