Everybody has a slightly different idea of what the perfect waterproof mascara is. Some people prefer a lightweight, feathery formula that’s easy to remove, while others want something thicker, more durable, and long-lasting. Waterproof mascara is a great option for anyone who swims or does watersports regularly. It’s usually best to avoid regular, non-waterproof mascaras for watersports. Standard washable mascaras typically can’t withstand swimming or heavy rain. On the other hand, waterproof mascaras tend to be thicker, dry more quickly, and are designed to resist water. It’s helpful to keep a good waterproof mascara on hand if you plan to swim in hot weather, attend swimming classes, or enjoy a pool party. I’ve compiled a list of the best waterproof mascaras to help you make the right choice.
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The Research Behind the Best Waterproof Mascaras
Waterproof Formulas
A good waterproof formula combines the best qualities of top mascaras: falsie-level length, noticeable volume, and long-lasting wear. It should also stand up to common challenges—whether it’s a beach day, a workout, or running errands on a hot summer day. Most modern waterproof mascaras are still easy and simple to use. Strong sweat-resistant formulas can sometimes feel a bit drier or firmer on the lashes, even when they don’t clump. They can also be tricky to remove after a long day if you’re not familiar with the proper removal technique.
A good micellar water, such as Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1, can help break down waterproof mascara more gently. You might consider Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara, as many users find it easier to remove than some other waterproof formulas. MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Lash Mascara is especially well-known for its lengthening effect. The brush handle has an excellent grip, making application easier and more controlled. This formula from MAC is designed to be highly water-resistant.
Sensitive Eyes and Sensitive Skin
Blinc’s Amplified Tubing Mascara is one of the most popular water-resistant dark brown options and sells around $26 on Amazon (price may vary). This smudge-proof formula is often recommended for sensitive eyes and leaves lashes looking naturally defined. Many users have trusted Clinique products for years, and High Impact Waterproof Mascara generally receives positive feedback. If you have sensitive eyes, this waterproof formula may be a good option for you. Clinique is great for sensitive eyes, but if you want dramatic length, bold curl, or a cat-eye effect, other mascaras may offer stronger results.
The Drugstore Buildable Formula
This type of formula adds volume from the base to the tips of the lashes thanks to its buildable texture. The application is smooth and easy. The formula also helps the lashes hold their shape throughout the day. Buildable drugstore formulas are designed to avoid clumping and minimize smudging. Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara is one of the most budget-friendly waterproof options (around $8.98 on Amazon, depending on seller) and is a favorite among many users. While it can add drama, it rarely clumps when applied in thin layers. The best part is that it delivers excellent value at an affordable price.
The Volumizing Formula
Volumizing mascaras add thickness to the lashes, making them appear fuller and more dramatic—almost like a set of falsies. With just 2–3 coats, you can create a lush fan of thick, soft lashes that enhance a cat-eye look. Avoid applying too many layers, as this can make the lashes feel heavy or droopy. If you have smaller eyes, a hydrating volumizing formula with conditioning ingredients can help open the eyes and highlight your features. A volumizing formula can give you a fuller lash look while still appearing soft and natural. If you have light-colored eyes (blue, green, or hazel), a colored mascara can enhance your natural eye color. If you want bold, dramatic lashes, try a volumizing mascara like L’Oréal Bambi Eye Waterproof or L’Oréal Lash Paradise. Both are popular for adding noticeable volume.
Hour-glass wand
An hourglass-shaped brush with dense bristles is excellent for building clump-free volume and length, especially for sparse lashes. The hourglass wand distributes product evenly from root to tip, and the mix of long and short bristles helps separate and de-clump the lashes.
The Waterproof Mascaras – Detailed Overview
Eyeko Beach Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
This waterproof mascara by Eyeko London is the perfect choice for anyone who goes to the beach often. It helps volumize and lengthen your lashes, thus giving you the perfect-picture-ready curls. Coconut oil and other conditioning ingredients are included to help keep the lashes soft. The formula includes conditioning ingredients, but there is no evidence that mascaras can provide meaningful UVA/UVB protection for eyelashes. This mascara is designed to perform well in humid or water-exposed environments like beaches and pools. Eyeko Beach Waterproof Mascara curls and lifts your lashes beautifully. This mascara is highly water-resistant and richly pigmented. It is vegan and contains coconut oil and waterproof pigments. The wand applicator has dense bristles, which coat each lash and separate them without clumping.
