NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Review: Smudgy Liner-Shadow for Beginners

If you want a fast, soft eye look without fuss, the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil is one of the most approachable options in the drugstore aisle. It is a chubby cream pencil that works as a smudgy liner or a quick eyeshadow, famous for beginner-friendly shades like Milk, Iced Mocha, French Fries, and Black Bean. The appeal is simple. You scribble, blend with a finger or brush, and you are done. The catch is that this buttery texture can crease and transfer if you do not set it up correctly. After weeks of wear across different lids, here is how it stacks up and how to get the best possible results.

Overview

The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil is a multi-use cream formula housed in an oversized pencil barrel. Most shades have a satin or shimmer finish, while a few key colors like Milk, Black Bean, and a handful of pastels lean matte or nearly matte. The tip is wide enough to cover a lid quickly, yet it still creates a chunky lash-line definition when used on its edge. It glides on with almost no tug, deposits saturated color in one or two passes, and blends out with a brush or fingertips in seconds.

What you should know up front:

• Texture is creamy and emollient, great for speed but prone to creasing if applied too thick or left unset.
• It is not a twist-up. You need a large-hole jumbo sharpener. Chilling the pencil for 10 minutes before sharpening helps prevent wasted product.
• Colors like Milk make shimmers pop and can brighten the inner corner. Deeper shades like Black Bean work as a smoky base or smudgy liner.
• Wear time improves dramatically if you use a gripping eye primer underneath and set with powder shadow on top.

On balance, this pencil is best as a fast base or soft liner rather than a long-wear standalone cream shadow. Treat it like a sticky color layer that grabs powder, and it becomes a workhorse.

Who it’s for

This pencil shines for people who want simple, two-step eye looks and do not feel confident with precise liquid liner or complex blending. If you prefer a lived-in, slightly diffused line or quick monochromatic washes of color, you will find the format to be intuitive. It is especially good for beginners who get overwhelmed by palettes and brushes, because you can trace, smudge for 10 to 20 seconds, add a touch of powder, and look polished without a lot of decision-making.

It also suits anyone who likes to layer shimmer shadows and wants them to look richer. Applying a thin layer of a light Jumbo Pencil like Milk under a metallic lid shade will boost brightness, while deeper tones like Black Bean intensify smoky colors and duochromes. Busy mornings, gym bag touch-ups, and travel kits all benefit from the low mess factor.

There are a few caveats. If you have very oily lids, hooded lids that touch at the crease, or you live in humid weather, the pencil can crease or imprint onto the brow bone when worn alone. You can absolutely still use it, but apply the thinnest possible layer, prime first, and set with powder. If you love crisp wings or micro-thin lines, a felt-tip or gel liner will be easier to control. And if your eyes are extremely sensitive or you wear contacts, avoid the waterline, since the pencil’s creamy slip tends to migrate.

How it feels and performs

Swipe the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil across the back of your hand and you will feel a plush, balmy glide. It lays down color with no skipping and blends evenly without patchiness. That forgiving blend window is short, usually 15 to 30 seconds depending on the shade and temperature. After that, it stays slightly pliable rather than fully locking down like a true long-wear cream shadow, which is why it is so easy to smudge but can also move on the lid.

As a liner, one pass along the upper lashes creates a soft, hazy definition. Two passes give you a thicker, lived-in line. You can use a small smudger brush to diffuse the edges for a gentle smoky effect, or press a coordinating powder shadow on top to intensify and set it. As an all-over lid color, the pencil gives a quick wash with a dewy sheen for shimmers and a plush, velvety look for mattes. Expect some creasing if you skip primer and powder, sooner on oily or hooded lids. On normal to slightly dry lids, a single thin layer might last about 3 to 4 hours before creasing shows. With primer plus a sealing layer of powder shadow, wear time jumps to 7 to 10 hours.

Transfer resistance is moderate. On hot days or with deep shades, the product can imprint where the lid meets the crease unless it is set. The pencil is not marketed as waterproof, and it does not behave like one. Tears, rain, and sweaty workouts will break down the creamy film if you wear it alone. It removes easily with micellar water or an oil-based remover.

Sharpening is the one operational hurdle. The barrel is a hard plastic-like material that still sharpens with a standard double-hole cosmetic sharpener, the kind with a larger opening for jumbo pencils. For the cleanest point, pop the pencil in the fridge for 10 minutes, then use gentle, even turns, emptying shavings frequently. You can also angle the blade to create a slightly slanted tip, which helps with more precise lining.

Shade behavior varies slightly. Light mattes like Milk can look chalky if applied too thick, so use a tiny amount and blend well. Shimmers like Iced Mocha and French Fries layer beautifully and smooth over the lid texture, but they will crease faster without powder. Deep mattes like Black Bean are bold and can smudge during blending, so shape the outer corner first with a small brush, then fill in. A thin, strategic approach yields cleaner, longer wear for all shades.

