The Results Are In: These Waterproof Mascaras Lasted Through Sweat, Tears, and Rain (2024)

Our Top Picks

Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

Out of all the options we tested, this one is our favorite for a few reasons. First, it effectively lengthens and volumizes the lashes for a beautiful, defined look. One coat creates a natural look that’s suitable for every day, and additional coats can be applied to build up more drama. Next, we love that the brush does a great job of combing and separating the lashes to ensure you achieve a fanned-out finish. While the bristles are a bit sharp and spikey (so take your time when applying this one), we think they’re an ideal length and perfectly spaced to allow the brush to grip the lashes effectively.

We love the application and the look it creates, but its impressive performance made it stand out even more. It stayed beautifully intact during our moisture tests in the lab, and we didn’t experience any flaking or smudging when wearing it in our real lives over two weeks. Lastly, it was much easier to remove than most waterproof formulas we tried. It takes a bit more effort to remove than your average washable formula, but a cleansing oil did the trick without too much rubbing required.

Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While we find the name of this budget-friendly pick to be a bit misleading—we weren’t able to build it up for a voluminous, false-lash effect—we still really enjoyed using it. We love that the wand is tapered, so it’s easy to coat the lashes in the inner and outer corners of our eyes. The bristles did a nice job of gripping and painting each lash, and we were impressed by how well it lengthened and defined them.

The formula is pretty lightweight, so it didn’t weigh down the lashes or ruin their curl. It created a pretty natural, defined look that’s great for everyday makeup looks. And it wore beautifully—while we saw minor running when we spritzed it directly with water in the lab, we didn’t experience any smudging or flaking while testing it in our daily lives.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No

If you enjoy indulging in luxury makeup, we think you’ll fall in love with this waterproof mascara from Dior just like we did. It features a lightweight and buildable formula that works to thicken the lashes without weighing them down and ruining your curl. We loved that, as we layered it, it didn’t get clumpy or stick the lashes together—it added clean volume and did an excellent job of keeping our eyelashes separated. While the brush is a bit large, the way the bristles are designed is perfect for achieving a fanned-out look. And once it’s on, it’s not going anywhere. It remained intact without signs of smudging or flaking all day long. Bonus points to the brand for offering it in a true black, a warm brown, and a cobalt blue.

Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: No

The drugstore is home to tons of waterproof mascaras we love, but none more than this one from Maybelline. The only thing we don’t love about it is that it’s not great for adding volume, but everything else is stellar. The narrow brush does a fantastic job of gripping the lashes and evenly coating them in the lightweight formula, and it’s subtly tapered so it can target the inner and outer corner lashes.

A few coats worked to seriously lengthen and define every lash without weighing them down or creating any clumps. It didn’t smudge or flake during spritz tests in the lab or while wearing it in our daily lives. It just created a gorgeous, fluttery look that beautifully opens up the eyes.

Read Our Full Review: Maybelline's Sky High Mascara Creates Dreamy, Fluttery Lashes

Benefits: Volumzing, lengthening | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: No

Another drugstore pick we enjoyed during testing is this volumizing one from L’Oréal. It features a big, curved brush that helps grip the lashes and coat them in the formula. One coat delivers length and thickness, while the second coat offers more dramatic volume. It’s a versatile pick that can be used for achieving everyday definition as well as more drama.

It’s worth noting that it can be a bit clumpy because the formula is quite wet, but removing the excess product from the brush can help mitigate clumps. We noticed that it was smudge-resistant as we wore it throughout the day, but we did experience some flaking.

Benefits: Lengthening, lifting, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Mascara can sometimes clump your lashes together, but some brushes help mitigate that, like this one from Milk Makeup. The wand is curved to effectively grip each lash, and the bristles are dispersed in a way that helps keep the lashes separated. During testing, we loved that it helped us achieve long lashes and a full, fanned-out look. W also achieved noticeable volume, too. The tube has a silicone coating, which makes it easy to control the product without it slipping through your fingers. The only thing we didn’t love was that we noticed minor smudging during our spritz test. However, when we wore it at home, we didn’t notice smudges or flakiness.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Super buildable mascara formulas, like this one, are so valuable to any makeup collection for their incredible versatility. One coat of this formula adds subtle volume and length to the lashes, while two and three coats offer serious thickness and drama. Unlike a lot of buildable and volumizing mascaras, we didn’t experience any clumping when layering this one, and we also didn’t find that it weighed our lashes down. The brush size worked well for a variety of eye shapes and lash types, and it separated our lashes nicely. Once it dried, we didn’t have any issues with flaking or smudging.

