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There isn’t more of a hot-button topic in the beauty industry than what the best mascara is (read: best mascaras we reviewed).
But, the caveat is this — aside from hundreds of brands on the market — there are also a myriad of mascara types, with tubing mascaras hailing as one of the most popular. In fact, Google search results for “tubing mascara” have reached an all-time high in 2023 alone.
“If someone has oily skin, tubing mascara won’t break down like a regular mascara,” Natalie Dresher, bridal and special event makeup artist, told the New York Post. “It’s also great for someone who works long hours because tubing mascaras have great longevity.”
First things, first. I’ve been testing mascaras for more than one year as a beauty aficionado and someone who places brands — from Anastasia Beverly Hills to YSL Beauty — on rotation.
That’s why I put together a first-person review of the 10 best tubing mascaras of 2023, focusing on formulations that are lengthening, thickening and volumizing.
Read on for all the must-buy mascaras that made the cut (the crème de la crème, so to speak). Paired with the best eyeshadow palettes we reviewed and best liquid eyeliners we reviewed, too, you’ll have that glam-factor that’ll be ready to flaunt.
In addition, be sure to read our in-depth FAQ section for the 411 on applying, using and caring for tubing mascaras.
How we tested:
All personal favorites aside, I put together testing criteria when I set out to review tubing mascaras — a beauty experiment where the testing time has been exactly one year across all formulations. Here are all the benchmarks I kept in mind when fluttering my lashes with different wands:
- Length: When testing, I looked for formulas that naturally allowed my lashes to rise near my eyebrow.
- Clumpy-ness: Or more specifically, lack thereof, I made sure that none of these mascaras “glued” my lashes together or had black residue or flakes after application.
- How long it lasted: Because lengthening mascaras are said to last virtually all day, I took note of how they held up — especially in hot weather.
- Ease of removal: When testing, I made sure none of these formulas required intense scrubbing when I removed the formula with a basic liquid formula.
Best Tubing Mascaras We Reviewed
1. Best overall: tarte tartelette tubing mascara, $25
And, the winner is…the tarte tartelette tubing mascara! I’ve been using this formulation for more than a year (before I really knew what tubing mascaras were intended to do) and thought, ‘wow, this mascara gives me phenomenal length!‘ It doesn’t clump throughout the day, is reasonably priced and has a ton of micro-bristles on its brush that help it attach to your lash line and lengthen all the way up.
2. caliray Come Hell or High Water Volumizing Tubing Mascara, $24
When I first tried the caliray Come Hell or High Water Volumizing Tubing Mascara, I was colored impressed. Though its brush looks like it would clump, it adds intense volume to your lashes while its skinny brush does all the work to lengthen and amplify.
Uniquely, its bristles point upward, helping to achieve that rocket-high look upon application. Its matte packaging gives it a smooth grip that’s especially great for beginners, too.
3. Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara, $8 to $14
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly tubing mascara, the Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara is your best bet. Not only is its formulation luxe-looking (though the tube is less than $15) but its brush is the most precise I’ve tried — and the most similar to the No.1 pick, tarte.
While it’s brush leans toward the smaller side, it doesn’t pick up excess product when you unscrew the top to apply your mascara — helping to make it last longer over time.
4. Blinc Lash Extension Tubing Mascara, $26
The Blinc Lash Extension Tubing Mascara is the closest brush you’ll get to a fine, lengthening-focused application. Because its brush is well-defined, the end result is defined, long-lasting length as well. I didn’t find it to smudge or budge, either, and it’s one of the best for extremely hot weather (note: it held up in the Arizona desert where it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit and dry).
5. MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara, $26
MAC Cosmetics was my go-to makeup brand when I was in middle school (who else can agree?) — and still is to this day. Enter the brand’s Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara. For less than $30, it comes in the smallest tube to ever exist, though doesn’t compromise quality. Its brush has micro-hairs that are more spaced out than other brushes, but that makes it especially great for lengthening the inner and outer corners alike.
6. Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara, $32
I’ve heard much buzz about the Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Lengthening Mascara, so I surely had to see if it was worth the hype (spoiler alert: it is).
