Tubing Mascara Review 6: Too Faced Lash Injection

Hi, I am sorry for not updating for a long time. I had a very stressful week last week, and I got really sick, even breaking out in bunches...everything is all right now. So anyhow, unsatisfied with spending 8 minutes on apply my beloved fiberwig mascara every morning, I picked up the too faced lash injection, another tubing mascara that is rather popular, and promises to give beautiful lashes full of volume and length. Unfortunately, the too faced lash injection is another one in a long line of mascaras that I have tried that did not work for me at all. I tried it for 3 days, and could not continue using even though I try to review products for a full week before reviewing as a rule...

However, I think this mascara may still work for many other people, even better than the fiberwig. Please read on for the full review. 

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. Any mascara that smudged on me is a deal breaker, and this is why this did not work for me. This mascara smudges like no tubing mascara I have tried does. However, I have to admit that in terms of smudging, it is a little better than the average mascara. It was okay for the first 1.5 hours, but it was panda eyes from there. I must admit, however, that I am VERY smudge-prone. Even the popular bobbi brown eyeliner gel smudges on me, so I think this may not smudge for the majority of us. For me, however, the darkness under my eyes became very apparent after 1.5 hours of wearing, so I'll give it a 3.5 in terms of smudging. 

2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara did not last a long time on my lashes before smudging. Besides the smudging though, it was functioning all right for 7 hours. This is definitely not a long-wearing mascara in my book...So a 4 in terms of how long it lasts. 

3. Flaking:  This mascara flaked a lot on me in the first few three hours, but seemed to stop flaking eventually. My guess is that there are some pieces that are not attached stably to my lashes, so they flaked off, and once they were flaked off, the mascara doesn't flake. However, a flake got into my eye 15 minutes after wearing, so it wasn't that pleasant an experience. I rationaled that if I applied more carefully, I might be able to prevent some of the flaking. Therefore, I'll give it a 6 in terms of flakes on me.

4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me. In terms of longevity, the mascara is usable after even 8 months or even a year. Not that I'd really use any mascara for that long, but then you get the general idea. I toss mascara every three months. So a 5 in terms of longevity because I don't think anyone would really expect mascaras to last all that long. Together, this mascara gets 10 in this section. 
5. Application: Application is above average. The brush is huge but not very cumbersome. I expected to get a lot of mascara on my lids because of the size of the brush, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it did not happen. And if I do get anything on my lids, all I need to do is get some warm water on a q-tip and swipe it across. However, I do prefer to use green tea. I don't think it makes a huge difference from water, but somehow I feel that it makes my lids less swollen if they are. 

In terms of application, I'd say a 8 since it's relatively fast a easy, but it can be better.
6. Length: In this aspect, this mascara is really mediocre. It increases the length of my lashes, but I don't think by a huge lot. Probably 40% if I work at it, which is not bad for an everyday look. So a 6 in terms of length, since it's not bad for a mascara, but not enough for me all the time.  
7. Volume:  Out of all the tubing mascaras I have tried, this one gave the most volume. In fact, I had to refrain from adding another coat because the mascara gives so much volume. I feel like my lashes are plumped by 100%, but it was not a "natural looking" plump if that concept indeed exists. So an 8 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: If you compare tubing mascaras with regular mascaras, most of them would get a 10 in terms of removal, but since I'm comparing tubing mascaras, I'll make the bar a little higher. This mascara was one of the hardest to remove. It doesn't completely work like a tubing mascara. I stood in the shower for 10 minutes, trying to get the hot water to saturate my lashes enough for it to come off easily, but in the end, I had to gently pull it off. Not a good experience. After the tubes came off with a lot of difficulty, there were dark smudges under my eyes, which easily came off with my facial cleanser. I was horrified at pulling out my own lashes when I was trying to remove the mascara. So a 4 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping:  This mascara is a little prone to clumping even though with a little care, it can be prevented. Another reason I did not dare to apply a third coat after my two coats is the clumping. I feel like somewhere on my lashline, two or three lashes clumped together. So a 3 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity, and I am speaking from personal experience. some flakes got into my eyes, and it felt a little scratchy, but no stinging, which is good. However, this mascara is prone to flaking, so it might not be good for people wearing contact lenses or with really sensitive eyes. I'll give it a 6 in terms of sensitivity. 

