My love for trying out new makeup means I don’t have a “set” list of products that I always reach for. When it comes to blushes and lipsticks, I have some reliable favorites, but I also have a rotating assortment of new launches that I enjoy testing out.
That said, one product category I rarely change up is mascara. While I love the no-mascara look in concept, it’s the one makeup item I always like to have on—even if I’m wearing nothing else on my face. And because of that, I am loyal to the mascara that actually works for me. For years now, that has been the Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara. I’ve repurchased it dozens of times, as I’d found nothing that matched its ability to create natural, lengthened lashes with no smudging or flaking.
And it’s my loyalty and love for the brand that made me so excited when I saw the news: Merit was launching a new mascara. After wearing Merit Clean Volume Mascara for everything from busy workdays to long afternoons at the pool, I can confidently say it has earned a permanent place in my makeup bag.
What is the Merit Clean Volume Mascara?
Merit’s Clean Volume Mascara (like their Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara) is a tubing formula, which is my favorite kind of mascara. If you’ve never used one before, tubing mascaras work a little differently than traditional mascaras. Instead of coating your lashes with waxes and pigments that can be prone to smudging, tubing formulas wrap each lash in tiny, flexible “tubes.” Those tubes are what help the mascara resist sweat, humidity, and flaking throughout the day, while still removing surprisingly easily at night. Rather than needing to aggressively scrub your lashes, the tubes simply break down with warm water or an oil cleanser and slide off.
The Clean Volume Mascara is also available in both black and brown. While I’ve been testing out the black for several weeks, I’m planning on purchasing the brown as well for a more neutral, everyday look (about as close to “no mascara” as I’ll go).
Merit Clean Volume Mascara vs. Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara
Unlike the original Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara, which focuses on creating soft, separated, naturally longer-looking lashes, the new Clean Volume Mascara is designed to build fuller, fluffier lashes while still maintaining the effortless aesthetic Merit is known for. For me, Clean Volume added more of an oomph to my lashes, if you will. It gives lashes a soft, fanned-out look that feels polished without ever looking overdone.
After weeks of testing, I don’t think the Clean Volume Mascara replaces the original Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara so much as complements it. If I want the most natural, separated lash possible, I’ll still happily reach for the original. But when I want a little more fullness while keeping the same clean, effortless look (and all-day wear without the flaking), this is the one I’m grabbing.
My Honest Review of the Merit Clean Volume Mascara
What I Look for in Mascara
I have a few nonnegotiables when it comes to a mascara. First and foremost is that I need something that will not, under any circumstances, flake. Sure, after 12 hours of wear, there may be some residue (I’m not expecting a miracle!), but I need something that isn’t giving me raccoon eyes by lunchtime. I also want something that is lightweight and can be built up, so I can make the look as natural or dramatic as the day or night demands.
The Merit Clean Volume Mascara passed by demands, and then some. The first thing I noticed was just how lightweight the formula feels. It doesn’t leave my lashes feeling stiff or crunchy, and I was able to build a second coat without them sticking together or becoming clumpy. But honestly, the biggest surprise was how well it wears—because I really put it through the wringer.
Testing Merit Clean Volume Mascara
I’ve tested this mascara through long workdays, humid afternoons, errands with two young kids, and several full days spent at the pool. While I wasn’t expecting it to perform like a waterproof mascara, it handled heat, humidity, sweat, and the occasional splash far better than I anticipated. More importantly, it never flaked underneath my eyes, which is a problem I’ve experienced with plenty of clean mascaras over the years.
As someone who naturally has fairly long lashes that are also incredibly straight, curl retention is always my biggest concern. No mascara can completely replace a lash curler for me, but when I curl my lashes before applying the Clean Volume Mascara, the difference is dramatic. My lashes look noticeably fuller and more lifted, and the curl lasts much longer than I expected without feeling heavy.
One of my favorite things about this mascara, though, is how easy it is to remove. Despite wearing well throughout the day, it melts away with my cleansing oil in just a few seconds. I never feel like I’m tugging at my lashes or trying to scrub away leftover mascara before bed. It’s a small detail, but one that makes a huge difference when it’s a product you use every single day.
The Final Verdict
For a beauty product to earn a permanent spot in my routine is rare. For a mascara to do it when I already had a longtime favorite? That’s even rarer. But Merit Clean Volume Mascara has managed exactly that, and I can already tell it’ll be one of the products I continue repurchasing long after this tube runs out.
Morgan Flaherty, Contributing Writer
Morgan is an NY-based writer and editor. Beyond The Everygirl, Morgan’s editorial work has been featured in publications like Scary Mommy, InStyle, Business Insider, and Cubby, among others.
Products included in graphics linked within article. Feature graphic images credited to: Morgan Flaherty.
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