The Best Tubing Mascaras: I’ve Tried Dozens, These are My 8 Favorites
The one cosmetic I can’t go without is mascara. I was born with relatively light-colored, short, and straight lashes. With dark eyes and hair, without mascara I have people question whether I am under the weather or tired. The thing is, I have allergic eyes and over 40 eyes, and the combination means I often have my mascara smudge.
Doing research I learned about tubing mascara, a product that stays in place through rubbing, sweat, and watery eyes yet easily comes off at the end of the day with warm water. I went on a quest to find the best tubing mascaras.
What Are The Best Tubing Mascaras?
I originally crafted this list of the best tubing mascaras in 2017 and have updated it twice since. But many new tubing mascaras have come on the scene with new technology and formulas. In fact, this list is almost completely different with many new brands and products. Keep reading for my favorite tubing masaras for different situations and needs.
What is Tubing Mascara?
Most mascaras are essentially paint for your eyelashes. Tubing mascara is different in that it is made with polymers that coat each individual lash, creating a “tube” around them. Instead of applying several coats of traditional mascara to achieve thickness, length, and color, with tubing mascara, you start at the root, slowly wiggle the wand between the lashes as you glide to the tips.
To remove tubing mascara, press a warm wet washcloth against your lashes, rest it briefly, wiggle a little to disconnect the tubes, and gently wipe away. Instead of smudges, you’ll have little black threads on your washcloth, and your lashes will be left feeling soft and natural.
Tubing mascara is water-resistant but not waterproof. It holds up through a humid day, a sad movie, a hardcore workout, and a high pollen count but won’t necessarily stay in place through laps at the pool or a session in the sauna. Unlike waterproof mascara, no fancy remover is required, and tubing mascara does not weaken your lashes or make them brittle.
Tubing mascara is a great choice for those who have oily eyelids and those who desire mascara for their bottom lashes. As a woman over 40 with allergy eyes, I exclusively use tubing mascara because it prevents smudges, flaking, and irritation while offering volume and length.
Where Can I Buy Tubing Mascara?
These days, tubing mascara can be found at all price points and everywhere from your neighborhood Target or Walgreens to Sephora, Dermstore, Blue Mercury, and high-end department stores. I learned from my experience that price does not equal quality, but not all tubing mascaras are created equal.
In My Opinion, 8 of the Best Tubing Mascaras
This process of finding the best tubing mascaras was eye-opening (har har, get it?). I realized that not all tubing mascaras are alike, and not all people desire the same results from their mascaras. Many highly-rated tubing mascaras disappointed me or I felt didn't deserve the extreme praise.
While my favorite kind of tubing mascara lengthens, thickens, and provides pigment and a bit of a glossy finish to my lashes, others may desire a more natural effect. I hope this review helps you find a great mascara that will give you the look you desire without any smudging or flaking!
Best Everyday Tubing Mascara: Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara
I have used Caliray tubing mascara on and off for a couple of years now. I don't love it so much I have quit searching for the perfect tubing mascara, but I like it enough that when I finish using a disapppointing product I go buy a travel-sized tube so I can have some decent lashes.
The only reason I try and use other tubing mascaras is because this one from Caliray is very… everyday. Not a ton of oomph, too heavy to layer, it's a good day mascara, it's reliable, and I like the company's ethics and sustainability practices.
Best Dramatic Night Out Tubing Mascara: MILK Kush High Roll Mascara
A few months ago, I was in Sephora with my teen, wandering around to let her have her friend time giggling over glosses, and I saw that MILK had a tubing mascara. A salesperson shared she was wearing it, and her lashes looked fantastic. Sold!
MILK's KUSH High Roll tubing mascara has become my everyday tubing mascara because I really like dramatic eyes and lush lashes. It doesn't clump, it dries relatively quickly, leaves a glossy finish and holds a curl. I also found the tube lasted longer than a lot of tubing mascaras (didn't dry out fast).