This mascara gets a total of 58.5.  This is the lowest score any mascara has ever got from me, but frankly, this mascara doesn't seem like a tubing mascara, which if claims. It acts like a tubing mascara partly, but has most of the flaws regular mascara has...

Tubing Mascara Review 5: Blinc Kiss me Mascara

The Blinc Kiss me Mascara is often said to be the original tubing mascara because blinc invented tubing technology. This mascara has also been said to be one of the formerly best selling mascara in Japan until Fiberwig came out. I don't know if either of those stories are true, but I do know that this is a great mascara for a lot of people (myself not included). In this article, I will give a detailed review of this mascara.

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but how much or when it smudges. Compared to regular mascaras, this mascara can said to have no smudging, and also holds up rather well even compared to other tubing mascaras. So an 9.5 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts a long time on my lashes. I usually do not see smudging by the end of the day. So a 9 in terms of how long it lasts. 

3. Flaking:  I eventually learnt that flaking seems to be the biggest foul of tubing mascara. It seems that since they come off in tubes, they can't smudge, but some times the tubes breaks, etc. which makes tubing mascaras flake a lot. This mascara ranks average in terms of flaking. There are some flakes when I rub my eyes (which I try not to do because it damages the thin skin) or if I blink a lot. Otherwise, it probably generates a flake every hour or two hours, probably leaning towards two hours.  So this gets an 7 in terms of flakes on me.
4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me, with a 1 bonus point because this comes in a large range of colors (six, I believe, black, dark brown, light brown, dark green, dark blue, and dark purple). In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube lasts around 2 months. This is okay for me because I toss around the 2 months mark anyway (because I'm afraid of eye infections and bacteria), but this is considered pretty short shelf-life for a mascara. So a 3 in terms of longevity because even though I think 2 months is not a big issue. Together, this mascara gets 9 in this section. 
5. Application: Application is a little annoying for me because the mascara is very wet, and it is very frustrating how I cannot devise a good way of applying this mascara. It eventually gives length after brushing many many times. The mascara's website says that it allows 1.5 minute application per eye before the tubes dry, and I generally have to brush until the mascara does dry to get my desired length (which is not that dramatic).So this is very time consuming for me. 

And if I do get anything on my lids, all I need to do is get some warm water on a q-tip and swipe it across. However, I do prefer to use green tea. I don't think it makes a huge difference from water, but somehow I feel that it makes my lids less swollen if they are. 

In terms of application, I'd say a 7.5 since it's pretty frustrating and takes a long time. I know applying your mascara for 3 minutes in total is not that big of a deal, but the experience is just frustrating, and the lashes get longer randomly. 
6. Length: In this aspect, this mascara is really mediocre. It increases the length of my lashes, but I don't think by a huge lot. Probably 60% if I work at it, which is not bad for an everyday look. For special occasions, I still use my old fiberwig, even though I might have to spend 15 minutes at it. So a 7 in terms of length, since it's not bad for a mascara, but not enough for me all the time.  
7. Volume: This gives pretty good volume for a tubing mascara. Lashes look fat after using this mascara. However, the volume is nothing compared to mascaras like Dior Show. So a 4 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: If you compare tubing mascaras with regular mascaras, most of them would get a 10 in terms of removal, but since I'm comparing tubing mascaras, I'll make the bar a little higher. This mascara is a little harder to remove. Like the website says, it does take lots of water and pressure, while a lot of water does it for most tubing mascaras. It really does come off in tubes with lots of warm water. So a 8 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: Clumping is not a big issue for this mascara, since even though I apply 1.5 minute per eye, I generally don't get a lot of clumping. However, this isn't to say that clumping is impossible. If I don't brush carefully, my lashes still clump together given how wet the mascara is.  So a 7 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. No stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye, which it doesn't happen a lot. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you, even though it's a lot better in terms of flaking than a lot of other mascaras I've tried. I'll give it a 8.5 in terms of clumping.

This mascara gets a total of 76.5. Even though the score is very similar to some of my favorite mascaras, it doesn't work that well for me because it takes a long time to apply and does not give enough length for me.

Tubing Mascara Review 4: Clinique Lash Power, a.k.a my new HG

When I reviewed the Fiberwig Lx last time, I promised that I wanted to share with you my new HG tubing mascara. A lot of you will be surprised that it is this Clinique Lash Power, which retails at almost half the price of fiberwig, especially in light of the fact that I'm a beauty snob. However, I use this with Clinique's lash primer for a little extra protection for my lashes and a little extra length.

