Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Hot, sweaty weather and pool parties mean one thing: You need the best waterproof mascara in your makeup bag this summer. “If you choose a waterproof mascara, you will always create lift, because, [even with] the humidity, it prevents lashes from flopping,” says makeup artist Caroline Barnes. But is it possible to find a holy-grail mascara that really ticks all of your boxes? After extensive research into the many, many products out there, we would argue: yes. And Barnes agrees; it’s possible, but only if you know what to look for based on your needs.
“If you have thick, luscious lashes, then you [want] a mascara that has … a fat wand with big, thick bristles,” she says. “If you have fine, thin lashes, you want to use something that is a little bit tighter in application, so you don’t get a lot of mascara dumped onto your lashes.” A quick summary: Thick brushes are great for long, thick lashes and thin brushes work best for fine, sparse lashes. Keep this in mind as you look through our list of the best waterproof mascaras on the market.
22 Best Waterproof Mascaras
Best Overall: COVERGIRL Exhibitionist Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Great for swimming
- Cruelty-free
- Lasts 10+ hours
- Hard to remove
- Not natural
- Not vegan
Best Splurge: Lancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- No clumping
- Creates length
- Holds a curl for 9+ hours
- Smudging after 9+ hours
- Thick brush
- Expensive
Best Drugstore: NYX Worth the Hype Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Swim-proof
- Volumizing
- Cruelty-free
- May clump
- Chemical smell
- Not vegan
Best Everyday: L’Oreal Voluminous Volume Building Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Does not clump
- Lengthening
- Lasts 8+ hours
- Subtle volume
- Not vegan
- Drying
Best Volumizing: Covergirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Volume in one coat
- Dark black color
- Big size
- Clumping
- May smudge
- Difficult application
Best Smudge-Proof: Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water Resistant Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Vegan
- Smudge-proof
- Lasts 8+ hours
- Hard to remove
- May lead to breakage
- Flakes after 8+ hours
Best No-Clump Formula: Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Mini-Brush Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Lengthening
- 8+ hours
- Easy removal
- Not volumizing
- May smear
- Not for swimming
Best Long-Lasting: MAC MacStack Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Volumizing
- Lengthening
- Lasts 10+ hours
- Hard to remove
- May not hold a curl
- Flaking after 10+ hours
Best Buildable Formula: LESITI Honey Whisper 4D Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Clean application
- Buildable
- Easy for lower lashes
- Wand is difficult to manage
- May flake
- Not available at most retailers
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Lengthening
- No clumping
- Easy to remove
- Water resistant (not waterproof)
- Expensive
- Not vegan
Best for Contact Lens Wearers: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested and approved
- Easy to remove
- Natural look
- Water resistant (not waterproof)
- Not volumizing
- Black color is lighter than other brands
Best for Crying: L.A. Jetsetter Lash & Go Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Our most affordable pick!
- Easy to remove
- Paraben-free
- May not hold a curl
- Not vegan
- Product may leak out of the tube
Best for Short Lashes: Heroine Make by KissMe Volume Up Super Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Holds a curl for 10+ hours
- Volumizes without clumping
- Under $15
- Hard to remove
- May smudge
- Not sold at major retail stores
Best for Creating Curl: L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Extra-Volume Collagen Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Swim-proof
- Holds a curl under water
- Volumizing
- Hard to remove
- May cause breakage
- Difficult to apply to lower lashes
Best for Length: Maybelline Sky High Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Buildable formula
- Lengthening
- Stays soft
- May clump during initial application
- May not hold a curl
- Hard to remove
Easiest to Remove: Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Easy to remove
- No clumping
- Smooth application
- Water resistant (not waterproof)
- May smudge
- May lead to breakage
Best Lightweight Formula: Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Lengthening in one coat
- Smudge-proof
- Lasts 10+ hours
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Hard to remove
- Expensive
Best for Swimming: Eyeko Beach Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Lasts 9+ hours
- Vegan
- Swim-proof
- Hard to remove
- Drying
- Product may clump on wand
Best for the Beach: Maybelline Volum’ Express Colossal Curl Bounce Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Inexpensive
- Comes in two colors (black and brownish black)
- Lasts 10+ hours
- Hard to remove
- Tube dries out with frequent use
- May lead to breakage
Best Vegan: Milk Makeup KUSH Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Volumizing
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- May smudge
- May clump
- Tube dries out with frequent use
Best Brown Waterproof Mascara: Heroine Make by KissMe Long Up Brown Super Waterproof Mascara
- Pros
- Cons
- Soft, natural look
- Lasts 10+ hours
- Cry-proof
- Not volumizing
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not available at most retailers
Best Blue Waterproof Mascara: Diorshow Waterproof in Blue
- Pros
- Cons
- Lightweight
- Noticeable, electric blue
- Smooth application
- Not volumizing
- Multiple coats to see the blue
- Expensive
Finding the Best Waterproof Mascara: A Buyer’s Guide
With its ability to instantly transform your appearance and draw attention to the eyes, waterproof mascara is one of the most important products in your makeup bag. However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with information in the hunt for an excellent product. This buyer’s guide is designed to help you weed through the marketing lingo and find what truly works for you, but only if you first understand what kind of lashes you have and what your goals are for your mascara.
For instance, if you have straight lashes, your top priority is to keep them curled as much as possible. Look for waterproof mascaras that receive praise for “holding a curl” throughout a long day. It’s also important to look for a formula that isn’t too runny and dries quickly, as lashes are most likely to droop during the application process when the product is still wet.
