The best waterproof mascaras, according to 340 women
With rainy season upon us and temperatures dropping, it’s a good time to invest in a waterproof mascara. It will keep your look in place whether you get caught in the rain/sleet/snow (delete as applicable), tackle an extra sweaty gym workout or just decide to watch The Notebook for the 100th time. You can say goodbye to panda eyes, and hello to long-lasting colour that stays put and doesn’t flake or smudge.
But, finding one that won’t run can take years of trial and error. So, to save you the bother, the Good Housekeeping Institute experts and panellists have been busy putting the market-leading brands to the test, to hunt out the formulas you can rely on. That’s a lot of weepy films watched.
Of course, some waterproof mascaras can be a little too long-lasting. Though smudge-free, luscious lashes are the payoff, the cost is in the extra effort it takes to remove. That’s why we’ve also included all our beauty team’s tips and tricks for hassle-free application below.
How does waterproof mascara work?
Designed to have more staying power than regular formulas, waterproof mascaras shouldn’t run or smudge under the eyes when they come into contact with water. They should also help to lengthen, lift and add volume to lashes in the same way a regular mascara would, staying put throughout the day without flaking.
Mascara formulas generally contain pigments for colour, polymers to coat and lengthen lashes, and thickening agents such as waxes to add volume. But waterproof mascaras also include an additional waterproofing agent to make ensure your look doesn’t budge. This is often a water-repellent silicone that sticks to lashes and gives them a smooth finish.
How to remove waterproof mascara
Thanks to the hard-working waterproof formula, you’ll likely need more than a few swipes of a micellar water-doused cotton pad to take it off. Instead, you should opt for an oil-based cleansing water or gel, as they’re more effective at softening and dissolving the waterproof coating around the lashes.
When waterproof mascara dries, the lashes become stiff and are therefore more prone to bending and snapping, which is why it’s particularly important to remove it at the end of the day or at night.
Can you swim with waterproof mascara?
A good waterproof mascara will contain specific chemicals (e.g. dimethicone copolyol), which help it stay put even when you’re submerged in water. Look out for mascaras labelled waterproof rather than water-resistant.
How we test
Our panel of 340 women trialled six waterproof mascaras over a two-week period. They gave detailed feedback on the design and ease of use, the finish it gave lashes, how waterproof and smudge-proof it was, and how easy it was to remove at the end of the day. In the lab, we also conducted smudge-proof and waterproof tests, before collating the results to award a final score.
Eyes down for our winners…
Beach Waterproof Mascara
Score: 93/100
Whether you’re trying some wild swimming, or commuting in the torrential rain, you want a mascara that can do both. Rest assured, our panel’s joint winner from Eyeko proved to be completely smudge-proof on test. And it won’t just protect you from rain either – one tester with very runny eyes put it through its paces and was impressed with its waterproof properties.
All testers agreed that the formula lasted all day, so there’s no need to reapply. There also weren’t any issues taking it off. “It came off easily with an eye cleanser designed to deal with waterproof mascara,” said one tester. Sounds like a (joint) winner to us.
Badgal Bang Waterproof Mascara
Score: 93/100
This Benefit classic “works magic”, according to one of our testers, leaving lashes long, full and luscious. Another panel member was impressed by its ability to “add volume without being clumpy” – the perfect combination in our eyes. And all our testers agreed that the mascara lasted all day without smudging.
It’s formulated with deep black pigment and contains ultra-light aero particles that help to lift your lashes, without weighing them down. Though we would always recommend removing makeup at the end of the day, the brand claims it can last up to 36 hours.
Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara
Score: 84/100
This one’s easy to apply, adds brilliant volume to natural lashes, and is simple to take off, according to testers. Tick, tick, tick.
Lancôme claims the formulation offers 24-hour, budge-proof bold lashes, and the wand is designed with 360 micro-bristles to separate and bring out the best in every individual lash. A curved wand can often be divisive, but our testers loved using this one. One tester liked that it was able to “take the exact right amount of product from the tube” to avoid clumps.
Lower Lash mascara
Score: 84/100
Bigger doesn’t always mean better, and that’s certainly the case for this lower-lash mascara. Its small, slim brush is designed to pick up shorter lower lashes, which earned it extra brownie points with panel members for ease of application when it came to those hard-to-reach areas. “The slim wand helps you to get to each lash without overloading them with mascara”, is how one tester put it.
It wasn’t just the design that was well thought through. Its water-resistant formula is great for those with runny and sensitive eyes, and it’s also enriched with vitamin E and panthenol – two key ingredients for keeping eyelashes hydrated and healthy.
Sky High Waterproof mascara
Score: 75/100
This mascara’s flexible and thin brush coats every lash in the volumising formula and makes them look dramatic from every angle. One tester described the brush as “slim, easy to manoeuvre, slightly tapered and flexible,” which meant application was easy, with great coverage.
Our testers’ only niggle was that it was hard to remove, which isn’t uncommon for waterproof mascaras. We recommend stocking up on an oil-based eye maker up remover if you’re going for this one, and maybe saving it for those extra-hot, extra-long or emotional days. Or all of the above.
Thrill Seeker Mascara Waterproof
Score: 71/100
This is a waterproof version of Rimmel London's iconic Thrillseeker mascara, and you’ll be glad to know that it delivers just as much volume as the original product. It also has the same hourglass wand to capture and coat each lash.
The brand claims that the waterproof formula makes for a comfortable 24hr wear, and testers were impressed with how long-lasting it was. Many also praised the pigment. Be careful on application though, as some testers found the brush dispensed too much product. But if you want “voluminous and impactful” lashes, this is the one for you, according to one satisfied tester.
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