Raccoon eyes are a thing of the past.
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I have the world's most oily eyelids, so most traditional mascaras—yep, even ones labeled "long-wearing" and even waterproof mascaras—end up smudging or smearing by the end of the day. That was until I tried tubing mascara. Instead of coating your lashes with thick layers of pigment like regular mascara, tubing mascara wraps each lash in water-resistant, tube-like polymers (kind of like a little cap that washes off). It sounds weird, but these tubes make your lashes look really good—and they stay looking really good for hours.
But the key to finding the best tubing mascara lies in more than just the formula: Many times, the actual mascara is great, but the brush may not be right for the look you want. “It really comes down to the wand applicator to give you the difference of a lengthened, curled, or voluminous look,” Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist Jenna Nicole has told Cosmo. So, in addition to personally testing and reviewing each tubing formula, we also considered the mascara wands, evaluating the size, shape, and bristle length to compile a list of the best tubing mascaras for whatever type of lashes you wanna rock.
Keep scrolling for the full list of the 15 best tubing mascaras of 2024—from brands such as Tower 28, Tarte, Essence, and more—plus expert info on how to choose a tubing mascara and the benefits of using a tubing mascara over a conventional one.
OK, listen up: Not only does the formula of this tubing mascara take the cake as our best overall pick, but the wand is also a winner. Made with three different types of bands, the wand lengthens and defines each and every lash. Basically, this tubing mascara is gold.
Glowing Customer Review: "It gives my lashes such a cute shape! I love that the formula is buildable yet lightweight. I haven’t had any issues with smudging as I have oily skin. Also, I am absolutely in love with the fact that the ingredients are non-toxic. Would definitely recommend it as this has become one of my new makeup staples!"
Made with a combo of water-resistant tubing polymers, carbon-black pigments, and a unique-shaped wand that is made to grip lashes and deposit pigment in a fan-like effect, this tubing mascara makes even the shortest, tiniest lashes look ultra-long and defined.
Glowing Customer Review: "This is the best mascara I’ve ever used...I’ve struggled with mascara for 20 years until I finally read about tubing mascara. Thank god! It’s the only mascara that doesn’t smudge off under my eyes. I love this one."
This may be the least expensive tubing mascara on the list, but that doesn't mean it's the least effective. Five bucks and a few swipes later, and this long-lasting, smudge-proof tubing mascara will leave your lashes looking thicker, longer, and more defined (no eyelash primer required).
Glowing Customer Review: "It gives you volume, length, and comfort all for a great price. I've used $25 mascaras that don't even come close to this quality." Another reviewer writes, "it's like wearing false lashes without all of the hassle!"
One time, halfway through a date, I went to the bathroom and noticed that my mascara had completely smudged underneath my eyes. Not a cute look, and I definitely could have avoided it if I had used this tubing mascara. It's on the pricey side, yes, but the formula doesn’t budge, so it won’t give you raccoon eyes (bless), but it will give you long, wispy lashes, thanks to the brush.
Glowing Customer Review: "I love this mascara for its natural look and the fact that it never ever smears, no matter what. I've tried other mascara but always come back to this one."
This tubing mascara will give you some major Bambi eyelashes. Seriously, you’ll have people wondering if you’re wearing fake lashes. The teeny-tiny bristles grip your lashes for intense volume and length, while the jojoba oil in the formula keeps ’em soft and shiny.
Glowing Customer Review: "This went on beautifully, lengthened, thickened, and coated every single lash on the very first pass. It removes like a dream with just warm water and slight rubbing," they added.
Yes, this dual-ended tubing mascara requires you apply two different products—an eyelash primer and then a tubing mascara—but the results are so GD impressive that I doubt you'll mind. The primer is infused with panthenol and ceramides to condition lashes, while the little tubes in the mascara cling to lashes to provide a dramatic lengthening effect.
Glowing Customer Review: "This mascara is my favorite. I have very thin, blonde eyelashes and most mascara never seems to really do anything for me, but this one builds up and thickens my eyelashes in an instant."
Your new go-to product? This tubing mascara. Not only do the short, dense bristles grip and lift every lash, but they also work to separate and coat ’em. The result? Lashes that are defined but still look natural.
Glowing Customer Review: "My mascara always transfers to my lid, but NOT this one! I've been using this for years on my lower lash line, the formula is very black and it stays put."
This three-in-one tubing mascara gives your lashes lift and length, keeps them shiny and healthy thanks to ashwagandha (a plant-based ingredient rich in antioxidants), and strengthens your natural lashes with a peptide complex too. The effect? Lashes that look instantly gorgeous and better with time.
Glowing Customer Review: "I’m never impressed by mascaras, so I never expect anything great, but this has been the only one that works for ME. It doesn’t smudge on my lid or flake off, nor does it get clumpy."
If you’re going for a doe-eyed, va-va-voom look, this tubing mascara is a smart choice. The bristles have wavy brush fibers, so you’re able to catch, coat, lift, and curl each lash. For extra curl and volume, focus on applying your mascara to the base of your lashes to lift them up.
