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A great ally for fall and winter makeup looks, a dark brown lip liner is a versatile product to include in your makeup kit. It can help to create a trendy strong lip contour, or you may use it to fill the lips and add depth and intensity to your brown lipstick. Beyond the immediate color and the lovely definition it adds, it also helps minimise lipstick bleeding and may extend the staying power of your lipstick. As you can see, there are many reasons to include one in your makeup kit. We dove into our full catalogue to find the prettiest dark brown lip liners to vamp up your makeup looks!
Do I really need a dark brown lip liner?
It's not that you need a lip liner... but a lip liner makes a big difference in the final result. If you have porcelain up to medium tan skin, then the lip liner is going to make a big difference in your lip makeup. It's easy to explain why: the dark colors, like deep brown, create a big contrast with these phototypes, and with the contrast, every imperfection becomes very obvious. With the dark brown lip liner, you're able to contour your lips with precision and it makes a tremendous difference in the result. If you have Black skin, the dark lip liner is not going to contrast as much with your skin tone as it does on a fair complexion. It's still worth using it, in our opinion, as the lip liner allows for a more perfected result; however, the difference between using and not using a dark brown lip liner is not as obvious as it is for a fairer complexion.
Do I need to apply lipstick after using the dark brown lip liner?
You can, but it's not that you need to! If you like a good matte lip look and you don't mind feeling the lips creamy with a balmy texture, then you can perfectly wear the lip liner all across the lips. It should give you definition and color intensity with great lasting power. However, if you're anything like this writer and you NEED to feel the lips comfortable, then using a creamy lipstick or a lip gloss on top is essential. If that's your case, then you'll be able to choose whether you apply the lip liner on the lip contours or if you use it all across the lips.
Our favorite dark brown lip liners
After learning all there is to know about dark brown lip liners, it's time to check the good options that are waiting for you. Add these to your makeup kit to transform your automn and winter looks.
essence 8h Matte Comfort Lipliner 11 Chestnut Perfection
Deep chestnut brown
If you want a brown liner that really works, this essence option is a smart place to start. The shade is a deep chestnut brown with high color payoff, intense enough to sculpt the lip line without overwhelming the rest of your makeup. Its waterproof, matte formula holds for up to eight hours, while a smooth, gliding texture lets you draw a precise contour with no tugging. The formula is comfortable, and the lips stay free of that dry and tight feeling. Use this vegan lip liner to outline, fill in the whole lip, or keep lipstick from feathering!
NYX Pro Makeup Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain Wild Side
Cool grey-brown
Not every brown sits on the warm side of the spectrum, and this option from NYX proves it. The deepest of the 12 nude shades in this lip range, it’s a dark, cool grey-brown, a welcome find if your liners tend to look too orange or red. The ballpoint felt tip traces a crisp outline, and its slanted side lets you shade the corners for extra dimension. As a stain, the color melts into the lips with a silky and easy-glide feel, staying put all day: it’s transfer-proof, smudge-proof, and waterproof, with a no-bleed design that keeps the edges clean! Finish with a clear gloss for a ’90s-inspired brown lip.
Moira Lip Appeal Plumping Liner 012 Era
Deep chocolate brown
Fuller-looking lips and a rich brown in a single swipe: that’s the idea behind the Plumping Liner from Moira. The shade is a deep chocolate brown with neutral undertones, leaning neither too warm nor too cool. The plumping effect comes from vanillyl butyl ether, a warming agent behind the mild tingle, while rosehip oil and vitamin E add a touch of care. The waterproof color sets to a soft matte finish that resists feathering and bleeding all day, and the retractable design keeps the tip precise without sharpening.
Eveline Cosmetics Variété Gel Lipliner Pencil 24h Waterproof 06 Hazelnut
Nutty brown
Gel formulas tend to glide where traditional pencils drag, and this Eveline pencil is a case in point. True to its name, the shade is a nutty brown, and its intense pigmentation delivers bold color from the first stroke. The waterproof formula is made to withstand any weather, so the line you draw in the morning stays where you left it. Beyond outlining, you can fill in the entire lip and wear it as a lipstick for a cohesive look. A smoothing effect refines the lip texture, while the color optically enlarges the lips for a fuller appearance.
essence Poutline Soft Glide Lip Pencil 04 Cocoa Me Crazy
Cocoa brown
Cocoa lovers, this one’s for you. Again, essence delivers a lip lining solution that gives full coverage in a single pass. The soft, creamy texture glides over the lips without dragging on delicate skin, and the wooden pencil sharpens easily for a precise point every time. Line the lips for definition, then follow with your favorite balm, gloss, or lipstick. For a fuller-looking pout, fill in the entire lip with the pencil before layering color on top: the result looks more voluminous and defined.
Flormar Waterproof Lipliner 244 Chocolate Fondue
Rich & warm chocolate brown
Sweat, humidity, a long dinner: Flormar offers a solution made to outlast them all. The shade is a rich, warm chocolate brown, and it has buildable, medium-to-high coverage that takes you from a soft outline to an intense pop of color. Special polymers in the formula help it grip the lips, so it stands up to moisture without smudging or fading, which also keeps lipstick and gloss in place for longer. The thin and precise tip contours the lips with control, prepping them for the next step while the luxurious matte finish keeps the whole look polished.
L.A. Colors Lipliner Pencil CP521A Deepest Brown
Darkest in the brown spectrum
For the most dramatic contrast in this lineup, look to what L.A. Colors has for you. As the name makes clear, it sits at the darkest end of the brown spectrum, a natural match for a crisp outline under a lighter nude or a sheer gloss. Trace the upper and lower lip line to define and accentuate your natural shape, then finish with your favorite lipstick or gloss. If you prefer a one-step look, fill in the entire lip with the pencil for full, saturated color. The sharpenable format keeps the point fine for detailed work, and since the range includes other browns, you can mix and match shades to suit your style.
