If there’s one product in my makeup bag that feels both playful and powerful, it’s eyeliner. It can shift your entire face with one clean stroke—make your eyes look bigger, bolder, sexier, softer. But here’s the catch: the right eyeliner color makes all the difference. The perfect shade can turn your natural eye color into a showstopper.
After years of experimenting—with pencils, liquids, creams, gels, in every imaginable hue—I’ve come to learn that your eye color deserves a custom pairing. So I’ve broken it down by the five most common eye colors: brown, blue, hazel, green, and gray. Below, you’ll find a curated list of standout eyeliner shades.
For Brown Eyes: Jewel Tones That Spark Fire
Brown eyes are beautifully versatile. They can handle drama. They can carry depth. And best of all, they pair gorgeously with bold, saturated jewel tones.
1. Jones Road The Best Pencil in Violet – \$24
This is the definition of “unexpected but perfect.” It’s a velvety matte violet—not too bright, not too dark. The formula glides like a gel but smudges like a kohl. It makes brown eyes gleam with a quiet vibrancy. Bobbi Brown (yes, the Bobbi) created this line to look effortless and feel clean. This pencil does exactly that.
Why I love it: It brings out the amber and honey flecks in brown eyes, especially when paired with soft gold on the lids.
Texture: Creamy, richly pigmented, easy to blend
Tip: Try a reverse cat-eye—line just the lower lash line and smudge outward.
2. Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Bordeaux – \$34
🛒 Nordstrom, Violet Grey
If you’re a sucker for rich color and luxury feel, this liner is a must. The shade Bordeaux is a deep, wine-red satin that looks incredible against brown irises. It’s soft enough to wear every day, but bold enough to make people ask, “What eyeliner are you wearing?”
Why I love it: The satin finish gives a soft sheen—like silk on the lash line.
Texture: Ultra-creamy and smudgeable, but sets to stay put
Tip: Layer over brown shadow to intensify the wine tone.
3. Glossier No. 1 Pencil in Rococo – \$18
🛒 Glossier.com
Rococo is a greyish lavender with a muted, powdery base. It’s the cool-girl way to do color. The pencil has just enough pigment to define, without screaming “I’m wearing purple eyeliner.”
Why I love it: It feels like a watercolor wash—not too much, just enough.
Texture: Smooth but not waxy, excellent for tightlining
Tip: Apply along the upper lash line, then use your pinky to soften the edges.
For Blue Eyes: Warm Metallics That Make Them Pop
Blue eyes can look ethereal, icy, or blazing—depending on the light and the liner. The key is to use warm-toned shades that contrast without overwhelming.
4. Laura Mercier Caviar Tightline Eyeliner in Bronze – \$29
🛒 Sephora, Bluemercury
A tightlining dream. This waterproof gel liner was made for subtle intensity. The bronze shade brings out the icy clarity in blue eyes without looking harsh. It hugs the lash line like velvet.
Why I love it: It’s one of the few metallics that doesn’t flake or crease—even on watery eyes.
Texture: Gel-to-powder, sets fast, smudges beautifully before drying
Tip: Use a flat eyeliner brush to stamp it directly into the upper waterline.
5. Estée Lauder Double Wear Gel Eye Pencil in Bronze – \$32
🛒 Amazon, Macy’s
Another strong bronze option, this one is all about staying power. It’s creamy enough to glide, but once it sets, it does. not. budge. It’s also excellent for lining the inner rim if you’re prone to smudging.
Why I love it: Warm bronzes make the whites of the eyes look clearer.
Texture: Gel-based with serious pigment payoff
Tip: Layer with a rusty orange shadow for extra dimension.
6. Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil in Copper – \$24
🛒 Credo Beauty, Amazon
Clean beauty lovers, this one’s for you. Ere Perez is an Australian brand with an ingredient-first approach, and this pencil is loaded with jojoba oil for smooth glide. Copper is a fiery orange-bronze that makes blue eyes electric.
Why I love it: Feels good on the skin, wears even better
Texture: Soft but firm, doesn’t crumble
Tip: Try a half-liner—just the outer half of your eye, smudged and smoky.
For Hazel Eyes: Colors That Pull Every Fleck
Hazel eyes are shape-shifters. Depending on the light—or the liner—they can look green, gold, or even gray. The trick is using color to push them in the direction you want.
