The Brow Pencil: Alternative Wins
About as close as a pencil dupe gets. Both are dual-ended twist-up pencils with a 1.5mm ultra-fine tip and a spoolie, the same casing size, and the same firm-but-not-brittle consistency for hair-like strokes. Reviewers who swore they'd never use a drugstore brow product call NYX 'a nearly identical dupe' and 'almost an exact replica.'
| The Name: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz | The Alternative: NYX Micro Brow Pencil | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26 | $11 |
| You save | — | $15 (58%) |
| Tip | 1.5mm ultra-fine, dual-ended with spoolie | 1.5mm ultra-fine, dual-ended with spoolie — a touch firmer |
| Strokes | Hair-like, firm but not brittle | Same hair-like strokes; same casing size |
| Shades | Wider range, cooler calibration | Narrower range; Ash Brown reads warmer than ABH's Medium Brown — match with care |
Prices checked by hand on October 24, 2026 at Sephora and Ulta; prices move with sales — confirm before you buy.
Our verdict: the alternative wins. The same pencil for less than half the price. Watch the shade — NYX runs warmer — and oily skin may see faster fade. Otherwise this is the rare dupe where even the skeptics converted.
Where the money goes
- The shade warning matters: NYX's Ash Brown reads warmer on the brow than ABH's Medium Brown. Take a moment matching, or you will blame the pencil for the shade's job.
- The wear caveat: NYX may wear off faster on oily skin, though one long-term comparison found no wear difference. For most faces, it is a wash.
- What the $15 buys: ABH's wider, cooler-calibrated shade range. If your exact shade only exists at ABH, that is a real reason to stay.
See the alternative at Ulta See the original at Sephora
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