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Wary of raccoon eyes? The best tubing mascaras will put your mind at ease with their steadfast, smear-proof formulations. Unlike traditional mascaras that can transfer, smudge, and flake, all while requiring a tug-of-war during removal, “tubing mascaras are known for their excellent long-wear and ability to resist flaking and smudging that can occur due to oily sebum on the eyelids, or watery eyes,” says cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. They contain film-forming polymers, which Dobos says act like a protective sleeve around each lash, which equals higher resistance to the elements and more durability. Despite their grip, the mascara sheds in snakeskin-like “tubes” using just warm water and a gentle pull.
Our Top Tubing Mascaras
Frequently Asked Questions
Read on for the best tubing mascaras for creating doe-eyed, wispy, and dramatic looks alike, as selected by Allure editors and makeup artists.
Best Overall: Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing Mascara
Why it’s worth it: Why it’s worth it: Topping this list is Tarte’s Tartelette Tubing Mascara, a 2024 Best of Beauty Award winner that fends off flakes and resists dryness with a blend of shea butter, castor oil, and carnauba wax, making lashes look longer and softer. The wand is equipped with hundreds of tiny bristles, enabling you to reach under your lash line for a major lift and volume. In our humble opinion, this is the most dramatic volumizing pick on the list, and it outpaces the original Tartelette Tubing Mascara with even more length and volume. The classic tubing formula wraps each lash in a water-resistant, tear-resistant, and long-lasting veil of jet-black (or brown) color, so you never have to worry about it smudging.
Tester feedback from Allure commerce editor Sarah Han
“One thing about me: I have the babiest lashes that need a lot of coaxing to reach their full potential. I like Tarte’s original Tartelette mascara so I had high hopes for XL, especially since it’s a Best of Beauty winner—and let me tell you, it stacks up. The dense bristles latch onto my lashes right away and extend each individual wisp for a eye-opening effect. I hate mascaras that cause my lashes to clump, but this one doesn’t do that! One small qualm: Some of the mascara smudges onto my eyelids during application (not sure if it’s the wand or user error), but that’s nothing some micellar water can’t fix in seconds. I love the brown hue because it doesn’t add as much drama as the black—perfect for my everyday office kinda vibe.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: shea butter, castor oil, peptides
- Shades: 2
Best Clump-Resistant: Too Faced Ribbon Wrapped Lash Tubing Mascara
Why it’s worth it: Too Faced’s Ribbon Wrapped Lash is a lengthening, separating, and lifting tubing mascara that seriously shows up for your lashes. The 24-hour, no-clump formula holds strong through sweat, humidity, and even tears—volumizing all the while. The wand’s bristles flare out to a fanned tip, gripping every last lash for a clean, defined sweep from root to end. The result? A fluttery, full look that feels as effortless as it looks dramatic.
“Too Faced’s first-ever tubing mascara is different from others on the market because of how lightweight it feels on the lashes, which also means lashes stay lifted and don’t get weighed down over time. I also love the spiky tip on the wand that gets to all the corner baby lashes with ease.”—Angela Trakoshis, former shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: shea butter
- Shades: 1
Best for Short Lashes: Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara
Why it’s worth it: If you classify your lashes as “little nubs,” don’t worry—Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara is here to help. It delivers the look of falsies (minus any tackiness) without the weight, thanks to an ultra-light formula that skirts clumping. The tapered brush evenly coats and lifts each lash, and once it sets, they’ll be smudge- and flake-free throughout the entire day. Though it’s subtle at first, Unlocked is super buildable, so you can layer to your heart’s content.
“I have the most stubborn lashes: They’re short, straight, thick, and refuse to hold a curl. I also have super sensitive eyes and rarely find a mascara that doesn’t make my eyeballs sting or get watery immediately after application. The Hourglass Unlocked mascara is absolutely heaven-sent for me—it, as the name suggests, makes it appear like I instantly have lash extensions, but even better for me is how it wears. It’s weightless, comfortable, and does not budge—until you want it to. This is the easiest mascara I’ve ever taken off. It slips (truly slips, like silk!) off with water!”—Shanna Shipin, shopping director
- Key ingredients: glycerin
- Shades: 1
Best for Straight Lashes: Kulfi Beauty Badi Lash Mascara
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve got straight lashes, Kulfi’s Badi Lash Mascara is your girl. Made with heavy, straight South Asian lashes in mind, it’s designed to lift without weighing lashes down. Nothing makes ‘diving-board lashes’ worse than a clumpy, crusty formula—and thankfully, this one’s the opposite. Expect clean separation, lift, and conditioning, courtesy of a ball-tip applicator that grabs even the tiniest inner lashes. The formula also packs castor seed oil, rambutan extract, and a tripeptide complex to soften and strengthen over time. We’ll admit, Kulfi’s before-and-afters looked too good to be true, until we tried it ourselves and got the same results.
