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MAC Tartan Tale: Pearlglide Eyeliners Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners
MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners

MAC Tartan Tale: Pearlglide Eyeliners

MAC Pearlglide Eyeliners ($14.50 each) are super soft, smooth, vibrantly colored eyeliners. These are some of my favorite eyeliners, and I have NO idea why MAC doesn’t make them permanent. They glide on so smoothly, and they don’t fade away. They stay on my lower lash line just fine throughout the day. They are not waterline safe, as they all have micro-glitter in them, though.  I can’t get over how smooth they feel when used on the lash line or lid; and the intensity of the color is so rich.  I love that the majority of the colors seem to have a lot of depth, too.

The five limited edition shades are: Black Swan (black with pearl), Lord It Up (bronze with pearl), Petrol Blue (deep navy with pearl), Undercurrent (teal with pearl), and Blackline (black with gold pearl).

Three of these shades are repromotes, though, from Art Supplies. The new shades are Black Swan and Lord It Up.

  • Black Swan is a deep black with charcoal gray shimmer. Very sultry of a shade! It is darker than Urban Decay’s Oil Slick, but they are similar.
  • Lord It Up is a medium-dark brown with subtle warmth–not quite chocolate, but maybe a molten chocolate. It’s a little warmer than Urban Decay’s Bourbon.
  • Petrol Blue is a rich, deep ocean blue with soft sky blue and medium blue shimmer-sheen. This shade is similar to Urban Decay’s Deviant.
  • Undercurrent is a medium-dark teal base with teal-green shimmer and gold sheen. This shade is similar to Urban Decay’s Covet but that shade lacks the green-gold sheen.
  • Blackline is a blackened base with antique green-gold sheen and shimmer.  It’s similar to Shiseido’s Black Sand.

MAC Tartan Tale: Pearlglide Eyeliners Review, Photos, Swatches

A
10
Product
9
Pigmentation
10
Texture
9
Longevity
5
Application
96%
Total

MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners
Black Swan, Lord It Up, Petrol Blue, Undercurrent, Blackline

MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners
Black Swan, Lord It Up, Petrol Blue, Undercurrent, Blackline

MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners
Black Swan, Lord It Up, Petrol Blue, Undercurrent, Blackline

MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners
Pearlglide Eyeliners: Black Swan, Lord It Up, Petrol Blue

MAC Tartan Tale Pearlglide Eyeliners
Pearlglide Eyeliners: Petrol Blue, Undercurrent, Blackline

87 Comments

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Kate M. Avatar

I do love the Pearlglides!  I stocked up on Molasses because it’s my perfect go-to liner…
so sad they didn’t bring it back this time around.  Do you think Blackline is similar to
Buried Treasure?

Thanks Christine!

AnGeLwInGz Avatar

EEEK! You’re gonna compare all of ’em to Urban Decay except Blackline? Let’s just say similar to but not as green as Stash. Sorry a lil’ bit of OCD when it comes to that stuff LOL 😉

WithIt Avatar

Hi Christine!
How do they compare to the UD liners as far as application, wear-ability, and staying power? Would you prefer to wear one of these or UD? Are they close enough that I can continue using my UD liners and not feel like I’m missing out? 😉

Thanks!

Christine Avatar

I like these for their intensity — they are just very rich and pigmented — and wear is the same for me on both. I think you could hold off and use your UD ones or maybe just grab the shade of Pearlglide Liner that appeals to you the most or least like what you already have by UD!

Hannah Avatar

Christine,
Do you know if there is any fall out from the glitter as you apply it to your lash line? I don’t often apply liner to my lower lash line, but always on the upper lash line.

I absolutely love these colors, especially Petrol Blue and Blackline. I don’t have a blue eyeliner so this might be nice one to have. I am all about the staying power 🙂

Rachel w Avatar

I missed out on Undercurrent in a previous collection so I’m thrilled I have a chance to pick it up this time around! I agree pearlglides should be permanent! They are my favorite eyeliners.

Shontay07108 Avatar

I bought petrol blue, lord it up, black swan and undercurrent. I plan on backing up black swan and undercurrent because they are my favorites. Total A++++

carla Avatar

i am so excited about these! i agree with you Christine, MAC should just go ahead and make these permanent. i am definitely getting the new colors, they are so beautiful. i wish they would re promote black russian, mine is all nubs at this point!

