The Best Tubing Mascaras: I’ve Tried Dozens, These Are the 9 I Recommend
If mascara is the one beauty product you'd take to a desert island, you're my kind of people. Hi, I'm Alison Gary, and I've been sharing real-life style and beauty advice for women at Wardrobe Oxygen for over 20 years.
Mascara is my desert island beauty product; lashes make me feel complete. I don't like messing with false lashes, and with a good curler, maybe a bit of lash serum, and a great mascara, I'm a happy camper. I found my perfect formula in my 30s and thought I was set for life… then I hit 40 and everything changed. Suddenly, my ride-or-die DiorShow was leaving smudges under my eyes.
As my eye area changed with age, my lashes started hitting differently (figuratively and literally). Waterproof mascara would stay put, but it was a beast to remove. Add allergy eyes and oily eyelids, and I needed a mascara with serious staying power that wouldn't smudge or flake.
That's when I found out about tubing mascara. Unlike traditional mascara, tubing formulas form tiny tubes around each lash. The result is mascara that stays put through tears, sweat, eye-rubbing, and 14-hour days, yet removes surprisingly easily with warm water and gentle pressure. I've tested dozens of tubing mascaras over the past decade, and these are the nine I think are worth your money.
Best Tubing Mascaras: My 9 Picks for 2026
I first published this guide to the best tubing mascaras in 2017 and have updated it almost every year since. As new formulas launch and others are discontinued or reformulated, I continue testing. If a new tubing mascara gets enough buzz, I'll buy a tube and put it through its paces. If it's better than something already on this list, I update my recommendations.
What is Tubing Mascara?
Most traditional mascaras essentially coat your eyelashes with pigment and waxes. Tubing mascara works differently: polymers wrap around each individual lash, forming tiny tubes that add color, length, and definition.
Application is also a little different. I find I get the best results by starting at the roots, gently wiggling the wand between my lashes, and slowly pulling it through to the tips. If it's still wet, you can usually add another coat for more length or volume.
The biggest difference, however, is removal. Press a warm, wet washcloth against your lashes for a few seconds, then gently wipe. The tubes slide off in little black threads that can look alarmingly like eyelashes the first time you see them. But don't worry they're not; it's just the mascara coming off.
Tubing mascara is generally water-resistant, not waterproof. A good formula can handle humidity, watery allergy eyes, a sad movie, and a hardcore workout, but I wouldn't choose it for swimming laps. Unlike waterproof mascara, you don't need an oil-based or special eye makeup remover to take it off.
Tubing mascara can be especially helpful for oily eyelids, watery eyes, and bottom lashes because it is far less likely to leave traditional mascara smudges under the eyes. As a woman over 40 with oily lids and allergy eyes, it's now the only kind of mascara I wear.
Tubing mascaras are now available at every price point, and after years of testing them, I've learned that price doesn't necessarily predict performance.
How I Test Tubing Mascaras
I typically test each tubing mascara for at least two weeks through workouts, allergy attacks, humid weather, and 12-hour days. I pay attention to application, length and volume, curl retention, smudging, flaking, longevity, and ease of removal.
I also check performance when the tube is fresh and again after its been used for a while. I get it, nobody, myself included wants a mascara that's amazing for three weeks and then turns into a flaky or sticky mess.
Look, I'm over 40 with allergy eyes that water constantly and oily lids that can turn regular mascara into a smudgy disaster. When I discovered tubing mascara actually stayed put, I made it my mission to find the best of the bunch. I figure if a mascara can survive my hot-mess eye situation, it's worthy of your time and money.
I also bring professional experience to these reviews. Before Wardrobe Oxygen became my full-time career, I spent three years as a trainer for a beauty brand and a decade working in retail management, training, and merchandising. I've now spent more than 20 years researching and reviewing fashion and beauty for Wardrobe Oxygen. Tubing mascara is the only kind I wear anymore, so every recommendation below comes from actual use.
