Fashion and makeup trends from the past are making a huge comeback, and we are not surprised to see the beloved brown lipstick flying off the shelves again! From sheer metallic eyeshadow to glossy vinyl lips, the ‘90s have been taking the beauty world by storm, and now we are seeing the effects ripple across to the iconic brown lipstick, too. There is no look that the best brown lipstick can’t amp up. The elusive and universally flattering shade is very versatile and pairs just as well with alluring evening looks as it does with more casual daytime ones.

From supermodels to streetwear enthusiasts, brown lipstick suits just about everyone! The number of choices in the brown palette makes it the perfect lipstick for everyday wear. It is a softer alternative to bold reds and punchy pinks. After all, as Jerry Seinfeld, an American stand-up comedian, says, “Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not the color, but to accept God's final decision on where your lips end.”

A true classic, brown lipsticks come in a variety of mixed shades. One can opt for a minimal look or go all out for a dramatic look. The trend we assumed to be dearly departed is back with a bang, and we’re not really complaining; which is why we have broken down the best brown lipsticks for every skin tone, shade, and finish preference. Maybe we should hit the pause button for the pink and reds and play for the browns!

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  Best Overall

  Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick, Rich Buildable Color, Mink Brown

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This Wet n Wild Silk Finish lipstick in the ravishing shade Mink Brown has a creamy rich formula with a high color payoff in a hydrating finish. The lipstick has the goodness of vitamins A and E, and also the soothing properties of aloe vera extract. Its lightweight and easy glide formula makes it easy to layer – giving your lips a fuller and plumper appearance. It is a true brown shade, ideal for fair to medium skin tones. The silky texture feels super luxe on your pout, making it a comfortable yet fabulous wear.

2

Maybelline Super Stay Vinyl Ink Longwear Brown Lipstick

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A deep-toned brown shade with hints of plum, one can’t help but love this Maybelline SuperStay Liquid Lipcolour which is formulated specially to define and showcase your bold pout. The unique vinyl texture that makes for an easy glide is what makes this lipstick feel like heaven. It sits moist on your lips and shines. Promising up to 16 hours of wear, the color lock formula defies any sort of smudging. The flocked tip applicator helps with precise and easy application, making this the perfect pick for your pout.

3

Most Hydrating

Julep It's Balm: Tinted Lip Balm + Buildable Lip Color - Brown Sugar

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This Julep It’s Balm tinted lip balm and buildable lip color is the perfect makeup skincare hybrid with its moisturizing features and natural gloss finish. The vitamin E core is enriched with sunflower butter to protect and condition the lips. The shade Brown Sugar uses a reddish brown lipstick with a sheer gloss-like finish that looks gorgeous with every ensemble! The ideal makeup bag essential for those with dry lips, it perfects your pout with rich color and a super smooth glide.

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Best Matte Effect

Maybelline Color Sensational Ultimatte Matte Lipstick

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With an intense color pigment and comfortable cushiony feel, this Maybelline Color Sensational UltiMatte lipstick has a unique non-drying formula that gives your lips the lovely matte finish they desire without leaving them parched and chapped. The lightweight blurring finish is forgiving when it comes to application, eliminating the intense need to stay within your lip lines. The daring shade, More Truffle, is a cocoa brownish lipstick that sits on your lips all day. Create a flawless yet understated pout with this slim lipstick!

5

Best Color Payoff

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick - Bitter Sweet

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This rich, chocolatey brown lipstick by Anastasia Beverly Hills gives an understated yet bold look to the lips, and we cannot think of a single skin color this wouldn’t look great on! Its formula is worth drooling over as it is intensely pigmented and creamy and delivers a sublime color payoff to your lips. While the emollient-rich formula looks satiny when applied, it dries down to a natural, matte finish, which makes it a great choice for every day. Furthermore, this lipstick will stay put as you applied it in the morning till the end of your work day.

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Best Lustrous Finish

REVLON Super Lustrous The Luscious Mattes Lipstick, in Brown

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This warm-toned Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in the shade Hot Chocolate leaves a luscious matte finish on your lips, making them look breathtaking. This warm brown lipstick is the perfect lustrous brown to bring radiance to every skin tone! One can’t help but fall in love with this special formula that leaves a pigmented matte finish in a single smooth swipe, while also adding moisture. The luxurious color conforms to the contours of your lips, to prevent any drying and flaking.

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SUGAR Cosmetics Matte As Hell Crayon Lipstick29 Molly Brown (Peachy brown)

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This lightweight peachy brown Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Crayon lipstick in the shade Molly Brown leaves a long-lasting silky matte finish on your lips. Its color-rich, creamy formulation makes it comfortable for all-day wear. The intense pigment has warm undertones that can transition from AM to PM. Giving you super pigmented lips in a single swipe, it is the perfect lipstick for those looking to flaunt a brown shade. And a cute bonus is that it comes with a sharpener!

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Most DelectableTexture

Black Radiance Perfect Tone Matte Liquid Lipstick Lip Crème Naughty Brown

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Fit for every occasion, this Black Radiance Perfect Tone Matte Liquid lipstick formula features a creamy mousse-like texture that leaves a matte finish. The bold color payoff and full coverage come with a cushiony moisture-rich base, making it a perfect pick. The soft brush applicator helps cover every inch of your lips, making them look fuller. The shade naughty brown is ideal for those with darker skin tones. Give this long-lasting creamy matte lipstick a go, we are sure it will become one of your favorites!

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Best Doe-foot Applicator

Dose of Colors - Liquid Matte Lipstick

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Perfect for the chocoholic within you, this Dose of Colors Liquid Matte lipstick in the shade Chocolate Wasted is a classic. Leaning more towards a true brown, it has some hints of plum that only add to its allure. Ideal for those with warm undertones, there is no need to wait for autumn to channel some fall energy – just a swipe of this will do the deed! The cruelty and paraben-free formula also offers long wear, eliminating the need to constantly reapply.

