The best tubing mascaras could be the answer to all of your smudgy-eyed woes. This innovative product never flakes, smudges, or runs, giving perfectly long lashes that last all day.
A common pitfall with even the best mascara is a tendency towards smudging and running. But what if we told you that there is a product that can eliminate these problems for good? "Tubing mascara contains tube-like polymers that wrap around each lash, creating an enhanced, lengthening effect," explains Rachael Divers, resident makeup artist at Face The Future. "The result is long-lasting, flexible wearing mascara that doesn’t smudge or flake."
Not only do tubing mascaras often act as the best mascara for short lashes due to this lengthening prowess, but they are also very well-suited to being worn as a mascara on bottom lashes, as their smudge-proof power saves you from messy under eyes. What's not to love?
The best tubing mascaras, as chosen by our beauty team
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
Merit Beauty is a brand known for it's ultra-natural approach to makeup products, and this mascara is a favourite of so many of the w&h beauty team for giving lashes a perfect, everyday flutter. The conical wand does a great job of catching and coating individual lashes, as well as gently stretching them for a nicely lengthened effect without any clumping.
I find applying Clean Lash quick, easy and neat - it never seems to smudge and it certainly won't transfer once it sets on. It also lasts well - I have been using my tube of this for several months and the formula is still as loose and malleable as the day I opened it. If you are into fat, volumised lashes, this may not be for you as the finished effect is very natural but I find it completely perfect for day to day.
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
MAC make some of the hardest-working formulas in the game, which makes sense, as a brand so beloved of professional makeup artists. This tubing mascara is no different. When I say it will not budge - come rain, hot sun, sweaty dancefloor or accidentally falling sleep with your makeup on (oops!) I truly mean it. Of course, when you want it gone, it does so, magically, like all tubing mascaras - a bit of warm water and pressure with a cotton pad removes it cleanly and quickly
In terms of the effect on your lashes, I love how this builds up nicely in length and separation. I can apply one coat and get a daytime look, or keep wiggling it on and create something more dramatic. The one downside of this buildable formula is how 'wet' it is, so I did get a few smudges while applying (easily removed with a cotton bud) but once it's on, it really, truly is on for the night.
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans
When testing, I found this mascara's consistency to be ideal - not too wet or too dry - meaning it applies beautifully. The slim, long mascara brush type is the perfect size to catch every lash, and it lengthens without adding any clumps. When using regular mascaras, I almost always encounter smudging. But with this Sensai lash lengthener, my lashes stay fully intact for the whole day, with no signs of wearing or pesky black undereye marks.
The best part is that it can be removed with 38°C water, so it only takes a warm shower and a couple of swipes across the eyes to slide right off. If you are after a dramatic lash look, this may not be for you. However, the brand offers a whole range of stellar tubing mascaras (including volumizing and separating formulas), one of which will be sure to impress.
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans
I'm a big fan of the original Lash Slick in black, so I was thrilled to see a brown version now on the market. After testing, I can confirm that not only is this one of the best tubing mascaras, but also one of the best brown mascaras out there.
When using this mascara, I really noticed how well it coated each eyelash, making for a natural yet doe-eyed effect. It also doesn't budge throughout the day, meaning it is an ideal everyday option for all occasions. This natural-looking mascara's only downfall is the slightly thicker formula that holds more weight than other mascaras we have tried, but this wasn't at all noticeable once dry.
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans
If you want to achieve a lash lift and tint look without a costly trip to the salon, this mascara will become your new best friend. When testing, I found that the fine wand and tubing technology coats every hair without being thick or clumpy, leaving your lashes looking elongated and dark, akin to natural falsies. Thanks to the tubing formula, it also doesn't smudge, flake, or lose length throughout the day, even on oily skin.
I also found that it hardly requires any elbow grease to remove, so you won't need to spend time scrubbing with the best micellar waters. This 19/99 mascara is definitely the most lightweight formula I've tried. It is also a multi-use product, so it can be used to tame and tint brows with a similar natural effect.
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Amelia Yeomans
Hourglass beauty products are some of our absolute favourites as a team, and this mascara very much lives up to the brand's sterling reputation at w&h Towers. From the weighty gold packaging to the slim, tapered wand, this is a luxurious tubing mascara that is worth the price tag. Both of our testers found that the formula is the ideal consistency to apply effortlessly without being too wet and therefore smudging - a tricky combination to come by.
