Cosmo HQ Review: We Tested KJH’s Microscara, the New Tubing Mascara From Dua Lipa’s Makeup Artist

I’m a mascara hater through and through. Between the time it takes me to meticulously separate and de-clump each individual lash in the morning to the removal process that inevitably ends with me losing a lash or two at night, I’ve pretty much given up on swiping it on altogether. That was until I saw Katie Jane Hughes showcase her new formula on Instagram that appeared to lengthen and lift lashes in seconds, with an intriguingly small applicator and no strenuous swiping or combing required.For the uninitiated, Hughes is a glam mogul, known for being Dua Lipa’s makeup artist and bestie. She launched her brand several years ago, but the shelves of Sephora were recently blessed with her products this month. So, to celebrate the fact that we can finally stock up on Beauty Insider points while shopping her severely underrated brand, three editors put the new mascara to the test between office days and concerts, below.About KJH Microscara:Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editorJasmine Hyman for Cosmopolitan“This tiny mascara should be considered sorcery first, a beauty product second. Upon first impression, I saw the short, stubby spoolie and couldn’t fathom liking the applicator. Mere minutes later, I would be proven terribly wrong and would have found my new favorite mascara.In just about five swipes, it completely lifted my lashes (no curler in sight) and lengthened them beautifully. It clings to and elongates tiny hairs I didn’t even know existed, completely opening up my eyes in the process. It separates, lengthens, and lifts, doing essentially everything I want a mascara to do without the dramatic volume that typically leads to that dreaded clumpiness and flakiness.I also normally steer clear of tubing mascaras because the removal process makes me feel like I’m losing precious lashes, but this one easily comes off without latching onto my hairs. A bit of cleansing balm or micellar water is all it takes to remove it, with no aggressive rubbing required.”Beth Gillette, beauty editorBeth Gillette"I've become a real snob about mascara. I like something that fans out my lashes, holds a curl, and makes them look long and full but still natural. Ideally, I'd appreciate if it looked like I wasn't wearing any mascara at all. Unfortunately, that's meant that finding one I love is pretty difficult.Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.One look at the applicator, and I thought this would give me natural-looking lashes. I was wrong. And not in a bad way! This makes my lashes look like extensions. They're doll-like, since it can easily get into the inner corners and stretch those tiny lashes out super long like a pair of falsies.Just one coat surprised me, giving me so much length and volume but absolutely zero clumps. I love that this wand allows me to easily separate every lash as I'm combing through. Although, I will say I've almost accidentally brushed this through my brows a few times since it resembles a brow gel wand so much. All the more reason for my plea to make it in brown!"Mikhaila Archer, editorial assistantMikhaila Archer for Cosmopolitan“When it comes to mascara, I’ve been a Refy loyalist for years for its light application and lash-separating wand. I decided to try KJH before heading to a Jonas Brothers concert; I wear glasses so I didn’t want crazy lashes, but I still wanted to feel cute. Long story short: I haven’t stopped reaching for KJH since that night.I love the smaller applicator that I can easily use on both my top and bottom lashes. Plus, I can build up my lashes as much or as little as I want, and the end result always feels like I got the most natural lash extensions. If you like an elongated lash, this is a must-buy.”Final thoughts:If you want long, fluttery, lifted lashes (who doesn’t?!), KJH’s Microscara is an absolute no-brainer. For $26 it gives you the definition and length you want without the clumps, heaviness, or painstaking application. It’s become my new favorite mascara to give me a lash lift-esque effect, which, coming from a self-proclaimed mascara hater, says a lot.The only qualm: Katie, please make it in brown, too. Consider this our formal plea.Why trust Cosmopolitan?Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things nails, makeup, skin, and more. For this story, she and two Cosmo editors tested KJH’s Microscara for weeks and reviewed it based on lengthening ability, lifting power, lash separation, ease of application, and removal.Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.