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. Compared to regular mascaras, this mascara can said to have no smudging, but if I do rub my eyes (which I never do) after the 9th hour of wearing it, It will give a faint smudge. So an 8.5 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts for around 10 hours before starting to smudge a little. However, it would still be functioning all right, i.e. usable after 16 hours :) So a 8.5 in terms of how long it lasts. 

3. Flaking:  I eventually learnt that flaking seems to be the biggest foul of tubing mascara. It seems that since they come off it tubes, they can't smudge, but some times the tubes breaks, etc. which makes tubing mascaras flake a lot. This mascara, I'm glad to report, doesn't flake on my as much as even the old fiberwig, but it still does. I'd say a flake every hour or two hours, probably leaning towards two hours. However, to be fair, I'm using this with the clinique lash primer, so it might behave a little better than it would alone. So this gets an 7 in terms of flakes on me.
4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me. In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube can last up to 7 months. Not that I'd really use any mascara for 7 months, but then you get the general idea. I toss mascara every three months. So a 4 in terms of longevity because even though I think 7 months is more than enough, I've heard of mascara that lasts two years... Together, this mascara gets 9 in this section. 
5. Application: This is the best part. The brush is really teeny tiny so that it really gets to all my corner lashes, and I rarely get any mascara up on my lids anymore. Out of all the points, I probably love the brush of the mascara the most. I think it would apply very well on the bottom lashes without smudging too, even though I never do that. I think I look scary with my bottom lashes coated with mascara :P

It probably takes about 1.5 minutes for both eyes together with applying the lash primer, since I really just swipe it up on my lashes twice and call it done. And if I do get anything on my lids, all I need to do is get some warm water on a q-tip and swipe it across. However, I do prefer to use green tea. I don't think it makes a huge difference from water, but somehow I feel that it makes my lids less swollen if they are. 

In terms of application, I'd say a 9 since it's so easy and hassle free. I say a 9 because even though this is best application I've ever got out of mascara, I think there might be better out there.  . 
6. Length: In this aspect, this mascara is really mediocre. It increases the length of my lashes, but I don't think by a huge lot. Probably 50% if I work at it, which is not bad for an everyday look. For special occasions, I still use my old fiberwig, even though I might have to spend 15 minutes at it. So a 6.5 in terms of length, since it's not bad for a mascara, but not enough for me all the time.  
7. Volume: This mascara doesn't give that much volume. It gives me really really natural look eyelashes. So it' kind of like my lashes but better. If I want volume, layering this doesn't work at all. However, the lash primer does help a little bit. Another good thing is that no matter how many coats I apply, no clumping.  So a 2.5 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: If you compare tubing mascaras with regular mascaras, most of them would get a 10 in terms of removal, but since I'm comparing tubing mascaras, I'll make the bar a little higher. This mascara is the easiest to remove of all the tubing mascaras I've tried. It really does come off in tubes with lots of warm water (even if your hand never touches your lashes) just like the L'Oreal Beauty Tubes. So a 10 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: This mascara doesn't clump no matter how hard I try :P However, if I applied a lot of lash primer before hand, this might be harder to separate.  So a 8 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. No stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye, which it doesn't happen a lot. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you, even though it's a lot better in terms of flaking than a lot of other mascaras I've tried. I'll give it a 8.5 in terms of clumping.

This mascara gets a total of 77.5. Adding it up make the score seem less than perfect, but it is somewhat similar to my old Fiberwig mascara. I guess it is my current HG not because it really is perfection, but perhaps for the lack of other choices. 

Tubing Mascara Review 3: d.j.v. beautenizer Fiberwig LX review

I was hard pressed not to put the words "a.k.a the perfect way to ruin my HG" in the title, but I think it would be too biased, so I refrained. This is one of those few products that make me feel so primitive. Why? Well, you'll see...

First off, to avoid confusion, this is the current "upgraded" version of the best-selling fiberwig mascara, and the only version that's officially available. My friend told me that there was something akin to panic in the beauty crowds in Japan one day because Imju announced that they are discontinuing their best-selling mascara. Women rushed out to stock up on this mascara, and the next day, Imju announced that they are immediately releasing an updated version of Imju, and many women felt cheated because the return policy is not as good in Japan as it is in the US. Well, I later found out that this story is way exaggerated, but you get the general idea of what happened. 