7. Jillian Dempsey Kohl Eyeliner in Black Sapphire – \$20
🛒 Bluemercury, Amazon
This isn’t a standard black. It’s a deep, inky navy that reads black from afar but catches just enough blue to highlight green-gold undertones in hazel eyes.
Why I love it: It’s impossibly soft—like drawing with butter.
Texture: Kohl, meant to smudge and smoke
Tip: Layer it under a powder shadow to set and seal.
8. Charlotte Tilbury Eye Colour Magic Liner Duo in Green Lights – \$29
🛒 Sephora, Nordstrom
Two liners in one: an emerald shimmer and a deep khaki matte. This duo gives you versatility—whether you’re aiming for subtle definition or full-on fantasy.
Why I love it: Emerald green and hazel eyes are soulmates.
Texture: Soft enough for the waterline, firm enough for sharp flicks
Tip: Use the shimmer side along the lower lash line to “float” the color.
9. MAC Colour Excess Gel Pencil in Nudge/Nudge Ink/Ink – \$25
🛒 Nordstrom, MACCosmetics.com
This dual-ended pencil pairs a cool lilac shimmer with a matte indigo base. Either end works, but the lilac side really amplifies the green tones in hazel eyes.
Why I love it: It’s water-resistant, sweat-resistant, life-resistant.
Texture: Silky smooth and sets within 15 seconds
Tip: Use the shimmer as a pop of color in the inner corner.
For Green Eyes: Red-Toned Liners That Electrify
Green eyes are mesmerizing on their own, but they absolutely explode with the right contrast. And there’s no better companion than red-based tones—think wine, burgundy, and cranberry. These colors sit opposite green on the color wheel, creating a magnetic pull of contrast.
10. Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Bordeaux – \$34
🛒 Violet Grey, Nordstrom
Yes, it’s back—and for a reason. For green eyes, Bordeaux works like a lighting technician backstage—it intensifies everything without being the center of attention. This liner’s ultra-creamy texture lets you play with thickness and shape without dragging.
Why I love it: It’s both dramatic and wearable. The deep red-wine tone makes green irises look greener.
Texture: Soft, rich, and extremely blendable
Tip: Use it as a smoky base and top with rose gold shimmer for evening looks.
11. ColourPop Crème Gel Liner in Joy Ride – \$10
🛒 ColourPop.com, Ulta Beauty
A drugstore gem with department-store payoff. This deep cranberry shade has a creamy matte finish that hugs the lash line. It’s ideal for tightlining, and it doesn’t budge once set.
Why I love it: The color payoff is insane for the price.
Texture: Firm but not dry, glides easily
Tip: Great for inner rim lining to make the eye whites pop.
12. Gucci Stylo Contour des Yeux in Bordeaux – \$39
🛒 Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue
This is eyeliner turned luxury artifact. With sleek gold packaging and buttery pigment, Gucci’s Bordeaux shade is perfect for making a quiet statement. It pairs especially well with neutral taupe shadows and fluttery lashes.
Why I love it: It’s prestige, but the color itself is what makes it unforgettable.
Texture: Satin-matte, smooth and smudgeable
Tip: Line top and bottom lash lines for full surround definition, then blur out with a brush.
For Gray Eyes: Cool Tones and Unexpected Pops
Gray eyes are rare and complex—they often shift between blue, green, and silver depending on the light and makeup. To enhance them, try tones with a blue or plum base. Or, go bold with oxblood and burgundy for strong contrast.
13. Trish McEvoy Intense Gel Eyeliner in Arabian Nights – \$30
🛒 TrishMcEvoy.com, Nordstrom
This rich, navy-infused violet shade does something magical to gray eyes. It balances the coolness in the iris while injecting quiet color. The gel formula gives you a minute to smudge before it sets like stone.
Why I love it: It’s elegant but not boring—perfect for daily wear or a sleek evening look.
Texture: Gel-glide with a satin finish
Tip: Use it to tightline both waterlines and top with black mascara for an icy contrast.
14. Fenty Beauty Flypencil in Cherry Punk (Matte Burgundy) – \$23
🛒 FentyBeauty.com, Sephora
Cherry Punk is unapologetically bold. This matte burgundy turns up the volume on gray eyes, offering unexpected warmth. If you’re in the mood to disrupt the grayscale palette, this one’s your rebel.