The Best Tubing Mascaras at a Glance
Not sure which tubing mascara is right for you? Here’s the short version of why each one remains in this guide. Caliray, Thrive, and Kulfi are the three I currently use most, while other picks may be a better fit depending on the lash look you want, your budget, or how much effort you’re willing to put into application.
|
Product |
Price |
Why I Recommend It |
Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$$ |
My most-used everyday mascara; reliable and easy |
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|
$$$ |
Lush, dramatic volume that holds a curl |
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|
$$ |
Reliable wear for long, active days |
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|
$$$ |
Reliable length, rich pigment & excellent color selection |
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|
$ |
Affordable way to try tubing mascara; great length |
Ulta, drugstores |
|
|
$$$ |
Natural-looking, defined lashes without clumping |
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|
$ |
Incredible length; a Wardrobe Oxygen community favorite |
Ulta, drugstores |
|
|
$$$ |
Dramatic, defined lashes without clumping |
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|
$$$$ |
Luxe, lush drama without clumps; a Wardrobe Oxygen bestseller |
What I actually use: After years of testing tubing mascaras, Caliray, Thrive, and Kulfi are the three currently in regular rotation in my makeup drawer. That doesn’t mean the others aren’t good; some simply suit different lashes, preferences, budgets, and lifestyles better than mine.
What Wardrobe Oxygen readers are buying: Thrive, Kulfi, and Sarah Creal are currently the three bestselling mascaras through this guide.
A note about price: Drugstore options like e.l.f. and L’Oréal are under $12, mid-range mascaras are generally in the $20s, and luxury options are $30+. After years of testing them, I’ve found that price doesn’t necessarily predict performance.
The 9 Tubing Mascaras I Recommend
Testing tubing mascaras for nearly a decade has been eye-opening (har har, get it?). I've learned that not all tubing mascaras perform the same way… and, more importantly, not everyone wants the same thing from their mascara.
I personally like noticeable lashes: length, volume, rich pigment, definition, and maybe a bit of glossy shine. But I know plenty of folks who want a softer, more natural effect. I've also tested many highly rated tubing mascaras that left me wondering what all the fuss was about.
Of all the mascaras I've tested for this guide, Caliray Come Hell or High Water, Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions, and Kulfi Badi Lash are the three currently in regular rotation in my makeup drawer. The others remain on this list because I think they're good choices for different lashes, preferences, budgets, or lifestyles, even if they're not what I'm personally reaching for these days.
Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara
I've used Caliray Come Hell or High Water Mascara on and off for several years, and somewhere along the way “on and off” became simply on. Of all the tubing mascaras I've tested for this guide, Caliray is probably the one I use most often these days.
This isn't the mascara I choose if I want huge, dramatic lashes for a night out. That's actually why I spent years continuing to test other formulas: I kept looking for more oomph. But my life doesn't require dramatic lashes very often anymore, and Caliray turns out to be exactly the amount of mascara I want these days.
It's reliable, it doesn't smudge or flake on me, and it gives me defined everyday lashes without looking too “done.” I don't find it particularly good for building multiple coats (the formula can get too heavy for my liking), but for the way I actually wear mascara now, I don't need it to be.
I also appreciate Caliray's approach to sustainability, which is another reason I'm happy to keep buying it. Caliray offers a travel size, which I appreciate for mascara since I don't always finish a full tube before it's time to replace it. And if you prefer brown mascara, Come Hell or High Water is also available in Espresso, a rich brown alternative to the traditional black.
My verdict: This is my current everyday tubing mascara and the one I reach for most often. If you want dramatic, high-impact lashes, keep reading; I'd choose Kulfi, MILK, or Sarah Creal instead.
Exclusive Wardrobe Oxygen Reader Discount: Get 15% off your entire purchase at Caliray with code ALISON15. Shop Caliray
MILK Kush High Roll Tubing Mascara
I was in Sephora with my teen, wandering around to let her have her friend time giggling over glosses, when I saw that MILK had a tubing mascara. A salesperson told me she was wearing it, and her lashes looked fantastic. Sold!
MILK KUSH High Roll Tubing Mascara is one of the better tubing mascaras I've tried for lush, more dramatic lashes. It gives me length and volume without clumping my lashes together, holds a curl, dries relatively quickly, and leaves the glossy finish I prefer. I also found that the tube lasted longer than many tubing mascaras I've tried without drying out.
