NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Review: I’m Eyeliner Obsessed, What Do I Really Think of This Drugstore Brand?

NYX Professional Makeup is undoubtedly one of the leading brands in the cosmetics industry, boasting a massive following of 14 million on their Instagram page alone. As a drugstore brand, NYX delivers high-quality products that are both affordable and readily available. Personally, I have been acquainted with NYX Cosmetics and have used their eyeliners, lip products, and face primer. However, their products have been a hit or miss for me. Thus, I was thrilled to put the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils to the test and determine if they truly live up to the hype. In this comprehensive NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Review, I will delve into the details.

Pros:

• The Jumbo Eye Pencils are remarkably blendable, allowing for seamless application.
• The pigmentation of these eye pencils is impressive, delivering vibrant color payoff.
• With a luxuriously creamy formula, these pencils glide on effortlessly.
• The ease of application makes them ideal for both beginners and experienced makeup enthusiasts.
• They complement other eyeshadows and eyeliners beautifully, making them versatile additions to any eye makeup look.
• These pencils can be used as both eyeshadows and eyeliners, adding convenience to your makeup routine.
• Despite their exceptional quality, the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils remain affordable, priced at just $4.50 each.
• A notable advantage is that they do not bleed or smudge, a crucial factor for many.

Cons:

• While most shades exhibit remarkable pigmentation, the purple shade, eggplant, falls slightly short.
• It may require some effort to achieve seamless blending with these pencils.
• Individuals with limited makeup application experience may find them challenging to use.
• These eye pencils tend to sell out quickly, making them occasionally hard to find.
• Some users have reported issues with creasing, although my personal experience was not significant. It is worth noting that the preparation method plays a vital role, which I will elaborate on in a later section.

It is important to highlight that a customer review mentioned concerns about creasing. While I did encounter minimal creasing, it was not overly problematic. The outcome could be attributed to the specific preparation steps I took for my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil looks, which I will elaborate on in a subsequent section.

What You Can Use Them For?

The NYX creamy jumbo eye pencils have gained popularity due to their versatility. Users have found various ways to utilize these pencils, including as eyeshadows, eyeliners, and even as eyeshadow bases.

Eyeshadow:

The jumbo eye pencils excel as eyeshadows, offering a quick and effortless application. With a simple swipe and blend, you can achieve stunning mono eyeshadow looks or create more dramatic eye makeup styles. The pencils’ impressive pigmentation and blendability allow for endless possibilities. They can be effortlessly paired with other jumbo eye pencils or eyeshadows, and you can even layer other eyeliners on top for added dimension.

Eyeliner:

While the primary purpose of these pencils is as eyeliners, they can be used to create striking eye-defining lines. However, it is important to exercise caution during application to ensure evenness. Despite their creamy formula and blendability, slight errors in application can affect the overall appearance. It is worth noting that the black pencil can also be used as an eyeshadow for achieving a smoky look.

Base:

Many reviewers have praised these pencils as excellent eyeshadow bases. While I personally did not use them in this manner, lighter shades such as “Milk” (white) and “Frosting” (sparkling peach) are highly recommended as bases, particularly for those seeking a touch of glitter and added depth to their eyeshadow looks.

The Colors I Bought

I had the pleasure of trying out several colors, including “Eggplant” (dark purple), “Blueberry Pop” (dark blue), “Black Bean” (black), and “Frappe” (dark brown). Overall, I was thrilled with all the shades except for “Eggplant,” which appeared sheerer than expected. While this worked well for my preference for subtle eyeshadows with a hint of color, individuals seeking a more intense purple may want to explore alternative jumbo eye pencils.

In contrast, the remaining colors delivered exceptional color payoff, boasting vivid hues that blended effortlessly. Their versatility allowed me to create a wide range of eye makeup looks.

As an additional note, I received complimentary blotting papers; however, as I have normal/dry skin and do not experience excess oiliness, I plan to pass them along to someone who can benefit from them, particularly individuals with oily skin or in warmer climates.

Complete Color Selection

The colors I purchased are just a fraction of the wide range available in the catalog. You have numerous other shades to choose from, including:

• Yogurt (shiny pinky shade)

• French Fries (brown)

• Iced Mocha (shiny taupe)

• Cottage Cheese (shiny silver)

• Milk (white)

• Iced Latte (light brown)

• Frosting (shiny peach)

• Sherbert (light pink)

• Donut (light purple)

• Macaroon (light teal)

• Matcha (lime green)

• Cupcake (pink)

In retrospect, I realize that some of the colors I wanted, such as Milk and Iced Mocha, were out of stock at the time of my purchase. However, I have now noticed that they are back in stock on the NYX Cosmetics website. It seems that they frequently restock their products, so it is worth checking the website periodically if there is a specific color you desire.

How They Apply

As mentioned earlier, I had never used jumbo eye pencils before because I struggled to find the right ones. However, I am delighted with the NYX Professional Makeup jumbo eye pencils.