What's different in this version? 

I'm sure some people are searching for the answer to this question, so I might as well give it to you. :) Fiberwig said it's now without synthetic fragrances and sulfates, and a few other things that shouldn't be in mascaras anyway. There's also supposed to be a few conditioning ingredients added in. This is supposed to lengthen better than the original fiberwig. The brush is also curled as shown in the picture, which was supposed to help with curling. 

Well, that's the official statement. What do I think? After struggling with it for several weeks waiting for it to work, I've given up. Don't get me wrong, this is still a great mascara, but in my opinion, this is not an upgrade of the old version, but a down grade. This mascara still gives me the longest lashes I could get with mascara, but not as long and as easily as the old one does. With this mascara, it's really random when I can get it working well. I've also tried a couple of other things. Adding layers while dry, adding layers while wet, using a primer, applying when lashes are wet.....you name it, I've probably tried it. 

And this is why I feel primitive with this kind of products. How can I not know how to use an upgraded version of a product when I love the old one? Am I that primitive? well... but it does make me feel better that at least some Japanese girls feel the same way I do. 

Fiberwig is now no longer on the top 50 mascaras list on cosme.net whereas it was always within the top 10s and 20s for the past years.

Although I want to go on whining about how they ruined my mascara, I still owe you the review :)

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. Relatively speaking, fiberwig can be said to never smudge (even this new version), except if you rub and rub or wear it into the wee hours of the morning. So an 8.5 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts for around 10 hours before starting to flake and smudge (undetectable smudging really) more. I thought it would be similar to the old fiberwig, and it's almost similar, but it's not as long lasting.  However, it would still be functioning all right, i.e. usable after 16 hours :) So a 8 in terms of how long it lasts. 

3. Flaking: This mascara flakes on me a lot, especially when I apply multiple coats, but nonetheless, it mercilessly flakes on me, sometimes even within an hour of application. I'm not complaining, since flakes are easier to deal with than smudging, but to be fair, this only gets a 3 in terms of flakes on me. It might be better with a primer though. In this aspect, it's exactly the same as the old fiberwig. 
4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me. In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube always dries up before 3.5 months. I think it's all right since you should toss mascara every three months anyway, but this might matter a lot to some. So a 2.5 in terms of longevity. Together, this mascara gets 7.5 in this section. So it's a little better in terms of longevity compared to the old fiberwig. 
5. Application: This is where the mascara freaks me out. I'm sorry, I rarely use words like that, especially when I'm not in the privacy of my own home, but I can find no other words to express my frustration. Just so I'm clear, the old mascara is not perfect in terms of application. I have to spend a good 5 minutes on it if I want to get perfect lashes, but then if I do spend the 5 minutes, I generally do get them. For this mascara, it is in no ways guaranteed. I think it might have something to do with the awkward curved brush and the fact that I can't really apply from the tip of the wand anymore, like I used to with the old mascara. Or it might be the new formula or it might be me, but I get really random lashes. Some long, some short that are really uneven and almost uncontrollable. 

I'm probably making it sound worse than it is. In a pinch, this could work if I am willing to spend 15 minutes on it to do it, take it off, and redo, but I don't have that much time to spare. Therefore, I might have gorgeous lashes one day (like I always do with the old fiberwig), and really uneven lashes the next day. This brush is smaller than the old one, but I found it gets onto my lids even more easily. However, accidental marks on the lids are easy to clean off. You either wait for it to dry and just swab off with a q tip, or do what I do: get some water on a q tip and just swap off. I like to use green tea, which I drink every morning, but just water works just as well. In terms of application, I'd say a 5 since it takes so long and works so random. Don't get me wrong though, you can apply this in 1 minute if you just want a little length or a darkening of lashes. 
6. Length: This is where this mascara behaves best, and where I care most about each mascara other than smudging. I don't have tiny lashes, but they are not long either, so I really really care about length. This mascara gives the most length I've ever seen a mascara give if I take the time to apply it. I can actually use this to get my lashes to reach my brow. However, this does not work as well as the old one. Yes, if I really work on it, I can get the same length, but it takes much much longer and more trials. So a 9 since this is still the most length I get out of any mascara except the old one. 
7. Volume: Fiberwig always gives people the impression of not giving volume, but I didn't mind because I can make the old fiberwig give me volume by layering. This gives much more volume (after layering), but it borders on clumpiness, so it's volume I'd rather do without. So a 6.5 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: If you compare tubing mascaras with regular mascaras, most of them would get a 10 in terms of removal, but since I'm comparing tubing mascaras, I'll make the bar a little higher. The mascara that was easiest to remove (that I've tried) is L'Oreal Beauty Tubes. It really does come off in tubes with lots of warm water (even if your hand never touches your lashes). This mascara needs you to gently touch the mascara before it fully slides off. Not bad, so a 8.5 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: This is the second biggest issue I have with this mascara (the first being application). When I try to layer in order to get the perfect lashes in the morning, this might give me give clumpy lashes. So a 6.5 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. So stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you. I've heard people say that this is actually more sensitive to sensitivity issues than the old mascara. I'll give it a 6.5 in terms of clumping.