For a while, this was my everyday mascara. These days, I reach for Caliray and Kulfi more often, but that has more to do with my life than MILK's performance. I just don't need dramatic lashes as often as I used to, and I hate having a good tube of mascara dry out before I've gotten my money's worth.
If my life involved more nights out, events, or other occasions when I wanted lush, dramatic lashes, MILK KUSH High Roll would absolutely still have a place in my makeup drawer.
My verdict: Still one of my favorite tubing mascaras for lush, dramatic lashes; I just don't need that much mascara often enough anymore.
Alleyoop Go The Distance Tubing Mascara
Alleyoop originally asked if I would like to try Go The Distance Tubing Mascara. For sure! I mean, I had already been reviewing tubing mascaras for years and this was one I hadn't heard of. And I became a fan… enough of a fan that when my gifted tube ran out, I bought another one myself.
Go The Distance gives me defined, lengthened lashes without clumping or flaking. Where it really impressed me was longevity. I've worn this mascara to hot and sweaty general-admission concerts, gym sessions, and plenty of long days and it kept up.
I haven't repurchased it recently, but that's not because I stopped liking it. I don't regularly shop Alleyoop, and while Ulta carries the brand online, it isn't something I encounter when I'm out shopping. With Caliray, Thrive, and Kulfi already in my rotation, Go The Distance just hasn't given me enough reason to go out of my way to reorder it.
If you're interested in trying it without committing to a full tube, Alleyoop also makes a travel size, and both the full and mini sizes are available in black and brown.
My verdict: A genuinely good, reliable tubing mascara with impressive staying power. I've purchased it with my own money after first receiving it as a gift; it just isn't one I currently go out of my way to repurchase.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara
For many, Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) of tubing mascaras. It was my favorite tubing mascara for a very long time, and while I've strayed over the years, I keep coming back to it.
There's a reason: Thrive is incredibly reliable. When I want really black, defined, lengthened lashes and don't want to wonder how my mascara will behave that day, I reach for Thrive. Brynn, the Rich Black shade, is a seriously good black, and I also really like Crystal, the Brown Black, when I want something softer.
Color is also where Thrive leaves almost every other tubing mascara in the dust. Liquid Lash Extensions currently comes in eight shades, from black and brown-black to berry brown, grey, blue, navy, purple, and green. Whether you want a softer alternative to black or actually want to have some fun with your mascara, there are options.
Thrive is one of the three tubing mascaras I currently keep in regular rotation, along with Caliray and Kulfi. Caliray is probably the one I use most often, but Thrive is the one I come back to when I want that reliably rich, dark finish.
My verdict: A longtime favorite that has earned its place back in my makeup drawer again and again. It's especially good if you want serious length, rich pigment, reliable wear, or more color choices than the typical black-or-brown tubing mascara.
e.l.f. Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara
I was highly impressed when I first tried e.l.f. Lash XTNDR Mascara. It's inexpensive, easy to apply, didn't clump or go on watery, and gave my lashes serious length without flakes. If you're curious about tubing mascara but don't want to spend much to try one, this is a very good place to start.
That being said, after trying two tubes of Lash XTNDR, I discovered a downside that kept me from repurchasing it: my tubes dried out surprisingly fast. The first tube I felt I got three months out of it, but that could have been because I was trying other formulas at the same time. The second tube hardly lasted six weeks before drying out.
At this price, replacing a tube after six weeks isn't the financial sting it would be with a more expensive mascara, but I still don't love replacing a product that frequently. That's ultimately why Lash XTNDR didn't earn a permanent place in my makeup drawer.
My verdict: One of the better inexpensive tubing mascaras I've tried, with impressive length and wear for the price. I recommend it if budget is your priority or you want an affordable introduction to tubing mascara, but in my experience the formula dries out faster than I'd like.
MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara
I keep trying MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara because so many people whose beauty opinions I trust swear by it. And every time I try it, I come to essentially the same conclusion: this is a very good mascara for someone who doesn't want what I want from mascara.
Clean Lash gives a softer, more natural-looking effect, defining and separating the lashes without clumping. I've even found it stays clump-free as I get toward the end of the tube, which isn't something I can say about every tubing mascara I've tried.
