NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil Review: Is Always Onyx Worth It?

Quick Verdict

The NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil in Always Onyx is a reliable, no-fuss black eyeliner that punches well above its drugstore price tag. The twist-up barrel means no sharpening, the formula applies smoothly and holds for a full workday on most skin types, and the pigment is genuinely rich — not the wishy-washy grey-black you sometimes get at this tier. I rate it 4.2 out of 5: it won't replace a dedicated liquid liner for ultra-precise wings, but as an everyday lid and waterline pencil, it earns a permanent spot in my makeup drawer.

What Is the NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil?

NYX Professional Makeup calls this a "retractable eye liner pen," and that phrasing is more accurate than you might think. Inside a slim, twist-off barrel sits a creamy, gel-like pencil core — no wooden shavings, no sharpening required. One twist exposes a fresh tip, you line your lid or waterline, and you're done. The shade I'm testing, Always Onyx, is a deep true black with a satin finish: not matte, not glittery, just clean pigment that reads as black rather than charcoal under indoor lighting.

The brand markets this as a smudge-proof, all-day-wear eyeliner that can double as a liquid-liner-style wing builder. In practice, the creamy glide does allow you to build up from a thin natural line to a bold graphic wing without the harshness of a true liquid tip. It's a genuinely versatile design for a $9 product — and one that surprisingly few drugstore brands have nailed as cleanly as NYX has here.

Key Features

• Twist-up retractable barrel — no sharpener, no mess, tip stays protected when not in use
• Creamy gel-like formula applies smoothly without dragging across the eyelid
• Intense black pigment in a single stroke; builds easily for thicker lines
• Smudge-resistant formula holds through humidity and light sweat
• PETA-certified cruelty-free — not tested on animals
• Available in a wide range of natural to bold shades beyond classic black
• Suitable for both the eyelid and waterline

Hands-On Review

I used the NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil daily for two weeks straight — across a humid Tuesday commute, a 10-hour workday with a client dinner tacked on, and one accidentally aggressive eye-rub during a sneeze. The honest picture is mixed in the best possible way: for a $9 eyeliner, "mixed" still means quite good.

On the eyelid, applying is satisfying. The tip has just the right amount of give — firm enough to draw a clean wing, soft enough that I don't feel like I'm scratching my lid. By the second week, I noticed the very tip had dulled slightly, so I started rotating the barrel between strokes. That's a small adjustment, but worth knowing: if you're doing graphic wings daily, the tip will need managing. The fix is free and takes two seconds, so I'm not docking major points.

Transfer resistance is where things get interesting. On a normal day — office AC, moderate hand-to-face contact — the NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil stayed put for about eight hours. I pushed it one afternoon by wearing it through a summer farmers market (heat, humidity, a lot of walking). By hour six, the inner corner had softened slightly. No catastrophe, but not the zero-transfer performance of a true waterproof liquid liner. For everyday life, it's perfectly adequate. For a tropical vacation or an outdoor event, I'd still reach for a sturdier formula underneath.

Waterline performance surprised me positively. I don't typically line my waterline because most pencils tug and fade within an hour. The NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil went on smoothly — a brief moment of that familiar watery-eye sting, nothing worse — and stayed visible for four to five hours. By hour six, it had faded to a subtle grey tint rather than disappearing entirely. I'd call that a win for a non-waterproof pencil at this price.

Who Should Buy It?

This is a strong everyday pick if you want a reliable black eyeliner without the hassle of sharpening, the expense of a luxury brand, or the learning curve of a felt-tip pen. If you like to line both your lid and waterline with the same product, this handles both competently. It's also a solid choice for anyone committed to cruelty-free makeup without wanting to spend Kat Von D-level prices.

That said, skip this if you need absolute, no-excuses transfer-proof performance — think long outdoor events, high-humidity climates, or if your eyes tend to water heavily. For those situations, a dedicated waterproof liquid liner will serve you better. And if ultra-fine graphic wings are your main thing, the standard pencil tip limits precision compared to a felt applicator.

Alternatives Worth Considering

If you want something with even longer wear and more precise tip control, the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($22) remains a category classic. It costs more than double, but the felt tip and waterproof formula genuinely hold through almost anything. Worth it if eyeliner is a daily non-negotiable for you.

On a tighter budget, the Maybelline Hyper Easy Pencil ($8-9) is a close competitor with a similarly twist-up design. The NYX wins on pigment intensity, while Maybelline edges ahead on tip durability. Both are cruelty-free-friendly depending on where you stand on the brand's parent company policies.

For those specifically seeking a gel-like formula in a pot, consider the Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner ($32) — but honestly, if the NYX Mechanical Eye Pencil's creamy twist-up works for you, it covers the same territory at a fraction of the price.

FAQ

Final Verdict

After two weeks with the NYX Professional Makeup Mechanical Eye Pencil in Always Onyx, I'm confident saying this is one of the strongest drugstore eyeliners you can grab right now. The no-sharpening twist-up design, genuinely rich pigment, and decent wear time add up to something I'd recommend without hesitation for everyday use. It's not perfect — the tip dulls with heavy daily use, and it won't survive a tropical holiday unscathed — but for the price, these tradeoffs are entirely reasonable. If you've been cycling through eyeliners that skip, smudge, or run out of pigment too quickly, give this one a try. At under $10, it's the kind of reliable staple that earns a permanent spot in the makeup bag.