This mascara gets a total of 60.5. It doesn't sound that bad, but it makes it seem worse to me because it replaced my HG, and this is far from getting to be my favorite mascara. However, I tried not to let my anger influence my judgement (trust me, I took a month to cool down and trials to share this with you). People like to say that there's a silver lining with every gray cloud. Well, I found my new HG mascara (if you consider it to be a silver lining), and it's quite as good as the old Fiberwig. It doensn't do the exact same thing: it doesn't give the same length, but it does have a few other benefits. Want to know what it is? Well...read on, I'll share it with you in my next or next next review. :) 

Tubing Mascara Review 2: L'Oreal Beauty Tubes

I am sorry for the late update to my tubing mascara review series, but there are going to be around 10 reviews about the popular tubing mascaras. The second one I'm reviewing is L'Oreal Beauty Tubes mascara, and the mascara that is responsible for dragging me into my love affair with tubing mascaras. I think that I probably will us tubing mascaras for the rest of my life. I was strolling through a drugstore, and saw this. I had given up wearing mascara although they give me the length that I desperately needed, because I always end up with panda eyes within a few hours. I saw that this promises no smudging and easy water removal, yet is water resistant. Curiosity won out, and I thought why not especially since it's on sale. 

This mascara is pretty great, but it took me some time to figure out how to apply it. You apply the white end which contains the primer first, and then immediately apply the red end with the mascara inside without waiting for the primer to dry. If the primer dries, this will become really clumpy. I find that most of the length comes from the primer, and the primer also makes the application smooth. Also, for those of you hating primers, the mascara adequately covers the white with just one swipe. 

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. However, L'Oreal Beauty Tubes never smudges on me! Actually, like fiberwig, there might be a tiny bit of almost unnoticeable smudging if it's a really humid long day. However, I'd say that it's less prone to smudge than fiberwig, so I'll give it an 9 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts for around 10 hours before starting to flake horribly, and another 2 hours before it starts getting a little smudging. And if you wait for 16 hours or so, some tubes will fall off. But I'm guessing this is not an issue for most people, wanting mascara to last beyond 10 hours :) So a 7.5 in terms of how long it lasts. 
3. Flaking: This mascara flakes on me, but very minimally. I would say around one flake each hour. When the flakes get into my eyes, it doesn't really sting or hurt, so that's good. After around 8 or 10 hours, it starts flaking horribly to the point that I'd rather not wear mascara than have it flake. So a 5.5 in terms of flaking. 

4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me despite having to cover up the white primer. Don't worry, it is not gray. In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube is still usable after 5 months (not that you would want to use a mascara that long, but anyway...). My friend say it still lasts after 9 months, but I'd be horrified to let it go near my eye. Sorry I'm a freak about such things. So a 4.5 in terms of longevity. Together, this mascara gets 9.5 in this section. 
5. Application: The application is pretty fast, taking around 1.5 minutes for both eyes. I just brush on the primer, wiggle it through my lashes, and then hurry to apply the mascara before the primer dries. I don't apply multiple coats with this mascara because it doesn't really help. Actually the application is pretty perfect for me, the brush not being gigantic. However, I sometimes have to clean up my lids after application. So a 9. 

