I like trying on new makeup and beauty products, but I actually do not use many items on a regular basis. (And since becoming a mother, I don’t even wash my face regularly anymore.)
I am also very particular and picky when it comes to the stuff I put on my face.
As such, there are only a couple of items I consider “HG” (that’s “holy grail” in makeup talk) — specific items I never stray from, and would absolutely devastate me if they were ever to become discontinued.
And last night, I was crushed to learn that my favorite eyeliner of all time, the MAC Liquidlast in Coco Bar (a dark brown), has been discontinued. 😥
I’m not sure if I have especially oily skin around my eyes or what, but believe me when I say that I have tried practically every long-lasting eyeliner out there and have found NOTHING to have the staying power of MAC Liquidlast. (Yes, even primer and setting with powder doesn’t help with other eyeliners.) I apply it with the MAC 266 Brush and have gotten so good at the application that I can even create smudgy, blended effects with the goopy liquid liner.
I have been using the MAC Liquidlast for over five years now.
And last night, when I realized that my current tube is running low, I went online to place a replacement order…
Only to discover that the only color that is available on the MAC website is the jet black color. I checked other online retailers to find the same. And upon doing a web search, I found out that MAC had announced the discontinuation of my HG eyeliner back in December 2010. 😯
(Seriously. Is there a website or service where you can enter your favorite products, and they will alert you when it is about to get discontinued so that you can stock up? Anyone?)
The only place where I could find another tube to Liquidlast in Coco Bar was on eBay…and they were demanding $43.69 for it 👿 (regular price is $17.50).
Look, I understand the basic concepts behind supply and demand. I know that whoever has these tubes — NIB, no less! — still in stock can command a hefty price for them. But that was just ridiculous.
So I spent another two hours trawling the web for any other store/seller that might have it in stock.
No dice.
I told J I wanted to cry. (And in my frustrated, hormonal state, I really was ready to start crying.)
He rolled his eyes and told me to just buy the damn eyeliner off eBay for $43.
I refused. “It’s the principle!” I told him.
But, by midnight, I gave up. I sheepishly asked him if he would mind if I could spend $43 of his hard-earned money on a tiny tube of eyeliner, and he agreed.
Although a new tube of Liquidlast only contains 2.5 ml (or 0.084 oz) of product, it usually lasts me anywhere between 4-6 months.
That means that I have another few months to find a replacement eyeliner. I have read that the Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner is comparable to the MAC Liquidlast, but that the formula is also a bit thinner. Additionally, the swatches I have seen online makes it seem like the dark brown dries in a shiny finish (and not matte like the Liquidlast).
Does anyone have any good suggestions for an eyeliner — pencil, gel, liquid, whatever — that lasts and lasts?
Has an HG product ever been discontinued for you? How did you deal with it?
ETA:
I have tried the Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner, and I am happy to report that it works JUST like the MAC Liquidlast did! Click here for more details.
I like books, gadgets, spicy food, and art. I dislike shopping, hot weather, and the laws of entropy. Although I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, I still have a love for handbags and makeup... and I am always teetering on high heels. To learn more about me, visit the 
I have been desperate to find a replacement for coco bar and have spent a huge amount of money over the months on products that haven’t got anywhere near the colour and durability I was used to. Finally I have found something which is just as good (if not a little better).
Urban Decay 24/7 waterproof liquid eyeliner in Demolition is perfect. Like liquidlast it does not budge and has the dark matt brown that suits my green eyes better than the harshness of black. The big test was my recent holiday where it withstood sea, watery eyes and was still there the mornings that I woke up having been too lazy to take my make up off.
After my initial purchase I hurriedly bought another 4 lots of the product in case this was cruelly discontinued too.
I really do share your sadness in the discontinuation of this product. I’ve practically been wearing it since day 1 of me wearing makeup at all, probably similar to you, having started some five years ago. It really is the only thing that stays on my eyes, and doesn’t transfer onto the bottom lids because when I smile my top lid, particularly when I wing my eyeliner (which I am wont to do) will transfer onto the bottom – unattractive. I even had the use of the included applicator down pat – I would just scrape off the excess onto the stick part of a Q-tip and then use that as the reservoir to reload my brush tip as I ran out. It heartens me to think though that there are other people out there who are just like me, and I have gotten on Ebay to order the Milani eyeliner and will look into the Urban Decay suggestion. Keep the ideas coming, thanks everyone!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention – I guess paying $43 is not all that bad on principle when you think that I live in Australia and I normally pay about $35 for these eyeliners. We also are slugged with the unfair price of $35 per MAC lipstick (I believe you guys pay just $15 or thereabouts?). When you consider that the Australian Dollar and the US dollar are pretty much on parity these days it does seem mighty unfair! Believe you me I stocked up majorly when I was in the US a few months ago.