It’s the largest brush I’ve tested among my batch of tubing mascaras — with longer bristles toward its tip — helping to volumize, lengthen and strengthen. If you don’t want to use two different mascaras (one for lengthening, another for volumizing), then this is the one for you.
7. Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, $29
As soon as I got my hands on the Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara, I knew I was in for a treat. While it’s not as pigmented on the first few strokes as some others I tested, I love that it lengthens while also allowing me to have a bit of volume, too. This comes in handy on days where I don’t always want to apply liquid eyeliner to define my eye area.
Its polished matte encasement and tapered brush make it a quality pick that’s surprisingly not the most expensive on this list. If you want to rein in luxury (aka, you’re a real mascara fan), this smudge-proof formulation is one to add to your rotation.
8. MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara, $26
If you haven’t ridden the MERIT wave yet, you have to give it a go. Its top-rated Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara is the blackest of the black — making it a top choice for those who love that jet-black, defined look.
Because it’s highly pigmented, I expected it to smudge (but it didn’t). Its skinny, defined brush and well-spaced bristles make this one to try, for sure.
9. PAT McGRATH LABS Dark Star Volumizing Mascara, $34
Pat McGrath, I love you, and not just for your Dark Star Volumizing Mascara (you have to try its Skin Fetish Divine Powder Blush ($39) in just about every shade). As far as its mascara goes, It’s similar to the Hourglass formulation but gives slightly more volume, perfect for those who want to thicken while not compromising on the much-needed lengthening.
10. IT Cosmetics+ Volumizing Mascara with Lash Serum, $27
The IT Cosmetics+ Volumizing Mascara with Lash Serum has been a trusty staple in my makeup bag for a while now, thanks to its spiky bristles that allow the brush to ‘attach’ to your lashes for unbeatable length. It even comes with a spikier tip to help volumize for the cherry on top.
Though its packaging can be improved (sorry, I’m a stickler), the proof is in the pudding (aka, the formulation), and it’s a top choice I always revert to.
An FAQ on Tubing Mascaras
Ahead, Dresher gives us the 411 on what tubing mascaras are, their benefits, how they differ from typical mascaras and more.
What is tubing mascara?
First things first — let’s get a clear, simple definition of tubing mascara to help us better understand how it may be the move for our lashes.
“Tubing mascara is different than a traditional mascara because of its ingredients,” Dresher tells The Post. “Traditional mascara usually uses waxes or oils, but tubing mascara is made out of polyvinylpyrrolidone, which coats the individual lash with a little tube creating a sort of lash extension out of makeup!”
How does tubing mascara differ from traditional ones?
Tubing mascara is formulated with polymers, one of the biggest differences. “They coat the actual lash with a ‘tube!,'” Dresher explains. “A user can use their favorite traditional mascara and coat a tubing mascara on top to make their favorite formula more wear friendly.”
More, they’re the best for long-wear days when people are sensitive to waterproof formulas, per Dresher.
What are the benefits of using tubing mascara?
As noted, if someone has oily skin, tubing mascara won’t break down like a regular mascara.
“If you have oily skin, or need a mascara to look great for hours — definitely pick up a tubing mascara!” Dresher stresses. “Tubing mascara is also a great option for lower lashes as the lower lash area is usually the most susceptible to smudging.”
What does the brush look like on a tubing mascara?
According to Dresher, tubing mascaras typically have a more plastic-y spike-y brush as opposed to the big fluffy fat bristle brushes. This helps them work harder than the devil to get your lashes sky-high.
Do tubing mascaras smudge?
“They do not!” Dresher notes, recommending tubing mascaras to anyone and everyone. “Even when taking off your makeup, warm water will help slide the ‘tubes’ off of your lashes.”
Because of this, tubing mascaras are one of the easiest to remove (read: best makeup removers) and one of the best for sensitive skin. “Tubing mascara can even withstand tears!”
What to look for in a tubing mascara, according to a makeup artist
The biggest deciding factor for a mascara is the brush.
“I personally prefer bigger brushes so I prefer the Hourglass ($32) [on our top picks list] and tarte ($25) [the No.1 we reviewed] tubing mascaras over those with smaller brush applicators,” Dresher notes. “I feel they coat all of the lashes at once rather than having to angle the brush to reach the lashes!”
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.
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