6. Length: This is where this mascara behaves mediocre. It promises 80% length, but after a year of using it, I can't seem to be able to get that length, however many coats I apply. It gives length, but I would say it's more like 30% to 50%. Now, that's not bad for a mascara, but fiberwig does better, and I need need long lashes. It's like my lashes but a bit longer and plumper. So a 7 for me. 
7. Volume: Some people love this mascara because it's the only tubing mascara that gives volume. This is almost true. The volume is nothing to write home about, just lashes that are a little bit plumper, nothing like Dior show or whichever volume mascara you love. If I have to give it to you in numbers, I'd say the diameter of each lash is longer by 20 to 30%.  So a 4 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: This is the best part. It really slides off neatly in tubes. No rubbing involved. You just step into the shower and off it comes. Or if you wash your face in the sink, 5 splashes will get rid of most of your mascara. It's great, so a 9.5 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: This is not really an issue with this mascara if you know how to apply it. However, if you wait for the primer to dry, or apply a second coat after the first coat dries, hello clumpy lashes! I never get this issue anymore because my brain reacts to this mascara and makes my hands super nimble. So overall, 6.5 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. No stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you. I'll give it a 6 in terms of clumping.

As I add it up, this mascara gets a total of 73.5 out of 100. It's not bad considering my HG only got 71.5. Of course, if I were to calculate the scores for myself, I'd more than double the points I give for length. This is also why I tried to give points for each sector so that you can add it up for yourself, giving each section as much emphasis as you'd like (depending on what's most important to you). However, keep in mind that this score is in relativity to other tubing mascaras. If you want to compare it to general mascaras, I'd add at least 10 points before comparing it. :)

Tubing Mascara Review 1: original Fiberwig Mascara

I know I must have confused some of you by calling this the Original Fiberwig mascara, but it's true. About a month ago, Fiberwig changed its formula, the tube, and even the applicator in the U.S. This change took place much earlier in Japan, in January of 2010, I believe? Anyway, I am currently reviewing the fiberwig mascara that has been avaliable in US for over five years. :) Just wanted to clear this up.
This mascara has been my HG for two years, even though it had some minor faults. To make this easier to read, I thought I would give you my checklist of criterias, and tell you how this fiberwig mascara behaved in each of those areas (sort of like what I did with the BB creams). This time, I'm going to give each criteria 10 points, and tell you how much points each mascara scored in every aspect, and add up the score to give you the total scoring.

1. Smudging: This is by far the most important aspect of all mascaras to me, because before tubing mascaras, all mascaras smudged on me. Before, it was not a matter of whether it smudges, but whether how much or when it smudges. However, fiberwig never smudges on me! Actually, there might be a tiny bit of almost unnoticeable smudging if it's really humid at the end of the day. So I'll give it an 8.5 in terms of smudging. 
2. How long does it last on my lashes: This mascara lasts reasonably long on my lashes, but it's not like it would really stay put until I take it off. I would expect this to last a good 12 hours without much problem, but when it hits the 15 hours mark, it might flake a lot or behave not as well as it did when you first put it on. But then who needs a mascara to stay put for more than 12 hours, right? Well, I did occasionally, on my plane to Korea, wanting to not reapply my mascara on the plane, but I did end up reapplying it every time. :) So a 8 in terms of how long it lasts. 
3. Flaking: This mascara flakes on me somewhat, probably because I apply multiple coats, but nonetheless, it mercilessly flakes on me, sometimes even within an hour of application. I'm not complaining, since flakes are easier to deal with than smudging, but to be fair, this only gets a 3 in terms of flakes on me. It might be better with a primer though. 
4. Color and longevity of the tube: Isn't it weird that I put those criteria together since they are not so much related? But I don't know about you, but I don't care that much about either the color or longevity of the mascaras I buy, which is why I thought I'd give each of those 5 points instead of 10. In terms of color, this gets the perfect 5, since it is jet black on me. In terms of longevity, after daily application, a tube always dries up before 3 months. I think it's all right since you should toss mascara every three months anyway, but this might matter a lot to some. So a 2 in terms of longevity. Together, this mascara gets 7 in this section. 
5. Application: It's hard to judge application since everyone has a different idea of what good application is, but I'll just judge from my perspective. I don't have that much time in the morning, and this mascara takes a good five minutes to apply (if I want perfect length). The brush is gigantic and I sometimes brush onto my lids, so it takes some time to clean up my lid (good thing I don't wear eyeshadow everyday). However, accidental marks on the lids are easy to clean off. You either wait for it to dry and just swab off with a q tip, or do what I do: get some water on a q tip and just swap off. I like to use green tea, which I drink every morning, but just water works just as well. In terms of application, I'd say a 7 since it takes so long. Don't get me wrong though, you can apply this in 1 minute if you just want a little length or a darkening of lashes. 
6. Length: This is where this mascara behaves best, and where I care most about each mascara other than smudging. I don't have tiny lashes, but they are not long either, so I really really care about length. This mascara gives the most length I've ever seen a mascara give if you take the time to apply it. I can actually use this to get my lashes to reach my brow. So a perfect 10.
7. Volume: Most people hate this mascara because it doesn't give any volume, but then it never promised any on the packaging. On a side note though, imju markets a volume mascara just like fiberwig. It's called Lash Knockout, and you can find it on ebay. I find that contrary to popular opinion, this gives me some volume after 3 or 4 coats, but I don't really like the effect since I want natural looking lashes. However, in my experience, it gives as much volume as dior show if you apply it really thickly. The trick is to wait it to dry 60% after the 3rd or 4th coat when you've got enough length, and then brush from the bottom of lashes to the tips. You'll get volume. So a 6.5 in terms of volume. 
8. Removal: If you compare tubing mascaras with regular mascaras, most of them would get a 10 in terms of removal, but since I'm comparing tubing mascaras, I'll make the bar a little higher. The mascara that was easiest to remove (that I've tried) is L'Oreal Beauty Tubes. It really does come off in tubes with lots of warm water (even if your hand never touches your lashes). This mascara needs you to gently touch the mascara before it fully slides off. Not bad, so a 8.5 within the context of all other tubing mascaras. 
9. Clumping: This is one of the biggest issues I have with this mascara. Your lashes may clump after the 3rd or 4th coat, but if you quick, you can brush it out with the applicator. So this is definitely not clump free, but clumps can be prevented some times. If you just apply 1 or 2 coats though, don't worry about the clumps, it's nonexistent. So overall, 7 in terms of clumps. 
10. Sensitivity: This one is pretty good in terms of sensitivity. So stinging and not much discomfort should it flake into my eye. However, I am aware that some people wear contacts, so the flaking might be painful for you. I'll give it a 6 in terms of clumping.