Pigmentation

With the exception of the Eggplant color, all of these eye pencils exhibit incredibly high pigmentation. Even the sheer Eggplant shade has its own charm. Moreover, you do not need to exert much pressure during application. A few gentle swipes provide intense color payoff.

Blendability

One of the standout features of these eye pencils is their impressive blendability. A simple blending brush is all you need to effortlessly blend the colors. They blend seamlessly and swiftly, allowing you to achieve stunning eye looks with ease. Furthermore, these colors can be easily blended with any other eyeshadow, offering limitless possibilities for creative makeup endeavors.

The Looks I Created

I experimented with three different eye looks using the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils. Let’s explore each of these looks in detail!

My First NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Look: A Smoky Brown, Neutral Shadow Look for Everyday

Before starting on the eyes, I prepped my face by applying concealer to my lid and crease, as well as using the NYX Studio Photogenic Foundation Primer. I also completed my eyebrow pencil, face makeup, contouring, and lip application before focusing on the eyes.

Typically, I do my eye makeup before the face, but for this tutorial, I decided to leave the eyes for last. It felt unusual to complete a full face without touching the eyes.

Now that everything else is done, I can begin working on the eyes. I used a neutral eyeshadow palette as a base. This particular palette is an affordable alternative to the Urban Decay Naked palette. I applied a white/tan-ish color from the palette all over the lid and crease.

Next, I added the shade Frappe to the crease, not worrying too much about precise application since we will be blending the colors.

To blend the eyeshadows seamlessly, I used a blending brush. I have had this brush for years and it was part of a gift set, so I don’t recall its exact cost. Using the brush, I buffed out the colors, focusing on the edges and blending them into the base shadow.

For the lid, I applied a darker gold shade, starting below the Frappe color and sweeping it towards the lash line.

There are two options for eyeliner: I initially experimented with a green liner to add a pop of color to the look. Although I liked the outcome, I also wanted to see how the Black Bean jumbo eyeliner would complement the look.

I applied Black Bean right above the lash line and also to the bottom lash line, avoiding the inner corners of the eyes. I even applied it to the waterline, although I’m not sure if it is recommended. To blend the liner, I used the same blending brush, ensuring a smooth transition and blending the colors towards the outer corner of the eyes.

To enhance the eyes further, I used sparkly eyeshadow to brighten the liner. Finally, I completed the look with mascara.

NYC Jumbo Eyeliner Look 2: A Subtle Purple Fantasy

This look is my personal favorite, despite the less pigmented Eggplant shade. I removed most of the makeup from the previous look, leaving only the mascara and as much of the eyeliner as possible. I applied concealer to create a fresh base on my lid and crease.

Next, I used a shiny white/beige color on the lids, avoiding the crease. I applied the Eggplant shade only to the outer corner of my eyes, extending halfway into the lid and slightly into the inner corner along the crease.

After blending, the result is a subtle purple hue that I found quite pleasing.

NYC Jumbo Pencil Look 3: Intense Blue Fantasy

For the final look, I wanted to create a more dramatic effect. I removed most of the previous look’s makeup (although more eyeliner came off than I intended) and applied concealer once again to the lid and crease.

I started with the intense shade Gonzo from Urban Decay’s Electric Palette, a sparkling blue color slightly lighter than the Blueberry Pop pencil.

Similar to the Eggplant shade, I applied Blueberry Pop to the outer corner of my eyes, stopping at the middle of the lid. I extended the color slightly beyond the outer corner and blended it into the lower lash line. I also used the pencil to add some blue on the lower lash line, below the black liner. To blend, I ensured the edges were even, seamlessly merging the inner corner with the Gonzo shade, and blending the color towards the outer corner of the eyes. To add brightness, I used the same shiny white/beige color in the inner corner of my eyes, blending it into the blue on the lower lash line. I completed the look with a fresh coat of mascara.

Alternatives to NYC Jumbo Pencils

Although my personal experience with jumbo eyeliner pencils is limited, I have researched and found other highly rated options for your consideration. While I cannot speak from personal experience with these alternatives, here are some popular jumbo eyeliner pencils from reputable brands:

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
• Sephora Collection Colorful Shadow and Liner
• Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil
• Shiseido Kajal Ink Artist Shadow Liner
• Chanel Style Ombré et Contour
• Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick
• Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint
• Pixi Beauty Endless Shade Stick
• Julep Eyeshadow 101 Crème-to-Powder Eyeshadow Stick
• E.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Eyeshadow Stick
• Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color

I have personally used the Sephora ones before, as I received training on them during my time as a Sephora consultant. While I did not extensively use them, I found them to be pigmented and easy to blend. The Sephora ones are slightly pricier than the NYX jumbo eye pencils, priced at $14 each. They could be a good option if you are looking for higher quality jumbo pencils without breaking the bank.

Lastly, my mother frequently uses jumbo eye pencils but opts for whatever she can find at the drugstore. She specifically mentioned enjoying the Wet n’ Wild ones, although I couldn’t locate them on their website, indicating they may no longer be available. As for the other pencil options, I cannot provide a personal assessment of their quality as I haven’t used them before.