Best Longwear Tubing Mascara: Alleyoop Go The Distance
A few months ago, Alleyoop asked if I would like to try its tubing mascara. For sure! I mean, I have been reviewing tubing mascara for almost a decade and this one I hadn't heard of. And I became a fan. Alleyoop Go The Distance conditions, it doesn't clump, rarely flakes, and it can last from sunup to sundown. I have worn it to hot and sweaty GA concerts and gym sessions and Alleyoop keeps up. If you prefer travel-sized tubes, Alleyoop also carries those.
Best Colored Tubing Mascara: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions
For many, Thrive Causemetics' Liquid Lash Extensions is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) for tubing mascara. And it was my favorite tubing mascara for a very long while but I changed or it changed and I strayed. It was too wet and gloopy the first week of use, then would be fantastic, but would dry up before I finished the tube. Others don't have this issue, but it's why I began looking for other tubing mascaras.
But Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions is one of the only tubing mascaras that comes in colors, and the pigment and durability is quite good. I think colored mascara is a fun way for grown women, especially those with white hair, to glam up or look festive without needing a whole face of makeup. I love using green or purple mascara, and with an eyeliner brush, dip it in micellar water and then the shadow of the same color and make a thin line at the lash line.
Best Drugstore Tubing Mascara: Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing
I bought the Milani mascara in the turquoise tube when I read a review that someone said it was as good as Thrive Causemetics. As I have shared before, I have a love/hate with Thrive Causemetics and loved the idea of the good part of Liquid Lash Extensions for far less.
And the Milani tubing mascara was so good I finished an entire tube and if I wasn't sent free product from another brand when I was in need of mascara, I may have bought a second tube. I do think it can rival Thrive for coating, lasting, not flaking or irritating but it's not my HG tubing mascara. But if you want to dip your toes into tubing mascara this is a good first choice.
Best Clump-Resisting Tubing Mascara: MERIT Clean Lash
I keep trying MERIT Clean Lash mascara because many online folks I trust swear by this mascara. And I love many other products from MERIT. But I am always underwhelmed. But one thing I can give to this mascara is I never deal with clumps. MERIT goes on beautifully, it just doesn't have the oomph I desire in a mascara.
Best Lengthening Tubing Mascara: L'Oreal Double Extend
If you are patient and methodical and can handle a two-product mascara, L'Oreal Double Extend mascara is utterly fantastic. Folks may wonder if you got lash extensions. But I make a mess of this stuff, and I always end up with some of the white primer showing or a black blob from attempting to cover it up. But if you can do it, you'll likely be a lifelong fan.
Best Luxury Tubing Mascara: Kevyn Aucoin
Whether it's The Volume or The Curling, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty makes a fantastic tubing mascara. It dries quickly, it adds volume or holds curl without clumping or flaking or irritating. It's some darn good tubing mascara but it's over $30 a tube and I think some of the more budget-friendly options above provide good enough results for you to be a fellow tubing mascara fan!
Do you disagree with my favorite tubing mascaras? Do you have one you find to be the best or one above you warn others to not use? Please share your feedback in the comments below to help this be a more valuable resource for those shopping for tubing mascaras. We are all different with different needs, tastes, skin, lashes, and lives and your favorite may be exactly what another member of the Wardrobe Oxygen Community has been searching for!
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I started using tubing mascara after reading about it here on WO. I started with Thrive and currently use Tarte https://bit.ly/3XJ2YwW
However, my current tube is running low, so I will be trying the Milk one next!
Do let me know what you think of Milk!
Has anyone used Prime? Thoughts
Thanks for the list – I’ll add Boots No7 to it, for those in the UK.
I’d recommend taking any in-store product advice with a pinch of salt, though – I recently learned (from the Reddit comments) that Ulta tells their staff to lie about which products they’re wearing (when asked, they’re supposed to push whatever hot new thing they’re selling at the time).
