Mascara is an essential component in even minimal makeup routines, but it can also be the most high-maintenance part of your look. Rain, humidity and sweat can result in under-eye smudging, and a day at the beach or the pool will turn standard mascara into a streaky disaster.
Luckily, waterproof mascara can prevent running makeup, thanks to additional ingredients that shield pigment from moisture and help it grip lashes.
Mascara is made waterproof thanks to the addition of ingredients, such as waxes and polymers, that help the mascara bond to eyelashes while creating a barrier against moisture.
To get a feel for just how waterproof your mascara formula is, look at the ingredients list and see where "water" is. The further down the list it is, the more waterproof your mascara will be.
Waterproof mascaras come with brushes of all sizes, shapes and materials, and they all offer different benefits. For example, classic bristle brushes are good at delivering length and volume, but silicone bristles are better at preventing clumping.
When it comes to brush shape, curved or fan-shaped mascara brushes can help give your lashes some curl, but they tend to require more trial-and-error than the classic cylinder shape. If you're looking for tons of volume from your mascara, try an hourglass-shaped brush.
The main disadvantage of waterproof mascaras is their drier formula. Waterproof mascara dries quickly on your lashes, and frequent wear can lead to dried-out and damaged eyelashes or even shedding. Plus, since waterproof mascara is formulated to stay on so well, it must be removed with care so as not to damage your lashes or the delicate skin around your eyes.
However, as long as you don't reach for your waterproof mascara every day, it's not considered bad for your eyes.
Long-wearing and waterproof mascaras are tougher to remove than their nonwaterproof counterparts, which can be bad news for the delicate eye area. To avoid stinging eyes, irritated skin and lost eyelashes, it's important to use an eye makeup remover that's gentle but effective enough to wash away makeup without scrubbing.
An oil-based makeup remover will work best on waterproof mascara, but cold cream or mild hypoallergenic face lotion can also work.
If all else fails, it's possible to remove waterproof mascara with something found in your pantry: olive oil. Apply a couple of drops of quality olive oil to a makeup pad or cotton ball, then apply it to lashes as you would a makeup remover to let the oil loosen the mascara. Rinse it away with warm water.
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara
This pink-and-green tube has been a makeup stash essential for decades. The tried-and-true formula applies evenly with a classic cylindrical bristle brush, thickening and lengthening lashes while keeping a natural look. Plus, it's hypoallergenic and safe for contact lens wearers.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
E.L.F. Big Mood Mega Volume and Lifting Waterproof Mascara
If you're looking for volume and lift, this waterproof mascara is the way to go. Its smooth, creamy formula is infused with jojoba oil to hold curl, while the shape of the brush helps to separate and define lashes. Its formula is vegan and cruelty-free.
Sold by Ulta Beauty and Amazon
Covergirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof Mascara
With its oversized, tapered silicone brush and volumizing formula, this mascara gives lashes dramatic body with up to 10 times more volume. This mascara is hypoallergenic and Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free.
Sold by Amazon and Ulta Beauty
Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara
This ophthalmologist-tested formula is a good pick for contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes. It helps lengthen, volumize and define lashes while keeping your look from smudging through a workout or a day at the beach. It is available in black and black-brown and features a slightly tapered cylindrical brush.
Sold by Sephora and Ulta Beauty
L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
The soft, hourglass-shaped bristle brush in this mascara gives lashes impressive length and volume. Its formula lasts up to 36 hours and includes flower oils to help condition lashes.
Sold by Amazon and Ulta Beauty
Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara
This long-wearing mascara can give lashes up to 12 times more volume. The soft, spaced-out bristles in the oversized cylindrical brush smoothly coat lashes for up to 24 hours of flake-free wear. The formula is free from phthalates and parabens.
Sold by Sephora
Neutrogena Healthy Volume Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof mascaras formulated to avoid drying out your lashes can also result in the dreaded raccoon-eyes look. This formula contains olive oil to nourish and condition lashes without flaking or smudging. Promising 400% fuller eyelashes, it's a great pick if you have thin eyelashes. It's also dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested.
Sold by Amazon
Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
For runway-worthy volume and length, try this long-lasting, clump-free waterproof mascara. It features a classic tapering brush with long bristles to help fully coat lashes. Along with black and brown, this mascara comes in a bright cobalt blue.
Sold by Sephora
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Laura Duerr writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
