17 Best Brown Eyeliners You Need To Try In 2022

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Have you tried brown eyeliner? If not, now might be time. While most people consider black eyeliner to be a makeup routine staple, switching out your go-to black liner for brown can actually give you much more freedom with your look. Many folks like the build-ability brown liner allows compared to black, and others love the warmer, softer, more subtle look it gives their makeup. Either way, if you've been swearing by a harsh black eyeliner since you first started wearing makeup, consider this your sign to embrace an upgrade.

As is true with any makeup, we all have different needs for our eyeliner. Some of us love striving to perfect that graphic cat eye, while others want something to smudge into the lash line for a smokey look. No matter what you may be searching for in your perfect brown eyeliner, we've got it. 

When it comes to something like eyeliner, it's not easy to pick a single best option (that's kind of why we narrowed it down to 17). There are lots of reasons why people have a favorite liner, and everyone's preferences are different. If there was an overall best option, though, we think this Rimmel liner would be it. The reason this one stands above the rest is because it really can fill in for pretty much any liner role you're looking for. It's a pencil, but it can be as bold, graphic, and precise as a liquid liner. It's also soft and smooth and has a built-in smudger for a softer, smokier look (via Amazon). It's even got a built-in sharpener, so you never have to worry about losing that precise tip. It's waterproof and long-lasting which we're looking for in pretty much any eyeliner. Plus, it's under $5, so on top of all of its plusses, it's also super budget-friendly. 

One of this product's many five-star reviews says, "This is my favorite eyeliner! I've tried a few others, but this one goes on smoother and it's softer than other pencil type eyeliners. If you like to have less definition to the line, you can blend it using the other sponge end. Some eyeliners do not go on smoothly, they seem to be harder to apply than this one. I use the rich brown and is the perfect shade for me, not so harsh as black."

You can get the Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer for $4.22 on Amazon.

Type: Twistable pencil with smudger | Shades of brown: 1

Most of us have makeup looks that we opt for on special occasions and then another look that we grab for everyday wear. When it comes to your everyday getting-ready routine, this Pacifica pencil is one you'll keep coming back to. One of the biggest pros of this option that's mentioned in many of the reviews is how smoothly it goes on (via Amazon). That way, you can swipe on your liner and won't have to worry about getting breaks in the line or having to trace over it more than once. Just draw and go. 

And, if you do draw with this pencil every day, you don't have to worry about what it's doing to your skin over time, because it's made with shea butter and jojoba oil and also contains vitamins C and E. We love an easy-to-use makeup product that also does great things for our skin. According to one review, "This goes on sooooo easy and the colour is wonderful. Cannot get enough and I bought more."

You can get the Pacifica Beauty Natural Eye Pencil for $19.99 on Amazon.

Type: Pencil | Shades of brown: 1

One core tenet of great makeup application: blend, blend, blend! While some makeup looks require sharp lines and bold contrast, other looks need to be a bit softer. For these moments, we need a blendable liner that smudges when we want it to and doesn't when we don't. Sure –- that sounds difficult to achieve, but not for Sephora. Sephora's retractable eyeliner has a built-in smudger that allows you to blend its smooth, creamy color until it sets (via Sephora). You won't get breaks in your line during application like you will with some other pencil liners. Once set, it's waterproof and stays in place. It also has a built-in sharpener, so you never have to deal with a dull line again.

One review says, "It's the perfect liner! Super easy to use with the angles of the liner and really easy to blend just the way you want it to look!" The perfect liner, you say? That's precisely what we're looking for.

You can get the SEPHORA COLLECTION Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner for $13 at Sephora.

Type: Twistable pencil with smudger and sharpener| Shades of brown: 2

If you haven't tried the NYX Epic Ink Liner, now is the time. It is truly a game-changer in terms of a felt tip liner. It feels like using a precise marker to draw on your cat eye, and the super-saturated color is bold and easy to draw with. Not only will this eyeliner last on your face, but the liner, itself, won't need to be replaced too often.

This product has over 50,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. One of them says, "I get raccoon eyes pretty easily. Trying new brands, my daily cat eye wings would usually feather out or droop down. This is usually why I would only use expensive stuff (even though some of those did it too). I was hesitant to try this because it's a 'cheap' brand, but I learned my lesson!! This stuff STICKS!! It is HIGHLY pigmented, too. The black is super black. I love the applicator end. I can get a tight line, and the thinner end makes it easy to do fine lines (like drawing your wings out). It sticks in place through workouts, crying, etc. and only comes off with makeup remover wipes."