I think the example the ex employee gave was they were wearing Wet N Wild concealer but their manager specifically instructed them to say it was Tarte shape tape if asked by any customers).
We don’t have Ulta here, so I don’t know how far this shady selling practice applies, but just FYI.
That’s disappointing about Ulta. I don’t shop Ulta a lot in person but I know many do.
I have used Thrive for years and will never switch. I put one coat on and people ask me, daily, if these are my real lashes. I need to start carrying the tube with me to show people. I can cry in it and it doesn’t smudge or come off. Used to use the red and white L’Oréal but they are not cruelty free so I will pay a little more for the Thrive.
I love Trish McEvoy. It is expensive. It is also cruelty free which is very important to me.
Great read! Thank you for providing pictures…really helps in making decisions.
I used Blinc for yrs – in fact back when it was sold just in boutiques/makeup artists. But for sometime now, it no longer works as brilliantly as it once did.
I’ve noticed many long-time users of tube style mascara, basically have the same complaint – product changed and no longer works the same as it had worked for years.
Wonder if a common ingredient, vital to achieving a good tubing result, has been removed from most/all brands for the same reason? Health reasons? Toxic? Availability?
Blinc’s answer to complaints abt formula change which I’ve copied from their website:
HI, I’m so sorry about your bad experience. You are absolutely right, lots of things going on at the same time, and we did have a few issues. Thankfully they have all been fixed now.
* Problems first started in Asia, from tariffs to virus related shipping delays
* This lead to us having to make some of our batches in the US to ensure steady supply
* Our US manufacturing partners had to learn how to make our formula for the first time, which led to some bad batches (when they tell you their batch code, you can say “unfortunately that was one of the effected batches)
* At the same time, we changed our packaging to make it more environmental friendly by removing plastic shrink wrap and replacing the metal tube with recyclable carton
* In 20 years, this has been our only major blip but we want to make this right by you regardless. 08/18/20
p.s. wonder if tube style mascara is made by the same manufacturer and, therefore, the reason different brands have the same customer complaints about formula change? This manufacturer could be producing the base tube mascara formula and then following each brand’s unique specifications? Or shipping the base tube mascara formula to each brand’s facilities where that brand adds it unique properties, container, and label?
The only mascara for me is Clinique Lask Power Flutter to Full with the dial up tube. I wasn’t even aware of tube mascara or that my favorite was also one. Every other mascara clumps and looks either thick and awful or non existent. I do 2 coats of this and my lashes look so long and separated, not thick and clumpy. So natural.
This just popped up in my RSS Feed again – your Ulta link to Thrive Mascara is 404’ing – it probably needs to be updated.
Just letting you know, Thrive is no longer selling their products at Ulta. I’ve been informed by their product development team. I wrote to the company because suddenly my last couple tubes of mascara have begun to flake onto on my face (& mask) whenever it rained or snowed. They explained this will happen when a tube is old (even at time of purchase.) Thrivecausmetics did suggest buying from them directly. In the event something goes wrong with their product, they will replace. Win-win! 😉
Thrive is sold out on Amazon.ca. sigh
I’ve been using Lóreal Double Extend for years. I have terrible allergies and this one lasts through a bad day. Yes, it’s a two-step process, but for me it’s worth it. Curl lashes, brush on the white primer, then the mascara. I replace my mascara monthly (when wearing it regularly). This is a super affordable option for that. I am intrigued by the Thrive mascara but it’s always sold out. So until I can find it, the red and white double ended tube is for me!
I should add that it’s also a tubing mascara. There’s a diagram in the packaging to show how it works.
This is my favorite, too.
I love Loreal Double Extend too!
My favorite as well!
I keep trying others and always come back to this one too….which wasn’t in the lineup! I’ve used Thrive, and it’s really good, but I would t say it’s better and certainly isn’t cheaper than L’Oréal double extend.
