Tubing mascaras are in for a reason — here are our faves
Mascara is a notoriously tricky beauty product. It can get messy during the application period (anyone else frequently end up with black streaks on their eyelids?) and the wrong kind of mascara can smudge throughout the day, leaving you with the dreaded raccoon-eyes look. And don’t even get us started on the removal process, which requires a powerful yet gentle makeup remover to banish all the gunk from your eyes without irritating them.
If any of these sound like relatable pain points to you, let us introduce you to tubing mascaras. Tubing mascaras are easier to apply, less likely to smudge and cleaner and easier to remove than traditional mascaras — and if you haven’t tried them yet, prepare to be amazed by the game-changing results.
In this article: Glossier Lash Slick Lift and Lengthening Mascara, Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing Mascara and MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
What are tubing mascaras?
Tubing mascaras are formulated with polymers that, when applied, create lightweight polymer tubes around the individual lashes. These tubes dry more quickly than traditional mascara, they naturally filter out clumps and they stay in place better. They’re water-resistant, so they’re less prone to moisture-induced smudges, however, they’re not waterproof, so they’re not as tough to remove as waterproof formulas.
By contrast, traditional mascaras are made with water- or oil-based formulas that coat your lashes with thick layers of pigment. Although this can give a fuller overall look, it’s also prone to flaking and smudging.
Tubing mascaras can yield various looks, from extra-long and voluminous lashes to natural-looking enhanced lashes. The look is largely due to the type of wand that comes with the mascara and how it coats each lash.
What are the benefits of tubing mascaras?
In general, tubing mascaras stay put better than traditional mascaras, which can flake or smudge fairly easily if you rub your eyes, if you sweat, if your eyes tear up or if your eyelids tend to get oily. Tubing mascaras dry faster and don’t clump around your lashes — instead, they create water-resistant polymer tubes around your individual lashes that stay well put unless drenched in warm water.
While traditional mascaras require eye makeup remover for removal, tubing mascaras can be removed with warm water alone. While traditional mascara comes off in inky smudges, tubing mascara wipes off in neat little tubes that don’t stain your skin and can simply be brushed off.
Waterproof mascaras are notoriously tough to remove and can require scrubbing which is harmful to the delicate skin around your eyes. Water-resistant tubing mascara, on the other hand, comes off quickly, easily and painlessly.
Best tubing mascaras
Glossier Lash Slick Lift and Lengthening Mascara
One of our all-time favorite mascaras, Glossier’s formula creates a natural-looking yet enhanced lash appearance. If you prefer a more dramatic look, two coats of this formula will amp up the appearance. The flexible, weightless formula, which is applied with a skinny brush, stays in place for up to 12 hours without flaking or smudging. Still, it removes easily with warm water and without harsh, damaging rubbing.
Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing Mascara
We love this formula for a longer, more dramatic lash appearance. The tapered wand wraps each lash in a flexible tube, adding length and volume in one swipe. The long-wearing formula can stay put for up to 24 hours. It’s also formulated with shea butter to moisturize your lashes while you wear it. It removes easily in little tubes with warm water or a face cleanser.
MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
Perfect for everyday wear, this clean and vegan mascara lengthens, darkens and enhances lashes while maintaining a natural look. The long-wearing formula is delivered via a fluffy brush that defines, separates and lifts your lashes without clumping.
Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara
With its signature gold tube, this lengthening mascara looks as good in the packaging as it does on your eyes. It uses a skinny, molded wand to coat all of your lashes from root to tip. The result is a high-impact, fanned-out finish that won’t flake or smudge.
MILK MAKEUP KUSH High Roll Defining & Volumizing Tubing Mascara
This alcohol-free tubing mascara adds definition, length and natural-looking volume to each individual lash. The long-wearing, sweatproof product resists smudging and flaking for up to 24 hours. It’s formulated with hemp seed, castor and sunflower seed oils to condition and nourish your lashes while you wear it.
MCoBeauty XtendLash Lengthening Tubular Mascara
For lengthened, curled and volumized lashes, try this water-resistant, cruelty-free formula that won’t cause running, smudging or flaking. When applied, it creates individual tubes around each lash, which helps deliver length, definition and hold.
WYN BEAUTY Big Vision Lengthening & Defining Tubing Mascara
Serena Williams’ beauty line produces a top-notch tubing mascara that lengthens and enhances each lash from root to tip. It uses an arched, double-comb brush to coat every lash with a conic polymer tubing technology that’s flake- and smudge-resistant.
Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes Tubing Mascara
Though it has a budget-friendly price tag, there’s nothing “cheap” about this tubing mascara, which is vegan, cruelty-free and oil-free. Like its cheeky moniker suggests, the mascara’s formula helps prevent running, flaking and smudging. When you’re ready for bed, gently slide off the tubes with warm water to remove the makeup.
Smudging, fading and smearing are things of the past with this tubing formula, that’s great for use around sensitive eyes and skin. The spiral wand helps coat all of your lashes from base to tip, leaving you with a lengthened and darkened look.
EM Cosmetics Pick Me Up Volume + Length Mascara
This nourishing formula includes pro-vitamin B, hyaluronic acid, rice extract and tsubaki (a flowering plant native to Asia that is a member of the tea family) to condition and nourish your lashes. The lightweight formula prevents flaking, smudging and running while adding buildable volume and length.
L’Oreal Paris Makeup Double Extend Tubing Mascara
This dual-ended mascara tube is part of a two-step system. First, use the white end to prime, nourish and strengthen your lashes. Then, you’ll coat your lashes in the black mascara to add length and volume. The result is a smudge-free, flake-proof mascara that lasts all day.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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