Byrdie / Kevin Liang
Black eyeliner is a staple for creating bold definition but swapping it out for a brown shade can create a more subtle effect. Brown is still neutral so it looks beautiful on all eye colors, aka an equally valuable product in your makeup bag. As with black liners, brown ones come in a range of formulas, from pencil to gel to liquid. The biggest difference from black is that a chocolatey hue provides a bit more shade versatility.
We combined thorough research with our editor's favorites to bring you a list of the best brown eyeliners for every skin type. We evaluate each one's shade range, formula, application, and wear. From cool-toned espresso colors to warm chocolate hues to creamy pencils and precise liquid liners, you're bound to find what you're looking for in our comprehensive list.
Best Overall
Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa
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Violet Grey
One-swipe color payoff
Creamy formula
Long-wearing
Comes with smudge-tip
Easy to blend
Somewhat tricky to sharpen
Type: Pencil | Shades: 18 | Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The Victoria Beckham Beauty line is chock-full of outstanding products, but perhaps none more noteworthy than this fan-favorite eyeliner. The pencil formula is creamy, easy to blend, highly pigmented, and long-wearing. We love that it can be applied precisely or blended out using the attached smudge-tip applicator to achieve a diffused look. It has some play time to it, meaning that you can smudge and blend it out to your liking before it sets down, though once it sets, it's not budging. We also love that this rich cocoa color is dark enough to create real definition and depth but still has a hint of warmth for some softness.
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Byrdie / Alyssa Kaplan
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Target
Affordable and accessible
Precision felt tip
Long-wearing
Suitable for sensitive eyes
Some reviewers say it dries out relatively fast
Type: Liquid | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.03 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Looking for a brown liquid liner at a drugstore price? We love this one. Featuring a precision felt tip applicator, this pick creates serious definition that lasts. It goes on smoothly, (never skipping during application) evenly and with excellent color payoff. Once on, it remains budge-proof all day and night. It comes in five shades and is suitable for sensitive eyes, but some reviewers say it can dry out quickly, so we recommend capping as soon as you're done using it.
Best Color Payoff
Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil Eyeliner in Bold Brown
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Target
Highly-pigmented, rich brown color
Blendable
Long-wearing
Some online reviewers say it's tricky to sharpen
Type: Pencil | Shades: 9 | Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
This creamy pencil from Maybelline is an excellent pick if you want your brown liner to really pack a punch. The soft, highly pigmented, waterproof formula easily glides onto the skin and waterline, making it effortless to create your look quickly without having to build up the color. Although you'll have a few seconds to smudge it out if you choose, once it sets down, it won't run or smear. We also love that the shade is a true chocolate brown—it won't be mistaken for a black liner when wearing it. Reviewers have noted this one can be a bit challenging to sharpen though.
Best Liquid Liner
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Brown
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Sephora
Precise, easy glide tip
Dries quickly
Waterproof
Rich brown shade
Pen dries out fast
Can be tricky to remove
Type: Liquid | Shades: 2 | Size: 0.01, 0.03 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
If you like the precision that liquid liner provides, but you're craving a softer look, opting for a brown shade such as this gorgeous pick is the way to go. It has an easy-glide precision tip and a quick-dry, waterproof formula. The reason we love it most: it's flake-free and resistant to fading, bleeding, and smudging, regardless of how long you wear it. We also love that the color is a warm medium brown, as opposed to other options that look very close to black on the eyes. It can be a bit challenging to remove due to its waterproof nature, but a good eye makeup remover should do the trick.
Best Waterproof Gel
Make Beauty Continuum Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
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Amazon
Long-wearing, waterproof formula
Comes with built-in brush and sharpener
Pencil tip is precise
Could be a bit creamier and smoother to apply
Type: Pencil | Shades: 12 | Size: 0.16 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Runny eyeliner is a makeup pet peeve for so many people, which is why we truly appreciate waterproof formulas that deliver on their smudge-free claims. This gel eyeliner from Make Beauty is excellent because it features a precise tip that can be easily used to define the upper lash line and waterline. Though the formula isn't the creamiest, it's pigmented and soft enough to apply evenly and create definition. Once applied, it's seriously not going anywhere all day—it even lasts beautifully on the waterline. We give it bonus points for the built-in sharpener and smudging brush
Best Long-Wearing
Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil Eyeliner in French Chocolate
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Sephora
Ultra-creamy formula
Rich pigmentation
Easy to blend
Long-wearing
Can be hard to sharpen
Type: Pencil | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.42 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Creamy, emollient eyeliner pencils aren't typically the most long-wearing, but this one is an exception. The super-creamy texture delivers shockingly vivid color payoff and offers excellent bendability all while remaining waterproof and long-lasting. After a few seconds, it sets down on the skin and waterline and will not smear, run, or flake throughout the day. However, some reviewers have noted it's somewhat tricky to sharpen.