Been wearing Great Lash sine God was a kid because it comes in brown but it doesn’t work with old eyes at all. Wish I’d have seen this before buying 27 flipping tubes of almost everything else. Not many made in brown or brownish black these days so had to get many in black. Liked blinc & L’oreal double extend tubes. Black will work for evenings but still need brown for daytime. Almost easier to slap on falsies but it’s hard to find them in brown anymore. Will give Thrive a whirl but, like blinc, only available online and a bit spendy. C’est la vie.
Thank you so much for these recommendations, I read a lot of blog about tubing mascara; but i like your post because you tried different brands and share your reviews and your images too. which help me a lot.
Hi! I’m wondering if I should try Blinc because though I love the effect of Thrive, the only downside is that my lashes drop after a few hrs. I curl them before I put the Thrive too.. And I dont want to get a eyelash primer, too much time, money and effort to add another product in the routine lol. Do you or anyone out there experience this too? ):
Blinc dries much faster so it won’t weigh down as much as Thrive, or even using a primer under a mascara. I didn’t like the effect as much as Thrive but I liked how Blinc kept my curl!
I love Sensai 38 ° Volumising, but it is hard to find in the States. Same with Idun Vatn. L’Oreal Double Extend is awesome in every other way, except it is impossible to wash off linens if you happen to fall asleep while wearing it. I have tried every pre-treatment from SpraynWash to Didi7 without luck. Blinc (both formalations) is so thin, it’s like applying water to my lashes. I have bought it in local stores only, which may be why–I don’t know if it clumps while being shipped to Phoeniz, AZ. It is over 38 degrees Celsius here pretty much every day in the summer. Can’t buy lipstick, candles, etc. by mail during summer either.
UPDATE: THRIVE CAUSEMETICS MASCARA IS NOW AT **ULTA** !! Some of their coupons will give you %20 off prestige cosmetics but you have to be a member, usually. Not orderable online, however.
I really am loving the product as the best & I tried EVERYTHING on the list and some others to boot. This is the best for length AND volume. Without tarantula eyes. ALISON, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THIS ARTICLE!! 🙂
Thank you so much for this information! To others, here is the link to all Thrive Causemetics at Ulta. But as you state, it’s only for items in-store: http://bit.ly/2M2uQ9Y
A bit late to the party here but thought I’d drop a favorite tubing mascara that you haven’t mentioned! It’s the L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes mascara. It comes off so easily, dries beautiful and doesn’t smudge. I do not like mascara on my eyes at all. I discovered that tubing mascara is the ONLY kind I can wear without my eyes being a stinging and burning mess.
This one has the primer on one end and the mascara on the other. It’s not necessary to use the primer but it does boost my lashes. I also think they are getting thicker since I’ve been wearing this nearly every day.
I tried the No7 and was disappointed, it did not come off in tubes like a tubing mascara should, it should smeared all over when I tried to clean it off. It also took a long time to dry. I also tried the L’Oreal Voluminous and did not like it much, though I liked the brush.
I may now have to try the Thrive … assuming it comes off in tubes!
Thrive does not come off in tubes. I used Thrive for awhile, and never realized it was a tubing mascara until I read it here. I stopped using it because it flaked and I ended up with raccoon eyes everyday. It does not come off easily, and certainly not in tube fashion. I recently purchased Blinc. That seems to work better with a primer and it does dry very quickly, so you can’t layer.
First – I was waiting for this review so THANK YOU!! Second – I gave up on mascara two or so years ago – I have cranky eyes, I tear up often (allergies, empath blah blah) and I keep my skin super hydrated so any mascara bled on me or flaked on me or in general hated me and a lot of times just made my eyes cranky. I tried tube mascara before and had no luck as well.
So I bought Thrive the day I read the review and have been wearing it ever since. It’s amazing. I am working downtown Chicago right now and between wind that makes my eyes leak, snow and lots and lots of rain, the only thing that happens is my lashes clump when they get wet – that is it. No flaking, smudging, cranky eyes etc. I think I truly am in love.