“The worst part of wearing mascara is taking it off, which is why I am forever in favor of easier-to-remove tubing formulas. Kulfi’s version adds the perfect amount of volume for everyday looks and doesn’t leave flecks on your face come lunchtime. I love the spiky tip at the end of the brush that helps coat lashes at the inner and outer corners.”—Kara McGrath, content director
- Key ingredients: castor seed oil, rambutan extract, tripeptide complex
- Shades: 1
Best Wand: Caliray Come Hell or High Water Volumizing Tubing Mascara
Why it’s worth it: Caliray’s Best of Beauty-winning Come Hell or High Water Volumizing Tubing Mascara is formulated with conditioning argan oil to give your lashes a dose of nourishing, softening love, and film-forming tubing ingredients like acrylates copolymer for a smudge-proof finish. The brand’s dense, fluffy “teddy bear brush” allows for comprehensive coverage with every flick of your wrist. And, if you have shorter lashes, this thicker brush won’t cause any smudgeyness—it actually makes them look bolder, longer, and more curled. It’s long-wearing, water-resistant, and a perfectly deep black—everything you could hope for in an everyday mascara.
“Though it feels weightless on my lashes, Caliray’s mascara is exactly what I swipe on when I want the ever-so-slightest oomph to them. Kudos to its slender brush, which coats just about all of my lashes in one swipe.”—Jennifer Hussein, former commerce writer
- Key ingredients: argan oil, acrylates copolymer, carnauba wax, synthetic wax
- Shades: 1
Most Long-Lasting: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
Why it’s worth it: We love how easily tubing mascaras wash off, but the downside is that they don’t always last as long. That’s not the case with Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. Our editors find that it lasts even longer than many classic mascara formulas, refusing to flake or smudge during long days out and about. Yes, it takes a little extra massaging (and maybe a washcloth) to get off, but the extra time over the sink is worth it for all-day wear. Bonus: Shea butter and castor oil condition your lashes, so they stay soft and flexible under all that length.
“My lashes set the tone for my whole mood—if they’re not long enough, my friends and I joke the night won’t be as fun. That’s why I never risk it: Thrive’s mascara is my go-to for full, fluttery lashes that last through the whole night. It’s been an old faithful in my rotation since my college days.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
- Key ingredients: shea butter, castor oil
- Shades: 6
Best Drugstore: Essence Lash Without Limits Tubing Extreme Lengthening & Volume Mascara
Why it’s worth it: Essence’s Lash Without Limits Tubing Mascara delivers sky-high results at drugstore prices. The elastic brush grips onto even your tiniest lashes and surrounds them in an ultra-pigmented, smudge-proof formula that adds serious volume and length, while staying light as a feather. One coat provides a natural-looking lift, while two gives your lashes that fluttery look you want for full-glam moments.
Tester feedback from Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffman
“I’m usually a full-drama mascara type of girl, but I gotta admit that the flutter factor of Essence’s new tubing formula caught my attention. It’s comfortable to wear, lengthening, and delightfully easy to remove—I’ll never quit mascara entirely, but I could see this being my gateway into being a less-is-more eye makeup sort of person.”—Sarah Hoffman, commerce producer
- Key ingredients: N/A
- Shades: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
How is tubing mascara different from regular mascara?
While there is plenty of overlap between the ingredients in tubing mascara and regular mascara, there are also crucial differences, the main one being the former’s ability to wrap around lashes, Dobos explains. “The overall ingredient list for a tubing mascara might resemble a traditional mascara emulsion with traditional waxes and emulsifiers, but polymers are necessary to form a ‘tube’ around each lash,” she says. “The polymers have just enough adhesion to the lashes to hold them in place until you wiggle the tubes free with gentle pressure for removal.”
Tubing mascaras tend to be easier to take off. Instead of rigorously wiping your eyes with makeup remover or thoroughly massaging mascara away with cleansing oil, the polymer-formed tubes slide off with warm water and gentle pressure. While waterproof mascara may offer comparable staying power, its composition can be conducive to a full-force scrub-fest for removal, and even worse, it often claims a few lashes as collateral.
How should I choose a tubing mascara?
When choosing a tubing mascara, check the ingredients list for key players. “If you’re looking for more volume, ingredients like silica microspheres will help fatten the appearance of lashes and allow for a smooth application,” Dobos explains. “And tiny rayon fibers can bring additional lengthening.”
Meet the experts
- Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist based in Cincinnati, Ohio
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
