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  4. 10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More
  • 10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More 1
  • 10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More 2
  • 10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More 3
  • 10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More 4
  • 10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More 5

10 Best Colored Pencils in the Philippines 2024 | Prismacolor, Polychromos, Faber Castell, and More

With the rising popularity of coloring books in recent years, colored pencils are no longer just for kids. Adults are now part of the colored pencils market, too. A lot of products are now available, from brands that we've known since childhood, like Crayola and Faber-Castell, to high-end brands like Derwent or Prismacolor. 

Colored pencils have evolved from the basic set to sets of different types and consistencies. All of these can be very confusing, especially for beginner colorists. To help you navigate this wonderful world of colors, we have prepared a buying guide and a list of the top 10 recommended items. We'll also share some tips to keep in mind when you use your pencils.



Last updated 07/14/2023
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Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.

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Table of Contents

How to Choose Colored Pencils – Buying Guide

Here's a discussion of the different types of colored pencils and how to know which one is best for you to get you started. We hope this guide will help you narrow down your options and make a really great purchase that fits you. 

1

Choose the Type that Best Fits Your Needs

There are three types of colored pencils: wax-based, oil-based, and watercolor. Each type has its own characteristics, so choose one depending on your needs.

Wax-Based: A Low-Cost and Versatile Option

Wax-Based: A Low-Cost and Versatile Option

Wax-based colored pencils have wax as the binder for their pigments. They are the most common type of colored pencils in the market due to their cost and versatility, making them the perfect choice for beginners. They can cover a wide range of grades, from the kinds used by children to the more sophisticated versions used in art schools. 


Wax-based pencils make lighter marks on paper compared to the other types. They are also prone to wax bloom, a natural oxidation process that occurs in wax-based materials. This results in a hazy white film developing over the surface of the drawing.

Oil-Based: Vibrant Color and Great for Blending

Oil-Based: Vibrant Color and Great for Blending

Oil-based colored pencils have oil as the binder for their pigments. They are much more specialized than wax-based pencils and require some skill to use effectively because they smear easily. They are highly-pigmented, and each stroke you make will lay down a vibrant mark


The smooth blending that comes with an oil-based colored pencil makes it a joy to use and will make your work look more sophisticated. They are also softer than watercolor pencils, which makes for easier color layering. They are very versatile and can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.


However, the high pigmentation and the better finish it gives makes it a more expensive choice than wax-based pencils. And you must be careful not to make mistakes, too – oil-based pencil marks are not easy to erase, and you will need a special blur tool to do so.

Watercolor: Drawing and Painting Medium in One

Watercolor: Drawing and Painting Medium in One

The best feature of watercolor pencils is that it is water-soluble, making it easier to blend. It doesn’t require a blurring tool like the oil-based ones – all you need is a wet watercolor brush, and you can make gradations with it. The lead is usually hard, making it easier to draw details and fine lines like eyelashes or cat’s fur.


The beauty of watercolor pencils lies in their dual purpose. It’s a drawing medium and a painting medium in one. You can choose to color a drawing and leave it as it is, and because it has no wax in it, you won’t have to worry about waxy films on your drawing. Alternatively, you can activate the color with a brush and turn it into a soft, watercolor look.


The downside is that they have lower pigmentation than oil-based pencils and can be trickier for beginners to use. It requires more patience since you have to add more layers to make the colors more vibrant.

Start With a Simple Set and Add Colors as You Level Up

Start With a Simple Set and Add Colors as You Level Up

Colored pencils come in sets of 12, 24, 36, with some sets reaching up to 100 colors or more. It is best to check your needs and level before committing to a purchase. For a child’s coloring book, a 12-color set might be good enough, but for adults’ coloring books, a 36-color set might be better in order to express subtle and delicate shades.


Sets of more than 36 colors are bigger and harder to bring along. For beginners and for those who plan to sketch outside, it will be best to choose a 36-color set. If you find yourself looking for more colors, then perhaps that is the time to make a bigger purchase.

2

Try Single Pencils First to Test Color and Softness

Try Single Pencils First to Test Color and Softness

Colored pencil cores can be hard, medium, and soft. The hard ones have less pigmentation but are good for drawing fine lines, so we recommend these for detailed coloring/sketching. Soft-core pencils are more vibrant and are great for coloring a wide area, though they tend to shed pigment powder. 


You need to keep in mind, though, that these factors will be dependent on your pen pressure or coloring style, so the lead softness is just your guide.