It delivers on its promise to be smudge-proof and lightweight, as well as easily removable with water. But the absolute best thing about this mascara is the dramatic and defined look it gives lashes - much more so than most tubing mascaras. With just one swipe you can expect long and full lashes with added volume, living up to the 'instant extensions' name.
Best for mess-free applying
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim and Amelia Yeomans
This mascara has a small, tapered wand that's perfect for those with shorter lashes, or catching your bottom layer of lashes for maximum impact. This also means that if you do like to wear multiple coats of mascara, you can be precise with your application and prevent clumping.
It also really lives up to its claims of being water-resistant, as it didn't budge during a light rain shower. It also didn't smudge on oily eyelids. We did notice that this mascara is better for lengthening than it is for volumizing, but it does offer nice flutter, which works to open up the eyes. Plus, Lash Power comes at a slightly lower price point than some of the other mascaras on this list, but it still works wonders.
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans
No7's Stay Perfect formula is a perfect affordable 'starter' tubing mascara. In fact, I think it performs just as well as more expensive tubing mascaras, so there is really no going wrong here. When testing, I noticed that my lashes stayed looking curled and full for hours on end, with no need for touch-ups or reapplication, then , as promised, it pulls away with warm water.
I often get itchy eyes throughout the day, but found that this formula kept my eyes comfortable with no irritation. The slim, straight wand was just the right size to catch every lash without causing clumps, but still added just the right amount of volume.
Reviewed by: Amelia Yeomans
Divers recommends tubing mascaras as an affordable, time-saving alternative to lash extensions, and I certainly noticed a faux lash effect when testing this Sweed Cloud Mascara. My lashes looked extremely long but without too much thickness, making for a nicely wispy falsies look.
I noticed that this is another fairly wet formula; however, the packaging ensures that no excess product comes out on the wand - just enough for each eye. I also found the wand to be the ideal shape for grabbing individual lashes, and the nourishing, glossy formula left them feeling light and comfortable. Despite the slightly higher price point, it is worth every penny.
Amelia is an experienced shopping editor with a specialism in beauty and fashion who has written for woman&home, Marie Claire UK, OK!, New!, and Notion.
During her time as woman&home's fashion and beauty writer, Amelia tested hundreds of products to sort the best from the rest, and has a particular penchant for hardworking makeup.
Fiona McKim has been part of the woman&home beauty team for more than a decade. During that time her work has included interviewing countless experts, reporting from backstage at Fashion Week and judging the woman&home Beauty Awards.
How we tested the best tubing mascaras
A selection of the tubing mascaras we tested for this guide
The best tubing mascara should boast several essential properties:
- Flake-free
- Smudge-proof
- Long-lasting
- Lengthening
- Easy to remove
Our beauty team put dozens of mascaras to the test to ensure they did exactly that. Each product was worn for at least one full day to see how it performed, not forgetting to test that all-important ease of removal.
These are our honest thoughts after thoroughly applying, wearing, and removing dozens of formulas to determine which tubing mascaras are worth the investment.
Is tubing mascara the same as waterproof mascara?
No, in fact they are quite different! Waterproof formulas are designed to withstand a soaking, meaning they are often stubborn to remove and can be pretty drying on the lashes. Though tubing mascaras have water-repellent properties and are very good at withstanding moisture such as sweat and humidity, they are not totally waterproof.
Divers agrees that the protocol of how to remove waterproof mascara is the main thing that sets it apart from tubing formulas. "Unlike waterproof formulas that take gentle persistence and a good eye makeup remover to remove every trace, tubing mascaras require just a cleansing cloth and warm water to help them easily slide away," says Divers.
"That’s probably one of the best benefits - there’s no need for rubbing or tugging at the sensitive, delicate skin around your eyes when you need to remove it.”
Are tubing mascaras better for your lashes?
"Combining the benefits of the shiny silicon-based formula which is easier on lashes, and the fact that you don't have to tug at your skin to remove it, I would say overall it is gentler on the lashes and also kinder to the skin around the eyes," explains Divers. For this reason, we would recommend tubing mascaras to everyone - especially those with sensitive eyes.