The best brown lip liners today might be sold as part of the “brownie glazed lips” trend, but their roots run deep in the beauty traditions of women of colour. Long before social media made it pop up on every beauty page, a brown pencil was a necessity, often the only way to make the available nude lipsticks actually work on deeper skin tones. For many, it still is.
What’s new, perhaps, is the finish; blurred, soft-focus, a little less precise. Where the ’90s liner was unapologetically sharp and overdrawn, today’s version leans undone. It’s all about diffusion—liner that feathers into balm, pigment that looks kissed-in rather than filled out. A good brown lip pencil becomes the base, the frame and often the whole look.
To get that softly smudged, blurred-lip effect, technique matters just as much as texture. Start by slightly dulling the tip of your liner. This helps avoid harsh edges and creates a more diffused look. Trace just inside your natural lip line, then use your finger, a brush or the liner’s built-in smudger to blend the pigment inward. Finish with a swipe of gloss, balm or stain in the centre and let it melt outward for a hazy, just-bitten finish. For extra longevity, layer a bit of lipstick on top and blur again to keep everything soft but anchored.
Below, a curated edit of the best brown lip liners that deliver on pigment, blendability and tone. Each one is built for soft smudging, crisp definition or anything in between.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner in Chai
Chai is a mid-toned, neutral-to-warm brown. The pencil has a firm, sculpting texture with high pigment payoff, ideal for precise shaping. The wax-based, antioxidant-rich formula delivers a seamless matte finish that doesn’t feather. Use it to outline or fill in completely—wear alone, or layer under lipstick or gloss.
CHANEL LE CRAYON LÈVRES Longwear Lip Pencil in Brun Foncé
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This ultra-longwear pencil delivers a sharp, semi-matte finish that stays put all day. Brun Foncé is a rich, deep brown designed to match CHANEL’s signature lipstick shades. The formula includes jojoba oil and cottonseed derivatives for a smooth, comfortable glide. A built-in brush on the other end allows for precise blending and seamless lip colour layering.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Foxy Brown
This velvety lip liner glides effortlessly over the lips to reshape and resize your pout. Foxy Brown is a suede-toned chestnut brown that pairs well with deeper lipsticks or wears beautifully solo. The waterproof formula smooths over lip texture and lasts up to six hours without feathering or transferring.
Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 in Rich Brown
Designed for all-day wear and high colour payoff, this twist-up lip pencil is enriched with a nourishing complex of soybean and liquorice. Rich Brown is a deep espresso shade with warm undertones. The formula is creamy, matte and transfer-proof, and the tip self-sharpens for precision. It’s perfect for building shape, correcting symmetry, or softening into a blurred finish.
Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner in Strong
This creamy, waterproof liner glides on with a balm-like feel and sets to a soft matte finish. Strong is a rich, neutral-warm brown that defines without tugging and layers effortlessly under gloss, balm or lipstick. The long-wearing formula helps keep colour in place and resists smudging or bleeding.
NARS Precision Lip Liner in Spunk
Spunk is a cool-toned brown with a matte finish and laser-sharp precision. The wooden pencil delivers highly pigmented colour and creates long-lasting definition. It glides on smoothly and anchors any lip look, whether you’re layering with gloss or going for a blurred, standalone lip.
Shiseido Lipliner InkDuo in Espresso 12
This two-in-one tool combines a hydrating balm-primer with a weightless matte liner. Espresso 12 is a deep, espresso brown that defines and fills the lips with bold pigment. The primer end smooths texture and locks in moisture, while the liner glides on cleanly and lasts up to eight hours without drying out.
Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil in Chocolate
This velvety pencil defines lips with sculpted precision. Chocolate is a deep, rich brown that glides on smoothly and layers beautifully under lipstick or gloss. The formula imparts a soft-matte finish and helps prevent feathering, making it ideal for clean outlines or a more diffused lip look.
M·A·C Lip Pencil in Chestnut
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Chestnut is a deep, warm brown beloved for its versatility and richness. This creamy pencil delivers smooth, skip-free application and can be used to define, fill, or exaggerate the lip shape. Its classic formula is trusted by pros and remains one of MAC’s most iconic lip shades.
Kay Beauty Matte Action Lip Liner in Fame
This creamy liner is enriched with marula and chamomile oils to hydrate while it defines. Fame is a rich cocoa brown with a soft matte finish. The formula is waterproof, long-wearing and sweat-resistant, making it ideal for India’s climate. Use it to contour lips or fill them in for a monochrome matte moment.
Smashbox Be Legendary Line & Prime Pencil in Medium Brown
A double-duty lip liner infused with Smashbox’s Primer Oil Complex. Medium Brown is a soft, neutral brown that defines with comfort and glides on without skipping. The formula primes lips, locks in hydration, and provides long-wear colour that resists feathering or dryness.
Givenchy Lip Pencil in N‑9 Moka Renversant
A waterproof lip liner designed to sculpt and volumise. N-9 Moka Renversant is a mid-deep brown with a creamy, long-wear formula enriched with carnauba and candelilla wax. The pencil glides on easily to define the lips and prevent lipstick from bleeding. A built-in sharpener ensures precise application every time.
Guerlain Contour G Lip Pencil in No 03 Timeless Brown
This ultra-precise pencil delivers rich, long-lasting colour in a single stroke. Timeless Brown is a deep, flattering brown designed to enhance the lip line and optimise lipstick wear. The featherlight, no-transfer formula is enriched with castor oil and botanical squalane to smooth and condition lips while preventing smudging or feathering.