I Tried Tonnes of Brown Eyeliners to Bring You the Very Best 13
Of all the best makeup products out there, brown eyeliner has got to be the most underrated. It’s simple, easy to use, suits everyone and can really pull a look together, adding subtle definition when you don’t have time (or the desire) for a bold eye look.
For years, it’s been a staple in my routine. I’m a subscriber to the ‘no makeup-makeup’ look, so my everyday makeup is very natural—a skin tint, a few dabs of cream blusher, and a clear brow gel. Adding black eyeliner into the mix can sometimes look too harsh, so if I do want to add a little definition to my eye area then I’ll always opt for a brown eyeliner over a black one. I find it helps to enhance my eyes without it looking super obvious that I’m wearing eye makeup. And I have plenty of recommendations for the best brown eyeliners out there.
I’m not the only one who’s a fan. Google searches for ‘brown eyeliner’ have steadily increased over the past year, no doubt because the effect feeds into the ‘clean girl’ look made popular by beauty content creators on TikTok and Instagram. Brown eyeliner has also long been a secret weapon for professional makeup artists. "I love using brown liner for a really low-key sculpted look, creating shadows that define the eyes really subtly” says celebrity makeup artist Emily Clarkson. "I also love building it up to a really beautiful smoky eye, then layering shadows on top so it’s really long lasting. It’s definitely one of the most versatile products out there.”
From Victoria Beckham’s (often sold out) Satin Kajal Eyeliner through to Beauty Pie’s affordable Kohl Eyeliner, there are plenty of options to choose from, in shades ranging from light to dark brown, and in everything from pencil and crayon to kohl and liquid formulas. With the help of Clarkson, I’ve tried, tested, and pulled together an edit of the very best brown eyeliner options for everyone, so you’re sure to find a staple for your makeup bag. Plus Clarkson shares her expert tips on how to get the most out of your brown eyeliner.
The Best Brown Eyeliners, Tried & Tested
- Best Overall: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliner in Cocoa (£30)
- Best For Smudging: Jones Road The Best Pencil in Brown (£22)
- Best For Sensitive Eyes: Charlotte Tilbury the Classic Eyeliner in Classic Brown (£22)
- Best Affordable Liquid Eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink Liner in Brown (£10)
- Best Eyeliner Pencil With Smudger: Beauty Pie Supercolour Kohl Eyeliner in Brown Beauty (£8)
- Best Suits-Everyone Brown Eyeliner Pencil: MAC Cosmetics Eye Kohl Pencil in Costa Riche (£19)
- Best Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil: Yves Saint Laurent Crushliner Waterproof Eye Crayon in Brun Universel (£24)
- Best Eyeliner Pencil For Smoky Eyes: Makeup By Mario Master Pigment Pro Pencil in Perfect Brown (£26)
- Best Retractable Eyeliner Pencil: Ilia Clean Line Gel Eyeliner in Dusk (£28)
- Best Matte Liquid Eyeliner: Benefit Roller Liner Liquid True Matte Eyeliner in Brown (£23)
- Best Luxury Eye Pencil: Lisa Eldridge Seamless Glide Eye Pencil in Ground Coffee (£24)
- Best Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner: KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown (£21)
- Best Gel Eyeliner Pencil: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Gel Eyeliner in True Brown (£19)
1. Best Overall: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliner in Cocoa
With a soft creamy formula and built-in sponge applicator, this satin finish liner can be used to create tons of different looks—a sharp wing, a smoky eye, a smudged lash line - to name just a few. The colour is rich, saturated, and totally matte.
2. Best For Smudging: Jones Road The Best Pencil in Brown
This pencil liner glides onto skin effortlessly smoothly, depositing bold pigment without dragging at skin. The formula is super soft, so you can easily smudge it with your fingertip or buff it out as an eyeshadow.
3. Best For Sensitive Eyes: Charlotte Tilbury The Classic Eyeliner in Classic Brown
My personal favourite, this powdery pencil has an ultra-dark brown hue which is perfect for tight-lining the lash line with. In addition, the budge-proof formula won’t smudge or transfer, which is essential if (like me) you have super sensitive eyes.
4. Best Affordable Eyeliner: NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner in Brown
A razor-thin felt tip liner, this has a lightweight brush applicator which allows you to apply a light layer, then go back in and pack colour on for more impact, if you wish. Plus, it's totally smudge-proof.
5. Best Eyeliner Pencil With Smudger: Beauty Pie Supercolour Kohl Eyeliner in Brown Beauty
Price shown is member price.
A highly pigmented creamy kohl liner, this one is the perfect addition to a smoky eye look (it even has a built-in smudger). Thanks to the butter-soft formula, it glides on effortlessly.
6. Best Suits-Everyone Brown Eyeliner Pencil: MAC Cosmetics Eye Kohl in Costa Riche
"I love Costa Riche from MAC Cosmetics, it's such a beautiful warm brown and suits pretty much every eye colour," says Clarkson.
7. Best Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil: Yves Saint Laurent Crushliner Waterproof Eye Crayon in 2 Brun Universel
"I’ve recently just discovered the Yves Saint Laurent Crushliner Waterproof Eye Crayon. It's great as I have really sensitive eyes, but it doesn't irritate them," says Clarkson. "Plus, it stays put all night!"
