Erin Jahns
I don’t know about you, but us beauty editors can all distinctly remember the day we bought our first tubes of waterproof mascara. It was always in middle school, it was always for a summer pool party, and it was always from the drugstore. Just ask Who What Wear’s beauty editor, Erin Jahns, whose eyelashes broke in half after using a chalky formula she acquired in the 6th grade. Or take 13-year-old me, who scrubbed at her face with Cetaphil face wash for what felt like hours until giving up, the waxy formula finally shedding itself days later.
However, it wasn’t until we both blossomed into beauty editors that we learned just how life changing a well-formulated waterproof mascara could be. I mean, flake- and smudge-free lacquer that finely coats our lashes, gives us a boost of volume, holds a curl (I’m convinced only waterproof formulas do this well), and lasts in both the water and heat? Gimme 14 of ‘em right now.
"Waterproof mascara works due to its unique formulation that incorporates water-resistant ingredients," explains cosmetic beauty chemist David Petrillo. "It contains hydrophobic polymers that form a protective barrier around the lashes, preventing water from causing smudging or running.” Information in tow, we consulted beauty industry professionals to get their personal recommendations of winning formulas and tested our own—sweating, swimming, and shedding a few tears in these no-budge mascaras.
Below, the 13 that came highly recommended and passed our rigorous tests.
The Best Waterproof Mascaras, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara
- Best Overall, Runner-Up: Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing & Lengthening Waterproof Mascara
- Best Splurge: Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara
- Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Volume Building Waterproof Mascara
- Best Lengthening: Milk Makeup Waterproof Rise Lifting + Lengthening Mascara
- Best Brown: L’oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
The Best Waterproof Mascaras of 2025
Best Overall: Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Lifts and curls lashes, sensitive-eye safe, long-wearing
Woes: Expensive, may dry out quickly
Size: 0.33 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Includes conditioning cotton nectar
Celebrity makeup artists Mia Jones and Janice Kinjo praise the waterproof alter ego of Dior's aptly named iconic mascara. If you love a lifted and voluminous lash look with zero flaking, this mascara is worth the investment. "Dior mascaras are so luxurious as an experience and formula, and this waterproof one is exceptional," Jones notes. "It's also safe for my sensitive skin and contact-wearing eyes!"
Customer review: "The look this mascara gives you is fabulous, and the ability to layer it while it still keeps your lashes separated is great. It can also get those harder lashes on the edges to look more cat eye. Easy to remove but stays put until then. Hooked on this mascara, and I have tried them all."
Alyssa Brascia wearing the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara.
Best Overall, Runner-Up: Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing & Lengthening Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Lengthening, curl-enhancing, no-flake wear with lots of volume
Woes: Can be messy due to its thick brush and the amount of product
Size: 0.27 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Conditions lashes
Dare we say that we like the waterproof version more than the original? If you want dramatically long and thick lashes in rain, sleet, snow, sweat, and tears, this is the formula you'll want in your arsenal. This volumizing formula packs a punch, leaving lush, thickened lashes in its place without looking goopy. Its inky black lacquer adds considerable length and curl to my lashes without the spider effect that I often get with the regular Better Than Sex formula (I’m sorry, it’s the truth!) and is enhanced with lash- ingredients like omega oils, peptides, and porcelain flower extract. However, I do want to warn you to be mindful of the size of the brush, which is decidedly thick and can create a messy application process on the bottom lashes if you don’t use a light hand.
Customer review: "I've tried hundreds of mascaras, and this one has blown my mind. It's by far the best, and I highly recommend it. I have very small eyes and short lashes, but this holds a curl and adds so much volume and length!"
Alyssa Brascia applying the Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing & Lengthening Waterproof Mascara.
Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Volume Building Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Affordable, thickening, lengthening, even application
Woes: Difficult to remove and may flake or dry out quickly.
Size: 0.28 oz. | Shades: 2 | Key Benefits: Resists clumps while boosting volume
Jones and celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney cosigned this budget-friendly waterproof mascara as one of the best of all time. "This is a classic mascara, and it creates thick and full lashes," Henney tells me. "It's a great drugstore option that I've loved for years!" (Psst! Jones also says it's an absolute staple for weddings or other big events when emotions—aka tears—may be running high.)
Customer review: "The brush does a great job of grabbing and coating my lashes. The waterproof component also really holds up against watery eyes. Lastly, it has an affordable price tag even though it outperforms brands going for twice the price. I always carry a second one in my purse!"
