Merit’s Clean Volume Tubing Mascara: A Beauty Editor’s Verdict

Bottom Line: A Subtle Lash Lift in a Tube

Merit’s Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara is a long-wear, easy-to-remove volumizing mascara that uses a Japanese-made tubing formula to lift, curl and define lashes with flexible, smudge-resistant “tubes” that wash off with warm water.

This tubing mascara review comes down to this: Merit's volumizing mascara is excellent for people who want clean, feathery volume that looks like a lash lift rather than heavy, dramatic falsies. A beauty director who cycled through big-name mascaras found that a few wiggles at the base and a sweep through the lengths created “serious lift and beautifully feathery separation – the kind that mimics the effect of a professional lash lift.” It impressed through a heatwave without smudging or flaking, and it removes with nothing more than warm water, so you avoid the tugging that can come with waterproof formulas. At £24 and €29, it sits in the mid-luxury bracket; the performance feels worth it if you value low-maintenance, polished lashes over full-on drama.

Design, Brush and Formula: Small Wand, Big Impact

On paper, Merit’s new mascara product launch does not scream high drama: the wand is small and slim, the aesthetic minimal. One tester admitted they were doubtful, since tiny wands often coincide with clumpy, underwhelming results. Instead, this brush delivers the opposite. Its compact size lets you get to the base of the lash line and comb through without dumping excess product, so you see definition from root to tip with less risk of mess.

The heart of the Merit volumizing mascara is its Japanese-made tubing formula, which locks lashes in shape without heaviness, smudging or flaking throughout the day. It relies on plant waxes and shea butter to coat lashes, building those flexible “tubes” that darken and define while still feeling light. According to Merit’s global creative makeup artist, tubing mascaras offer long wear yet come off easily with warm water, so you get long-wearing performance without a complicated removal routine. The formula lands in two shades – black and brown – which suits both bold and soft-lash preferences.

Performance: From Heatwave to Easy Rinse-Off

In real-world wear, this launch shows why some are calling it a contender for the best tubing mascara. A beauty director wore it through a heatwave and reported reliable staying power, with no smudging or flaking as the hours went by. Another reviewer notes that it lifts, curls and darkens while giving a lash-defining, spiky effect that adds attitude without tipping into over-the-top territory – a “perfect summer lash.”

With one to two coats, lashes take on that “no-make-up make-up” look that friends mistake for naturally long, thick lashes. Layering builds impressive volume but keeps each lash separated, framing the eyes with big, feathery fans rather than thick, heavy clumps. Merit claims up to 16 hours of wear, though one tester admitted they did not stay up long enough to test the full claim, underscoring that the product was evaluated under normal, not marathon, conditions. Removal is where tubing formulas shine: warm water and light pressure slide the tubes off, so you avoid raccoon eyes and do not need a separate makeup remover.

Why This Tubing Mascara Is Causing Buzz

Part of the excitement around this mascara product launch is that it feels like a natural next step for a brand known for minimalist, enhancement-focused products, from cream blushes to soft, French-girl lipsticks. Beauty insiders had early lab samples on their desks for weeks, embargoed and stamped “sample not for resale,” stoking quiet anticipation before the official release. As one beauty director summed up, “This mascara is among the best you'll ever use” – a bold claim backed by their own before-and-after photos.

For beauty editors, the Merit volumizing mascara hits a sweet spot: lash-enhancing, spiky definition with enough volume to see a difference, yet a finish that still feels wearable for an everyday coffee run. Brown mascara fans also finally get a tubing option that offers softer definition without losing the benefits of long wear and easy removal. At £24 and €29, it is not budget, but the combination of clean-looking volume, heatwave-tested wear and water-only removal explains why professionals are raving – and why tubing mascara review headlines keep putting this tube in the spotlight.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you want long-wear, smudge-resistant lashes that remove easily with warm water and no special remover.
• Skip the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if your priority is ultra-dramatic, false-lash thickness rather than feathery, lash-lift style volume.
• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you have sensitive eyes and prefer non-irritating formulas with minimal rubbing at removal.
• Skip the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you dislike small, slim brushes and prefer oversized wands that coat lashes in fewer strokes.
• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Volumising Tubing Mascara if you are looking for one of the best tubing mascara options that offers both black and brown shades for customizable intensity.