You can get the NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Epic Ink Liner for $7.52 on Amazon.

Type: Felt Brush Tip| Shades of brown: 1

If you prefer a gel liner that you can apply with a brush, or maybe if you're just interested in trying a new approach to lining your eyes, Maybelline has the perfect option for you. This oil-free gel is both highly pigmented and safe for sensitive skin and eyes (via Amazon). You can use the skinny liner brush dipped into the gel to achieve a precise wing and an even line. It goes on smoothly and prevents smudges. Plus –– it's designed to last 24 hours, which is even more than we usually need.

One five-star review says "I can finally say, I have made the perfect cat eye lines when using this product." Don't we all aspire to be able to say that?

You can get the Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner for $7.36 on Amazon.

Type: Pot and brush| Shades of brown: 1

Plenty of us struggle with sensitive eyes, sensitive skin, or allergies that prevent us from using certain kinds of makeup. If this sounds like you, our pick is the Physicians Formula Liquid Eyeliner. Physicians Formula is a healthy beauty brand, and this liner is dermatologist-approved, hypoallergenic, fragrance and paraben-free, and formulated to be extra careful for folks with sensitive eyes or those of us who wear contact lenses (via Amazon). Additionally, this liner contains an eyelash serum, so when it's applied to the roots of your eyelashes, it actually conditions your lashes and makes them look fuller and healthier. 

One review said, "This is hands down my favorite drugstore liner, and outperforms most of the high end liners I've tried as well. The brush is so good, I swear. It puts down the perfect amount of ink for an opaque line without having to do multiple passes, and the tip is fine/tapered enough to do small detail work. I especially find it good to do winged liner because it draws such a neat, clean line, and is easy to draw the tapered end of the flick and have it be small and pointy... I've tried probably 15 different brands of liquid liner in the past couple years and wear liquid liner daily, and this is one of my favorites- especially for the price."

You can get the Physicians Formula Ultra-Fine Liquid Eyeliner Dark Brown for $7.64 on Amazon.

Type: Liquid | Shades of brown: 1

No matter what your preferred eyeliner style is, the "tightlining" technique can be a helpful addition to your routine that will make your lashes look fuller and your eye makeup look more cohesive. If you're a fan of tightlining, we recommend this Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner pencil. This kohl pencil is formulated to go on smooth like a liquid liner while still being smudge-able and buildable like a kohl liner (via Sephora). This unique blend makes this pencil ideal for smudging into the lash line. It also contains collagen, which will help to keep your eyelids moisturized and smooth. 

One review says, "I've been looking for a great pencil eyeliner I can smudge out but also one that stays in my waterline! I feel like this one does the exact job I was looking for! The black color itself is so rich and pigmented, I also bought the brown and am in love with it as well!"

You can get the Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'n' Kohl Eyeliner Pencil for $29 at Sephora.

Type: Pencil | Shades of brown: 1

No matter how you do your eyeliner day-to-day, many of us like to do a smokey eye every now and then. Most people go for a smokey eye in blacks and greys, but a brown smokey eye can put a warm, subtle twist on a classic makeup look (via L'Oréal Paris). For the perfect brown smokey eye, we recommend the Juvia's Place Nubian Eyeliner Pencil. It glides on smoothly and is easy to blend out with a brush or sponge to get that effortlessly put-together look.

One five-star review says, "I use this for my waterline almost everyday and it stays on like a dream. It does smudge throughout the day but a quick reapply will fix it. It's the only pencil eyeliner I use and I love it." Another called it "The best eyeliner I've ever purchased!!" which is exactly what we like to hear when we're about to add an eyeliner to our cart.

You can get the Juvia's Place Nubian Eyeliner Pencil for $6 at Ulta.

Type: Twistable pencil | Shades of brown: 1

There are so many occasions in which we need our makeup to be waterproof, and we need eyeliner that doesn't ruin the look. What's even better than an eyeliner that will stay put no matter the weather or whether or not we're shedding a tear or two is an eyeliner that stays graphic and bold through all occasions. The Maybelline Master Precise All Day lives up to its name, as it is precise and is sure to stay that way all day long. It's designed to stay put for twelve hours, and it'll be bold and saturated the whole time (via Amazon).

One reviewer calls it "perfect" and says, "This is the perfect liquid liner I've been searching for...it's easy to apply, glides on nicely, lasts for hours, and doesn't transfer. I like this even more than the high-end luxury beauty brands' liners I've tried."

You can get the Maybelline Eyestudio Master Precise All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner for $6.24 on Amazon.

Type: Liquid | Shades of brown: 1