Oh no, if I hadn’t bought several 18 months ago (just running out now) I wouldn’t have missed this crisis when it first happened! I don’t wear makeup really – just Liquidlast Coco Bar! Nothing else has ever played nicely with my contact lenses. Now I’m having a bit of a panic attack, but I’m definitely appreciating all the replacement suggestions everyone has made….
Hi… have same problem with every eyeliner except MAC… but I have found 2 others that are the same as the MAC
1. GOSH EXTREME ART EYELINER
2. jemma kidd ITECH LIQUID LINER
You should try MAD Minerals Indelible Liquid Eyeliner!
they are meant to be the dupe of MAC Liquidlast, and i found the color Saddle Up is quite similar to Coco Bar. They’re only $9.99 and can be found here:
http://madminerals.org/item_1019/Indelible-3-In-1-Waterproof-Liquid-Eyeliner.htm
lasting power are the same, i can assure you.
My eyes are crazy oily also. I’m on my last tube of Liquidlast liner in Point Black, but I’m planning to try out Mally Evercolor Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in Brown from Mally Beauty. If you haven’t heard of her, Mally is a MUA that does J Lo and Beyonce’s makeup. $25 on QVC for .13 oz of product seems reasonable.
I’m so thankful for everyone else’s suggestions as I try to find a replacement. 🙂
Stila liner in dark brown does not budge, also Nars waterproof creamy pencil “Via Appia” is a gorgeous bronzey colour that might do the trick.
Hi. I am also addicted to coco bar liner by M.A.C. You can still order it at regular retail price from Estée Lauder’s (owner of MAC) “Gone But Not Forgotten” service. The # is 1-800-216-7173. You can order up to 6 pieces pf one product. They do charge a flat shipping fee of $5. Hope this helps.
I too was upset when I found out that MAC eyeliner TEALO has been discontinued, but the lady at MAC store said they have a 1-800 number that people can call and see if they have the product so you can stock up. So i would call one of their stores in your area and ask what that number is..I refuse to pay double the price just because an item is discontinued. Sorry i don’t have that number handy, but it does exist. Hope that helps.
Try Stila liquid eye liner, it stays on all day, and I mean ALL day girl 🙂
Try eBay. I just bought coco bar, brassbeat, power plum, & electrolady 😉
eBay. I’ll try the milanis though too. Stila was horrible & urban decay flaked. Good job guys. And MAC, wtf?!
[…] Liquidlast. They used to make this in a lot of colors as typical of MAC, but that was discontinued a couple years back, which makes me sad (missed out!). The point black, which is the only one still available, is […]
I have tired the Loreal gel. It works as well as the Mac. I too loved this eyeliner. I have tried Stelia (spelling), Mac’s replacement and many other liquid eyeliners. Mac’s replacement and Stelia transfer to my upper eye fold when I blink and feels sticky without a base under it. Mac’s eyeliner I think shrinks and feels like it is pulling on my eyelid making me very aware I have something on my eyelid. Very uncomfortable. I returned them both. So I too am still on the hunt for a replacement. I dont’ get why they discontinued it. Yes it got goopy towards the end of the tube but still was best thing on the market. Stayed on even when exercising as sweating! I too cannot wear black. Wore green and other fall type colors. Too bad they aren’t listening… what ever happened to listening to the customers needs… bummer. I trieda Lancome liner on my wrist that appeared to stay on pretty well. Plan on going back to buy one and see if it stays on my eyelid next. (I always wear a new one on my wrist in the store and wear it their for 24 hours before buying. Save me a trip to return if it does not pass this first test.
I LOVE MAC’s LiquidLast. I have super oily lids and this is the only liner I’ve used that has actually has major staying power. Unfortunately, I heard that they’re discontinuing the black as well. But I checked out AllCosmeticsWholesale.com and they have it. Yay! I also happened to see it in Coco Bar. So stock up!! Because I don’t know how much longer it’ll be on the website. 🙂
MAC’s Liquid last point black eyeliner was bought out by Rihanna and will Relaunch with her makeup line for MAC in October! Since then I’ve tried, Stila’s liquid eyeliner, it’s nice but after a couple of hours my eyes/contacts get irritated by the ingredients. I’ve also tried Urban Decay’s liquid liner which does smudge and I have very oily skin. For the last two days I’ve been wearing Tarte’s MultiplEYE liquid eyeliner and so far so good. They also have Kat Von D’s Tattoo liquid liner.