MAC • Black Tied Eye Shadow • Eye Shadow

Where To Buy?

*TOP REVIEWER* Asti1234 on 2/23/2013 5:00:00 AM more reviews by Asti1234

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I don't have Carbon to compare it too, but I know for sure that I really like Black Tied. It's very black IMO, it's my go to shadow for darkening my outer V.
****TIP**** If you want the sparkles to show up, then make sure you have a damp brush. I find the best way to do this is to load up the brush with shadow, then use a squirt of fix + onto the loaded up brush. This stops the shadow pan getting gloopey and ruined. I'm sure water in a spray bottle would work just as well. X

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LishWilliams on 2/22/2013 11:21:00 AM more reviews by LishWilliams

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I have black tied and carbon. Black tied has sliver flecks of glitter that runs though the product, only problem is; if your buying it for the glitter don't, and it falls off or doesn't even make it on to your lids, which isn't a problem for me, but would be if I spent £13 for a eyeshadow that contains glitter for the glitter that doesn't stay on. It's not as black as carbon, but works if you want to soft black eyeliner and make it less harsh. You can also do thins with carbon, just use less product....so in short I would buy carbon if your not to sure which one to go for, and get some glitter separately to push on top of carbon

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*TOP REVIEWER* audrey355 on 8/20/2012 2:09:00 AM more reviews by audrey355

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This eye shadow is not as black as Carbon. I use this on top of my eyeliner and find that it is hard to see the sparkles, which works for me because I'm not a fan of sparkles. I prefer Carbon though.

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LindsayRoseEliz on 7/8/2012 11:11:00 AM more reviews by LindsayRoseEliz

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I love Black Tied! It's incredible to create a smokey eye or just to use as a liner. It's got beautiful, fine silvery glitter in it, which (miracle alert!) doesn't end up all over my cheeks.

I will say that Black Tied seems to have a sort of top layer that you need to break through before it becomes really pigmented. I've noticed that on many velvet formulations from Mac. Before you break through that initial layer, the eyeshadow goes on much better using a tacky (as in sticky) base, especially a black one.

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ochoseis on 4/25/2012 3:52:00 PM more reviews by ochoseis

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

You can think this is gonna be black, because of the name, but is not black, it is dark ashy gray with glitter chunks that fall out. It doesn't work for smokey eyes, is too sheer. It doesn't work as eyeliner becaus it fades quickly. It doesn't work as a crease color or because the glitter is too chunky... and it has a lot of fall out. If you're looking to get the color in the pan, I suggest you get Wet n Wild color icon palette in Lust, it has a deep grey/black with small glitter, mostly black that can double as an eyeliner if wet.

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elyse34 on 3/31/2012 3:23:00 PM more reviews by elyse34

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Black tied is a very dark grey with glitter in it. I bought it to use as an eyeliner and it really isn't dark enough to use as a liner. It goes on grayer than it appears and is fairly translucent. It doesn't have the versatility I would want from a shadow and doesn't really reflect the color it appears to be.

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*TOP REVIEWER* kpennock on 12/31/2011 3:41:00 PM more reviews by kpennock

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

All I can say is BEST EYELINER COLOR EVER...i use it as an eyeliner vs an eyeshadow for a softer smokey look and it is amazing. It has a lil shimmer, a lil smokey look, not too black not gray...It is my favorite...

I have already bought it twice and am about to buy a third one

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KatieFMakeup on 12/29/2011 5:21:00 PM more reviews by KatieFMakeup

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Black Tied is such a pretty colour to look at. I find it's more black than Carbon, it just has glitter in it which makes it so pretty! I find i never get a really glittery effect but i don't really care i use it when Carbon has reached it's darkness level if i want a really dark smokey eye. If i wanted the sparkle i'd probably just use a creamy black base and put Black Tied over to intensify the glitters! <3<3

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bernb on 11/12/2011 4:01:00 AM more reviews by bernb

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Black Tied – I have a love/hate relationship with you, but you are just so damn good looking.
Black tied looks amazing, hence the love – but you have to put in the work to get there, hence the hate.
Sure, you can take the easy way out, and use black tied as an eyeliner. But why waste its beauty? Just use Carbon, or even better save your pennies and buy NYX Black (which IMO, kicks Carbon’s butt).
Now, back to Black tied.
You can get the most amazing, sparkly smoky eye with Black Tied.
First of all, Black Tied needs a base. A considerable base. You need to start off with either a good concealer (I personally like MAC Select Moisturecover) or a good primer (such as Too Faced Shadow Insurance). Apply this all over the lid up to the browbone. You then need a good colour base – the best options (IMO) are NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean, or MAC Paint Pot in Blackground. Apply this to the lid only up to the crease.
Then, apply Black Tied, wet. I personally use MAC Fix+. I use a MAC 239 dampened with Fix+, swipe it through Black Tied, and pack it onto the lid.
Some hints:
- Decide on the tone of your smoky eye first. I personally prefer a warm smoky eye, so I use a deep brown in the crease, medium/light brown transition, and a pale beige on the browbone. Adjust this accordingly to your preferred crease and highlight shades for a smoky eye.
- Apply Black Tied last. Apply your primers and bases, then do your crease, transition and highlight – pack Black Tied on last, and gently diffuse the edges into your socket colour with a small blending brush like the MAC 219.
- There will be fall out. Even used wet, you may get a fleck or two of fall out. The easiest ways to prevent this ruining your face, is to tap your brush of a little and lightly re-spray with Fix+; use mini post-it notes under your eye while applying your eyeshadow; and applying your eyeshadow first before the rest of your makeup (especially foundation).
- Apply upper lid eyeliner before Black Tied (and lower lid if you plan to line here as well). Applying eyeliner on top of Black Tied just does not work. You risk ruining all your hard work thus far. It is so deep and dark you shouldn’t need to line your upper lid anyway – tightlining should be sufficient.
I did say there would be work!
Once you get used to using Black Tied, this process becomes quicker and easier – don’t be put off. The results are oh, so worth it.
EDIT: My skintone - equivalent to MAC N/NC-10/15 (neutral warm, pale, with surface redness).