Having said that, it is best to test them out first before purchasing them, but it is rare to find colored pencils that may be tested. If there are products sold separately, try buying just one and test them out before purchasing a set to make sure it matches your style.

3

Look for Products With Open Stocks

Look for Products With Open Stocks

One problem with colored pencil sets is that some will be used more often and become shorter more quickly than the others. The solution to this is to choose brands that sell pencils separately so you can just buy the colors that you need instead of purchasing another whole set. 


You can choose single pencils from other brands too, but for those who find the small differences in pigmentation and lead softness uncomfortable, we suggest buying a set from a brand that sells single colored pencils.

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10 Best Colored Pencils to Buy Online

The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Prismacolor

Premier Soft Core Colored Pencil Set of 72

Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencil  1

₱2,629

High Mid

Very Vibrant and Smooth Application

2

Faber Castell

PolychromosSet of 36

Faber Castell Polychromos 1

₱3,300

High

Strong and Creamy Colored Pencils

3

Derwent

Inktense PencilsSet of 24

Derwent Inktense Pencils 1

₱738

Mid

Versatile Water-Soluble Pencil

4

Caran d'Ache

Supracolor Soft Colored Pencils Set of 30

Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft Colored Pencils  1

₱1,849

High Mid

Soft and Vivid Colors

5

Faber Castell

Albrecht Durer Watercolor PencilsSet of 24

Faber Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils 1

₱2,200

High Mid

Oil-Based and Watercolor in One Pencil

6

Staedtler

Karat Aquarell 156 Watercolor PencilsSet of 12

Staedtler Karat Aquarell 156 Watercolor Pencils 1

₱899.75

Mid

Easy Grip and Bright Colors

7

Brutfuner

Professional Oil Colored PencilsSet of 72

Brutfuner Professional Oil Colored Pencils 1

₱827

Mid

Beautiful Blending on a Budget

8

Staedtler

Luna Colored PencilsSet of 24

Staedtler  Luna Colored Pencils 1

₱240

Low

A Solid and Sturdy Choice for Beginners

9

Faber-Castell

Classic Colour Pencils Set of 48

Faber-Castell Classic Colour Pencils  1

₱619

Low Mid

Very Affordable with Great Quality

10

Crayola

Twistable Colored PencilsSet of 30

Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils 1

₱566.1

Low Mid

Colored Pencils That Need No Sharpening!

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

PrismacolorPremier Soft Core Colored Pencil Set of 72

Premier Soft Core Colored Pencil  1
Source:lazada.com.ph
Reference price
₱2,629
High Mid
Reference price
₱2,629
High Mid

Very Vibrant and Smooth Application

This is the most beloved brand of colored pencils by illustrators and artists worldwide. Its high-grade pigments can give you a professional-grade color that is very vibrant and creamy, making your work look polished, even if you’re actually just a beginner.


Prismacolor is wax-based and has soft cores. This makes it easy to glide across the paper, and it is perfect for blending, shading, and layering. And yet, it is durable and not prone to breaking.


Perhaps the best thing that can be said about Prismacolor is that it has achieved the perfect balance between being soft enough for layering and blending and hard enough to use for making details. 

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No.2

Faber CastellPolychromosSet of 36

Reference price
₱3,300
High

Strong and Creamy Colored Pencils

The Polychromos is one of Faber Castell’s high-end and innovative brands. It is oil-based with the addition of a resin to strengthen the core and protect it from breaking when sharpened. Professional artists love this product for its creamy consistency, whether applied in layers or a single heavy application. 


The vibrancy is consistent as well, whether it’s blended with another color or stands alone. True to its name, it offers a wide range of colors, up to 120 colors, which is why it is a hit with avid colorists and illustrators. 

No.3

DerwentInktense PencilsSet of 24

Reference price
₱738
Mid

Versatile Water-Soluble Pencil

This product is an all-time favorite of art school students, illustrators, and designers. Its name speaks for itself – the most striking thing about this product is its color intensity. Whether used dry or activated with water, the colors produced by the Derwent Inktense are vivid and permanent.


Just make sure to use it with thick paper, as thin papers can curl up and wrinkle when soaked in water. We recommend this for those who want to make pieces that are vibrant and intense.

No.4

Caran d'AcheSupracolor Soft Colored Pencils Set of 30

Reference price
₱1,849
High Mid
Reference price
₱1,849
High Mid

Soft and Vivid Colors

True to its name, the Supracolor Soft has the unique combination of being soft yet packed with color. The hues are vivid even when water is applied to it. It's ideal for covering large areas or drawings more quickly. 


