Our team, who are very picky about their lashes, tried Merit’s Clean Lash mascara after hearing great things about its ability to lengthen and subtly tint lashes. We want to be honest with you about what we think of the popular purchase…
We know a lot about the best mascaras because we’ve tried hundreds of them, from waterproof and volumising formulas to trendy burgundy ones. That being said, we all have different types and lengths of lashes, so what one coworker likes may not work for another. But even though we all have different needs for our exact formula, we all agree on the finish we want. We want our lashes to look natural (no clumps), be longer, fanned out, and lifted, and last. So, when one team member suggested Merit’s Clean Lash for doing all of the above, plus the saying “no smudging or transferring,” we couldn’t pass up the chance to try it out as a group.
We had high hopes because we liked a lot of Merit Beauty’s other products (Digital Beauty Writer, Naomi Jamieson, for example, swears by the Minimalist Complexion Stick) and many of the best tubing mascaras. So, how did it do when it had to deal with a lot of different lash lengths and checklists?
You might like the picture of a hand holding The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher open with its wand on a white marble background with a pink “tried and tested” banner. There is also a circular photo of Sennen’s lashes after using The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher with pink swirls.The £9 lash serum that our whole beauty team has switched to instead of mascara is really like a lash lift in a tube.
We’ve done the research, and these nine mascaras will lift, lengthen, and define even the shortest eyelashes.
This guide shows a collage of four of the best natural-looking mascaras from Perricone MD, 19/99, Glossier, and e.l.f. The collage is on a grey and white background with two stock photos of mascara brush swatches.
When we wear these six subtly defining and lifting mascaras, people always tell us how great our long, “natural” lashes look.
The whole beauty team gave an honest review of Merit’s Clean Lash mascara.
Minimalism is what the brand Merit is all about. Their products are meant to be versatile, everyday favourites that make you look better and feel better, not very dramatic or high-coverage. We would call the line the beauty version of a capsule wardrobe, since each item promises to fill an important role (and sometimes more than one). The same goes for their mascara. It’s a popular tubing formula that lifts and lengthens without smudging or transferring. A great buy for people who like mascara that looks natural.
A picture of MERIT Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara, one of the best mascaras for people with sensitive eyes.
Merit Beauty Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara. See it at Merit. Price: £24.
This tubing mascara wraps around your lashes, defining each one and adding length and lift. It has conditioning fatty acids and olive oil, as well as vitamin B5, which makes your lashes shine. It can be built up and doesn’t smudge or flake. And it’s easy to get rid of; all you need is warm water.
Fiona McKim, our Digital Beauty Editor, was already a fan of the formula. After reading her glowing review, we all decided to see if we had the same good experience. So far, we’ve all been drawn to different choices. For example, Aleesha Badkar and Sennen Prickett from our Beauty Shopping & eCommerce team, who both have long lashes, love Glossier’s Lash Slick. Naomi Jamieson, another beauty writer, likes Dior’s Diorshow Pump N Volume Mascara better for giving her short, straight lashes more lift.
If you’ve been thinking about getting Merit mascara but aren’t sure if it will work for you, here’s what each of our coworkers thought of it. Of course, there are pictures of the before and after.
Beauty Shopping & eCommerce Editor Aleesha Badkar Aleesha Badkar, our Beauty Shopping & eCommerce
I secretly liked the sleek, elegant design of this tube, but when I pulled out the bristled mascara wand that looked like it was wet, I didn’t have high hopes. My favourite makeup brand was nice enough to prove me wrong.
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The first picture on the left shows Digital Beauty Ecom Editor Aleesha Badkar without mascara. The second picture shows her curled lashes with Merit Clean Lash mascara on them. The third picture is a close-up of her eye to show the mascara and her lashes in more detail.
Future”The strong bristles were shaped like cones, which is what my favourite comb-like wands do. They slid through my lashes, lifting and curling them, and the shape they made was so fanned out that it just bounced into place. And that wet formula I thought would make them fall right away? It somehow dried into place almost right away, keeping the lashes in place all day. No dropping. No peeling. No smudging or moving. “I am completely sold.”
