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?
For our review of the best tubing mascaras, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, makeup artists, and cosmetic chemists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear, longevity, and resistance. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