But I like noticeable lashes. I want length, volume, pigment, and a bit of oomph, and MERIT just doesn't give me enough of that to make me want to repurchase it. I have friends who absolutely love Clean Lash, though, and I understand why: they have different lashes, different makeup preferences, and different lives than I do.
My verdict: A great choice if you want defined, separated, natural-looking lashes without clumping. If, like me, you want your mascara to bring more drama, I'd choose something else on this list.
L'Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara
If you are patient and methodical and can handle a two-step mascara, L'Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara can give you utterly fantastic length. Folks may wonder if you got lash extensions.
The process is where it loses me. You first apply a white primer and then cover it with the black tubing mascara. I inevitably make a mess of the whole thing, ending up with either some of the white primer still showing or a black blob from my attempts to cover it up. There are too many excellent one-step tubing mascaras for me to work this hard before I've had my coffee.
But I keep L'Oréal Double Extend in this guide because Wardrobe Oxygen readers love this mascara. It has been recommended to me again and again over the years, and I completely understand why. If you have the patience and technique to master the two-step application, the length is seriously impressive and you may very well become a lifelong fan.
My verdict: A Wardrobe Oxygen community favorite that can deliver incredible length at a drugstore price. It's too fussy for me personally, but if you don't mind the two-step application, don't let my lack of coordination stop you.
Kulfi Badi Lash Mascara
I had to update this guide to include the latest tubing mascara I happily used all the way to the end of the tube: Kulfi Badi Lash Mascara. I kept seeing Kulfi all over social media for its lip stain/oil, and based on the marketing, I assumed the brand was geared toward a younger demographic. But after another influencer whose beauty recommendations I trust raved about Badi Lash, I took the plunge… and I'm so glad I did.
Kulfi Badi Lash Mascara gives me the combination I keep looking for in mascara: length, separation, rich pigment, and serious oomph without my lashes becoming clumpy or sticking together. There's something about the combination of the formula and plastic brush that just works for my lashes. The brush keeps the product on my lashes instead of collecting between them, while the ball at the tip helps reach those tiny lashes a traditional wand can miss.
This has actually replaced MILK as the mascara I reach for when I want more impact. Kulfi gives me plenty of drama, but it's easy enough to apply that I don't feel as though I need a special occasion to justify wearing it. That's why it's now one of the three tubing mascaras I regularly keep in my makeup drawer.
It's also still the mascara I'd choose for a wedding or special event. I've found it stays put through the things that actually happen at weddings: dab your tearful eyes during the vows, rest your cheek on someone's shoulder while dancing, rub your sleepy eyes at the end of the night, and your mascara is still there.
My verdict: One of my current favorites and my pick when I want more impact than Caliray without dealing with clumps or stuck-together lashes. It gives me dramatic, defined lashes with surprisingly little effort.
Sarah Creal Back of the Cab Tubing Mascara
I had to update this guide when I tried Sarah Creal Back of the Cab Mascara because this luxury tubing mascara seriously impressed me. The hourglass-shaped brush catches my lashes beautifully, the formula is neither gloppy nor dry, it holds a curl, and my lashes look thick and lush without clumping together. I've even found it doesn't flake when I'm rubbing my eyes.
Back of the Cab gives me the kind of dramatic lashes I love, but these days I don't have enough occasions when I want this much mascara to justify always keeping a tube in my makeup drawer. If my life involved more nights out and events, this and MILK would both be contenders for a permanent spot.
That said, Sarah Creal has become one of the most-purchased mascaras by Wardrobe Oxygen readers through this guide, along with Thrive and Kulfi. Considering it's also one of the priciest mascaras on this list, I think that's worth noting.
My verdict: A splurge, but a dang impressive mascara. If you want lush, dramatic, expensive-looking lashes without clumps and don't mind paying luxury-beauty prices, I recommend this one.
Tubing Mascara FAQ
What is the best tubing mascara?
After testing dozens of tubing mascaras over nearly a decade, the three I currently use most are Caliray Come Hell or High Water, Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions, and Kulfi Badi Lash. Caliray is my everyday go-to, Thrive is incredibly reliable and comes in an excellent range of colors, and Kulfi is my choice when I want more dramatic, defined lashes without clumping.
