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How many times have you spent a solid 15 minutes meticulously applying mascara, only to have it smudge and flake into full-blown raccoon eyes after a few hours? If you’re nodding your head, we feel your pain: Even after experimenting with an outrageously large number of supposed “best” mascaras in the last decade, we’ve always ended up with the same frustrating, unimpressive results. But before you go blaming your skin (yes, even if your lids are naturally oily), we’re here to tell you that it’s not you—it’s your formula. And thankfully, there’s a truly game-changing solution for all of your mascara woes: tubing mascara.
No, it’s not just a weird new brush trend, but a totally different mascara formulation. Whereas traditional mascaras coat your eyelashes in layers of oil-infused pigment, tubing mascaras use flexible polymers to literally wrap each individual eyelash in a protective, smudge-proof casing, like a tiny cone. While it sounds pretty science fiction-y, it’s just an insanely effective method for getting long-lasting, sweat-proof coverage. And, surprisingly, tubing mascara is generally easier to remove than regular mascara, needing only warm water and light pressure to wash off (though your usual makeup-remover and face-wash combo will definitely do the trick, too). Cool, right?
And though tubing mascaras have been around for a few years, they haven’t gotten much love or recognition until recently. “The answer is tubing mascara,” one makeup expert wrote on Reddit to a fed-up user who kept getting dark marks under her lower lashes by the end of the day. “Trust me, [smudges] will never happen to you again.”
Click through to find your new favorite tubing mascara.
Get long and defined lashes with KVD Beauty’s newest creation, Full Sleeve Long + Defined Tubing Mascara. As the name says, even short, sparse, and thin lashes are ultra-black and separated, long but without clumps. Seriously, you can keep layering and never see a clump. And it comes off so easily with water.
Founder and CEO Amy Liu set out to make a mascara that would hold a curl even on her straight Asian lashes, be smudge-proof, and be sensitive-eye friendly. She nailed it with Tower 28’s Make Waves Mascara. If your lashes tend to fall throughout the day, this will be your new fave. Who needs a lash lift? Not you.
Tarte’s long-wearing tubing mascara contains conditioning shea butter and castor oil so your lashes actually get better while you’re wearing it. I don’t leave the house without Tarte’s Tartelette Tubing Mascara because it makes midday touch-ups quick, easy, and clump-free.
Some tubing mascaras just provide definition and length but somehow Caliray’s Come Hell or High Water Volumizing Tubing Mascara actually volumizes too. It also contains argan oil to condition lashes.
At just $4.99, you can’t beat the price of Essence’s Bye Bye Panda Eyes Tubing Mascara . It gives lashes serious length with one swipe, though the formula doesn’t last quite as long as other tubing mascara options.
Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara has the sleekest packaging so for some reason it doesn’t seem like a tubing mascara — but it is. You just need one swipe of the jet-black formula for major length that lasts without the fear of raccoon eyes.
Leave it to MAC to create a sweat- and humidity-resistant mascara that stays on throughout work, school, and a night out. MAC‘s Extended Play Gigablack Lash is easily buildable for tons of volume, too.
For those with sensitive eyes and skin, Clinique’s Lash Power Mascara is allergy-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, and fragrance-free. Of course, it still gives lashes the length you want without the irritants.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is a cult-fave for the way it majorly lengths while conditioning lashes with shea butter and castor seed oil. Plus, it comes in three shades. (The deep blue is so pretty and unexpected!)
