Beauty Anastasia Brow Wiz vs NYX Micro Brow Pencil: Which Is Better
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and NYX Micro Brow Pencil are the two most popular brow pencils on Amazon. Brow Wiz is the prestige original with a huge shade range. NYX Micro Brow is the drugstore dupe at a third of the price. Here is the honest breakdown.
| Factor | Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, Auburn | NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Micro Brow Penci |
|---|---|---|
| Tip size | Ultra-fine retractable | Ultra-fine retractable |
| Shade range | 12 shades | 8 shades |
| Spoolie included | Yes | Yes |
| Staying power | All day, smudge-proof | All day, slight fade |
| Price | Check price | Check price |
| Best for | Sparse brows, precision | Everyday, budget |
| Cruelty free | Yes | Yes |
Our Verdict
Choose Anastasia Brow Wiz if you want the widest shade range and the longest-wearing formula, and you fill brows daily. Choose NYX Micro Brow Pencil if you want 90 percent of the performance at a third of the price. For most buyers, NYX is the smarter buy unless you need an exact shade match only Anastasia offers.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options in eyeliners and brow pencils worth considering.
Best for: All eye shapes, ideal for oily lids and anyone wanting a smudge-proof gel pencil
Maybelline New York TattooStudio Sharpenable Gel Pencil Eyeliner, Deep Onyx
- Up to 36-hour wear, longest-wearing Maybelline liner
- Smooth gel pigment glides on without skipping
- Waterproof, smudge-proof, fade-proof, sebum-resistant
- Sharpenable pencil in matte and metallic shades
Pros
- Very affordable with long waterproof wear
- Intense pigment, smooth glide application
Cons
Best for: Winged liner lovers and anyone wanting a precise, no-smudge liquid line
stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, Intense Black
- Fine brush tip draws thin to bold lines with control
- Waterproof, fast-drying, smudge-proof satin finish
- Available in original tip, micro tip, and dual-ended versions
- Cruelty-free, made in USA
Pros
- Cult-favorite liner with serious staying power
- Fine tip makes wings and tightlining easy
Cons
Best for: Lash beginners and everyday wearers wanting a natural but noticeable boost
Ardell Demi Wispies False Eyelashes, 4 Pairs
- Iconic criss-cross wispy lash pattern, flared at outer corners
- Lightweight, reusable strip lashes for multiple wears
- Patented Invisiband for a seamless, comfortable fit
- 4-pair value pack, hand-knotted quality
Pros
- Natural-looking wispy effect suits most eyes
- Great value multipack, reusable and comfortable
Cons
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers wanting a dependable everyday liquid liner
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eyeliner, 251 Blackest Black (Pack of 2)
- Adapti-Flex Color Lock Technology for bold, rich black color
- Flexible applicator tip for thick or thin lines
- Waterproof, smudge-proof, no fading for up to 16 hours
- Value pack of 2 liners
Pros
- Drugstore price with strong longwear formula
- Two-pack gives excellent value
Cons
Want the Full Picture?
Pencil Sharpening as a Skill: Soft vs Hard Formulas
Brow pencils live or die by their tip, and sharpening technique differs completely between soft and hard formulas. Soft, creamy pencils, the kind that glide on effortlessly, need a sharpener with a sharp blade and a gentle hand; pressing hard while sharpening snaps the soft core, wasting product. Sharpen with light, even rotations and stop the moment the point forms. Hard, waxy pencils tolerate more pressure but need more frequent sharpening, since the firm tip dulls faster against the skin and a dull hard pencil skips instead of drawing. Retractable pencils skip sharpening entirely but go blunt faster than wood pencils, because the exposed tip is softer by design; twist up only a millimeter at a time to reduce breakage. A dull tip changes the line more than most people realize: instead of hair-like strokes, you get thick, waxy marks that look drawn on. The sharpener itself matters; a dull blade chews the wood and snaps the core, so replace sharpeners regularly rather than blaming the pencil. For eye pencils where the same sharpening logic applies with higher stakes, our Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On guide covers the iconic pencil liner and what keeps its tip performing.
Cost Per Use: The Pencil vs the Pencil
Brow pencil prices span from drugstore to luxury, and the per-use math tells a different story than the sticker. A pencil used daily typically lasts three to four months, since brow application uses very little product; that works out to roughly varying amounts per day. An pencil lasting six to eight weeks costs about the same per day, because the softer drugstore formula deposits more product per stroke and gets used up faster. The real differentiators are not price but spoolie quality, shade range precision, and breakage rate; a pencil that snaps every other sharpening wastes more money than the price gap. Retractable pencils often cost more per use than wood pencils because the mechanism encourages over-twisting and the tips break more. The honest conclusion: buy the pencil whose shade matches best and whose tip survives your technique, since shade match determines whether you actually reach for it daily. An unused pencil is infinitely more expensive per use than a daily one. For winged liner where precision tools matter even more, our Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick guide covers the liquid pen built for technique.
Shade Testing: Arm Swatches Lie
Brow pencil shades look different on the arm than on the brow because arm skin is smoother and lighter than brow skin with hair over it. Test shades on the brow itself in daylight, drawing a few strokes at the tail where mistakes show least. The right shade disappears into your brow hair; the wrong one sits visibly on top.