As I add it up, this mascara, which was my HG, gets a total of 71.5 out of 100. It's much worse than I thought, but I place more emphasis on some aspects, such as lenght. Also, keep in mind that this score is in relativity to other tubing mascaras. If you want to compare it to general mascaras, I'd add at least 10 points before comparing it. :)

Tubing Mascara, and the start of my quest for the perfect tubing mascara

I am sure most of my frequent readers would know that I LOVE tubing mascara and eyeliners. Ever since I  came of age, I tried to find a mascara that would give me those long beautiful lashes, only to find that most mascaras smudge mercilessly on me, even the most smudge proof ones. After several years, I gave up, until L'Oreal marketed its new product called L'Oreal Beauty Tubes. There was a promotion going on, so I thought why not? I got a tube, and I was hooked. The mascara stayed there with no smudges until I removed it, and it comes off in tubes with warm water, relieving my worries that it would irritate my lashes or cause fall offs.

I was very pleased for one year, but then thought, there must be better ones out there. This is when I came across fiberwig, a mascara that gives more length than L'Oreal Beauty Tubes. This eventually became my HG item, but I am still looking for a mascara that might give me more. Therefore, I am going on a quest to try mostly every tubing mascara out there, review them every week, and find one that fits me perfectly. I hope that by sharing my quest with you, you can find one that you love as well. But perhaps, I am getting ahead of myself, and should first explain what is tubing mascara.

What is tubing mascara?


Tubing mascara is a kind of mascara that slide off with warm water in tubes. It is generally smudge free, and water resistant (given that the water is cold). This new kind of mascara prevents you from having to use eye makeup removers and a few minutes of rubbing to take off mascaras. The application method is generally different from regular mascaras. You cannot wait for the coats to dry before adding more coats, or you increase the chance of clumping (versus you have to wait for each coat to dry before adding more to prevent clumping for regular mascaras)

What are some tubing mascaras?


I am trying to create a full list, but so far, I have:
1. fiberwig Original
2. blinc kiss me mascara
3. L'Oreal beauty tubes
4. Clinique High impact curling
5. Clinique Lash Power
5. TF Lash Injection
6. Cargo Texas Lash
7. Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined
8. Trish McEvoy Lash Curling Mascara
9. Fiberwig XL

In the next few weeks, I will try to review each and every one of them, in order to help myself and you to find the perfect tubing mascara. Let me know if I should include some tubing mascaras available only in Japan and Korea (and ebay) as well.