Our one con with this formula is that it was one of the trickier ones to remove. We think the extra time you’ll need to remove it is worth it given the gorgeous look and impressive performance, but make sure you have a solid cleansing balm or eye makeup remover on hand.

Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

This mascara feels like it was designed to give perfect, subtle definition and length. The brush doesn’t pick up too much product, allowing you to control your application and achieve a clump-free finish. We thought the brush was easy to use and did a nice job of combing and separating our lashes. It added length, color, and a bit of thickness, but it’s not a super buildable formula, so it isn’t ideal for volumizing—it’s best for no makeup makeup or everyday looks.

Once applied, we were quite impressed with the performance. It didn’t smudge or flake at all, and it was among the easiest to remove. If you want the longevity of waterproof mascara but you’re hesitant to try one because it can be tricky to remove, we recommend giving this option a try.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

Clumpy mascara can quickly ruin a makeup look. So if you struggle to find a waterproof formula that doesn’t get clumpy or make your lashes cling together, we suggest trying this one. It features a lightweight consistency and a medium-sized brush that combs and separates the lashes without over-drenching them in the formula. One coat provides definition and length, while additional layers add a touch of smooth volume. It’s lightweight and we were impressed that it didn’t smudge, run, or flake during our lab tests or at home. It’s not the most buildable formula; it will only create subtle volume. However, if length, separation, and a fluffy, defined look is what you’re after, we think you’ll be pleased with this pick from Clinique.

Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

Oftentimes dryer mascaras or those that can be built up for serious volume flake throughout the day—the result of a dry formula or too much product on the lashes. What we love about this somewhat wet formula is that it’s capable of creating dramatic volume—without flaking. One layer creates a fairly natural look, while the second and third layers really amp up the thickness of the lashes. It builds up volume quickly, helps separate the lashes, and offers a bit of length. Once it dried, it remained flake-free all day long.

One tester did experience some smudging under their eyes, so we recommend using this one on the top lashes only if you’re prone to smudging. It took a lot of effort to remove, but the gorgeous look it created and that we didn’t experience flaking made the effort worth it.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

People with straight lashes know the struggle that is getting your eyelashes to hold a curl. Even after using an eyelash curler, your lashes can fall if you apply a mascara that’s too heavy and weighs them down. This formula is great for people who need a super lightweight mascara because you can build it up and it still feels weightless. It’s ideal for lengthening and definition rather than volume, though a few coats did yield subtly thicker lashes. It made our lashes look lifted and long, and we didn't experience any flaking during our testing period. We did notice minor smudging under the lower lashes, though we found that it was even more minimal when we set the area with powder.

FAQ

• What is the best method for applying waterproof mascara?

  You can apply waterproof mascara the same way you apply a non-waterproof mascara. “Mascara for me always starts with a curl, but that’s personal preference,” says Sewell. She explains that she starts by curling her lashes and then she blinks into the mascara wand to evenly coat them. She then combs the wand through her lashes to add a second coat.

• How do you remove waterproof mascara?

  The main downside to using waterproof mascara is that it tends to be more difficult to remove than washable formulas. However, removing waterproof formulas without impairing your lashes is possible. Start by soaking a cotton pad in your makeup remover or micellar water of choice and gently press it on your lashes for thirty seconds, allowing it to loosen the mascara. Then, gently swipe the cotton pad across your lashes to remove the bulk of the formula. You can then cleanse your face to remove the excess and use a cotton swab and makeup remover afterward to remove any traces from hard-to-reach areas. If you find that traditional makeup remover or micellar water isn’t doing the trick, try using a cleansing balm, as the oils could help further break down the mascara.

• How long does waterproof mascara last?

  Like regular mascara, you’ll want to be sure to reach for a new tube around every three months. Being diligent about getting rid of old mascara is important to avoid eye infections and skin reactions. Makeup can gather bacteria over time, and you want to avoid contamination as best you can when it comes to your eyes.