Side note – I washed face last night and thought I got all of the tubes off. This morning in the shower I kept seeing things out of the corner of my eye and I swore it was a moth. Nope – I had one tube left on one eyelash, and it was sliding off eyelash with water and heat.
I know mascara is super personal but man this stuff rocks.
Oh I am so glad to hear this! Yay, it makes me so happy when my recommendations help others!
I have oily eyelids and allergies so had given up on mascara but I think I will try again! Thank you.
Thanks for this Allie. I haven’t worn mascara in ages as I definitely get smudges, and I hadn’t heard about tubing mascara. Just ordered No.7 online. I’m in New Zealand which makes thrive a bit of an extravagance at the moment. Can’t wait to wear mascara again! I’d love a similar review in eyeliners when you’ve recovered from this!
Oh gosh, I hope it works out for you! As for eyeliners, I only wear a thin line of brown-black liquid. I’ve never mastered pencils, so don’t think I’m the best person for this. But if I find such a review I’ll add it to the Weekend Reads!
Thanks Allie! I’ll look at some liquid eyeliners too, maybe that’s the answer.
FWIW I tried and love Bobbi Brown gel liner — it’s a bit sturdier than a liquid, but glides smoother than a pencil. It comes in a pot you can use with a brush or in a stick form.
Heimish dailism smudge stop mascara!!! I’ve tried most of the above and this is my favorite! It’s not advertised as a “tubing” mascara but it’s definitely one of the best and not to expensive. $11-14 a tube. I do like the No7 one as well but this one adds a bit more length on my experience.
Thrive CC cream and mascara ordered and delivered within 3 days! Really like them both so far. The no-smear factor is a game changer for me. Thanks so much for the recs and info.
Oh I’m so glad you like Thrive!
You’ve convinced me, I’m going to give tubing mascara a try and already have the Boots in my Amazon shopping cart. (starting small) I’ve tried the mascara with fibers and really didn’t like that.
I hope you like it!
I didn’t know what it was called but I use tubing mascara also, i envy in a purple package for $10. Used to be $5 but still seams to be the cheapest around.
Kiss is the brand.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for the reviews! I’m going to try some of these. Love the before/after photos!
Thanks Joanne, and I hope you like them!
Used Thrive for the first time today. It is as wonderful as you said.
Oh I’m so glad to hear that!
I’ve been using Trish McEvoy Curling Lash for almost 20 years but lately have been unsatisfied. I recently tried Blinc and found it was okay but went back to Trish. Well, I just ordered Thrive! You just saved me so much time and money and the frustration of trial and error! Thanks! xo
I’m so glad, my friend! <3
the Thrive mascara is fantastic. I’ve had multiple people ask me what I’m wearing on my lashes since I started wearing it! I’m on my third tube.
Awesome!!
Last I heard about Thrive was this lawsuit against them, so I admit that left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth: https://www.truthinadvertising.org/thrive-causemetics/ or https://mirahmirah.com/beauty/news-beauty/thrive-causemetics-lawsuit/ Perhaps that’s why is got hyped a lot this summer, and then people stopped talking as much about it? Hopefully it will all be happily resolved soon!
I didn’t know about this and read up. It’s unfortunate that they didn’t change their wording when they changed their policy of how they donate because they still do far more good than 99% of the beauty companies out there and I would hate to see them fail because of this. I look forward to hearing how this turns out.
Agreed – an unfortunate mistake that hopefully they recover from!! 🙂
Clinique high impact curling mascara does a great job with thickening, lengthening, curling, stays put all day, no smudging and warm water removal.
Thanks for the recommendation, Lauren!
I love Thrive products and that they’re cruelty free. Their brow pencil is also fantastic as is their new brow gel. Soo glad they finally came out with that too.
I am totally trying the brow pencil once the one I have is used up!
L’Oréal double Extend tubes!!!
So glossy, flexible, stable, and easy to remove. Have you tried it?
