NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Micro Brow Pencil, Eyebrow Pencil, Espresso, 1 Count

The NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil is an eyebrow pencil in the shade Espresso, used to outline, fill and shape the brows. The pack contains one pencil with a retractable tip, and the ultra slim tip is built for drawing short, fine strokes that sit alongside existing brow hairs rather than laying down a broad block of colour.

It fits into a brow routine next to gels, pomades, powders and setters, and works for anyone who prefers hair-like strokes over a solid drawn-on line. Reach for it when brows are sparse in places, when tweezing has left gaps, or when you simply want a defined outline before setting everything in place.

To get the most out of the pencil, start with clean, dry brows and use short upward flicks that follow the natural direction of hair growth. Work from the inner corner outward, using lighter pressure near the front of the brow where a heavy start can look harsh. Because the tip is retractable, there is no need to sharpen it, which means the point stays consistent throughout the life of the pencil. Twist up only as much product as you need and twist it back down before capping to protect the tip from breaking. Store the pencil horizontally or with the tip facing down rather than up, which helps prevent the product from drying out faster than it otherwise would.

When comparing pencils of this kind, the key things to look at are tip width, whether sharpening is required, and how waxy or dry the formula feels on application. A waxier formula tends to grip hairs and stay put longer, while a drier one can feel lighter but may fade more quickly. The Espresso shade suits brunettes and those with dark brown brows, and it can also work on black brows for a slightly softer result than a true black pencil. The single-count format is a practical choice for testing the shade before committing to multiples, or for keeping one at home and one in a bag.