NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Milk Review: Is This Eyeshadow Stick Worth It?
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Jumbo Eye Pencil, Blendable Eyeshadow Stick & Eyeliner Pencil - Milk (White)
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP
- Eyeliner Crayon: This blendable radiant eyeliner pencil is a total triple threat; Use Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil as a creamy eyeshadow, eye liner and highlighter; Apply it to your waterlines, inner corners and entire lid for a pop of intense color
- Smooth and Versatile: This creamy eye liner pencil glides on effortlessly, no pulling, tugging or fading; Apply it as an eyeshadow, highlighter, or eyeliner and choose from a rainbow of vivid hues in multiple finishes from matte to metallic
- All Eyes On Eye Makeup: Complete your look with our full range of eye makeup products ranging from eyeshadow palettes to false eyelashes, eyeliners, concealers, setting sprays, eyebrow makeup, eyeshadow primer and more
- Cruelty Free Cosmetics: We believe animals belong in our arms, not in a lab; All of our makeup is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty free brand; We don't test any of our products on animals
Quick Verdict
Pros
- Versatile 3-in-1 formula works as eyeshadow, eyeliner, and highlighter
- Creamy texture glides on smoothly without tugging
- PETA-certified cruelty-free brand
- Wide range of vibrant colors in multiple finishes
- Affordable price point for a professional-grade pencil
- Compact size makes it great for travel touch-ups
Cons
- Creasing on oily eyelids requires a good primer underneath
- White shade has less pigment payoff than darker colors
- Twist-up mechanism can loosen over time with heavy use
- May need reapplication after 6-8 hours for all-day wear
Quick Verdict
The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk is a genuinely versatile drugstore find. It's creamy, buildable, and cruelty-free — three things that are hard to find together at this price. After three weeks of testing it as an eyeshadow, eyeliner, and highlighter, I'm giving it a 4.3 out of 5. It's not perfect for every eye type, but for the price, the performance punches well above its weight. Skip it if you have very oily lids and refuse to use primer; everyone else should give it a shot.
What Is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil?
The NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk is a twist-up cream pencil designed to work three ways: as a creamy eyeshadow, a soft eyeliner, and a bright highlighter. The Milk shade is a soft, slightly off-white that leans warm in certain lights. It's not pure chalk white — it has a hint of cream that makes it more wearable on medium and deeper skin tones than a stark white would be.
I picked mine up on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, half-curious, half-skeptical. Drugstore multi-tasking products usually make me nervous. They've got a habit of doing three things poorly instead of one thing well. So I approached this pencil the way I approach everything in my makeup drawer: with low expectations and high scrutiny.
Key Features
- Triple-threat formula: eyeshadow, eyeliner, and highlighter in one pencil
- Creamy glide-on texture with no tugging or pulling during application
- Twist-up barrel for easy, controlled application
- PETA-certified cruelty-free — no animal testing
- Available in 20+ shades ranging from matte to metallic finishes
- Compact pencil format ideal for travel and quick touch-ups
Hands-On Review
The first thing I noticed when I swatched the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil on my hand was how soft it felt. The tip gave way immediately, depositing a smooth line without that waxy drag you get from cheaper pencils. I tried it first as a full lid eyeshadow on a normal work morning, applied straight from pencil to lid. The Milk shade went on with decent opacity — not opaque in one swipe, but buildable. Two layers gave me the bright, almost ethereal look I was going for.
As a highlighter, this is where Milk really shines. I applied a small dot to my cheekbones and blended with my ring finger. The texture is emollient enough to blend smoothly but sets just enough to stay put. By 2 PM, the highlight was still visible and hadn't migrated or looked greasy. I was impressed.
What surprised me was how well it worked in my inner corners. That's usually where cheaper cream products ball up or look cakey, but the NYX pencil played nice. The pigmentation popped against my skin without looking stark or ghostly.
Where things got tricky was longevity on my oily lids. By hour four, I noticed some settling into my lid crease — not a disaster, but noticeable. I tested it again with an eyeshadow primer underneath, and the wear time jumped to a solid seven hours before any creasing appeared. If you have dry to normal lids, you might not need primer. If your lids produce oil, budget for a primer and you'll be fine.
Who Should Buy It?
The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk is a strong choice for:
- Beginner and intermediate makeup users who want a forgiving, easy-to-blend cream eyeshadow without investing in expensive singles
- Travel-focused beauty lovers who want a single product that replaces three steps in their routine
- Eco-conscious shoppers who prioritize cruelty-free brands but don't want to compromise on quality or price
- Anyone building a glitter-free, natural-looking everyday eye look — the Milk shade works beautifully as a subtle brightening base
Skip this pencil if you have extremely oily eyelids and aren't willing to use an eyeshadow primer. Also, if you prefer high-impact metallic or smoky eye looks, you'll want to pair this with powder shadows rather than relying on it alone for drama.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil doesn't quite fit your needs, here are two alternatives worth exploring:
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil — A higher-end option with an even smoother, longer-wearing formula. It costs more but stays put on oily lids without primer. Worth it if you want a luxury-level experience.
- e.l.f. Baked Highlight & Contour Palette — A powder-based alternative if you prefer traditional highlighters. Less versatile than a pencil but offers buildable coverage in a wider range of shades.
- Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Shadow — A gel-cream pot formula that offers similar versatility and stays put longer on oily lids. The trade-off is less precision for inner corner and highlighter work.
FAQ
It works well, but the creamy formula may crease on hooded or oily lids. Pairing it with an eyeshadow primer significantly improves longevity and prevents settling into fine lines.
Final Verdict
After three weeks with the NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, I've reached a clear conclusion: it's a genuinely good drugstore find that earns its spot in any everyday makeup routine. The creamy formula, cruelty-free certification, and versatile three-in-one design make it stand out in a crowded market. It's not going to replace your entire eyeshadow collection, but as a primer base, inner corner brightener, and travel-friendly highlighter, it delivers consistent results. The creasing issue on oily lids is real — but so is the fix. Layer it with primer and you've got an eight-hour wear time that rivals products twice its price. Would I recommend it? Absolutely — with one caveat: don't forget the primer.