One could probably pen a trilogy of Tolkien-ian proportions on the fantabulousness of MAC’s soft and smudgy $15 Eye Kohl in Tarnish, a blackened forest green pencil eyeliner, but because you have pretty nails to paint, diva pets to assist and [INSERT SNACK FOOD OF CHOICE] to nom, I’m gonna try to break it down for you, bullet point-style. 🙂
1. Whatever your eye color happens to be, MAC Tarnish makes magic happen!
I’d even go so far as to call this blackened green, with its hint of sheen, universally flattering.
It’s like a pigment power-up! Whether your eyes are brown, blue, green, hazel, grey or violet (mine are dark brown with a navy blue ring around the edge of the iris), MAC Tarnish turns up the natural color of your eyes, making blue eyes appear bluer, brown eyes browner, green eyes greener — you get the idea.
To showcase your eyes by enhancing their natural color, apply Tarnish along your lash or water lines (or both, which I like to do).
2. MAC Tarnish is a great alternative to black and brown
If black eyeliners and other super dark shades are just too stark for you, here comes Tarnish to the rescue!
I think the forest green tones really help to soften the color, making for a noticeably less dramatic liner look than basic black.
Tarnish on NC42 skin
3. Try Tarnish for a twist on smokey eyes
Most of the time I turn to MAC Feline as my black liner base for smokey looks, but I grab Tarnish when I’m in a slightly mellower mood.
By trading Tarnish for MAC Feline, the black liner we used in last week’s brown and black smokey eye, we get a softer smokey eye with greenish brown.
Tarnish along my lash and water lines
I also love the way Tarnish looks layered beneath neutrals (like Patina, Woodwinked, Ricepaper and Arena), greens (like Greensmoke, Sumptuous Olive and Humid) and blues (like Deep Truth).
Far and away, though, my favorite way to wear Tarnish is with a layer of MAC Club on top, as part of a teal, brown and blue peacock feather smokey eye. 🙂
As a side, if you flip for jewel tones like the ones in the new Urban Decay Smoked Palette, I think Tarnish looks great with those, too.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
The MAC Unsung Heroes series features some of my favorite products from MAC’s permanent collection
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tarnish Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Kohl Power Pencil Liner in Feline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Silver Dusk
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
- MAC Unsung Heroes: C-Thru Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Loud & Lovely Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Breezy Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Care Blends Essential Oils, Grapefruit + Chamomile
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Double Dare Cremesheen Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sandy B Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Club Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Uniform Technakohl Liner
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Red Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Tempting Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Phloof Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Crème in Your Coffee Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Paramount Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Mocha Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Oh Baby Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Mulch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Cremestick Liners
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sable Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Ochre Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ricepaper Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Cremesheen Glass Is a Veritable Deelight
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lipglass in Spite
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Impassioned Lipstick (and Watermelon)
- MAC Unsung Heroes: This Lip Pencil Is In Synch
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soba Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bombshell Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Clear Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Humid Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Naked Lunch Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Russian Red Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Syrup Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Blushbaby Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Big Baby Plushglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ambering Rose Blush
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fresh Flare Pro Longwear Eye Shadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam VI Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Prep + Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Right Image Cremesheen Glass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Bamboo Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Speak Louder Cremesheen Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sweet Satisfaction Pro Longwear Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lady Danger Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Ruby Woo Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Retrospeck Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Twig Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Party Line Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Melon Pigment
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Sumptuous Olive Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: MAC Vex Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Costa Chic Lipstick
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Fast Response Eye Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Strobe Cream
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Blot Powder/Pressed
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Subculture Lip Pencil
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Soft Brown Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Woodwinked Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Powersurge Eye Kohl
- MAC Unsung Heroes: All That Glitters Eyeshadow Is Not Just Another Gold
- MAC Unsung Heroes: The Technakohl Liners
- MAC Unsung Hero: Groundwork Paint Pot
- MAC Unsung Hero: Nymphette Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Viva Glam V
- MAC Unsung Hero: Blacktrack Fluidline
- MAC Unsung Heroes: Lychee Luxe Lipglass
- MAC Unsung Hero: Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow
- MAC Unsung Hero: Patina Eyeshadow
Karennn!!! You know I want this, right? Thank you for confirming the decision!!! 🙂
I’ve had this color on my mind ever since we talked about it last week. I hope you love it! It’s one of my smudgy faves. 🙂
Love love dark smudgy colors because it makes a smokey eye so easy! Plus, I believe im going to get the UD Smoked palette as well. 🙂
Cannot wait! 🙂
This will be PURR-fect with the UD Smoked Palette, especially the purple and green. 🙂 I love summer and all, but fall makeup is just so much fun for eye makeup. I love it!