8. Best Eyeliner For Smoky Eyes: Makeup by Mario Master Pigment Pro Pencil in Perfect Brown
"This has become one of my staples in my kit too," says Clarkson. "It’s double ended, with a smudging brush on the other end which makes it super easy to use (no brush required). Together they blend like a dream."
9. Best Retractable Eyeliner Pencil: Ilia Clean Line Gel Eyeliner in Dusk
A soft gel liner with an ultra-precise nib, this liner can be used for everything from an super precise line to a blended out wing. Just make sure you blend it quickly, because once it sets, it stays put for hours. Plus, the retractable nib means you won't need to worry about sharpening it.
10. Best Matte Liquid Eyeliner: Benefit Roller Liner Liquid True Matte Eyeliner in Brown
You probably didn’t know that Benefit’s beloved Roller Liner comes in a brown shade, too. Just as smooth and pigmented as the original black version, this liquid liner is perfect for creating a clean cat-eye wing.
11. Best Luxury Eye Pencil: Lisa Eldridge Seamless Glide Eye Pencil In Ground Coffee
No other eye pencil glides quite as smoothly as Lisa Eldridge's eye pencils, which are buttery soft and won't drag on the eyes, making them ideal if you have sensitive eyes. They go on silky smooth but lock into place for a long-lasting finish that stays put all day and night.
12. KBest Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeliner: VD Beauty Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown
If you want a brown liquid eyeliner that can survive everything from the great British weather to the sweltering hot commutes in summer, look no further. The precise nib delivers a super pigmented flick in one stroke that stays put all day long until you take it off—it's indestructible.
13. Best Gel Eyeliner Pencil: Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Gel Eyeliner in True Brown
This is a brilliant gel eyeliner allows you time to smudge before drying down into a waterproof, no-transfer finish that won't budge. It's particularly great for tight-lining around the waterline.
How Do You Apply Brown Eyeliner?
Much like black, brown eyeliner can be applied in a number of different ways. I personally love using a brown pencil or crayon for tight-lining my eyes. I angle the pencil upwards and apply it right into my lash line which helps to add subtle definition and creates the illusion of fuller lashes without it looking like I have any eyeliner on. If you’ve previously found black eyeliner over-powering, but tight-lining with a brown liner has a totally different result which you’ll probably find more flattering.
"The great thing about brown eyeliner is that you don’t have to be too neat and if you want a smoky, smudgy look you can just use a pencil brush to blend,” says Clarkson. She also recommends tight-lining to start with, but for a bolder look she suggests dragging the brown liner into a wing whilst keeping your eyes open to add some extra shape. "If you feel like this it adds too much product, instead of applying directly with the pencil, put a generous amount onto the back of your hand and use a small angled brush to apply along the lash line, building it up to your perfect amount.”
Of course, brown eyeliners also come in felt tip pen applicators, which can be used for a more traditional thick line or cat-eye wing. Although this does require a steady hand (and cotton buds to clean up any mistakes!), any error in the shape will be much less noticeable than a black eyeliner would be. Plus, the overall effect will be more subtle.
Who Suits Brown Eyeliner?
"Brown liners bring a lot of warmth which is really flattering to the colours of our eyes,” says Clarkson. It’s true, much like wearing brown eyeshadow, a brown eyeliner can serve to enhance the colour of your eyes, and even if your eyes are brown themselves, it can really bring out any flecks of gold or green in them. No matter what your skin tone, Clarkson also recommends trying a brown eyeliner if you’re nervous about eyeliner application, since it’s much more forgiving than black eyeliner, which needs to be applied very precisely. "Brown eyeliner is just so versatile and perfect for those who are less confident in their makeup ability,” she adds. "If you slip up then you can literally smudge it with your fingers and add some bronzer on top and it’ll still look great!.”
Is Brown Eyeliner Better Than Black Eyeliner?
If you are experimenting with a bold eye makeup look, want a classic feline flick, or are creating a smoky eye look, then a black eyeliner will probably create more impact and will stand out more against any eyeshadow you’re wearing. However, if you’re after a more subtle, everyday look, a brown eyeliner will look much softer.
Clarkson says that she always opts for a brown over a black if her client wants a softer and more youthful look. "A black eyeliner can make the eye area look too heavy and, depending on where you place the product, can actually make your eyes appear smaller,” she adds.
Up Next: I Have Hooded Eyes—A Makeup Artist Just Showed Me How to Do Eyeliner
Grace Day is a beauty editor and content creator. She has over 10 years of beauty-industry experience, spanning editorial, retail, and e-commerce, which gives her a unique understanding into how people shop for their beauty routines. While studying for a history degree (specialising in the history of beauty) and working as a beauty adviser in department stores, Grace started writing her own beauty blog in order to share the products she discovered while dealing with acne. After graduating, she moved to Beauty Bay as beauty editor and content manager. Grace is currently a beauty contributor to Who What Wear. She has also written for Hypebae and PopSugar and works as a brand consultant and copywriter.
- Eleanor VousdenBeauty Editor, Who What Wear UK
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