Best Brown: L'Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Affordable, gentle formula, great for separation
Woes: Can dry out quickly, difficult to remove
Size: 0.25 oz. | Shades: 3 | Key Benefits: Bold color with major staying power
Kinjo has two favorite drugstore formulas, one of which is this top-rated waterproof mascara from L'Oréal Paris, which she says is superb for holding curl and volumizing with absolutely no smudging. Not only is it affordable, but it’s also gentle enough for sensitive eyes, provides lots of length and volume, and offers gorgeous separation thanks to its fanned brush that can catch every last lash in one fell swoop.
Customer review: "This is absolutely the best of the "drugstore" options for waterproof mascara. I have tried them all, and they all flake or smudge or clump. All of them EXCEPT this one. Benefit from my mistakes and just buy this one. You won't regret it."
Best Lengthening: Milk Makeup Waterproof Rise Lifting and Lengthening Mascara
Wins: Lengthens, lifts, curls, and adds subtle volume
Woes: May transfer after a few hours of sweating or being in the water
Size: 0.23 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Paraben-free, conditions lashes
Our editors have waxed poetic about the regular version of this Milk Makeup mascara, and we found ourselves falling for the waterproof version just as hard. "I love how it separated and lengthened my lashes,” editor Natalie Gray Herder gushed. “The lift lasted all day and even survived a six-hour plane ride. No transfer, flaking, or smudging, but comes off easily with my cleansing balm. Five stars!"
Customer review: "I am in love. This stuff coats every lash, doesn't clump up easy on me, and doesn't weigh down my lashes. Super lengthening and volumizing. I've had people ask me if I have fake lashes on. OBSESSED!"
Best Lengthening, for Less: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Super low price, no-flake formula, lasts in water and humidity
Woes: Not volumizing
Size: 0.42 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Fragrance, oil, and paraben-free
Bethenny Frankel was the first to turn me onto Essence Cosmetics’ ultra-cheap, yet high-performing mascaras, and I was pleasantly surprised when this waterproof formula became one of my favorites. This ophthalmologist-tested formula never irritates my sensitive, contacts-clad eyes, and its fibrous formula makes my flutters look long but never clumpy thanks to its thin wand (which offers the control I crave when coating my lower lashline). I rely on this $5 mascara for everything from beach days to sweaty cycle classes and even funerals… okay, I’ve said enough.
Customer review: "This mascara has all pros and no cons. I have used it for a month so far and my love has only been growing. I have used all price ranges of mascara from ridiculously expensive to drug store brands. This is the first that has not disappointed."
Alyssa Brascia holding a tube of Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara.
Best for Swimming: L'Oreal Paris Makeup Original Telescopic Lengthening Mascara
Wins: Natural look, separates lashes
Woes: Not the most noticeable
Size: 0.27 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Ophthalmologist and allergy-tested
If you’re going for a dip, you likely don’t want a full-glam mascara moment happening. This lash-lengthening mascara is a great pick for anyone who wants a natural, my-lashes-but-better look for a day on the beach or in the lap pool.
Customer review: “As an Asian with stubborn, straight lashes, I can say proudly that this holds the curl. Best mascara I've ever tried because normally all mascaras are too wet or too heavy on my lashes. Will forever be my favorite mascara.”
Best for Humidity: Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Lengthens, curls, volumizes; lightweight formula that doesn’t compromise lift
Woes: Expensive, may be difficult to remove
Size: 0.27 | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Up to 24 hours of smudge-free wear
This mascara recently won our crowning title for "best mascara" because it checks all our boxes: amazing length, lift, curl, volume, and long-wearing. Not surprisingly, its waterproof counterpart is just as impressive. It gives you that coveted fan effect, and the brush easily grabs and coats every last lash.
Customer review: "Amazing waterproof mascara!! I live in Florida, and it's hot and humid here year-round. This mascara survives and stays where I put it! I haven't had any issues removing this mascara. It easily wipes away with waterproof makeup remover. This one is a keeper."
Alyssa Brascia wearing the Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara.
Best for Lash Separation: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Lash-fanning brush, visibly lifts and lengthens
Woes: Lacks volume
Size: 0.24 oz. | Shades: 2 | Key Benefits: Dermatologist, ophthalmologist, and allergy-tested
TikTok might have made this affordable drugstore favorite ultra-famous, but it's always been a favorite among editors and makeup artists. It's an especially great pick if you crave lots of length, lift, and separation. If you want tons of volume, it's probably not what you're looking for. (Just being honest!)
Customer review: "It's so amazing—it makes my lashes pop, and I get compliments every time I wear it. I used to buy the regular, but I switched and tried the waterproof, and it is to die for!!!"
