‘This mascara changed my mind about tubing formulas – it gives dramatic lashes instantly’

Previously unsold by tubing mascaras – formulas consisting of polymers that wrap around the lash hairs – our beauty editor Laura has been won over by this new product launch

I’ve tested plenty of different types of mascaras over the years – from volumising and lengthening to waterproof and even coloured – but one type that I’ve never really been sold on is tubing mascaras. I know lots of beauty editors and experts who will only use this type of mascara, but on me, they’ve never delivered the results I was looking for – until now.

Tubing mascaras – which have seen an increase in popularity in recent years – are formulas made up of polymers that wrap around each lash hair, which typically makes them less likely to smudge or flake; ideal if you often have this issue with ‘normal’ mascaras. Tubing mascaras are also removed differently at the end of the day too; you simply apply warm water, either with hands or a flannel, and slide the ‘tubes’ off your lashes.

I’m not really a fan of this removal method (I dislike the feeling of pulling at my eyelashes), my main bugbear about tubing mascaras isn that I’ve always found them to give quite a natural look – not the big, black, dramatic lash look I prefer. Too Faced’s new Ribbon Wrapped Lash Mascara, £28, however, is a total game changer for me.

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Pros

• Gives dramatic volume and length
• Super quick to apply; coats the lashes in seconds
• Does not smudge or flake one bit
• Brush is easy to use and delivers that right amount of product onto the lashes
• Works well on lower lashes too

Cons

• Doesn’t layer up very well; it goes a bit clumpy and spidery
• Not everyone will like the removal method of tubing mascaras

I hadn’t used a Too Faced mascaras since its iconic Better Than Sex and so, combined with my aversion to tubing mascaras, I honestly didn’t think that this would be my cup of tea. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

For starters, its brush is exactly the type of brush that I prefer: slim, silicone-bristled and flexible, which allows you to get right between the lashes. The ‘ball’ of bristles at the end is useful for coating individual lashes too, and doesn’t get too messy.

Then when it came to apply the mascara, some real wizardry happens. The formula really did immediately wrap around each lash hair – it almost seemed like a magnet, or a bit like the action of the Dyson Airwrap as it whips the hair around. The result was every hair coated in seconds, with my whole eye done in 3-4 swipes – no going over missed spots – and lashes that were dramatically lengthened and volumised.

I did go over each eye with a second coat, as I usually do with my regular mascara, but to be honest, this wasn’t necessary; I thought my lashes looked better with one coat, and two actually made them clump together quite a bit. (It’s worth saying that this isn’t a mascara for those who love a barely-there look.)

Of course, perhaps the biggest advantage to using a tubing mascara is its staying power, and Ribbon Wrapped Lash didn’t disappoint here either. It stayed looking as good as if I’d just applied it all day long, with no smudging, flaking or fading.

It removed via the usual tubing method: warm water on a flannel, then gently slide the tubes off the hairs. This makes is a great option for travel, if you want a smudge-free formula and don’t want to pack a separate eye make-up remover.

To really amplify my lashes here, I used my two must-have eyelash accessories before applying this mascara: Tweezerman ProMaster Lash Curler, £22, followed by this heated eyelash curler, currently £15.99, which is great for pushing my unruly lashes in the right direction.

Other popular tubing mascaras to try include Beauty Pie Wrap Star Tubing Mascara, £17 for non-members, and No7 Pro Artist That’s A Wrap Tubing Mascara, £17.95.