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gpgroupie1 on 11/1/2011 4:14:00 PM more reviews by gpgroupie1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I don't know what I'd do without this, wait, yes I do.....but it's nothing I want to do ever again! There is ALWAYS a slot in my 4 color pallete for Black Tied! If I misplace it, or if I run out before I can go to the MAC store, I panic!

I use Black Tied everytime I wear any make up! I apply it with an angled brush to set most of my eyeliners, so my eyeliners are darker and don't run! I have black hair, and so I use the left over color I used for my eyes, and fill in my eyebrows with it. I also love how I can use a very little amount to darken colors and create a smokey look super quick and easy!

A little goes a long long way. I use it every time I wear makeup, and I don't need to keep buying it! I LOVE the fact that MAC colors can be put into pallets, but I am beginning to feel that because I use Black Tied all the time, I should just get the individual color, so I have room for one more color in my 4 color pallet.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tinytapa on 9/25/2011 4:23:00 AM more reviews by tinytapa

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

A true black-black! Doesn't oxidize to blue or grey the way other black shadows can and do on my eyes. I find that the silver sparkle is very subtle and doesn't look at all obvious (someone seeking a sparkly shadow might be disappointed by this, but this suits me just fine!). The sparkle also doesn't result in annoying fallout, the way that Urban Decay Oil Slick does, for instance. Overall, I find Black Tied to be incredibly pigmented, blendable, buttery and perfect for adding depth to any eye, particularly a smokey one. In many ways, I actually prefer this to Carbon, which can oxidize and doesn't seem to last quite as long. I'll continue to repurchase and recommend!

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*TOP REVIEWER* nmhidi on 8/25/2011 11:43:00 PM more reviews by nmhidi

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love this shadow for a classic smokey eye. The product is very gritty though, which I don't like. and on top of that, the silver that makes it gritty is barely noticeable when the shadow is on my eyelid. It has great pigmentation and can be built up gradually to an opaque black.

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konno on 8/25/2011 7:01:00 PM more reviews by konno

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I'm not a total pro at applying eyeshadow so I needed something that was very pigmented & long-lasting. Thank God I decided to bite the bullet & splurge on a Mac Black Tied Eyeshadow. I have used many cheap brands such as Maybelliine & Rimmel but was always disappointed at the end result. They always ended up on my face and had a silvery colour to them. I needed something black-black.

I use the Mac Kohl Smudge eyeliner to line my eyes, following by a smudging brush & then the Black Tied e/s. I tested out its lasting power by applying before work (8.00am) and then checking at lunch (1pm) and again after work (5.00pm) This stayed with me all the way through! No smudges & no need to reapply. Feels good to finally have something that I can 'trust'!!

Even though it looks like it's sparkly, it seemed to all be matte black when applied. I cannot stand sparkly eyeshadow!

Thanks to MUA & it's reviewers for introducing me to my new favorite beauty product!

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*TOP REVIEWER* manishap on 8/24/2011 7:06:00 AM more reviews by manishap

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I use this for smokey eyes and i am fond off it although i have noticed that the silver pigments do not show up very much.

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bululu on 7/27/2011 3:36:00 PM more reviews by bululu

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I have had this eyeshadow for quite a while now and used it in and off when I am in a smokey eye mood.The colour is just unique, dark black with silver shimmer that won't mess your face make up up as it tends to stay put but it is not very easy to blend. I prefer to use it as an eyeliner applied with a pencil brush to finish off the look rather than all over. I usually pair it with print eyeshadow which is far more blendable.

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TequilaaSantos on 7/27/2011 2:48:00 PM more reviews by TequilaaSantos

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Ilove this color for day/night it is a dark black color with silver sparkle. I love it because it does not look
cheap. I would not use it as eyeliner though. I am nc30-35 and this just would not be dark enough. It looks best all over.

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paradoxia1234 on 7/15/2011 3:45:00 PM more reviews by paradoxia1234

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

This is everything I wanted carbon to be. I had carbon for over a year but it looked too heavy and its actually a very dark blue-black so when you pair it with a white, it blends out to a baby blue.. hello '80s !) . If I had to make the perfect eyeshadow It would be this but just a tad bit more pigmented and with no sparkles.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Chester99 on 4/26/2011 1:32:00 PM more reviews by Chester99

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I use Black Tied to set my black eye liner pencil with. For this, it creates the most intense black line. It's also very lovely in the outer crease when I darken up a look. Unlike Carbon it actually shows up black on me (Carbon oxidizes on me to blue) which is a big hit. The facts that it's true black that stays black on me and the good pigmentation make Black Tied a staple in my collection. Just like a reviewer below said, it's a basic black everyone should own.

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*TOP REVIEWER* combatmedicwife on 4/10/2011 5:06:00 PM more reviews by combatmedicwife

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Very pigmented, shows very black. I have to use super sparingly! It can smudge if not used with a primer and if not given time to set properly. Has more silver glitter than it's almost-dupe Wet n Wild black w/silver glitter in the Don't Steal My Thunder trio.
I use this to create depth in my smoky eye with the MAC 219 brush on the outer corners.

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h20liliz on 1/29/2011 3:07:00 PM more reviews by h20liliz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This shadow is a black with fine silver shimmer. I use this to line my eyes. The pigmentation and staying power is fantastic. I would re-purchase.

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