Best for Sensitive Eyes: MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara
Pros: Smudge-proof, long-wearing, gentle formula
Cons: Tough to remove
Size: 0.20 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: Up to 16 hour waterproof wear, mineral-enriched formula
This was yet another waterproof mascara that came highly recommended by our celeb makeup artist experts. "This mascara is beautiful for a more delicate, feathered lash look, and it's smudge-proof, which I love," says Henney. "Plus, the brush wand is super fine, which is great for application and getting even the tiniest lashes."
Customer review: "I use this every day over other more volumizing mascaras. On its own, I don't find it to be very volumizing, but it totally seals whatever mascara I layer it over and makes it smudge-proof and very black. It's also the only mascara I've found I can use on my long lower lashes and not get raccoon eyes. I do a double cleanse to remove my makeup and don't find it at all difficult to remove."
Best for Lash Growth: Ere Perez Avocado Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Natural ingredients, long-wearing, nourishes lashes
Cons: May smudge throughout the day due to natural composition
Size: 0.35 oz. | Shades: 2 | Key Benefits: Sensitive eye-friendly, smudge-resistant
Looking for a supernatural formula with the same, or perhaps even better, efficacy as its less-natural counterparts? Then you'll want to add this best-selling waterproof mascara from Ere Perez to your cart. It provides volume and features strategic ingredients like mamey and avocado oils, which may help stimulate growth and promote lash strength over time. It also won't budge for 24 hours.
Customer review: "This mascara is so amazing. I bought it for my wedding, and it stayed put all day through sweat, tears, and a post-party swim. No flaking, no smudging, nothing, and makes my lashes look great! Easy to remove with an oil cleanser. Will buy again and again!"
Best Repeat Purchase: Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara
Wins: Affordable, separates lashes, lengthens, doesn’t clump
Woes: May dry out quickly, can be difficult to remove
Size: 0.43 oz. | Shades: 1 | Key Benefits: No flaking or clumping, long-wearing
An oldie but a goodie, this as-classic-as-it-gets mascara is Kinjo's other top waterproof pick if you're shopping at the drugstore. "This is such a classic mascara," Kinjo tells me. "It holds a curl, there's no flaking, and it's always reliable. It has never smudged by the end of the day!"
Customer review: "I have been using this waterproof mascara since I was a junior in high school in 1971! I'm 69, and I just bought it again. Easy to use, no clumping, and it stays on. Great product."
Best Wand: SheGlam All-In-One Volume and Length Mascara
Wins: Budget-friendly, buildable for bespoke length and volume
Woes: May dry out quickly and clump
Size: Not listed | Shades: 2 | Key Benefits: 2-in-1 design
The fact that this mascara is two mascaras in one makes the under-$5 price tag all the more amazing. If you want more separation and length (rather than volume), opt for the curved silicone brush. Want more drama? Use the other side, which is fluffier.
Customer review: "It's the best mascara I've ever found. I have light, thin, SUPER straight eyelashes, and I can't keep them curled no matter what I do. This mascara made them longer, thicker, and sky-high all day. I came back here to immediately buy two more bottles because I never want to be without it."
What to Look for in a Waterproof Mascara
After talking to multiple makeup artists, I learned a few things to consider when trying a new waterproof mascara. First, you should make sure the formula is lightweight but still able to provide ample volume. "If the formula is too heavy or wet right off the bat when you're applying your first coat, it won't layer properly," celebrity makeup artist Mia Jones explains. "This can frequently happen with waterproof formulas, but layering mascara is a part of the experience of creating the perfect lash, [and] therefore very important when considering a waterproof formula."
Second, it can't smudge or transfer. While that might be considered a given with waterproof formulas, some aren't as bulletproof as others, especially if you run or oily or wear creams and other products around your eye area. "The ultimate waterproof mascara won't smudge or transfer to the skin in any climate," notes celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney. "I need to know the mascara I'm putting on my clients will stay on for their events and appearances."
What makes waterproof mascara different from regular mascara?
“The mascara's wax or oil base helps it adhere to the lashes and resist breakdown when exposed to moisture,” explains Petrillo. “Silicone derivatives enhance water resistance and create a flexible film on the lashes, offering additional protection." These film-forming agents allow the mascara to form a thin waterproof film once it dries, locking the pigment in its place no matter the humidity or heat of an environment.
What ingredients should I look for?
How a waterproof mascara is formulated is also crucial. Curious about how waterproof mascara ingredients differ from regular options, I asked Petrillo to break it down.
