Honest review · Updated August 2026 · Tested by Qatch

I gave up waterproof mascara years ago. I read enough about what it does to your lashes when you scrub it off every night, and I switched to tubing. Since then I have tried a lot of tubing mascaras. Most are fine. A few are good.

Merit's new Clean Volume Mascara is one of the best I have used, and I am saying that after an 8+ hour wear test and a full week of reaching for it.

This is my honest Merit Clean Volume Mascara review: what the tiny wand actually does, how it held up all day, how it comes off, and whether tubing mascara is worth switching to if you have not yet.

Yes, it’s worth it. If you too have started thinking about your eyelash care the way you think about your Shop Merit’s tubing mascara here.

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Quick primer, because half the people searching "best tubing mascara" are still figuring out what it means.

A tubing mascara wraps each lash in a flexible polymer tube instead of coating it in wax and pigment. The tube grips the lash and holds the shape all day. It does not smudge, it does not flake, and it does not run when you sweat or cry.

Here is the part that matters for your lashes. Waterproof mascara has to be dissolved off with oil, and most of us end up rubbing at our eyes with a cotton pad every night. That tugging is rough on the skin around your eyes and on the lashes themselves. Tubing mascara slides off with warm water and gentle pressure. The tubes soften and roll away. The American Academy of Ophthalmology literally advises removing makeup so it slides off without unnecessary tugging and pulling to keep eyes safe and beautiful.

So you get the staying power of waterproof with a removal process that leaves your lashes alone. That is the whole reason I switched, and I have not gone back.

Better-for-you mascara, quick checklist:

·       Tubing formula so you can remove it with water instead of scrubbing

·       Clean formulation with no parabens, no phthalates, no talc

·       Ophthalmologist tested if you wear contacts or have sensitive eyes

·       Buildable so you are not layering six coats to get volume

Merit checks all four.

The brush is petite. When you want volume, a small wand feels backwards, and that was my first reaction too.

It works because the small brush gets to every lash, including the tiny corner ones a fat wand skips right over. You end up with more lashes coated, which reads as more volume. For a wand that size it delivers serious volume.

One coat gives you a full, separated lash. The second coat is where it locks in the length and holds the lift. No clumps at two coats, which is rare for anything calling itself a volume mascara.

This is the part I care about most. After eight hours my lashes were still up. Not drooping, not flattened, no transfer under my eyes, no flaking. Merit rates it at up to 16 hours and my day backed that up.

Warm water plus a little patience. You need to hold warm water on your lashes for a few seconds to soften the tubes, then they roll right off with gentle pressure. No oil cleanser, no scrubbing, no black smears on a white towel.

If you have used tubing before, you know the drill. If you are new to it, this is the step people get wrong. Give it the warm water first.

Black and brown. I wore brown, and brown is the one I would tell most people to start with for daytime. It gives you definition that looks like your lashes on a very good day.

There is also a Clean Volume Duo if you want both shades, and a Mascara Duo that pairs Clean Volume with Merit's Clean Lash.

👉 Shop Merit’s Clean Volume Tubing Mascara

New to Merit? Your first order comes with a free Signature bag, and shipping is free over $45!!

I have gone through a handful of tubing mascaras since I made the switch. The two places most of them lose me:

Volume. Tubing formulas tend to be great at length and separation and thin on actual volume. This one delivers volume out of a tiny wand, which is the thing that genuinely surprised me.

Hold. A lot of tubing mascaras look great at hour two and flat by hour six. Mine were still lifted at hour eight.

If you have been thinking about making the switch to tubing, this is the one I would tell you to start with. Well done, Merit.

·       Anyone ready to quit waterproof mascara and stop scrubbing at their eyes every night

·       Contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes (it is ophthalmologist tested)

·       Anyone who wants volume without clumps or a spidery lash

·       Long days: work to dinner, weddings, travel, humidity, crying at things

·       Anyone who wants a softer everyday lash. Go with brown.

·       Clean beauty shoppers who do not want to give up performance to get a clean formula

Who it is not for: If you’re looking for a thicker application, I would skip this. It’s a much more natural lash look, so if you have a big event and want a dramatic lash, there are better options.

Merit Clean Volume Mascara is one of the best tubing mascaras on the market right now. Tiny wand, serious volume, still lifted at hour eight, and it comes off with warm water without wrecking your lashes.

If tubing mascara has been on your list, start here. Brown for everyday, black if you want more definition.

Shop the mascara here.

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Is Merit Clean Volume Mascara good?

Yes. In our 8+ hour wear test the lashes stayed lifted with no smudging or flaking. The petite brush coats every lash including the corners, and two coats build real volume without clumping. It removes with warm water alone, which is gentler on lashes than waterproof formulas.

What is tubing mascara and is it better for your lashes?

Tubing mascara wraps each lash in a flexible polymer tube instead of coating it with wax. It resists smudging and flaking, then slides off with warm water and gentle pressure. That removal is gentler on lashes and the skin around your eyes than scrubbing off waterproof mascara with oil.

How do you remove Merit Clean Volume Mascara?

Hold warm water against your lashes for several seconds to soften the tubes, then use light pressure with your fingertips or a cloth. The tubes roll off cleanly. No oil cleanser, no makeup remover, and no scrubbing required. Rushing the warm water step is the most common mistake.

Is Merit Clean Volume Mascara clean and non-toxic?

Yes. Merit formulates without parabens, phthalates, talc, and synthetic fragrance, and Clean Volume is ophthalmologist tested. It is a strong option for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes who want clean beauty without giving up all-day wear performance.

Should I get Merit Clean Volume Mascara in black or brown?

Brown is the everyday pick. It gives soft, natural definition that reads like your own lashes on a good day, which is why it is the shade we tested. Choose black if you want stronger contrast for evening or a more defined lash line.

How long does Merit Clean Volume Mascara last?

Merit rates it at up to 16 hours of wear. In our own test the lashes were still lifted and clean after more than 8 hours with no transfer under the eyes and no flaking, including through a full day of normal wear.

Is tubing mascara better than waterproof mascara?

For most people, yes. Both resist smudging and water, but waterproof mascara requires oil and rubbing to remove, which stresses lashes and the delicate eye area. Tubing mascara comes off with warm water and gentle pressure, giving similar staying power with far less tugging.

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This post contains affiliate links. We only recommend products we've actually tried. Merit’s Clean Volume Mascara was tested by the Qatch team.