For a soft line that you can blend at the outer edge, a creamy pencil is usually a friendly place to start. For a clean, defined wing, a liquid pen gives you a different kind of control. Neither format is automatically easier for every eye shape or hand.
The useful question is what you want the finished edge to look like. A soft brown line close to the lashes and a sharply pointed black wing ask different things of the product. Choosing for that result is more helpful than buying whichever liner is described as beginner-friendly.
A pencil does not have to mean a thick line
Some Korean pencils have very fine tips. CLIO Sharp So Simple Pencil Liner, for example, is described as having a 2 mm tip. A pencil like this can make a narrow line; it is not limited to a heavy, smoky look.
The creamy texture is useful when you want to draw a little at a time and soften the edge before it sets. Work in short strokes rather than trying to draw the entire lash line in one movement. If the formula sets quickly, blend one small section before moving on.
A retractable pencil also needs gentle pressure. Wind up only enough to use, especially with a slim tip. Exposing a long section does not make the line more precise and can make breakage more likely.
A liquid pen is about the tip as well as the formula
Liquid liners can use a brush or a felt or sponge-style tip. These do not bend or release product in exactly the same way. The barrel may look like the same kind of pen while the experience at the eyelid is quite different.
CLIO Superproof Pen Liner uses a sponge pen tip. Its instructions include shaking before use and gently wiping makeup residue from the tip with a tissue. That is a useful reminder: if the pen starts skipping after touching foundation or eyeshadow, the issue may be a dirty tip rather than your drawing ability.
Begin with a small outer line while looking straight ahead into a mirror. Keeping the intended shape short makes it easier to compare the two eyes before extending anything. You can build a longer wing after you know where the first line sits when your eyes are open.
Brown and black solve a different question
The choice of colour changes the effect, but it does not replace the choice of format. A brown liquid pen can still create a crisp edge. A black pencil can still be softly blended.
If you want subtle definition, consider how dark the colour looks against your lashes and skin rather than assuming every shade called brown will be light. Black-brown, ash brown and warm brown are not interchangeable names. A swatch can help with the colour; the actual eyelid is where you judge the finished shape and wear.
For the first purchase, I would choose one format and one useful colour. Buying both pencil and pen makes sense if you want two different effects, but it is not a required pair.
What if it transfers or disappears?
A waterproof claim is not a promise that a liner will stay unchanged through every combination of oil, rubbing and eyelid contact. Give the formula its directed setting time and avoid repeatedly tracing over a thick, still-wet layer.
Notice where the problem happens. A line that stamps onto the upper lid calls for a different adjustment from a wing that rubs away at the corner. Keeping the line thinner, changing its position or trying another formula may help more than pressing harder with the same one.
Keep application to the external lash line unless the product is specifically intended for another area. Stop using eye makeup that causes discomfort, and use an appropriate remover without scrubbing at the eyelid.
The easiest starting point
Choose a fine pencil if you want a forgiving, softer edge and the option to blend. Choose a liquid pen if a clearly defined outer line is the main goal and you are willing to practise placing it in small sections.
Start with a short line you can repeat on both sides. Once that feels comfortable, extending the wing or changing its shape becomes a much smaller adjustment.