- Water-resistant polymers: According to Petrillo, waterproof mascaras contain specific water-resistant polymers that aren't found in non-waterproof tubes. "These polymers create a protective barrier around the lashes, preventing water from causing the mascara to smudge or run," he explains. These hydrophobic polymers can often be found in your ingredient list as acrylates copolymers, styrene/acrylates copolymers, or polyurethane-35.
- Wax or oil base: "Waterproof mascaras often have a higher concentration of waxes or oils than regular mascaras," Petrillo notes. "This helps the mascara adhere better to the lashes and provides additional water repellency." Examples of these include beeswax and carnauba wax.
- Silicone derivatives: Certain waterproof mascaras will also include silicone derivatives, which further increase their water resistance by creating a flexible film on the lashes. Dimethicone is a common example found in many different kinds of makeup products, from mascara to foundation.
- Film-forming agents: Petrillo shares that these agents are more prevalent in waterproof mascaras. Once the mascara dries, he says, it forms a thin, waterproof film, ensuring it stays in place even when exposed to water or humidity. An example would be isododecane.
How can I safely remove waterproof mascara?
If you've avoided waterproof mascaras in the past due to how terrorizing the removal process is, I get it. To help make the process easier, our makeup artist experts are sharing their best tips.
- Tip #1: Swap cotton balls for rounds or swabs. "Always use cotton rounds and not cotton balls," shares Kinjo. "Cotton balls will leave cotton residue on your lashes, and that's more work at the end of a long day. Cotton rounds are gentler and won't leave cotton lint. My go-to is Swisspers Cotton Rounds ($4). I also love using DHC's Olive Virgin Oil Swabs ($10). They are cotton buds pre-moistened with organic olive oil. These individually wrapped buds remove all the stubborn mascara residue that your eye makeup remover didn't get, and they're great for travel."
- Tip #2: Try a cleansing balm. "I love a cleansing balm to start the process," says Henney. "My go-to is Rationale Cleansing Balm ($111)." She recommends massaging it all over the face and using a warm damp washcloth to remove it. Then, use your normal cleanser to finish the cleansing process.
- Tip #3: An oil-based eye makeup remover. "I haven't met a waterproof formula that doesn't need an oil-based product for removal. I recommend gently massaging an oil-based makeup remover into the lashes with your fingertips before cleansing the eye area."
How We Tested
Here at Who What Wear, we take personal testing and product recommendations from experts we trust seriously. We started by doing our research on the best mascaras on the market today—looking at new launches and old products equally to determine which has the best quality and fairest prices.
Then, we consulted a team of celebrity makeup artists and beauty chemists to get their insights into the chemical breakdown of waterproof mascaras and their personal recommendations. From there, we tested several waterproof wares—Jahns first writing up this guide and associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia reassessing the picks for efficacy years later. Above, the waterproof mascaras that stood the test of time, surviving sweat, swimming pools, and teary eyes.
Meet the Experts
- David Petrillo is a cosmetic beauty chemist and founder of Perfect Image.
- Janice Kinjo is a celebrity makeup artist and men's groomer out of New York and LA.
- Tobi Henney is a celebrity makeup artist who boasts a client roster that includes Mila Kunis, Barbara Palvin, and more.
- Mia Jones is a celebrity makeup artist who works with Riley Keough, Kaia Gerber, and more.
This article was written at an earlier date and has since been updated.
-
Nordstrom Has Some Super-Effective (and On-Sale) Skincare Products—These 13 Will Sell Out FirstMidsummer skincare reset, anyone?
-
Not Black, Not Brown: The "Polarizing" Mascara Color Dua Lipa Inspired Me to Wear All SummerKiss the basics goodbye.
-
After Testing Tons of Amazon Beauty Products, I Won't Shut Up About These 24 On-Sale ItemsThey're officially editor approved.
-
Lucky Me—3 of My Tried-and-True Summer Beauty Staples Are Majorly on Sale RNFrom a do-it-all SPF to a glow-boosting body butter.
-
"You Would Think I Was on Latisse": Keke Palmer on the Lengthening Mascara She Loves for Natural LashesShe absolutely loves it.
-
I Believe in High-Low Shopping—4 Drugstore-Luxury Pairings I Swear Were Made for Each OtherSoulmates in another life.
-
I'm a Beauty Editor, and I Think Hailey Bieber's Go-To Mascara Is Vastly UnderratedShe never gatekeeps a good beauty product.
-
Beauty Editors Know Bluemercury Has the Best Niche Beauty Products—12 (On-Sale!) Hidden GemsSome items are up to 50% off.