Glowing Customer Review: "[This mascara] goes on so smoothly and comes off easier than any mascara I’ve had before," writes one reviewer, adding that it stays on all day, and when they want to remove it, they choose to use oil-free makeup remover as it does the job quick and easy!
This mascara from Glossier is one of my all-time favorite mascaras. It gives lashes natural-looking length and definition (TBH it doesn't even look like mascara, just really good natural lashes) thanks to tiny tubing fibers and a lightweight, flexible formula. Plus it comes in two shades—an inky black and warm chocolate-y brown that I personally love.
Glowing Customer Review: "My favorite mascara and the only one I use! It's not clumpy, easy to take off, looks natural, and keeps my lashes long and luscious all day."
With more than 4K reviews on Sephora.com, a lot of people stan this tubing mascara—and for good reason. It’s the OG tubing mascara, and the formula truly works to add both volume and length without smudging or flaking. It’s also water-resistant, i.e., just water alone won’t remove it from your lashes. So if you need a good cry, don’t worry about streaking.
Glowing Customer Review: "It doesn’t smudge at all when you rub your eyes, but comes off very easily when you wash [your face]. This stuff is AMAZING and lengthening!"
If you want your lashes to look great every day without an extensive routine or eyelash extensions, you need to swipe on this tubing mascara ASAP. The brush helps separate and coat your lashes, giving you a beautiful, your-lashes-but-better look. It’s perfect for a night out (or, like, any time you run into your ex and want to look amaze).
Glowing Customer Review: This is the mascara I have been searching for—one that lasts long and doesn't flake. The brush is fluffy and gives a stunning amount of length with no clumping!"
The spiky, tapered wand on this tubing mascara will take your lashes up a notch. The bristles grip each and every lash (yes, even the teeny-tiny ones) at the root, giving them major length.
Glowing Customer Review: "It doesn't give you the most dramatic, sky-high lashes, but it's full of good, clean ingredients that don't irritate my eyes." Another tester writes that "it makes [their] lashes look fuller and natural."
If you have sensitive skin or eyes and the *thought* of new products makes you shudder, you'll be pleased to know this Thrive Causmetics mascara was specially formulated with sensitive peeps in mind. Plus, it makes lashes look super thick and lush and won't flake or smudge for hours and hours. Oh, and it's one of the few (if not only!) tubing mascara on the market that is available in a ton of fun hues.
Glowing Customer Review: "THE BEST MASCARA EVER, I often woke up in the morning with leftover mascara, leaving my eyelids irritated, from other brands—this is the first mascara that doesn’t cause irritation!"
If you're in the market for a cruelty-free, vegan makeup product, this here is your bb. Formulated with polymers that give a super long-lasting and lengthening effect, this tubing mascara is one of my all-time favorites for extra-long lashes that don't smear or run.
Glowing Customer Review: "I've always struggled with thin, straight lashes and I always thought the solution was multiple coats of mascara. Well if that is also your problem, I'm here to tell you to stop searching. This mascara is not only buildable, but it also lengthens without adding the extra clump. Possibly the best mascara Tarte has created!"
It comes down to personal preference when deciding which type of mascara is better. Regular mascara uses wax and pigment, which tends to flake easier. However, because conventional mascara makes up the majority of the mascara market, there are a ton of options.
On the other hand, tubing mascara uses a polymer that wraps around each lash to create a tube, hence the name. The tubes flake less, last long, are water-resistant, and are great for those with sensitive skin. Tubing mascara is also easy to remove—just soak a cotton round in warm water, and the little tubes will slide right off. (FYI, they are water-resistant to cold water but not to warm, hence the easy removal.)
In short, there are pros and cons to each—it's just about finding a formulation that works best for you.
Tbh, I still sometimes struggle to identify which mascaras are tubing mascaras. Other than the ones labeled as such, it can be tricky to determine. To do so, take a look at the ingredients—if they include propanediol, 10 dimethicone, polysilicon-11, cera alba, or glyceryl stearate, congrats! Those are polymers, and that is indeed a tubing mascara. Another way? Take note when you wash your face—if you're left with the notorious raccoon eyes, it's conventional mascara.
As makeup artist Jenna Nicole mentioned, the main factor that contributes to the results of your lashes is the brush. "A fat and fluffy applicator will give you voluminous, fat, and fluffy lashes," Nicole has told Cosmo, adding that "a long, skinny, more-precise wand will give you long, skinny, clump-free lashes."
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor of Cosmopolitan and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty stories, like the best lip plumpers and the greatest cream blushes on the market, and feels especially knowledgeable in tubing mascaras because she is always on the hunt for long-lasting formulas. She regularly tests and analyzes mascaras on her own lashes for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top makeup artists and cosmetic chemists to assess new formulas and brands.
Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare and makeup stories that range from the best all natural foundations, to the greatest cream blushes on the market. Her tubing mascara picks were based on reviews, expert information, and personal testing.
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty, fashion, travel, and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to find the best fashion deals of the season, the softest sheets on the market, or exactly how to use retinol without irritating your skin? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As her 2024 goal, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini NYC has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute cocktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at that magazine life.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.
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