I did a while ago, I agree it’s good and many in the Wardrobe Oxygen community on Facebook are raving about it! I focused on one-step products for this post but that’s a great drugstore product!
I’ve been using Blinc mascara for years and years and years and years (like almost 20 years!). I’ve never even wanted to try another mascara until now. I’m definitely going to try Thrive. You’ve sold me, lady! xx
Glad to help, and I hope you like it as much as I do!
I’ve just ordered three tubes AND the coral triple threat colour stick (international shipping, may as well stock up). I adore the ethos of the brand; they are right up my street. Thank you so much for bringing brands like this to our attention. I love knowing my dollars are at work doing some good things when I buy from brands like this. I’m having such a nice read through lots of your older posts, and am thoroughly enjoying myself. I’ve been so busy lately I’m verrry behind on my blog reading. Thanks again, lovely lady xx
The Thrive one is so good! I’ve repurchased twice. I have black hair and very dark lashes and it’s so dark, it even shows up on me.
Another new good one is Maybelline Snapscara, which doesn’t exactly come off in threads (so maybe it’s not a true tubing mascara?) but it does wash off incredibly easily with warm water. And it’s super cheap.
I saw that one, I haven’t tried it yet but I am tempted!
I’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on that Thrive one forever. Thanks for the push!
I hope you like it as much as I do!
Thank you. I’ve been using the Almay since your orignal post, but it’s seemed less awesome with subsequent purchases. Tube mascara was a game changer. I am going to try No. 7 and Thrive.
I wonder if the formula changed? It’s amazing how it went from good to terrible. I hope the other products work better for you!
Same – the Almay started out fine & then went downhill, getting gloppy & taking forever to dry. So disappointing!
Oh, thank you for a such a detailed review! I bought the DHC after your previous review and I like it. So far my favorite has been Blinc Amplified. Every mascara smudges on me except for the tubing mascaras I’ve used. Tarte’s Lights Camera and whatever is the only regular mascara that hasn’t smudged on me but haven’t used it in summer. I’m so exctied to try the Thrive one because it popped up in my Insta feed a few weeks ago and almost bought it, but at the price, I was hesitant. I just ordered it! Actually I just spent a pretty penny on a bunch of other stuff. I hope I like them all!
I hope you do too, Sandra!!
Is the L’Oreal one you tried actually a tubing mascara? Their website doesn’t describe it as one. I use L’Oreal beauty tubes and love it but I may try some of these others as well.
Thanks for the reviews. I really feel like tubing mascara changed my life! I used to get terrible smears under my eyes no matter what mascara I tried but those days are gone.
I ordered it after recommendations on other sites for tubing. It may not be a traditional tubing mascara but it acts as one as it coats the lashes, washes off with just warm water, and doesn’t smudge. I haven’t tried Beauty Tubes, I wasn’t able to find it at any local stores.
Interesting! Thanks for the clarification!
Had to laugh at the “you look tired” without lashes! Mr. LBD has said that every time I go without mascara for the past 37 years. Same answer to no avail! Agree with you 100% mascara makes a difference. -Laurel
It really makes a major impact!
Thank you! This is so helpful! I stopped using lash boost too and have been looking for an alternative. I cannot wait to try!
I have used DiorShow mascara for years! The last two tubes I purchased were just not cutting it – lumps, flakes, and smudges by midday. I’m assuming they changed their formula or I have changed, either way, I wasn’t spending that kind of money on a product that made me look like Courtney Love after a bender (although she wears it well). A few months ago I tried tubing mascara for the first time. After online searches and reviews, I gave No.7 a try. Life changing – no more smudges and easy to remove! I’m definitely going to give Thrive Causemetics a try. If you think it’s better than No.7, I suspect I’m in for another life-changing experience:) Thanks for doing all the hard work.
OMG I have been waiting and waiting for this post! Thank you so much!!!!!
Thank you! I just ordered the Thrive (and a lipstick!) My tube of DHC is all used up.