Why I love it: Long-wearing, dramatic, and pairs beautifully with silver-toned highlighter.
Texture: Dense, matte, and highly pigmented
Tip: Try it in a floating crease line with minimal other makeup for modern edge.
15. Shiseido Microliner Ink in Teal Blue – \$22
🛒 Sephora, Amazon
This ultrathin mechanical pencil is a dream for precision work. The teal-blue shade plays up the cooler tones in gray eyes. I reach for this when I want to create a subtle flick or inner-corner pop.
Why I love it: The pigment stays bright even after hours of wear.
Texture: Fine tip gel liner, ideal for sharp definition
Tip: Use as an underliner (below your bottom lashes) for an unconventional accent.
Universal Shades That Work for Everyone
There are some shades so adaptable, so enhancing, that they belong in every eye makeup wardrobe—no matter your eye color. These are the tried-and-true shades I reach for when I don’t want to think, just look good.
16. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Whiskey (Warm Brown) – \$25
🛒 Ulta Beauty, UrbanDecay.com
This warm matte brown flatters every eye color—from icy blues to deep browns. It softens the lash line without disappearing. It’s also ideal for subtle smokey eyes or “no makeup” makeup looks.
Why I love it: A dependable brown is like a favorite pair of jeans—it goes with everything.
Texture: Smooth, blendable, and sets down hard
Tip: Smudge it with your finger for an undone, French-girl look.
17. NYX Epic Wear Liner Stick in Gold Plated – \$9
🛒 NYXCosmetics.com, Target
This liner is a sleeper hit. Gold Plated is a metallic yellow-gold that works like an illuminator. Use it in the waterline or inner corner and it brings instant life to tired eyes—especially flattering on brown and hazel eyes.
Why I love it: It gives major payoff for a drugstore price.
Texture: Waterproof, soft-metal shimmer
Tip: Use on the lower lash line only to lift the eye subtly.
Application Techniques & Tools I Swear By
Finding your shade is only half the battle. How you apply it makes or breaks the look. Here are some of the techniques I return to over and over, along with the tools that help me get it right.
🔹 Tightlining
The single fastest way to make eyes look bigger. Use a waterproof liner in a deep tone (black, navy, bronze), and press it into the upper waterline. This adds invisible depth and makes lashes look thicker.
🔹 Floating Liner
Want to go editorial? Use a colored pencil to draw just above the crease—no lash line contact. This is modern, unexpected, and lets color shine. I love this with deep plums or bright aquas.
🔹 Inner Corner Highlight
A shimmer pencil in champagne or pale gold adds instant freshness. Even on no-makeup days, a dab in the inner corners makes the whole face look awake.
Favorite Tools:
- Smudger brush – Sephora Collection #11 (\$16)
- Flat eyeliner brush – Sigma E65 (\$20)
- Pointed Q-tips – Ulta (\$3/pack)
Where to Shop for the Best Eyeliners in the U.S.
There’s no shortage of eyeliner options, but not all platforms are created equal. Here are my go-tos:
🔸 Sephora
Best for: Wide range of brands, fast shipping, amazing return policy.
Insider Tip: Check the “mini size” section for trial versions.
🔸 Nordstrom
Best for: High-end and luxury brands like Victoria Beckham, Gucci, and Trish McEvoy.
Insider Tip: Their beauty specialists offer virtual consultations.
🔸 Ulta Beauty
Best for: Blending prestige and drugstore options in one cart.
Insider Tip: Use Ulta’s 20% coupons on high-end brands during special promos.
🔸 Credo Beauty
Best for: Clean and green beauty. Brands like Ere Perez and Jillian Dempsey are mainstays here.
Insider Tip: Their ingredient transparency is unmatched.
🔸 Amazon
Best for: Discontinued shades or obscure favorites.
Caution: Stick to Prime-fulfilled or brand-authorized sellers to avoid knockoffs.
Eye makeup doesn’t need to be complicated—it needs to be intentional. When you find the right shade, texture, and technique, eyeliner stops being just a cosmetic and becomes your signature. Whether you’re brightening brown eyes with jewel tones, turning blue eyes into sapphires with bronze, or making green eyes smolder with wine-red, the right liner transforms everything.
Try new things. Make mistakes. Wipe it off. Try again. But never underestimate the power of a perfectly chosen pencil.