Blending is very easy because of its soft core, and there are no issues with graininess. Being an artist-grade pencil, it has high lightfastness like the other expensive brands, but users say that the lightfastness may be reduced when it is used as a watercolor. 

No.5

Faber CastellAlbrecht Durer Watercolor PencilsSet of 24

Reference price
₱2,200
High Mid

Oil-Based and Watercolor in One Pencil

This product is Faber Castell's premium offering in the way of watercolor pencils. But what makes it unique is that it has a strong, oil-based core that can turn into watercolor when water or a solvent is applied


The colors are vivid and intense, so a little amount goes a long way. The pencils come in tins, wooden boxes, or heavy cardboard boxes to ensure good protection if you want to take them along on outdoor trips. 


It is a bit pricey, though, but it is well worth the price. Not only is it long-lasting because of its color intensity and lightfastness, but it's also break-resistant due to a special bonding process.

No.6

StaedtlerKarat Aquarell 156 Watercolor PencilsSet of 12

Karat Aquarell 156 Watercolor Pencils 1
Source:lazada.com.ph
Karat Aquarell 156 Watercolor Pencils 2
Source:shopee.ph
Reference price
₱899.75
Mid

Easy Grip and Bright Colors

Dedicated colorists love this wax-based pencil because of its high pigmentation. And since it is a softcore pencil, no strokes are visible once water is applied, giving an illustration or colored page a true watercolor look. It is suitable for all skill levels. 


Another plus is its hexagonal barrel for an easy and comfortable grip, making it a highly recommended choice for those who frequently color or draw for longer hours. And because the lead is break-resistant, even children can use it with no concerns about fragility. 

No.7

BrutfunerProfessional Oil Colored PencilsSet of 72

Reference price
₱827
Mid

Beautiful Blending on a Budget

This set contains oil-based pencils that are also water-soluble. The pencils glide on paper in smooth and creamy strokes, although the colors are not as intense as the more expensive brands. You can also transform it into a watercolor look by applying water. 

It is a good mid-level choice for people who want to level up from basic sets but are not quite ready to commit to the pricey, high-end colored pencils. However, it does have fragile tips, so you have to be careful when sharpening.

No.8

Staedtler Luna Colored PencilsSet of 24

Reference price
₱240
Low

A Solid and Sturdy Choice for Beginners

Staedtler Luna is a good starter colored pencil for beginners. It is a wax-based pencil with a hard enough core to be used as a regular pencil, but at the same time, it is soft enough to be blended easily with other colors. 


The pencils come in a hexagonal shape and are comfortable to hold. Some users claim that the tips are too narrow, though, so it can be difficult to cover large areas on the paper quickly. We recommend this for coloring smaller spaces or for drawing fine details.

No.9

Faber-CastellClassic Colour Pencils Set of 48

Classic Colour Pencils  1
Source:shopee.ph
Reference price
₱619
Low Mid

Very Affordable with Great Quality

This is one of the most famous all-around colored pencils in the market, as it is affordable and does all the work that a color pencil is supposed to do. It has a hard lead that makes it easier to draw fine details. It’s a great choice for children and coloring book beginners.


We recommend this product to a wide range of users, from children to adults. While being a sturdy basic choice, though, it might not be the best pick for professional illustrators and artists who would like more depth and a wider range of colors to choose from. 

No.10

CrayolaTwistable Colored PencilsSet of 30

Reference price
₱566.1
Low Mid

Colored Pencils That Need No Sharpening!

Crayola is a household name and needs no further introduction. With this innovative set of colored pencils, they are able to put a twist on your coloring experience. There’s no need to sharpen them – just twist, and you’re ready to go.


It’s perfect for parents who are tired of sharpening their children’s colored pencils whenever they break. And no sharpening means no mess to clean up, too. This is a must-have for parents who enjoy coloring with their kids.

Want to Explore Your Creative Side?

There is so much you can do with your free time. If you want to get really artsy and get into drawing and painting, here are some articles we’re sure you’ll love. 

Top 5 Colored Pencils

No. 1: PrismacolorPremier Soft Core Colored Pencil Set of 72

No. 2: Faber CastellPolychromosSet of 36

No. 3: DerwentInktense PencilsSet of 24

No. 4: Caran d'AcheSupracolor Soft Colored Pencils Set of 30

No. 5: Faber CastellAlbrecht Durer Watercolor PencilsSet of 24

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The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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