Kai Avatar

Those are gorgeous! I’d probably get one if they had a purple one, because I don’t use pencil eyeliners a whole lot.
But if I was in the market for one, I’d definitely get one! I reaaalllyy like Blackline!

Adee Avatar

I don’t remember what collection it was, but I have a purple one called Rave and a dark pink called Miss Fortune. They are simply amazing! You might be able to find them online somewhere.

Debby Avatar

YAY more Pearlglide! I agree completely – these are some of the best liners out there. I have similar colors already for everything but Blackline, but I don’t think I can resist Undercurrent.

greenCerulean Avatar

I went and did a pre sale at Macys and Undercurrent was the first item out of my mouth that I said I wanted. I knew for sure I wanted that one, but because I took so long deciding on the other items, the sales associate forgot to include Undercurrent in my order and I forgot to check. I’ll have to make sure I get it when I go to pick up the order, maybe include Blackline with that too! 😀

Marlin Avatar

I used Black Swan on my waterline this past Saturday. I was wondering why my eyes were so irritated. I didn’t know you couldn’t use these on your waterline! Thanks for pointing this out Christine 🙂

BethM Avatar

Pearlglides smear like crazy on me. Might have to get Undercurrant, though, it’s a gorgeous color. I’ll just have to avoid wearing it for long periods of time.

Trish Avatar

I’ve been stingy with my Undercurrent since it first came out. Can’t wait to pick up a few more ‘spares’. Getting Petrol Blue this time as well.

Laura Hogarth Avatar

I LOVE these! I already have the three from Art Supplies (plus a back-up of Blackline), so I’m definitely going to get the two new ones (possibly with backups for both), and I might grab another Undercurrent whilst I’m at it. And *maybe* a third Blackline…I really love that shade 🙂

marlin Avatar

I used Black Swan on my waterline this weekend, now I know why my eyes burned!!!! I didn’t know you couldn’t use these on the waterline. Thanks for the info. Christine!

Katie Avatar

These are standouts from what has looked like a lackluster collection. Christine, which would you say are your favorites or must-haves? Guesses for the ones that’ll sell out soon? I need eyeliner (and these could be a personal treat for my birthday today, heh), but I’m tight on money. Black Line and Petrol Blue are gorgeous, but I’ll pass since I have UD’s Stash and Binge. UD’s Bourbon was uninteresting for me, so I’ll pass on Lord it Up. Black Swan is calling my name…it almost looks like it has a hint of blue.

Katie Avatar

MAC, please make these permanent! I went to a counter to try these today, and I literally swooned at each one. These are long-lasting, and more vibrant than Urban Decay’s. Now the problem is which ones to get! For sure, Black Swan is mine; it’s so badass. I hope this helps someone: Christine is right that Blackline is significantly warmer and more green-gold than UD’s Stash (cooler with little or no gold or black). She also nailed it with the comparison between Undercurrent and UD’s Covet. UD’s Binge is very similar to Petrol Blue, but it’s more cobalt and lacks the shimmer and stunning depth Petrol Blue has.

Lisa B Avatar

These need to go permanent! I always have a problem with my eye liner feathering. This eyeliner feathers on me ever so slightly. Looks like I need to go back to stock up on a few.

Tracey Avatar

Picked up Undercurrent and Lord it up today. I love pearlglides….Why oh Why doesn’t MAC make them permanent. I already have Rave and Blackline. They don’t budge on me.

jamie Avatar

PETROL BLUE OR UNDERCURRENT hahah ( i have brown eyes and brown hair ) 🙂 if that helps i got petrol blue but idk if i should go back and get undercurrent which one is harder to find a dupe for ???? 😀

brittany Avatar

i already have undercurrent and just put in an order for petrol blue and blackline. i’m going to send back french quarter because i think blackline is what i wanted it to be, but it is so smudgy. i was having the same trouble finding blackline but if you search for pearlglides or look under eyes you’ll find it – if you look under a tartan tale it doesn’t seem to be linked for some reason.

Dollymix8 Avatar

I only want one, can any of you advise me with one will look better with brown eyes and brown hair? I doubting between Petrol Blue and Undercurrent. Please help me?

Jennifer Avatar

I wish they would bring these back. 🙁 I’m out of Lord it Up and Black Swan. I had replaced Black Swan with UD perversion but now I’m out of that too. 🙁 I don’t know what to do! Do you have any suggestions for a super-dark black with staying power? I have MAC feline but it smudges so bad on me. And UD zero just isn’t very black. Thank you!

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