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Although I try to avoid wearing a full face of makeup every day — especially if I'm not leaving my house other than to grab food or walk the dog — I'm rarely seen without at least one coat of mascara. I find that a few swipes of mascara can transform my tired eyes so that I look rejuvenated and wide awake (yes, even if I only slept five hours the night before). 

That's why I love Tarte's Tartelette Tubing Mascara, the brand's first-ever tubing mascara. The product has since blown up on TikTok following its June 2022 debut, so it's obvious I'm far from being the only person obsessed with it.

Courtesy of Tarte

Before diving in any deeper, though, it's important to understand how tubing mascaras work. Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously told Allure that, unlike traditional mascaras, tubing mascaras feature polymers that coat the lashes, thus forming "tubes" that won't budge, smudge, or flake throughout the day. Put simply, "think of it as Saran wrap on your lashes," King says. "They add some bulkiness and are flexible enough to stretch for an eyelash extension look." 

With all this in mind, it's worth noting that tubing mascaras are not waterproof. In fact, the "tubes" are formulated to easily slide off with warm water and some light pressure — so there's no need to rub, tug, and potentially irritate your lids in an attempt to remove your makeup.

Now, back to business: Tarte describes this mascara as "lash extensions in a tube," which may sound like an extreme comparison — however, I'd be lying if I said I disagreed. While I'm lucky that my lashes are pretty long to begin with, just one coat of this mascara makes them look even more defined. I typically swipe on two coats for even longer lashes that appear thicker and fuller thanks to the "tube" coating. 

I also happen to love the wand, which, designed with a whopping 296 bristles, allows me to really get down and dirty — a.k.a. under the lash line to lift, curl, and separate for a perfectly fluttery, fanned-out look. For an even more defined look à la 1960s-era Twiggy, I'll turn the wand vertically and move it from left to right across my bottom lashes.

The writer before and after applying Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara.

Courtesy of Lauren Dana Ellman for Allure

Not totally convinced just yet? Wait 'til you hear about the vegan, cruelty-free formula, which features moisturizing staples such as glycerin, shea butter, and castor seed oil. As a bonus, it's also phthalate-free: Put simply, phthalates are chemicals that may be irritating for sensitive-skinned folks like yours truly. Additionally, as a contact lens wearer, I sometimes have trouble finding a mascara that won't irritate my (often) dry and sensitive eyes. Fortunately, this mascara does the trick. And, since it doesn't smudge, I don't have to worry about tiny pieces of mascara rubbing or flaking off straight into my eye and my lenses.

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According to Tarte, the mascara offers up to 24 hours of wear time. While I have not left the mascara on for a full 24 hours (and I don't recommend you do, either!) I can confidently attest to its strong staying power. After putting it on in the morning and going about my day, I'm always pleasantly surprised with how well it lasts throughout the day. 

What's more, I wore this mascara all throughout my two-week Hawaii honeymoon in June, plus the summer heat and humidity back home in New York — and, while I am a sweater, my mascara (fortunately) never budged. Most recently, I wore the mascara in Phoenix, Arizona, where temperatures were as high as 90 degrees, and my mascara stayed intact.

When it does come time to take off the mascara, it's an easy and painless process. I typically use micellar water or a cleansing balm before going in with my hands to physically yet gently slide the "tubes" off the lashes. Then, I remove any excess residue under my eyes by double-cleansing with a face wash. And just like that, my face is totally clean (no raccoon eyes here!).

Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara

$24 at Tarte

$24 at Ulta Beauty

So, whether you're getting ready for a glam night out or a more low-key hang, the Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara makes the perfect addition to your makeup routine. Also, despite how popular the tubing mascara has become on TikTok, it has yet to sell out online, which is good news for all of you reading this right now. You can buy it at sephora.com, ulta.com, or target.com (as part of the Ulta Beauty at Target partnership) for $24.

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