We all dream of it: Having long, voluminous natural lashes. Now, it's possible to bring that dream closer to reality with the innovative technology of tubing mascara. Though you can also get that dramatic look with fake lashes and lash extensions from brands like Lashify or magentic lashes, the benefit of using a tubing mascara is that it's easy and simple (all you do is swipe it onto your lashes as you would with any other product, and the tubing technology does the rest of the work). "Unlike traditional wax-based mascaras, this technology does not adhere/glue to a hair fiber," says Good Housekeeping Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Senior Chemist Sabina Wizemann. "Instead, it encapsulates individual lashes by forming a tube-like coating." This results in excellent lengthening effects and more intense color. WARM SUEDE: Talc, Mica, Zinc stearate, Tapioca starch, Isostearyl neopentanoate, Silica, Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, Polybutene, Dimethicone, Polypropylene, Caprylyl glycol, Aqua (Water), Isononyl isononanoate, Butyl stearate, Hexylene glycol, Lauroyl lysine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, Maltodextrin, Tin oxide, Kaolin, [+/- CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 77499 (Iron oxides), CI 77491 (Iron oxides), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77492 (Iron oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese violet), CI 75470 (Carmine)]. You might have started hearing a lot about tubing mascaras recently, or maybe you have seen them cropping up during your beauty browsing IRL and URL. If you don't know exactly what that means, there's no need to feel shy, we're here to explain everything you need to know about the buzzy mascara type, what the benefits are, and which ones are worth your coin. XXL, smudge-proof lashes here you come... Suzie Gee, makeup artist and LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Pro, tells Cosmopolitan UK in the simplest terms:

If you aren't sure if a mascara you're using is a tubing mascara Suzie has some more insight. "One of the distinctive characteristics is their unique removal process. Tubing mascaras can be removed by gently massaging the lashes with warm water." One newcomer to tubing mascara left a glowing review, saying: “Never tried a tubing mascara before but now I'm hooked! Lashes are my thing - I've tried 100s of different mascaras, including high end ones, but this honestly has to be up there with the best! This does an amazing job of lengthening and separating my lashes like no other mascara I've tried. I've had so many comments about my lashes since I started using this, including’"ooh have you had LVL’?! I'm very impressed. It stays flake free all day due to its tubing formulation and easily comes off with warm water. Love love love!” Shop similar products HEATHER GLADE: Talc, Zinc stearate, Mica, Tapioca starch, Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, Silica, Isostearyl neopentanoate, Polypropylene, Dimethicone, Polybutene, Caprylyl glycol, Aqua (Water), Isononyl isononanoate, Butyl stearate, Hexylene glycol, Lauroyl lysine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, Kaolin, [+/- CI 77742 (Manganese violet), CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 77499 (Iron oxides), CI 77491 (Iron oxides), CI 77492 (Iron oxides)]. However, some users of the mascara have noted that they struggled to remove it, and were worried about it pulling out some of their eyelashes in the process. For stubborn mascara, often applying an oil based eyemake up remover to a cotton wool pad, then hold it in place for around 10 seconds.

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As well as a really natural finish, tubing mascaras have a reputation for being smudge-proof, something that will appeal to all who battle panda eyes and smudgy lower lashes. BURNISHED BRONZE:Mica, Talc, Isostearyl neopentanoate, Tapioca starch, Zinc stearate, Polybutene, Dimethicone, Silica, Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, Polypropylene, Caprylyl glycol, Aqua (Water), Isononyl isononanoate, Butyl stearate, Hexylene glycol, Lauroyl lysine, Tin oxide, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, Kaolin, Alumina, [+/- CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 77742 (Manganese violet), CI 77499 (Iron oxides), CI 77491 (Iron oxides), CI 77007 (Ultramarines)]. The right mascara can elevate any eye makeup look, taking it from a simple look to next level dramatic. Suzie explains why tubing mascaras behave differently from classic mascaras when it comes to running or smudging: "Fibre mascaras can react with the oils on your skin and break down, causing smudging – especially if you are an oilier skin type. Tubing mascaras, however, can only be removed with warm water – so they are much less likely to smudge and typically last a lot longer and keep their shape."

HONEY: Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Isodecyl neopentanoate, Isononyl isononanoate, Cera microcristallina (Microcrystalline wax), Squalene, Polyethylene, VP/Hexadecene copolymer, Synthetic wax, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Silica, Dicalcium phosphate, Nylon-12, Alcohol, Aqua (Water), Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butyl stearate, Isostearyl alcohol, Butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, Ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron oxides), CI 77492 (Iron oxides), CI 77499 (Iron oxides). SAND: Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Isodecyl neopentanoate, Isononyl isononanoate, Cera microcristallina (Microcrystalline wax), Squalane, Polyethylene, VP/hexadecene copolymer, Dicalcium phosphate, Synthetic wax, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Silica, Nylon-12, Alcohol, Aqua (Water), Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butyl stearate, Isostearyl alcohol, Butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, Ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron oxides), CI 77492 (Iron oxides), CI 77499 (Iron oxides). Polymer ingredients to look out for include propanediol, 10 dimethicone, polysilicon-11, cera alba, or glyceryl stearate. STORMY SEAS: Talc, Mica, Zinc stearate, Silica, Tapioca starch, Isostearyl neopentanoate, Octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, Polybutene, Dimethicone, Polypropylene, Caprylyl glycol, Aqua (Water), Isononyl isononanoate, Butyl stearate, Hexylene glycol, Lauroyl lysine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, Maltodextrin, [+/- CI 77891 (Titanium dioxide), CI 77499 (Iron oxides), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 42090 (Blue 1 lake), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77492 (Iron oxides)].

The mascara’s product description dubs it ‘life-proof’, noting it’s designed to stay put all day long no matter what life throws at you. It’s not only smudge proof, but is also flake, sweat, humidity, and tear proof, making it perfect for the warmer months ahead – you just need to apply it in the morning and not worry about it again until the end of the day. The main way to tell if a mascara is a tubing mascara is to take a look at the ingredients," says Suzie. "They have one special ingredient that fibre mascara doesn’t: polymers. If they mention polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone), then you have yourself a mascara that will tube!"