Best for Smoky Eye Looks
Makeup by Mario Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil in The Perfect Brown
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Makeup by Mario
Easy to smudge and diffuse with brush tip
Long-lasting
Great color payoff
Can run on the waterline
Type: Pencil | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.03 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re a fan of Kim Kardashian’s eyeliner looks, this liner is for you. Created by celebrity makeup artist and Makeup By Mario CEO, Mario Dedivanovic (aka Kim’s longtime makeup artist), it’s no surprise that this eyeliner can create that iconic smoky eye with aplomb. Its highly pigmented, creamy, and velvety gel-based formula is why we love it. And it comes with an attached brush for seamless blending. Though not ideal for staying in place on the waterline, we think it's perfect for smudging out to create sultry smoky eye looks.
“When blended on the lid with a brush, the brown liner can replace shadow to create a beautiful, quick, and easy smoky eye,” explains Dedivanovic. If you like to sport diffused, lived-in liner, this is a great option for you.
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Sephora
Does not skip or drag
Narrow tip
Highly pigmented
Long-wearing
Not ideal for creating bold looks
Type: Pencil | Shades: 6 | Size: 0.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Some eyeliner pencils are notorious for dragging and skipping across your eyelid, but not this guy. The narrow tip makes it effortless to create precise lines, and the creamy formula allows you to draw with ease. Use it to deepen your waterline or create small, winged details. It offers bold color payoff and excellent lasting power—you won't have to worry about the waterproof formula smearing throughout the day. The small tip is not the best for building up to a bolder look, but we love it for those softer everyday looks.
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Sephora
Highly pigmented
Coppery-brown shade
Creamy formula
Not the most long-wearing on the waterline
Type: Pencil | Shades: 38 | Size: 0.04 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Brown eyeliners with a shimmery finish make the eyes pop but in a sophisticated, understated way. They're perfect for accentuating with more muted makeup or wearing all on their own to highlight your eyes. This one from Urban Decay is absolutely gorgeous—the warm brown color has hints of copper that make all eye colors pop. We adore how the shimmery finish catches the light without being chunky or glittery. It's easy to apply and blend out and lasts well on the eyelids. It's just not as long-wearing on the waterline.
Best Waterproof Liquid
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
Amazon
Waterproof
Long-lasting
Great color payoff
Pen dries out fast
Type: Liquid | Shades: 8 | Size: 0.016 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The last thing you want is to spend time on your eyeliner only for it to disappear due to humidity or water. Enter: Stila’s eyeliner. Living up to its name, it stays on all day and goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling. Plus, its thin marker-like tip makes drawing even the thinnest of lines a breeze. However, like many other liquid eyeliners, the pen can dry out if you leave it uncapped for too long
What to Look for When Buying Brown Eyeliner
- Shade: While some brown eyeliners come in deep espresso hues that almost look black on the eyes, others offer more warmth which can look softer on the eyes. "I look for eyeliners that don’t have too much red in them since that can make the eyes look tired," explains Dedivanovic.
- Formula: If you want to create a sharp winged eyeliner look, a liquid eyeliner is the best for the job. If you want a more smudged, lived-in look a pencil or gel formula should do the trick.
- Blendability: "Something I look for in every eyeliner is blendability," Dedivanovic explains. "I like to both blend and smudge—smudging is great for dramatic smoky eyes, whereas blending out your eyeliner can help give a more natural look."
Why Trust Us
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry as well as fashion business marketing. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.
She interviewed Mario Dedivanovic, a pro-artist based in New York City and the founder and CEO of Makeup by Mario, for this story. His flawless artistry has been seen on the likes of Kim Kardashian, Salma Hayek, and many more of Hollywood's biggest names.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough brown eyeliner from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