What is the best drugstore tubing mascara?
If you want an inexpensive tubing mascara, e.l.f. Lash XTNDR gives impressive length without smudging or flaking. My biggest complaint is that my tubes dried out after about six weeks. L'Oréal Double Extend is another affordable option and a longtime Wardrobe Oxygen community favorite, but its two-step application is too fussy for me.
What is the best tubing mascara for women over 40?
There isn't one tubing mascara that's best for every woman over 40 because our lashes, eyes, and preferences are different. I switched to tubing mascara after 40 because traditional mascara began smudging under my eyes. With my oily lids and watery allergy eyes, I find tubing formulas far more reliable. If you like noticeable lashes as I do, I'd start with Caliray, Thrive, or Kulfi.
Is tubing mascara good for watery or allergy-prone eyes?
It has been for me. My eyes water frequently from allergies, and tubing mascara is far less likely to smudge under my eyes than traditional mascara. It can also be removed with warm water and gentle pressure rather than requiring a heavy-duty eye makeup remover. Of course, anyone with particularly sensitive eyes should check the ingredients of an individual formula.
Does tubing mascara come in brown?
Yes. Brown tubing mascara is much easier to find than it used to be. Two I personally like are Caliray Come Hell or High Water in Espresso and Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions in Crystal (Brown Black). Thrive also offers several other colors if black isn't your thing.
What’s Your Favorite Tubing Mascara?
Mascara is incredibly personal. We all have different lashes, eyes, makeup preferences, and lives, which is exactly why a mascara I don't repurchase may be someone else's holy grail.
If you have a tubing mascara you love (or one you think isn't worth the hype) please share your experience in the comments. Wardrobe Oxygen reader recommendations have helped shape this guide over the years, and your favorite may be exactly what another reader has been searching for.
And if black or brown mascara isn't quite right for your coloring, you may also enjoy my guide to mascaras for strawberry blondes and others who want softer mascara colors.
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I quit using mascara ages ago. It’s liberating for want of a better word. I haven’t given up and I do give a fuck. That’s why I quit.
EFF YES!!!! I fully support this Dee! We only have some many fucks to give, give them to what serves us best!
I rarely need a dramatic mascara, but I want one, which is why Merit and Caliray don’t usually work for me. I’ve used and liked MILK, and now I want to try Kulfi.
I started using Milk Kush after you published this list earlier in 2026, I love it and my tube lasted all 6 months. No more flaking around my eyes.
I recently saw a review for Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky Tubes Tubing Mascara and tried it; it became my new daily mascara. At about $10, I love the price and the results.
I guess I need to try Sky Tubes! Thank you, Beth!
I am using Jane Iredale tubing mascara and really loving it. I also have allergy eyes and wear contacts and it doesn’t flake at all. I was wearing CaliRay and it would flake on me. I want to try Thrive again, especially one of the fun colors!
I haven’t yet tried Jane Iredale! I’ll get a tube for the next review!
Your timing and review hit exactly right, as I needed a new mascara and wanted to try tubing. Just ordered the Caliray as they had it in brown. Thanks, Alison!!!
Hope you love it!
Thrive Causemetics is my go to. It just always works. I enjoy the black, navy, green, and the gray. My second favorite is Tarte. I bought it because at the time Thrive had discontinued the green.
Tarte isn’t bad, I just wish they wouldn’t be such jerks with their marketing campaigns. Yet again they did some controversial to get traffic, instead of just being good with quality and performance.
thanks for this update! tubing mascara is the only kind I wear, and I also go back and forth between a few. Thrive is the brand I re-purchase most often, but I’m currently using Blinc, which was the first tubing mascara I ever tried, around a dozen years ago. it’s a great everyday mascara for me, easy to apply and completely non-irritating, but it’s not as “wow” as Thrive. L’Oreal Double Extend was always a go-to for years but now I find it irritates my eyes. Caliray was just fine but I didn’t repurchase……….maybe one of these days I’ll splurge and give Back of the Cab (greatest product name ever??!!) a try.