Naomi Jamieson, a writer for Digital Beauty Naomi Jamieson,
“My lashes are pretty short and straight, so I think that sometimes very pigmented and volumising mascaras can look too heavy and dramatic on me.” You can probably tell that I’m not a fan of clumpy lashes because I’ve already said the word twice. So, more than anything else, I just want my everyday mascara to colour and lift. Luckily for me, that’s exactly what Merit’s mascara does.
A picture of Naomi Jamieson, a Digital Beauty Writer, without mascara is on the left. A picture of her with Merit Mascara on is on the right. A close-up of her eye shows the mascara on her eyelashes in detail.
Future”The formula looks very wet on the brush, but it can be built up. The conical, bristly brush catches and fans out each lash, giving you a very flattering, splayed look that lasts. It dries quickly, so you can add more layers without worrying about your lashes drooping or smudging all over the place. But after curling my lashes, I only need one layer for a subtle but lifted look.
You might like the image of a hand holding The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher open with its wand on a white marble background with a pink “tried and tested” banner. There’s also a circular photo of Sennen’s lashes after using The Ordinary Lash Curl Finisher, with pink swirls. “I didn’t believe it would work, but it really is like a lash lift in a tube,” says the £9 lash serum our entire beauty team has swapped their mascaras for.
We did the research, and these 9 mascaras will lift, lengthen, and define even the shortest eyelashes.
Four of the best natural-looking mascaras from this guide—Perricone MD, 19/99, Glossier, and e.l.f.—are shown in a collage on a grey and white background with two stock photos of mascara brush swatches.
When we wear these 6 subtly defining and lifting mascaras, people always tell us how great our long, “natural” lashes look.Another good thing about it is that it doesn’t transfer during the day, which is something I’ve had trouble with in the past because I like creamy makeup products that don’t help with smudged mascara. Because it’s a tubing formula, it’s also very easy to take off. It’s safe to say that it’s my new go-to every day.
Fiona McKim, Digital Beauty Editor”I wear tubing mascara most days. I’ve always had deep-set eyes, and now my eyelids are getting more and more hooded, so smudging is a big problem for me,” says Digital Beauty Editor Fiona McKim.
“This means I know my onions when it comes to smear-proof formulas, and I’m happy to say this one absolutely nails the brief and lasts all day without any mess.”
The first picture shows Digital Beauty Editor Fiona McKim without mascara. The second picture shows her with the Merit Mascara on. The third picture is a close-up of her eye to show the mascara on her eyelashes in detail.
Future”It’s important to note that no tubing formula will ever be very volumising or dramatic because that’s not how they’re made. This, on the other hand, gives you the best zhush for everyday life. My lashes are a little darker, longer, and higher, which makes my eyes look more awake and fresh. I just don’t want my lashes to be too dramatic most of the time anyway. Clean Lash makes your lashes look better but still pretty natural, which fits with this brand’s philosophy.
Digital Beauty Writer Sennen Prickett Digital
The first thing I want to say is that I love how thin and delicate the wand is. It glides right through the lashes and coats them all. The formula wasn’t too wet either, which made it easy to apply without making the lashes heavy.
The first picture on the left shows Digital Beauty Writer Sennen Prickett without mascara. The second picture shows her with Merit Mascara on, and the third picture is a close-up of her eye to show the mascara on her eyelashes in detail.
Even though its eyelashes were very straight (almost pointing down), it could still add length and a little curl for a natural fluttery look. That being said, I think it’s especially great for people who like lashes that look soft and natural.
What our team thinks of Merit’s mascara
Overall, it’s a great choice for people who like a natural lash look that doesn’t weigh them down. It’s also a great everyday mascara that you can count on. Everyone on the team was impressed by how well it held and lengthened their lashes. They were even more impressed that it didn’t transfer, flake, or smudge after a full day of wear.
Also, like I said, it’s a tubing formula, so it’s easy to take off at the end of the day. If you don’t like this about your current mascara, we strongly suggest that you try this tubing buy.
