Best Overall

Makeup by Mario Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil

$63 at Amazon$26 at Sephora$26 at Kohls.com

Shade Tested: The Perfect Brown | Formula Type: Pencil| Finish: Matte, metallic | Shades: 6| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Makeup By Mario’s Master Pigment Pro pencil eyeliner earned top marks for its smooth, creamy formula that glided easily across the skin without tugging. According to our tester, who applied the shade The Perfect Brown, it delivered a rich pigment in just one swipe. She also noted its versatility: its precise tip allowed both thin and bold lines, while its dual-ended brush made it easy to blend for smoky looks. Its staying power was also impressive—even in hot, humid conditions—and it was effortless to remove with a makeup wipe.

On the critical side, our tester noted only minor fading—but this was due to rubbing her eyes, rather than product performance. Beyond that, she found little to critique. With its combination of precision, versatility, and performance, we’d recommend this liner to anyone seeking both crisp definition and a smudged, smoky effect.

Shauna Beni-Haynes, senior editor: “This eyeliner has a creamy formula that gives a gel-like glide, which I loved. It stayed in place for more than five hours, including on a hot, humid day in New York.”

Best Budget-Friendly

NYX Epic Ink Liner

View on Ulta

$10

$10 at Amazon$10 at Target

Shade Tested: Milk Chocolate | Formula Type: Liquid| Finish: Matte, glitz | Shades: 15| Cruelty-Free: Yes

I tried NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner and was instantly impressed. Its felt-tip applicator made it easy to create precise lines, and I loved how the formula delivered rich color in just one swipe. Its deep brown hue really made my blue eyes pop, and it held up beautifully even in hot, humid weather without fading or flaking. I also appreciated how lightweight it felt once it dried down, whether I used a single coat for daytime or layered it for a bolder winged look.

Be advised: This formula is fairly liquid-y, which gave me great color payoff but might be trickier for beginners to control at first. That said, I didn’t notice any smudging or transfer, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to remove with just a micellar wipe. Overall, I think this liner is an incredible value, offering long wear and bold pigment without the high-end price tag, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable drugstore brown liner.

Best Liquid

Maybelline Tattoo Studio Dip-Ink Liquid Eyeliner

$10

$8 at Amazon$10 at Ulta$8 at Target

Shade Tested: Brown Expression | Formula Type: Liquid| Finish: Soft matte | Shades: 4| Cruelty-Free: No

Our tester named the Maybelline Tattoo Studio Dip-Ink Liquid Eyeliner as our best liquid option, praising its smooth, gel-like texture and easy-to-control applicator. When she applied the shade Brown Expression, she noted that the formula glided on without tugging, offered rich brown pigment in a single swipe, and complemented her brown eye color beautifully. Once applied, it dried quickly, stayed put all day without smudging or transferring, and delivered a flattering satin finish that worked well for both precise lines and layered looks. (Bonus: Removal was effortless, too.)

In fact, our tester said there wasn’t anything she’d change about this liner. With its combination of seamless application, staying power, and ease of removal, this liner proved to be a standout choice for anyone seeking a brown liquid option.

Rachel, tester: “This liner complemented my brown eyes—it delivered pigment in one swipe and, once it dried, its satin finish didn’t smudge, fade, or transfer throughout the day. You could easily use it for different styles, as it’s easy to layer.”

Best Smudge-Proof

Ilia Clean Line Gel Eyeliner

$26 at Amazon$26 at Sephora$26 at Nordstrom

Shade Tested: Dusk | Formula Type: Gel| Finish: Soft matte | Shades: 2| Cruelty-Free: Yes

For a brown liner that stays put all day, I can’t say enough about ILIA’s Clean Line Gel Liner. First off, its application was seamless: The creamy formula glided on smoothly without any tugging, and its tip was precise enough for both my eyelid and waterline. It was also easy to layer and blend out (with either my ring finger or a brush), but once it set, it truly didn’t budge—even in humid New York City weather. The result was a beautiful matte finish that lasted all day and made my blue eyes pop.

The only drawback I noticed was very slight fading at the corners of my eyes and along my lower waterline by the end of the day, but it was minimal compared to most liners I’ve tried. Removal was also easier than I expected for a water-resistant formula, coming off quickly with micellar water and a cleanser. I’d highly recommend this liner to anyone looking for a long-lasting brown option that holds up in all conditions.

Best for Precision

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner

View On Chanel$35 at UltaView on Bloomingdales

Shade Tested: Espresso | Formula Type: Pencil| Finish: Matte, satin, shimmer | Shades: 18| Cruelty-Free: No

For our tester, there were many things to love about Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof liner, but its precise applicator was a true highlight: Its pencil formula had a fine tip that was especially easy to maneuver, making it simple to create thin, detailed lines or adjust the angle for bolder definition. What’s more, its rich brown Espresso shade delivered strong color payoff in a single swipe, while its matte finish added to its versatility for everyday wear or special occasions. It also held up impressively in hot New York weather without smudging or fading.

One thing to note: At the end of the night, using a dedicated makeup remover was more effective than a standard cleanser, but aside from that, our tester found little she’d improve about this formula. Anyone who values sharp, defined lines should add it to their cart.

Shauna Beni-Haynes, senior editor: “I loved the way this eyeliner applied. It went on very smoothly and had a nice glide. The tip was easy to control for creating thin and detailed lines; depending on how you hold it, you can adjust it to create the type of line you want.”

Best Brown Shades

Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner

$53

$25 at AmazonView on Victoriabeckhambeauty.comView on Bergdorfgoodman.com

Shade Tested: Cinnamon | Formula Type: Pencil| Finish: Matte, jewel, shimmer | Shades: 21| Cruelty-Free: Yes

We loved Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Satin Kajal Eyeliner for its range of available brown hues. Our tester, who opted for the Cinnamon shade—a warm brown with subtle gold flecks—felt it was especially flattering on her brown eyes, delivering rich color payoff in just one swipe. Its formula was creamy and smooth (zero tugging or skipping, here), and it was easy to apply in precise lines or blend out for a softer, diffused effect. Once it set down, it stayed put all day without fading, even in more challenging conditions.

Our tester had little to critique, noting only that her shade’s finish leaned toward glittery due to the shimmer flecks, which may not suit everyone’s taste. All in all, those looking for an array of flattering, high-impact brown shades should start here.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor: “The formula is really pigmented! One swipe offers pretty opaque pigmentation, but you can also build it up for more impact. The Cinnamon shade I tested is a beautiful warm brown with some gold flecks in it, which looks gorgeous on brown eyes.”

Best Buildable Pigmentation

Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Eye Pencil

View on Sephora$29 at Ulta$29 at Nordstrom

Shade Tested: BLK Coffee | Formula Type: Gel pencil| Finish: Matte, metallic | Shades: 5| Cruelty-Free: No

For a versatile brown liner with buildable pigment, we recommend Pat McGrath Labs’ PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil. Our tester, who applied the espresso shade BLK Coffee, raved about its creamy, soft texture that glided smoothly across the skin without tugging. While it imparted pigment in a single swipe, she also felt it was easy to layer to build intensity for a variety of looks. It also stayed in place all day without smudging and delivered a matte finish she enjoyed. 

While our tester didn’t have much to note in the way of drawbacks, she added that sharpening the pencil more precisely would have made it easier to achieve thinner lines, though she didn’t see this as a flaw in the product itself. Bottom line: Anyone seeking a luxe, long-lasting pencil with customizable color payoff should pick up this one.

Rachel, tester: “The eyeliner went on very smoothly— it glided right on. My chosen shade was very pigmented, particularly when I applied multiple layers, and it complemented my eye color.”