10

YOUNG VISION Matte Nude Liquid Lipstick Sets

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Pamper your pout with this pinkish-brown lipstick Young Vision Matte Liquid that leaves a seamless matte finish and comes with impressive long-wear power. The formulation is a blend between matte and creme – making it a conditioning experience for your lips. The elegant matte finish is graced with hints of satin, making it smooth to apply. A perfect fit for the nude lipstick addict within you, this set of 6 has something for everyone, ranging across all skin tones. It is also smudge-proof, meaning no more lipstick stains on your coffee mugs!

11

Best for a Frosty Look

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, Superstar Brown, Matte Finish

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With a matte and lustrous finish, this brown lipstick by Revlon Super Lustrous in the shade Superstar Brown is perfect for a night out. The lightweight formula is infused with vitamin E and avocado oil to deeply nourish the lips – making it the perfect amalgamation of high-impact color and super moisturizing formula. You can layer it based on the amount of luster and pigment desired– greater layering will give a higher luminance payoff, while blotting will add a softer look and feel. This shade is ideal for those with fair skin tones and cooler undertones.

12

Best for Everyday

Mented Cosmetics Semi-Matte Nude Lipstick, Brown Bar

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With an inherently mattifying formula, this Mented Cosmetics Semi Matte lipstick in the shade Brown Bare provides weightless pillowy coverage in a nudish-brown hue. The light brown lipstick ideal pick for when you want your lips to be creamy yet matte. The shade enhances your natural lips with a sunkissed glow to give you an irresistible pout – making it a great fit for those with olive skin. The formula is vegan, paraben, and cruelty-free. Let your lips be the center of attention with this stunning shade!

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Best Luxe Finish

Bobbi Brown Lip Color 22 Sandwash Pink for Women

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The texture of the Bobbi Brown Lip Color can be compared to that of a lip balm. With crushed pigments and hydrating lip-loving ingredients like castor oil added, the formula of this pinkish-brown lipstick is divine. The creamy semi-matte finish makes your pout shine radiantly, offering layering and blotting options. Comfortable, full-coverage that instantly polishes and highlights the lips, makes this lip color a true fan favorite. The shade sand wash pink is the perfect blend between brown and blush, making it a flattering fit for all.

Smearing some lipstick on is the joy of makeup and when it comes to trying out bold colors, it’s all the more joyful! So, if it’s your first time trying a brown lips, we would definitely not like you to go to the brown lips fest unprepared.

As hard as it gets to choose any lipstick, the difficulty level of the task at hand increases when it’s a non-conventional shade like brown. A lot goes into finding the best brown lipstick for yourself. Brown is a color with several undertones and variations, ranging from light brown lipsticks, pink brown lipsticks, and even red-brown lipsticks. It is considered a flattering fit when the hue of the lipstick compliments the person's overall coloring and tones – while this is found to be true of all colors, it especially shows in browns. We are going to give you a few key things to remember before taking the plunge-

Skintone

The rule of thumb when it comes to finding the perfect lipstick for yourself is that the darker your skin tone, the darker your lipstick color should be. Paying attention to your undertones is paramount. Those with yellow or orange undertones will be better suited to warm browns, whereas those with cooler undertones will fare better with a red-based brown shade. Darker skin tones pair well with pale browns or tans. Those with olive skin can opt for darker and slightly vampy shades. Light medium skin tones will go best with terracotta or burnt red shade. Fair skin tones would do well with a taupe. It’s a good tip to steer clear of browns that feature grays, this can make your pout look harsh and dated. The large variety of shades of brown lipsticks definitely makes it easier to find your perfect fit.

Finish 

Choosing the best finish is entirely up to personal preference. Some might prefer ultra matte lips that last long, though they can dry out the lips; while others might gravitate towards a glossy hydrating finish that looks more natural. If you are looking for a hint of shimmer, lustrous lipsticks are the perfect pick for you. Creme finish lipsticks might be the most comfortable of the lot, but they lack long-lasting abilities and are easily transferable. A strong brown color might be best in matte to make sure it doesn’t transfer onto any of your attire. A lighter brown can look great in a glossy and moist finish.

Shabby application is your worst enemy when it comes to applying a dark shade. You can use lip liner to add definition. Using a darker shade would be more akin to the ‘90s energy, but using a similar shade like Hailey Bieber has been doing lately is also an equally stunning option. Our contributor Ghanima Abdullah, an experienced beauty consultant, says, “A brown or black lip liner over a brown or pink shade of lipstick can give your mouth a pronounced 90s-look. The look is even better, though, if you apply lip gloss over the whole thing.”

Smoothly glide the lipstick over your lips, layering till your desired look is achieved. Don’t worry if you end up going out of the lines, you can always use some concealer around your lips to color-correct any leftover pigments. Voila! You now have the secret to perfect, precise lipstick application.

These were the best brown lipsticks that are beloved by all as they help you achieve the ‘90s supermodel look, and they are probably the most hard-working makeup products out there. Our top picks of the best brown lipsticks are all great for casual days and glamorous nights, making them a staple in every makeup arsenal. When it comes to pairing it with certain makeup looks, there lies a lot of versatility in brown lipstick. You can pair it with a daytime look or sport it on your next night out. Transitioning seamlessly from night soirees to afternoon brunches. Celebrities like Lily-Rose Depp, Victoria Beckham, and Hailey Bieber have been spotted wearing brown lipstick, only proving that the trend is here to stay So get ready to take a time machine back to the '90s with a chocolate-glazed lip!

Contributor: Ghanima Abdullah, Cosmetologist, The Right Hairstyles