Buxom Buxom Lash Waterproof Volumizing Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
If you want natural coverage and don’t want to look like you are wearing mascara, then Buxom Buxom Lash Volumizing Mascara is best for a natural appearance. It lengthens and separates the eyelashes and does not flake. Both versions (washable and waterproof) of buxom mascara are great. This mascara brush has small bristles on the end, which is good for reaching the outer eyelashes and giving them a pop look.
A customer rated this mascara five stars on the Ulta website and said if she has to pick mascara for Desert Island, the buxom volumizing mascara is the best choice. A reviewer on the Buxom website shared that this is her all-time favorite mascara, showing how loyal some users are to this formula.
With just two coats, your eyelashes will look fuller and volumized. The mascara brush is featured with small and large bristles; it curls the lashes perfectly and delivers the right product to add volume to your lashes. Its brush also helps to separate upper and lower lashes without being clumpy. Moreover, it is infused with eye-loving, safe ingredients for sensitive and watery eyes. This mascara tends to stay put even when your eyes water during the day. The Buxom Mascara is volumizing and waterproof. It defines and separates lashes perfectly. Buxom mascara is made with vitamin-enriched ingredients, which are clump-resistant. Parabens, Phthalates, and synthetic fragrances are not allowed in the mascara. It also is ophthalmologist-tested. The applicator is shaped like an hourglass and evenly coats the eyelashes.
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
The mascara brush is soft and flexible, providing smooth application, but it’s still best to apply carefully to avoid smearing. It separates eyelashes easily and looks like wispy false lashes after just a few swipes. You can hardly feel it on your lashes. L’Oréal Paris’s mascara is known for lengthening and volumizing lashes. The soft, feathery fringes are created without flaking, clumping, or smudging. The bristle brush is distinctive, with greater than 200 bristles, and gives the best coverage. According to consumer feedback, many users report that the formula lasts throughout the day. The wavy bristles allow you to get plenty of dramatic volume in just a few coats and the mascara will stay put for hours without flaking or running.
L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara Review: Ratings And Buying Guide – 2025 Updated
essence Lash Princess False Lash Waterproof Mascara
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This mascara is a limited edition from Essence Cosmetics’ Princess collection and is stunning. The cone-shaped fiber brush contours each lash to give it volume and definition. It is extremely smooth and does not form clumps or globes. It doesn’t fade, flake, or smudge. You can also wear this mascara guilt-free because it is PETA-certified. False Lash Princess Effect With its new waterproof formula, Waterproof Mascara replicates the original’s voluminous fake lash looks. The fiber brush’s conic form defines and volumizes each lash without causing clumps or globs. Carry on throughout your day without fading or flaking.
This Mascara is ideal for all-day, long-lasting Mascara and does not flake, fade, or wear. It resists tears and light sweat and is designed to last throughout the day. When removing makeup at night, use micellar water or a mild cleanser; coconut oil is suggested if neither works. PETA has approved and recognized Essence cosmetics as a cruelty-free company.
Peripera Ink Black Mascara
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Peripera’s iconic black mascara will lengthen and lift your eyelashes. Each lash appears more defined and lengthened, giving a fuller lash effect. The mascara’s powerful curve technology creates a gel coating that seals your curls. Multiple coats can be applied to increase the volume of your eyelashes. The formula applies smoothly and is designed to avoid sticking or clumping. The wand has been designed to reach the roots of the lashes. It lasts for a long time and doesn’t smear.
Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
You don’t need to spend much money on eyelash extensions when they can be done instantly at home for a fraction of the cost. Illegal Length Fiber Extensions from Maybelline New York includes 4mm fiber extensions (according to the brand), designed to visibly lengthen lashes. They can dramatically increase lash length with just one or two swipes. The fiber-fix brush distributes fibers evenly along each lash for a more lifted and lengthened effect. The formula locks in the fibers and doesn’t break or flake. This formula is ophthalmologist-tested and suitable for contact lens wearers.
Reviewer Vanessa shared that her short, straight lashes look significantly longer with this mascara. Moreover, Vanessa stated that it does not clump, and the thinner wand with shorter bristles makes this mascara ideal for lengthening short lashes. She mentioned that it holds curl well throughout the day and is relatively easy to remove compared to many waterproof formulas.
