As soon as the weather crisps up, you’ll find me incorporating brown lipstick into my everyday fall makeup routine, and after years of collecting the shade, I have too many of them to count. From warm-toned hues, to metallic lip colors and brown lip liners, the shade is a lot more versatile than meets the eye. And the best part? “All skin tones and undertones look great with it,” says Kasey Spickard, a professional makeup artist in New York City.
Here, we’re breaking down what to look for when shopping for a brown lipstick, how to choose the right shade based on your undertones and preferences, plus other makeup tips.
The best brown lipsticks, at a glance
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What to look for when shopping for brown lipstick
The makeup artists we spoke to recommend looking for formulas with heavy pigmentation and a long-lasting finish. “I want something rich and unctuous with rich brown tones and a high pigment load (like the consistency of a liquid lipstick). I want the color to be consistent and not patchy, which can happen with a lot of brown lipsticks,” says Spickard.
Brown lipsticks (or glosses) also come in a variety of finishes—matte, glossy, shimmery, or metallic. “It’s also good to keep in mind that lighter, nude browns will give you a more natural finish, while deeper browns, especially those that have a matte finish, make a statement,” says Brielle Pollara, a professional makeup artist based in New Jersey.
How to choose a brown lipstick for your complexion and style
Similar to finding the right complexion products for your routine, finding the right brown lipstick comes down to choosing a hue that will work with your undertones. “Usually the rule of thumb is to pick a cool-toned lipstick if you have a cooler, blue undertone or fairer skin, and opt for a warm-toned lipstick if you have warm or olive undertones and deeper skin,” says Spickard. You can also choose a brown lipstick based on the vibe you’re going for, as a cool-toned hue can give you a nostalgic ’90s finish, while something warmer like a chocolate brown can read more autumnal and rich.
Professional makeup artist Jonet Williamson also offers up a tip if you’re new to wearing brown lipstick: “Opting for shades that can be worn more sheer versus full-on opaque may be a more comfortable place to start, which is why I always recommend Glossier Ultralip in Crest because it’s easy to sheer out, or you can make it more opaque with a few layers—it also suits a ton of complexions.”
How to wear brown lipstick
While it’s completely up to preference on how you want to wear your brown lip, makeup artists have a few thoughts on how they’d style the look. “When I do brown lipstick shades, I like to go toasty brown lids and dark brown liner with a super lashy, full mascara, and individual lashes. I think the monochromatic look makes so much sense with brown lipstick. Think toasty-girl fall,” says Spickard.
Pollara agrees and notes that, honestly, any type of eye makeup looks good with a brown lip. “Depending on your preference, you can do soft, neutral eye shadows like taupes, golds, bronzes, winged eyeliner, or even a minimal eye look and strong brows if you want the lips to be the focus,” she says.
Spickard also recommends using a brown lip liner before application to get the most precise look. “Liner is your friend—take any brown lip liner you have, and cool it off with a neutral brown like MAC Cosmetics MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick in Stone and you’re in business,” he says.
Ahead, the best brown lipsticks to shop according to undertone, finish and texture.
Warm-toned brown lipsticks
Cool-toned brown lipsticks
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Metallic brown lipsticks
Glitter brown lipsticks
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Brown lip liners
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Brown lip glosses
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Alanna Martine Kilkeary is the commerce writer at Glamour.