How to use for best results

This pencil rewards speed and thin layers. Here is a step-by-step routine that keeps the look soft and the wear time long:

1. Prep the lids. Blot away skincare residue, then apply a small amount of eye primer. If you do not use primer, dust a whisper of translucent powder on the lid to reduce slip.
2. Map the shape. For a smudgy liner, tilt the pencil and sketch along the lash line, keeping the product mostly at the base of the lashes. For an all-over look, draw a short arc across the center of the lid and a dot in the outer third instead of covering the whole lid.
3. Blend fast. Using a fingertip or a small synthetic brush, push and pull the edges for 10 to 20 seconds to soften the shape. Keep the majority of pigment near the lashes or the mobile lid, not the crease.
4. Set strategically. Press a matching powder shadow or translucent setting powder over the pencil, especially in the crease and outer corner. This locks in the cream and adds dimension.
5. Layer for impact. Want your shimmer to pop? Apply a thin layer of Milk first, then tap your metallic shade on top. For smoky eyes, use Black Bean as a base under deeper browns, plums, or charcoals.
6. Finish the lower lash line carefully. Dot a tiny amount on the outer third, then smudge with a clean brush. Avoid loading the waterline, which can cause migration.
7. Clean up and brighten. If the edges got away from you, sweep a skin-tone powder along the border or use a cotton swab with micellar water. Add a tiny dab of a light shade in the inner corner to lift the eye.

Extra tips for tricky lids:

• For oily or hooded lids, apply the thinnest possible layer, set immediately with powder, and skip heavy creams on the lid during skincare.
• In heat or humidity, stick to daytime washes with lighter shades and avoid thick applications of deep mattes. They are more likely to transfer.
• For mature lids, pat the pencil in thin layers and use a soft, low-shimmer powder on top to minimize emphasis on texture.
• To sharpen less often, cushion the tip with a small synthetic brush. Rub the brush on the pencil, then paint the product onto the eye for detail work.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Creamy glide that never tugs, easy to blend in seconds, doubles as smudgy liner and eyeshadow, brightening and deepening shades that boost powder shadows, beginner-friendly format, affordable and widely available.
• Pros: Versatile shade range with useful mattes and shimmers, forgiving for rush routines, removes without heavy rubbing.
• Cons: Prone to creasing and transfer if worn alone or applied thickly, especially on oily or hooded lids.
• Cons: Requires a jumbo sharpener and some practice to sharpen cleanly, not twist-up.
• Cons: Not water resistant, can migrate on the waterline, deep shades may smudge during blending.
• Cons: Light mattes can turn chalky if overapplied, blend window is short so you have to work fast.

Final verdict

The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil earns its reputation as a forgiving, fun-to-use liner-shadow hybrid. It thrives as a quick base that grabs powder and makes colors look richer, and it delivers a soft, smudgy lash line in seconds. The creamy texture is a blessing for ease and a curse for longevity if you skip primer and powder. Go in with a thin hand, set it, and it can give you a polished look that lasts through a long workday. Wear it alone for a casual, lived-in vibe when perfection is not required, or treat it as the scaffolding under a powder look when you want more staying power.

If you are a beginner who wants speed and low-stress blending, this pencil is a smart buy. If your lids are very oily or you need truly budge-proof performance, use it as a base, not as your only eye product. Either way, the format invites creativity. A single stick can take you from brightening daytime looks to soft smoky evenings, with little more than your fingertip and a small brush.

See also

If your eyes tend to react to makeup, look for gentle formulas and thoughtful application. Our guide to the Best Eyeshadow for Sensitive Eyes covers low-irritation picks that still perform, and the roundup of Best Eye Makeup for Older Women (2025) shares texture-smart tips that pair well with a soft crayon like this. For smudge control beyond shadow, read our take on the Urban Decay 24/7 Waterline Eyeliner Pencil if you are weighing different liner formats.

Mascaras can undermine even the best lid work if they smear midday. For oily lids, start with our picks in Best Mascara for Oily Lids, or opt for the long-wearing options in Best Tubing Mascaras for Smudge-Free Long Days to keep the look clean from morning to night.

FAQ

Does the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil crease on oily lids?

It can crease if worn alone on oily lids. Use a thin layer over primer, then set with a coordinating powder shadow, especially in the crease. This combination typically extends wear to a full workday.

Can I use the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil on my waterline?

It is not ideal for the waterline. The creamy formula tends to migrate and can transfer. If you want waterline definition, use a pencil designed to set on the inner rim, and keep the Jumbo Pencil for the lash line and lid.

How do I sharpen the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil without wasting product?

Chill the pencil for about 10 minutes, then use the large hole of a quality cosmetic sharpener. Turn gently and empty shavings often. You can also pick up product on a small brush from the tip to avoid sharpening as frequently.

Which shades are best for beginners?

Milk is great for brightening the inner corner and making shimmers pop, Iced Mocha and French Fries give quick neutral washes, and Black Bean works as a smoky base or soft liner. Start with one light and one mid-tone shade to cover most looks.

What is the best way to remove it at the end of the day?

Use micellar water or an oil-based eye makeup remover on a cotton pad, hold for 10 seconds, then swipe. Follow with your regular face cleanse. Avoid vigorous rubbing since the formula can cling under powder.

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