Merit’s Clean Volume Tubing Mascara Review: Worth the Hype?

Verdict up front: a smart everyday long lasting mascara

Merit’s Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara is a volumizing tubing mascara that wraps each lash in flexible “tubes” to deliver long wear, easy removal, feathered volume and a soft-focus finish for everyday makeup users seeking definition without heavy or messy build‑up. After two weeks of daily use, my verdict is that this Merit volumizing mascara is a near-ideal everyday option if you want feathery volume that survives heat, humidity and long days without smudging. Its Japanese-made tubing formula locks in shape without heaviness, smudging or flaking, and it comes in both black and brown for custom intensity. At £24, it feels premium but not outrageous for a high-performing long lasting mascara. The trade-off: removal leaves more tiny flecks than classic tubing formulas, and the wide tube opening can leave a bit of excess on the brush.

What makes this tubing mascara different?

This is a tubing mascara review, so the core question is how its formula behaves compared with traditional waxy mascaras. Tubing mascaras are known for their long wear and ease of removal, resisting smudging and flaking throughout the day while removing easily with warm water, giving long-wearing performance without a complicated removal process. Merit’s take uses a Japanese-made tubing formula that locks in shape without heaviness, smudging or flaking. The texture is on the drier side, which reduces mess and helps avoid clumping. It also comes in both black and brown, with the softer brown shade catering to those who prefer more natural-looking lashes. In line with the brand’s minimalist ethos, the effect is designed to balance volume and effortlessness so it never looks too overdone, no matter how many coats you apply.

Volume, wear and real-world performance

On lashes, this Merit volumizing mascara performs better than its slim brush suggests. A few wiggles at the base followed by a sweep through the lengths give serious lift and feathery separation that mimic a professional lash lift. It layers well for more drama without clumping, and the lift and curl become more pronounced with each coat. Beauty editors report zero transfer under the brow or under-eyes and no flaking from first use, and one tester wore it through a heatwave and could personally attest to its staying power. Another noted that lashes “hadn’t drooped like an old tulip by lunchtime,” even though that often happens with volumising formulas. If you stop after a couple of coats, the effect is a convincing “your lashes but longer” result that people might mistake for naturally full lashes.

Removal, sensitivity and value

If you care about an easy remove mascara, this formula mostly delivers on the tubing promise. Tubing mascaras are designed to slide off with warm water, and here, warm water will loosen the tubes, but testers found a balm cleanser worked more effectively than water alone. Unlike many tubing mascaras that come off in noticeable clumps, this one breaks down into tiny flecks that cling to a muslin cloth, which then needs a thorough rinse. On the plus side, the formula is noted as non-irritating for sensitive eyes, an important point if regular mascaras sting or cause redness. Priced at £24, it sits in the mid–high bracket, but editors have called it “among the best you’ll ever use” and praised how it balances volume and ease of use. For a long lasting mascara that behaves well on long days and removes without rubbing the lash line raw, the price feels defendable.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you want a long lasting mascara that resists smudging and flaking through heat and long days.
• Skip the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you dislike any flecks or residue during removal and prefer tubing formulas that slide off in clean clumps.
• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you have sensitive eyes and need a non-irritating, easy remove mascara that does not rely on harsh rubbing.
• Skip the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you want extreme, dramatic volume that looks more like false lashes than a soft, feathery lift.
• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you like subtle options such as brown mascara for a softer, more natural lash look.
• Skip the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you are very particular about perfectly clean wands and dislike tubes that do not wipe off excess formula efficiently.