The 8 best waterproof mascaras that will withstand sweat, showers and tears
These are the waterproof mascaras we reach for when they want long-wearing lashes that don't flake, or smudge – whatever the weather
A summary of this article: We’ve tested dozens of waterproof mascaras to find the ultimate list of "withstands-all-weather" formulas. Our top pick for standout, volumised lashes is Benefit's BADgal BANG! Waterproof Mascara, while best for length and lift goes to the waterproof version of Lancôme's Lash Idôle. Meanwhile, our favourite budget buy is Essence Lash Princess Waterproof.
Mascara might do well at curling, volumising and lengthening the lashes, but resisting water isn't its strongest suit. Unless, of course, we're talking about the best waterproof mascaras.
Even the best mascaras can't withstand watery eyes or rain, resulting in smudging or tracks running down your cheeks. From sweaty gym sessions to damp wintery weather, if you're anything like us, you may find your carefully-applied mascara and perfected lashes tend to falter as soon as you step outside.
Fortunately, that's where the best waterproof mascaras come into play, working to accentuate your lashes while staying put all day long. Whether you're looking for the best mascara for straight lashes or the best volumising mascara, these are the top water-resistant formulas to suit every budget...
The best waterproof mascara deals
The 8 best waterproof mascaras, reviewed by a beauty editor
RRP: £27 | Shades: Black
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Many waterproof versions of well-loved mascaras tend to have slightly different results to the original option, but we couldn't see much of a difference between Badgal BANG! and the non-waterproof edition. Not only that, but as well as not smudging all over the place when met with water the defined look stayed largely intact. As for how it feels to wear, I find it doesn't feel too drying through the day, which may be down to the conditioning provitamin B5 in the formula.
I will say that if you prefer a fluttery, delicate and understated lash look, this probably won't be the right waterproof mascara for you; results are heavy on the drama. But if you want impactful lashes and an ultra-black finish, and you need them to resist pool water or tears, you can put your trust in this one. One of the best Benefit mascaras and best waterproof mascaras all in one.
Pros
- Creates impactful volume
- Adds length in a few swipes
- Tapered brush fits into lashes nicely
Cons
- Results will be too dramatic for some preferences
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
RRP: £30 | Shades: Black
There are so many brilliant Lancôme mascaras that one of the brand's waterproof options had to make the cut. Like its non-water-withstanding counterpart, we found the Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara creates beautifully fluttery, lengthened lashes thanks to multi-length bristles that catch on to every lash. It really struck us how wet this formula is, where a lot of waterproof mascaras are quite dry.
While we always recommend curling your lashes first, thanks to its angled brush head you can really wiggle this wand into the root of the lashes to lift them, making it one of the best mascaras for straight lashes in particular or those who just don't love curling their lashes. The formula is a little drier than the original, as is common with waterproof mascaras, but the results are still really pretty and left our lashes feeling slightly flexible. Best of all, though, it didn't smudge all over the place when met with water, so it's one that you can rely on.
Reasons to buy: Angled brush works well at lifting lashes
Reasons to avoid: Difficult to fault, but quite pricey for mascara
RRP: £3.99 | Shades: Black
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
We don't think that anybody out there would test this mascara and not be wowed given its almost ridiculously low price tag. The original Essence Lash Princess mascara is consistently the number one best-selling mascara on Amazon, so we had high expectations for its waterproof little sister – and thankfully, she delivers!
Lash Princess Waterproof strikes that great balance between adding length and volume with a lovely jet-black finish. Sure, there are more luxuriously-packaged mascaras out there, but performance is what counts, and this mascara withstands water without getting all clumpy. If you want or need to spend as little as possible on your waterproof mascara without compromising on results, give this a whirl. (Read our original Essence Lash Princess False Eyelash Effect mascara review to learn more about the original viral favourite.)
Pros
- Very affordable at just £4
- Lengthens well with a nice touch of volume
Cons
- Packaging isn't particularly chic or luxurious
RRP: £22 | Shades: Black, brown
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
While more and more iconic mascaras are launching in brown, often, waterproof editions are only available in black. So we were pleased to see that Beauty Pie's also comes in a rich brown shade, pictured above, that still delivers on definition. We loved the curved brush, fitting into the roots of our lashes to really lift and separate them out, and that it added a nice amount of
Effect-wise, lashes look velvety with a perfect balance of length and volume. (If you want more of one than the other, we'd recommend looking to Lancôme for length and Benefit or Too Faced for mega volume.) But for a generally great performance in multiple shades, this ticks the boxes.
Pros
- Creates a velvety lash look
- Comes in brown as well as black
Cons
- Requires a membership for the lower price
RRP: £12.99 | Shades: Black
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Springing onto the makeup scene just a few years ago, the original Maybelline Sky High Mascara quickly found viral fame on social media. It remains one of the go-to affordable options on the market, touted by many as one of the best lengthening mascaras. So it was very well received when those sky-high capabilities were made pool-ready, too, in the form of this waterproof edition.
Like the original, we found that it’s best for those who want to add length more than volume. And though it does feel a little drier on application, we found that it still adds a decent amount of length. But most importantly, it stayed put when met with water. Combined with a slim brush, all this makes it a great choice of mascara on bottom lashes, too. We think it's a brilliant option if you can't afford to splash out on a more luxurious price tag, and a great one to take on any holidays.
