Lancôme Hypnôse: the jewel-like tube

Lancôme Hypnôse opens the edit with a jewel-like tube, clean lines and a creamy texture that promises to densify lashes and define the eye. This is the one to look at if you want a dressed-up finish, closer to a department-store beauty routine than a quick swipe, in shade 01 Noir Hypnotic and 6.5 ml for the standard size, also available in a waterproof version.

Young Black woman at her dressing table holding a black mascara with a clean-lined tube, soft light
The jewel-like tube for dressed-up routines, one to keep for days when you take your time

In use, a densifying formula works better with two thin coats than one thick layer: wiggle at the roots, then sweep through the tips to separate. The price was not noted at the time of writing, so check the current price when you buy.

A long-wear tubing formula

Clinique's tubing mascara uses a long-wear formula that the brand describes as lengthening. It is the all-rounder in the edit, one to keep for long days, in a 6 ml tube available in two shades, including Dark Chocolate.

Young Asian woman applying a long-wear brown mascara by a bathroom window
Tubing formula: wear that does not budge, removal with warm water

The thing to know before choosing this formula: remove it with warm water, leave it for a few seconds, then gently slide the little tubes away between your fingers, without rubbing. Price-wise, the mascara is priced between £22 and £26 at Sephora, with an original price of £29 — a guide price, noted at the time of writing.

A fibre formula from L'Oréal Paris

A fibre mascara from L'Oréal Paris completes the edit: a fibre-enhanced formula billed as giving a false-lash effect, with a specific brush, in Black. This is the one to consider if you want to build volume, or if you prefer to refresh your mascara more often rather than investing in one hero buy.

Open black mascara tube and its fibre brush on a white counter, daylight
The fibre brush: the false-lash trick of affordable formulas

When applying, it is better to load the brush at the roots and then stretch through the tips, going back over the outer lashes a second time if you want to open up the eye. For this range at Amazon.co.uk, the exact price was not noted at the time of writing.

Budget

Only one price range was noted: the Clinique tubing mascara, priced between £22 and £26 at Sephora, with an original price of £29. For the L'Oréal Paris fibre mascara, at Amazon.co.uk, the exact price was not noted, so no amount is given here for that product. For Lancôme Hypnôse, also at Sephora, the price was not noted: this is one of the things you will need to check yourself in store or on the retailer's product page.

Prices for this kind of product vary according to several factors: size (6 ml for the Clinique tubing mascara, 6.5 ml for Hypnôse in the standard version), formula type — long-wear tubing, fibre-enhanced, densifying texture — and brand positioning. Add to that the usual price variations across retailers and times of year. For mascara, second-hand does not really make sense, for hygiene reasons: it is better to choose a standard or mini size than an already opened product.

The price quoted here is indicative and noted at the date of publication, 2 October 2026; it can change. In full transparency, some links on the site may be affiliate links, without this changing the price you see or the content of this edit.