If you have short lashes, however, you want to look for a mascara that creates the illusion of length. Pay attention to brands that receive good reviews for “lengthening,” and look for brushes that are thin and have wide-apart bristles. Ultimately, once you know your goals for your mascara, you can look into other important factors before purchasing.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Waterproof Mascara
When choosing the best mascara based on your goals, it helps to consider these factors:
Smudginess
This is arguably the most important feature, as the goal of a waterproof mascara is to avoid smudging even if you cry or jump in a pool. To find out whether a product will smudge before you buy it, first make sure that it is marked waterproof, rather than water resistant. Second, check out the reviews. If buyers rave about the product’s ability to stay glued to lashes through sweat and tears, you know you’ve got a winner.
Wear
A waterproof mascara is only as good as its staying power. How long does the brand claim its product will last before it begins to flake or smudge, and how long do reviewers say the product has lasted them? In addition, look for mascaras that are marketed as “long-lasting” or “8+ hours.”
Keep in mind that the longer you leave a waterproof mascara on, the more susceptible your lashes will be to breakage. Waterproof and water-resistant formulas tend to be drying, and with prolonged use, they can dry out lashes enough to make them snap.
Flakiness
Many waterproof mascaras flake at the end of the day because their formulas are drying. To counter this effect, look for ingredients that hydrate, such as hyaluronic acid, amino acids, castor oil, jojoba oil and argan oil. Biotin is always a plus, as it may promote growth and strengthen lashes.
Removability
The more smudge-proof a mascara is, the more difficult it will be to remove. Some makeup artists recommend pressing a cotton round soaked in baby oil to the eye and holding it there for a minute or two. Then, try to gently rub off the product. This method softens the mascara and may help reduce irritation — so you don’t have to scrub your eyes for 20 minutes.
If ease of removal is important to you, consider purchasing a water-resistant mascara instead. Water resistance will prevent smudging and flaking for a normal day at the office. In addition, it may be safer to use, as waterproof mascara tends to strip eyelashes of protective moisture they need.
Sensitivity
If you have sensitive skin or wear contacts, it’s important to look through a mascara’s ingredient list before purchasing. Common ingredients that may cause irritation — which you may want to avoid — include: benzalkonium chloride, BHA, carbon black, parabens, titanium dioxide, retinol acetate and fragrance. If you don’t want to look through the ingredient list every time before purchasing, look for products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
What Are the Different Types of Waterproof Mascaras?
It’s important not to confuse waterproof mascara with water resistant and tubing mascaras. This is the difference between each kind.
Water Resistant
In simple terms, a water-resistant mascara is one that doesn’t allow water to penetrate through to the lash immediately, but eventually breaks down in water. “if you submerge your lashes in water with water-resistant mascara, your mascara will run, but with waterproof, it will not,” celebrity makeup artist Nina Soriano tells Makeup.com.
This might seem like an instant downside, but water-resistant mascara may be the best of both worlds. It won’t smudge or flake throughout the day, but you can wash it off at night without an extensive cleaning process. Still, a water-resistant mascara may not have the same curling abilities as its waterproof contender, and it certainly won’t hold up after a long bout of tears.
Tubing
As mentioned above, a tubing mascara is one that forms a “tube” of product around each individual lash. This creates a layer of mascara that is difficult for water to penetrate — but not impossible. Like water-resistant mascara, tubing mascara will wash off with a good makeup remover or oil-based cleanser.
Tubing mascara is different from waterproof and water-resistant mascara because it contains polymers, or plastic-like, synthetic ingredients that block water. In contrast, waterproof and water-resistant formulas contain oils, waxes or silicones.
Waterproof
A true waterproof mascara repels water because it contains ingredients that repel water, such as oils, waxes or silicones. Unfortunately, water-repelling ingredients aren’t the best for the health of your lashes.
“The ingredients that are used to cause the formula to be waterproof can have the effect of drying out lashes, which can lead to them falling out,” Dendy Engelman, M.D., tells SELF. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up waterproof mascara completely. Still, you may want to consider washing it off as soon as you no longer need it, and swapping it out with a traditional, wash-off mascara every so often.
Additional Questions and Tips to Choose the Best Waterproof Mascara
Asking yourself these questions will help you narrow down your choices before purchasing a waterproof mascara.
1) How much do you have to spend to get a good waterproof mascara?
A higher price doesn’t always mean you’re getting a better product, and that is especially true for waterproof mascara. You need not spend more than $30 on a tube, and you can get an excellent formula for under $15. In fact, many products on our list are less than $10.
2) How should you remove waterproof mascara?
As mentioned above, you will need a makeup remover, oil-based cleaner or face-safe oil to help you remove waterproof mascara. Cotton rounds may also be helpful in preventing the mascara from leaking down your face as you clean your lashes.
3) How long does one tube of waterproof mascara last?
About 0.1 ounce will last you one month, so a standard 0.3 ounce tube should last you about three months. If you haven’t yet used all of your mascara in three months, it’s best to get a new tube regardless to prevent the buildup of bacteria. (Plus, a tube of waterproof mascara dries out more quickly than a standard wash-off formula.)
4) How can you take care of your lashes after using a waterproof mascara?
Once you have finished cleaning your lashes, replenish their moisture by applying a lash serum. Key ingredients to look for include collagen, biotin and moisturizers like hyaluronic acid. (Check out our list of the best eyelash serums here.)
Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Check out these related product articles below:
Check out more of our picks and deals here!