Pros
- Adds a nice amount of length, lift and separation
- Reasonable price point
Cons
- Drier than the original and not quite as lengthening
RRP: £13 | Shades: Black
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
If the thought – let alone the feel – of rock-hard lashes makes you cringe, this option from UKLASH is a very worthy contender for your new waterproof mascara. With a handy curved brush we found fits right into the roots for easy application that builds well, our lashes felt soft and feather-like while wearing this flexible formula. In other words, there's no danger of crispy-feeling, dried-out lashes come lunchtime.
Despite the name, we found the volume of this mascara's results is on the understated side – so if you prefer standout, dramatic volume to a more natural look you may want to look into one of the volumising options earlier in our guide. But if fluttery and elegant-looking lashes are your bag, trust us that this lovely buy will see you through a trip to the beach and then some.
Pros
- Creates subtle, fluttery results
- Flexible formula doesn't dry out on lashes
- Curved brush fits roots of the lashes nicely
Cons
- Won't suit those who want voluminous, dramatic results
RRP: £28 | Shades: Black
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
One of the most popular and best volumising mascaras, the original Better Than Sex mascara's reputation precedes it, and those mega lifting and volumising capabilities also come in a waterproof edition. As with the original, the hourglass-shaped wand catches sparser lashes at the corners of the eye brilliantly, lifting them up to add great volume to your lashes.
The formula has also been designed with your lashes in mind, thanks to moisturising porcelain flower extract, and has an ultra-black finish. If volume is your number one priority, you can rest easy knowing that this one will last you through any occasions where waterproof mascara is required. And on a completely aesthetic note, the bubbled design of the packaging is pretty satisfying, no?
Pros
- Adds an excellent amount of volume
- Fluffy, hourglass-shaped brush
- Formula contains moisturising ingredients
Cons
- Won't suit those who want a natural look
RRP: £27 | Shades: Black
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
MACStack soon went viral for its impressive buildability, and the brand launched a waterproof edition just a year later. What sets it apart is that it's described as being infinitely buildable – or "stackable" – with some users demonstrating the ability to apply up to 40 or even 100 stacks. This premise has been carried through to the waterproof edition.
As well as its buildability, we loved the fanned-out volume this mascara creates. As is common with many waterproof mascaras, we'd note that it can be a little tricky to remove. However, this is testament to its lasting power and nothing that a good bi-phase makeup remover can't handle (see our guide on how to remove waterproof mascara for help in that department). In short, if you want to really be able to build volume with your mascara without the risk of clumping, we say this is a great one for the job.
Pros
- Impressively buildable
- Creates fluffy-looking volume
Cons
- A little difficult to remove
How we tested the best waterproof mascaras
Every mascara featured here, plus others that didn't make the cut, was thoroughly tested to see how well it stays in place when faced with water. But during the rigorous testing process, we also took note of all of the following factors to determine how good of a mascara it is overall, and conclude if it was worthy of a place in this guide.
- How well it withstood water
- Ease of application
- How well it wore throughout the day
- If it clumped, flaked, or dried out lashes
- Shades available
- Packaging
- Price and value for money
How to choose the best waterproof mascara
- Formula: Waterproof mascara can be drying, so look for one with nourishing ingredients to avoid putting extra strain your lashes.
- Waterproof vs sweat resistant: If you plan to go swimming, you definitely want a waterproof formula. But if you merely want something something sweat resistant, a tubing formula may be sufficient, and gentler on the lashes.
- Budget: Always a key consideration, but it's worth considering how much you want to invest and potentially re-spend on a mascara.
- Removal: Even the best cleansers aren't always optimised to remove waterproof mascara formulas. Instead, invest in a dedicated make-up remover. Your lashes will thank you.
- Colour: Most waterproof mascaras only come in black. If you're looking for a lighter shade, your choices become a little more restricted. For brown, we recommend Beauty Pie's The Perfect Waterproof Mascara in Superglossy Brown.
What is the difference between waterproof and water-resistant mascara?
The clue is in the name: waterproof mascaras are designed to survive very wet situations, like swimming in the sea or a pool, and can take being completely submerged. Water-resistant formulas, on the other hand, can handle a bit of moisture, such as sweat or slightly watery eyes, but aren't quite as hardy.
Are there any downsides to waterproof mascara?
It's true that there are some very general downsides to a water-repelling mascara. "Some waterproof mascaras can stick to the lashes like glue and are very difficult to remove at the end of the day," explains Nima Pourian, UKLASH founder. "This can lead to excessive rubbing of the eyes or even cause some mascara to stay on the eyelashes – both of which can cause unnecessary lash fall-out and can make your eyelashes weaker." Not only do you want a good-quality formula, therefore, but knowing how to remove waterproof mascara properly is also a must.
If you aren't planning on swimming or shedding a few tears, makeup artist and podcast host Rose Gallagher recommends trying one of the best tubing mascaras, instead, as they're that little bit easier to remove and will resist smudging. However: "If you’re going on holiday you’re going to need it, because if tubing mascara removes with water, a pool would obliterate it!" she stresses.
Our expert panel
Lucy Abbersteen is a freelance beauty editor and one of woman&home's contributing beauty editor. With close to a decade of experience in the industry, she's tested hundreds of mascaras, including many waterproof formulas – making her well-placed to revisit them for this guide and rank the very best.
Rose Gallagher is a professional makeup artist and content creator, plus an ambassador for skincare and makeup brand IT Cosmetics. As a MUA, she's tried many mascaras both on her own lashes and clients, meaning she's well placed to advise – including on waterproof formulas.
Nima Pourian is the founder of UKLASH, makers of one of the best waterproof mascaras featured in this guide. He also shared some insights into some of the sticking points of waterproof formulas.