This £6 'tubing' gel promises fuller eyebrows that won't flake or fade - so I put it to the test

Tubing mascaras are everywhere right now. The long-lasting, easy-to-remove formulas are beloved for so many reasons.

So perhaps it comes as little surprise that other makeup categories are being created to rival the best tubing mascaras. First, it was eyeliners – most notably, Tarte and its Tartelette Tubing Liquid Eyeliner. Mere months later, tubing technology has come for our brow gels. Revolution’s £5.99 Wrap Brow promises to shape, sculpt and tint in one swipe.

But do tubing formulas really translate across to brows effectively? I tried this new launch and spoke with a revered celebrity makeup artist to learn how tubing eyebrow products actually work – and find out whether they’re worth your time.

What happened when I tried eyebrow tubing gel

When testing this product, I was pretty impressed. As someone who struggles to find a product that will both tint and hold my brows long-term, this was refreshing to use.

It’s easy to apply and looks natural, without leading to a flat look, or one that’s super brushed-up. Your brows look like your brows, just slightly more defined. The hold, as mentioned, was solid, and the product removed easily at nighttime with water and just a little pressure with my face cloth.

I think it’s a really strong contender for the most innovative new brow product. I would argue that longevity-wise, there are some really efficacious 'regular' brow gels out there that I think perform just as well – so I’m not sure wrapping technology is technically the only way you’re going to get that strong hold. But for £6, you really can’t go wrong.

How does tubing for eyebrows work?

So how exactly does tubing technology translate to brow products, and what are the key benefits of using a tubing gel? It’s fairly simple: as with mascaras and lashes, the polymers used in the formula "wrap" their way around each eyebrow hair, forming little individual tubes. This is in place of coating brows in products that use more traditional pigment and waxes.

“Instead of just depositing colour or using a conventional gel to hold the hairs in place, the formula creates a flexible film around the individual hairs,” explains Celebrity makeup artist Joy Adenuga. “The difference is how it works on lashes vs brows: tubing mascara is defining, lengthening and coating to lashes, whereas a brow formula also needs to provide shape and hold without making the brows look or feel crunchy.”

Adenuga argues these formulas could be ideal for those who struggle to keep their brows in place. “If you have coarse, unruly or downward-growing brow hairs, or find that your brow gel disappears during the day, this extra grip and longevity could be a real advantage. It could also be great for people with oilier skin, or anyone who struggles with brow products transferring or breaking down throughout the day.”

These benefits are what may allow tubing brow products to stand apart from "traditional" gels. But Adenuga says it really “depends on the formulation,” and that there are some hardworking, effective brow gels out there already that boast longevity and mega hold.

What are tubing mascaras?

To recap, these popular formulas feature flexible polymers that wrap individual tiny 'tubes' around each eyelash. This is in contrast to traditional mascaras, which harness the power of wax and pigment paste and are simply painted on.

What makes tubing mascaras so appealing is how truly long-lasting they are. Because each lash is coated and wrapped in its own little tube (quite cute in itself, if you ask me), there’s less risk of smudging, meaning more staying power.

Because of this, tubing mascaras are somewhat resistant to things like sweating and oily lids – but they’re also easily removed using warm water and a little pressure, allowing them to suit sensitive eyes that need to steer clear of harsh removers or excess rubbing. Crucially, though, this means they aren't waterproof – so in case of tears or swimming, reach for the best waterproof mascara.

These are some of my favourite tubing formulas...

Interestingly, Adenuga sees tubing technology becoming an ongoing trend elsewhere in makeup, most notably in lip liners and stains that benefit from long-lasting hold. The fact that there’s a market for them generally speaks to our desire for continuous innovation – and long-lasting makeup that still feels weightless and practical.

“There's been a real shift away from the idea that long-wearing makeup has to mean thick, matte or difficult to remove,” she says. “We want products that survive long working days, heat, humidity and everything else life throws at us, but we also want them to feel lightweight and come off easily at the end of the day.”