Blinc is reliable but I think it’s not very wow because it’s such a matte finish.
Have you tried the Stila tubing mascara?
I believe I have but not in a while… I will have to investigate. Do you love it?
I had never heard of the Alleyoop brand. I ordered it after reading this review and after finding my old tried and true mascara now smearing under my eyes as the day progressed. I received the Alleyoop this week and am in love. Stays put all day and is just enough oomph. Bought the new brown color.
Thanks for the recommendation!
That’s awesome, Karen! I am so glad you too like this tubing mascara!
Sold! Ordered Back of the Cab. Will see how it works for someone with very dry eyes and will report back. Thanks for doing this.
My pleasure, I hope it works out for you!
I use and love the Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing Mascara for a budget mascara. I have allergies and watery eyes and blond eyelashes and this one works pretty well. I’ll try the Milk mascara next as I love dramatic lashes.
I had the Milani on this list, but switched it to the e.l.f. one because I was impressed I liked it more and the price was lower! But it is a really great one!
I was a Tarte girl until you updated this last year & I tried Milk. Amazing results, continuous repurchase.
Ooooh, I am glad the MILK tubing mascara worked, for you too!
I quit using mascara because I have very straight lashes that more than anything need to be curled. And every mascara I tried would straighten out the curl. But I haven’t tried tubing mascara — if you curl first, does your curl stay put after tubing mascara?
I didn’t mean to leave my comment as a reply to another one, but I can’t seem to delete it now.
No worries, I see it and even I have accidentally replied to a comment instead of leaving a separate one! I curl first; I do what Cindy Crawford recommended back in the 90s of pumping from lid out with the curler while curling up. Then wiggle in at the lash base and thin it out as you go; if it’s too heavy on the tips it will straighten out the curl.
Loved your roundup of tubing mascaras! I’ve been looking for something that holds up all day without smudging, and your recommendations were super helpful. Can’t wait to try the ones you listed!
I’ve had good results with Too Faced Ribbon Wrapped Extreme Length Tubing Mascara and Milani Highly Rated Tubing Mascara, and now I want to try the e.l.f.
I like the Milani, it used to be in this review but I replaced it with e.l.f. which I like better! And now I need to try too Faced!
Wow, I have been using Clinique Lash Power for ages, ever since I had an itchy allergy to drugstore mascara at some point in the 90s, and all this time I never knew it was called “tubing” mascara! LP is pretty great but it’s now horribly expensive, so I have to wait for sales to stock up. Last year I bought seven tubes in one shot during the Valentine’s Day sale on clinique.ca! It was a much better price than buying as I go. The tube does not last very long: about 4 weeks in, the product gets thick and almost unusable. Lately I tried something in an effort to stretch it a bit longer: first I cleaned out the top of the tube inside where major clumping occurs, using a Q-tip dipped in micellar water. Then I poured a couple drops of micellar water inside the tube, closed it and waited until morning. Seems to work! The texture is now a bit thinner and can be applied normally. I am going to check out these alternatives and see what is available here. Thank you for your thoughtful review, Alison. I am enjoying your blog and no nonsense attitude towards fashion!
Thank you! And thank you for that great tip about stretching the life of the mascara… brilliant!
I adore L’Oréal Double Extend mascara and have been using it for years, long before your first post about tubing mascaras. It stays put but is easy to remove. I’ve received lots of compliments about my lashes, and, since I’m 75, I think that is so cool.
That IS cool! Thank you for sharing your personal experience with it!
Hourglass Unlocked is my go to tubing mascara. Been super happy with it.
That is my friend’s absolute favorite!
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.
I love Thrive too, and the ethics, but sadly cannot buy it in the UK and also unable to buy Thrive when I visit the States as I don’t have a US back account. Crazy isn’t it!
When a girlfriend of mine buys it for me, she buys it in bulk so my daughter can have some too.
Love these recommendations and now that my Thrive has dried up, I’m going to see if I can buy Milk in the UK
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.
It’s not easy to find, and not a tubing mascara, but L’Oreal Voluminous comes in brown and waterproof (which I’ve found is a combination nearly impossible to find) it’s been my fav for years.
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.