NYX Micro Brow Pencil Review: 12 Vegan Waterproof Shades, Ingredients & Honest Drawbacks
· Amazed by MN
The NYX Micro Brow Pencil is one of the best-known drugstore micro pencils: a thin, mechanical pencil with a spoolie, made for filling sparse brows with fine strokes. NYX Professional Makeup describes it as vegan and waterproof, and it comes in more shades than most pencils at its price. Here is what is inside, who it suits, and where it falls short.
How we put this guide together: this review is based on NYX Professional Makeup’s official product information, ingredient lists published by retailers, and the brand’s own usage directions. No brand paid for this placement.
Quick Verdict
A precise, affordable micro pencil with a wide shade range and a vegan formula. It is a strong pick if you have struggled to find your brow shade at the drugstore, especially ashy or red-toned browns. It is a weaker pick if you want a soft, powdery finish or a lot of product per pencil.
What It Is
- Format: mechanical micro pencil with a spoolie brush on the other end.
- Shades: 12, according to NYX, including taupe, blonde, auburn, chocolate, ash brown, brunette, espresso, and black.
- Brand claims: vegan, waterproof, break-resistant, and smudge-resistant.
- Size: 0.09 g.
The Full Ingredient List
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Synthetic Japan Wax, Stearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Zinc Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Myristyl Myristate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tocopherol. May contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Important: this pencil has been sold with more than one formula. Some retailers still list an older version based on polyethylene, candelilla wax, and dimethicone. NYX itself tells shoppers to refer to the packaging for the most recent list, so check your own pencil if you avoid specific ingredients.
Here is what the key ingredients in the list above do:
- Hydrogenated soybean oil and hydrogenated coco-glycerides: plant-derived waxy emollients that make the pencil glide.
- Synthetic Japan wax and stearic acid: these give the thin tip its firmness.
- Synthetic fluorphlogopite: a lab-made mineral similar to mica that softens the look of the color.
- Tocopherol: vitamin E, used as an antioxidant for the formula.
- Iron oxides: the mineral pigments behind the shades.
What NYX Claims
NYX calls this its number one break-resistant and smudge-resistant micro brow pencil, and describes the shades as vegan and waterproof. The brand defines vegan as containing no animal-derived ingredients or byproducts. These are brand statements, not independent test results.
How to Use It
- Brush your brows into place with the spoolie.
- Line the upper and lower edge of the brow arch with light pressure.
- Fill sparse areas with short, hair-like strokes.
- Brush through again with the spoolie to soften any hard edges.
Who It’s Best For
- Sparse or over-tweezed brows that need fine, individual strokes
- People who need a specific undertone, since the 12 shades cover ashy, neutral, and red-toned browns
- Anyone who only buys vegan makeup
- Shoppers who want a prestige-style micro pencil at a drugstore price
Honest Drawbacks
- Small amount of product. At 0.09 g, it runs out quickly with daily full-brow use.
- The formula has changed. If you bought it years ago, the pencil you get today may feel different.
- It is built for detail, not speed. A micro tip takes longer to fill a full brow. For a fast, bold look, a pomade such as the NYX Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade covers more area per stroke.
- Waterproof takes more effort to remove. Waterproof formulas generally come off more easily with an oil-based remover or cleansing balm.
How It Compares
The current ingredient list is the same as the one published for the Maybelline Brow Ultra Slim, so the choice between them comes down mainly to shade range, tip, and price. The L’Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer is another waterproof drugstore option, and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is the prestige pencil this category is usually compared with.
The Bottom Line
If shade match is your main problem, the NYX Micro Brow Pencil is one of the most flexible drugstore choices, with 12 vegan shades. Expect to repurchase often if you use it every day.
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