The 5 Best Waterproof Mascaras
Whether you’re planning a trip to the beach, a special wedding day, or are just tired of the dreaded raccoon eyes, a waterproof mascara will give you luscious lashes that will last even through a torrential rainfall. Waterproof mascara will give you the long, thick, curly lashes you love, without the worry of smearing, smudging, or flaking.
What Is Waterproof Mascara?
Waterproof mascara is a cosmetic item that can volumize, lengthen, and curl the lashes to give you a more wide-eyed appearance. It is a makeup essential that can complete any look. Waterproof mascara tends to stay put longer and provide a better curl than regular mascara and can resist water, sweat, and moisture. While traditional mascaras have a water base, waterproof mascaras have an oil-base and more wax ingredients, which keeps the formula in place, even through tears, sweating, and whatever else life may throw at you.
The non-water-soluble mascara won’t budge during the day, but can be easily removed with a good oil-based eye makeup remover or facial cleansing wipe. Any type of mascara needs to be replaced every three months, so you’ll have plenty of time to experiment to find the perfect waterproof mascara for your lashes, but we’ve compiled a list of the very best to get you started. (See also: The 5 Best Mascaras and The 5 Best Facial Cleansing Wipes)
Top 5 Waterproof Mascaras
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara
The L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara is most unique thanks to its breakthrough asymmetrical butterfly-wing-shaped wand with flexible arches, which lift up at the outer edge to catch the full length of every lash. The short cone-shaped bristles and two winged rows can catch, separate, and coat each individual lash. The fiber-infused formula coats each lash to leave them looking longer and feeling silky. Even if you have super-short, stick-straight lashes, you will love your new fanned out butterfly lashes and fluttering volume.
This mascara is ideal for people with sparse-looking lashes because it will lengthen each lash all the way to the outer corners of the eye. It can hold a curl well and will help you create long, full, dramatic lashes. It won’t flake, clump, or smudge, and will stay put all day. It also volumizes lashes at the root and stretches them outward to deliver up to six times the volume. The ophthalmologist, dermatologist, and allergy-tested mascara is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
This has rave reviews online from beauty mavens and professional makeup artists alike. It is also recommended by Allure, Refinery29, Into the Gloss, and xoVain. If this one doesn’t work for you, consider the alternatively highly rated and recommended L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara.
Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara
The bestselling Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara received the highest score from the Good Housekeeping lab due to its ability to resist smudging. It is volumizing, lengthening, won’t budge or clump, and separates lashes to give more dimension and definition to the eyes. The lash-building brush and lash-doubling formula conditions, thickens, and curls even stick-straight lashes. It glides on smoothly and doubles the lash size with a buildable formula that can be easily layered. It is designed to give you thicker, healthier-looking lashes that last all day. The hypoallergenic mascara is safe for contact lens wearers and is available in five different shades.
This has been one of America’s favorite and most popular mascaras since the ‘70s. In fact, one tube of Great Lash is sold every 1.9 seconds in America. Good Housekeeping selected this as the best overall waterproof mascara. It was also featured on Good Morning America and is recommended by Allure and Refinery29. It is frequently compared to expensive department store brands and always comes out on top. If you aren’t a fan of this particular formula, Good Housekeeping also recommends the Maybelline New York Define-A-Lash Lengthening Waterproof Mascara, while Total Beauty recommends Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Waterproof Mascara and Maybelline New York Full 'N Soft Waterproof Mascara.
Almay One Coat Get Up and Grow Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof mascara can be heavy and damaging to the lashes, which is what makes Almay One Coat Get Up and Grow Waterproof Mascara so unique. The anti-breakage, pro-vitamin formula can instantly lengthen and strengthen each individual lash, making them healthier over time. It won’t dry out your lashes or leave them stiff. Instead, the more you use it, the thicker and shinier your lashes will become with time thanks to the conditioning formula. It can also defend against future damage, so your lashes can grow out healthy and strong. The unique brush shape can reach the contours of the eye so that every lash is coated with each swipe, creating volume, length, and definition that lasts all day. Many reviewers also found that this waterproof version actually holds a curl better than a traditional department store mascara.
The hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist-tested, moisturizing mascara is gentle enough even for sensitive eyes. It is recommended by Total Beauty, Refinery29, and All Women Stalk. It is also a YouTube vlogger favorite and commonly recommended by professional makeup artists.
Lancome Hypnose Waterproof Mascara
The Lancome Hypnose Waterproof Mascara provides up to six times the volume and will leave your lashes looking thicker, longer, and curled. It can last up to 16 hours, even through a sweat-induced workout. The patented curved brush can curl even stick-straight lashes with ease by coating the lashes from root to tip. Some reviewers even found that it gave them the appearance of false lashes. The fragrance-free thickening, lengthening mascara won’t clump or flake. Each layer will coat and seal the lashes, so they are soft and voluminous, with no smudging or smearing. You can easily layer it for a more dramatic look.
This mascara is a Total Beauty Top-Rated Beauty Product and is recommended by Vogue, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, The Independent, and Into the Gloss. It also has outstanding reviews from beauty mavens and vloggers alike.
Christian Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
The bestselling Christian Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara is inspired by the runway and is commonly used backstage. The ultra-dark mascara has an XXL brush, which can separate each individual lash to give you extreme volume, length, and definition. Each layer will give you bold lashes that are expected to last all day with no reapplication. In fact, it claims to offer a “lash extension” effect, which most reviewers tend to agree with. It is non-irritating, non-clumping, and can give you the long, thick, curvy lashes of your dreams. It has a smooth, buildable cream formula, so you can layer for a more dramatic appearance.
This cult classic is Good Housekeeping’s pick for the best lash lengthening mascara and is a Total Beauty Top-Rated Beauty Product. It is also recommended by Vogue, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, PopSugar, The Independent, Into the Gloss, xoVain, and All Women Stalk. It is the common choice among celebrity makeup artists and has outstanding reviews online, including more than 1,300 five-star reviews on Sephora. If you need extra curling power, consider the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara.
And those are our recommendations for the best waterproof mascaras. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!
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