LANCOME PARIS Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Lancôme states that Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara can last up to 24 hours. This mascara has a creamy texture that coats the lashes evenly for thicker, bolder volume. It is designed to resist smudging and flaking throughout the day. It has super soft bristles and delivers just the right amount. With just one swipe, the mascara instantly adds length and volume thanks to its wax and polymers. A waterproof, high-volume mascara that the brand claims can provide dramatic lash volume for long wear. A large brush and a super-creamy, sweat-proof, smudge-proof product are included—soft, wavy hairs in this brush’s distinctive design offer just the right amount of formula. The silky waxes and polymers in this ultra-creamy composition instantly attach to the lashes for dramatic, extendable volume.
Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Pacifica Beauty mascara contains natural ingredients such as coconut oil, kelp extract, and vitamin B. These ingredients moisturize your lashes and add volume. The 100% vegan brush is extremely soft and separates each eye to give a fuller look. Its gentle formula makes it a good option for people with sensitive eyes.
Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Bang Waterproof Volumizing Mascara
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Badgal Bang volumizing mascara creates massive volume without weighing down the lashes. The formula is gravity-defying and includes aero-particles, one of the lightest-weight materials inspired by space technology. This revolutionary, black and intense mascara is easy to layer to create a larger and more powerful impact. The large brush is designed to be streamlined for corners-to-root and corner-to-corner, as well as lower and upper lashes for large volume and 360 deg of reach. Benefit Cosmetics claims that BADgal Bang can last up to 36 hours.
Miss Jennifer Trice shared her full experience of how she gets length and fullness with the separation of each lash in just two coats. She loves the skinny wand that is good to reach the outer and inner corners of the eyes and get each lash. Furthermore, she said if you keep adding too much all at once, it can clump. So, take it slow; it is a great mascara to add length and volume to lashes.
Best Lengthening – MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Lash Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
The unique shape of the wand allows it a perfect tool for applying a steady coat. The brush handle has an excellent grip, making the application easily buildable. MAC In Extreme does not lift lashes as much as they claim. It is difficult to remove but becomes easy with the proper makeup remover. It’s designed to define and lengthen the lashes, though it can feel slightly heavy with multiple coats. MAC claims it lengthens the lashes while maintaining a natural appearance.
Ashley Boulle recently bought the MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Lash Mascara from Amazon on May 10, 2024, and shared her experience to help people. Miss Ashley has a habit of constantly rubbing her eyes, which led her to search for a strong waterproof formula with smudge-proof properties. She has finally found the MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Lash Mascara. Furthermore, she stated that it provides full coverage and full lashes, with no smudging if she rubs her eyes. The only downside she experienced was that it was hard to remove at the end of the day.
COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Covergirl is famous for its most popular mascaras. They help separate the lashes and create a natural-looking, defined finish. The brush comes with two sides. One side is used to apply the product onto the lashes, the other to remove any lumps. Some reviews on Amazon and Byrdie websites suggest that it may take many coats to get a significant volume. This is pretty good if you desire an ethereal, voluminous appearance. Additionally, this mascara is the top pick at Byrdie.
Mostory Lash Length Waterproof Mascara
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Mostory Lash Length Mascara volumizes and lengthens the eyelashes. You will receive a rubber brush to apply the mascara individually to create a natural look. This highly pigmented mascara will lengthen your lashes. It’s waterproof, long-lasting, and smudge-proof. It is designed to resist clumping and flaking during daily wear. It is hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive eyes.
Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
The Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara can help you achieve dramatic, full-volume lashes with buildable coverage. The mascara has a simple twist-off applicator that makes it easy and convenient. It offers strong waterproof performance and works for most skin types.
Why Better Than Sex Mascara is highly popular? Read the full review.
COVERGIRL Lash Exact Mascara Waterproof
Price at time of publish: Check price at Amazon.
Covergirl Lash exact Mascara is highly pigmented and waterproof. The product is safe for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes. It is clump-free mascara. It has a patented technology brush to help you achieve your desired look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Waterproof mascaras contain film-forming polymers and waxes that adhere to lashes and resist moisture.
Yes, if you choose a true waterproof formula designed for water exposure.
Most experts recommend not setting waterproof mascara with powder, as it may affect the formula’s performance.
Final Verdict
Waterproof mascara is ideal for heat, sweat, tears, and water exposure. To avoid irritation, always remove waterproof mascara gently at the end of the day using an appropriate remover. Choose your favorite from this list and enjoy long-lasting lashes with less smudging and more confidence.