Tubing Mascaras Are Your Secret Weapon For Long, Voluminous, Smudge-Free Lashes, so I Tested 11 of Them To Find the Best of the Best

True to its name, L.A. Girl’s Plush Lash Mascara delivers full, pillow-soft lashes with absolutely zero crunchiness. The volumizing formula can be easily built up without getting clumpy, giving me the freedom to pump up the volume if I’m in the mood. The precise but well bristled wand managed to catch hold of every single one of my lashes too, giving them some much needed lift and fullness. What’s more, it didn’t flake off like other tubing mascaras I’ve tried—and only came off when I wanted it too, with a little warm water. And for less than $10 bucks? Plush Lash proves you needn’t overpay for a good tubing mascara.

Despite being around since the early 2000s, the Clinique Lash Power Mascara is a criminally underrated tubing mascara. It gives my lashes a natural looking length and definition that lasts, which is exactly what I want on no-makeup makeup days. And the small, precise brush makes application a breeze—allowing me to get up close and personal with every lash. Removing it is easy too, all you need is a little warm water. Just one thing to note: if you prefer a dramatic lash look, Lash Power isn’t it. It’s a true, “my lashes, but better” mascara!

If volume is what you’re after—you’re definitely going to get it with Caliray’s Come Hell or High Water Mascara. Equipped with a “teddy bear bristle” wand, the tubing mascara adds serious length and thickness to my lashes. It has a wet, creamy texture that’s infused with argan oil for extra nourishment—but can get clumpy with too many coats, so less is definitely more with this one. Most importantly though, it lives up to its long wearing claims. I can even wear it on my bottom lashes without any flakes or smudging.

Merit’s Clean Lash Mascara does it all. It lengthens lashes, it’s buildable without getting clumpy, and it contains lash-conditioning ingredients like nourishing fatty acids and olive oil esters. The fluffy applicator catches and defines every lash for a full and fluttery look. The only issue is—it’s almost too hard to remove. I’ll carefully massage my lashes with warm water (and my face wash in some cases) and will almost always have some remnants left behind. On the flip side, though, the tubing mascara truly is budge-proof—which means I’ll continue reaching for it for long nights out or big events.

The Tower28 Mascara quite literally made waves in the beauty community when it launched in 2019, and now I understand why. The curved synthetic wand is composed of 3 flexible bands to ensure that no lash gets left behind, no matter your lash type. I also loved that the curved wand gave my lashes some much needed curling help—a savior for rushed mornings when I don’t have the time to fuss with a lash curler. The buildable formula gave me a separated, lengthened lash look that still served plenty of volume (a rare feat in a tubing formula). What’s more, it managed to stay put throughout the day, even when applied on my lower lashes.

A high-end lash serum and tubing mascara in one, ultra-sleek tube, Future Lash is full of lash boosting ingredients like nourishing shea butter, hydrating panthenol, and niacinamide to combat breakage. Plant-derived polymers wrap around every lash, adding natural looking length and volume, while the curved wand helps enhance my lash curl with every swipe. This is a mascara I can layer without fear of spidery, clumpy lashes. The fluttery lash look it provides lasts all day without flaking, and it comes off just as easily as it goes on, with the help of warm water. The only downside is that the fancy feel and ingredients—sadly—come at a fancy price.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Tarte mascaras, so needless to say I had high hopes for the brand’s first-ever tubing formula—and thankfully, it delivered. The Tartelette Mascara features a tapered, synthetic wand that’s covered in bristles (269, to be exact) that seamlessly coat every lash for sky high length. It can be layered on for a more dramatic effect without clumping, and I can typically achieve the long, fluttery look I want with no more than 2 or 3 swipes. And while I didn’t put the Tartelette Tubing Mascara to the 24-hour wear test, I can say that it held up all day without smudging or flaking (even when applied to my lower lashes). Another bonus? It’s infused with strengthening castor oil and conditioning shea butter to support longer, stronger lashes.

Arguably the mascara that put tubing formulas on the map, Thrive Causemetic’s award-winning Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is undoubtedly worth the hype. While I don’t think I fooled anyone into thinking I got lash extensions, the tubing mascara added substantial length to my lashes, and the tapered wand delivered on definition without getting spidery. For a peak lengthening effect, I wiggled the mascara on from root to tip—and even after hours upon hours of wear, I noticed that Liquid Lash Extensions helped my stubborn lashes maintain their curl without transferring or flaking as the day wore on. What’s more, it contains a conditioning blend of castor oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5 to support stronger, healthier looking lashes. It comes in brown and blue shades too!