I also love fall / winter makeup — all the jewel and icy tones – im warm toned but do not care! LOL! Ill use whatever strikes my fancy!
Yep — I feel the need for some retail therapy! 🙂
I really love the color–I use a shimmering olive liner on my upper lashline daily because I like how it subtly defines but is still soft enough for daytime. This would be one step darker for more drama, but still not as harsh as a true black. Only problem is, I don’t think these stand a chance on my eyes–if they’re not marketed as long-wearing, mostly likely they’ll be gone within the hour :/
Hi Becca,
It’s a kohl, so it does smudge and move. Setting it with a powder shadow helps a ton to keep them in place!
I wasn’t even aware this kohl existed, but the greenish color does look great. I can really see it work with my green eyes!
Hi Lulle,
It’s truly a MAC unsung hero! I’ve seen it on gals with green eyes and it looks amazing. 🙂
I love how deep this color is! Happy Monday, bella!
Happy Monday to you too, Musical! Did you have a good day?
BTW, this color would look great with the shades you like — beiges, browns and caramels!
I don’t have many MAC products but I am itching to get into it more. This sounds like a great place to start! I might have to check this out.
Hi Emily,
I hope you do! It’s a great product.
I love love love this colour!! I must check it out when I’m done my project pan and can shop again!! Totally didn’t know this existed! Thanks for sharing Karen! 🙂
You’re welcome, Angel! Good luck with finishing up your project. 🙂
I’m definitely going to pick this up! Karen, I discovered your blog years ago when I was searching for Powersurge reviews. 🙂
Hey Christine,
That color is STILL one of my go-tos to this day. I literally never leave home without it! Have you every tried layering it beneath Woodwinked or Patina? It’s amazing!
What a gorgeous color! I love it. This is going on my must buy list.
Hi Ruchita,
YES!!! I think you’ll really like it a lot. Don’t be surprised if it’s your new fave smokey eye pencil. 😀
I have got to try this! I’ve been trying to find a “different” liner for work. Sometimes black just feels too dark for these summer days. But lots of the pretty summer liner colors are a bit too much for the office – legal field, conservative. But this liner just might be the little extra I have been looking for!
Karen, as you are my makeup guru, I have to beg your wisdom – what are some matte/maybe slightly shimmery neutral coloured MAC eyeshadows that would suit my NC 43 skin? I’ve been poring through all your unsung heroes posts and making notes, but if you could just name some of your favourite browns and greys, I would be so so so grateful!
HI karen could you plz tel me what lipstick are you wearing here looks gorg
I think I need to check out both Tarnish and Powersurge.
I hope you keep doing these posts. There are so many MAC permanent collection products I have yet to discover.
Oh it looks drop dead gorgeous. It would go amazingly well with that new green in the UD Smoked palette– how delicious!
Why don’t I have this one? I need it! I need a forest green eyeliner!
I thought you should know, Karen, I went and ordered this off the website as soon as I read your post!! It’s such a good idea for an alternate to my usual black liner… Can’t wait til it arrives!
I really love the lip colour you’re wearing here karen!!
I love it! I really like off black colors
Thanks for showing me this, Karen! This looks like something that will work with most stuff in my stash and I LOVE the forest green sheen!
This is a really pretty color. I really need to check out the MAC Kohls – they look so deliciously buttery in your pics! 🙂
Ahh! I need this! Adding it to my Mac shopping cart!
Tarnish is lovely but it smudges too much on me!
Hi Ankita,
Have you tried setting it with a powder shadow? That might help stop the smudging.
Hi Karen, I’ve been looking for a new eyeliner pencil so I took your suggestion and stopped by MAC to give Tarnish a try. Now I have a pretty silly question, but when you mention layering it with other colors, do you mean applying the other color directly on top of the eyeliner or above it? Sorry, I’ve never been adept at knowing how to apply eyeshadow, maybe because I didn’t understand the lingo 😉 Thanks!
i love this – prob my fav eyeliner 🙂
Hi Karen I have followed your blog for a few years; you are always so spot on. This is one of my favorite eyeliners with my hazel (more brown than green) this brings out the green in my eyes. LOOOVE.