The 14 Best Waterproof Mascaras, According to Glamour Editors
Few things deliver such instant satisfaction as longer, darker lashes. The best waterproof mascaras do all that and more. A really great formula takes everything you love about the all-time best mascaras—falsie-level length, major volume, long wear—and gives it the power to withstand whatever you throw at it, whether that's a beach day, a workout, or your run-of-the-mill grocery run on an 80-degree summer day.
But waterproof formulas are also notoriously tricky. By nature, tough-acting, sweat-proof options tend to be drier, clump faster, and leave your lashes feeling brittle and hard. Or they're a huge pain to take off at the end of the day. So if you're new to the game or you're still wondering whether the perfect waterproof mascara really does exist, here are a few basics to keep in mind.
Is waterproof mascara better than regular mascara?
There's no clear-cut answer here because choosing a waterproof mascara largely depends on what any given day looks like for you. If you have a sweaty yoga class coming up, opting for a smudge-proof formula might be your best bet. The same goes if you live in a humidity hellscape, which can wreak havoc on even the most minimal no-makeup makeup look. But if you have fine or fragile lashes, you might want to avoid heavy-duty water-resistant formulas, since taking them off could tug or pull your lashes out.
How to remove waterproof mascara
The last thing you want to do is damage or lose lashes while taking your makeup off, so arming yourself with a great makeup remover is key. Soak a reusable cotton pad with a liquid formula or gently hold a micellar wipe to your lashes for 10 seconds to remove—just be sure not to rub or tug on the delicate eye area. If stubborn remnants continue to cling to your lashes, try nudging it free with a soaked Q-tip.
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's talk options. We polled Glamour editors with strong opinions on the topic, and they didn't hold back in their reviews. Here are the best waterproof mascaras that withstand workouts, Nicholas Sparks movies, Queer Eye marathons, and—yes—even your best friend's wedding.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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1/14
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
I have extremely sensitive eyes and eyelids (love you too, eczema), so I'm always in the virtual clean beauty aisle when looking for mascara. This is by far my favorite lengthening formula—it separates so easily and gives the appearance of wispy false lashes after just a few swipes. The best part is it doesn't weight my lashes down and I can't actually feel that it's on, so I never catch myself rubbing my eye area throughout the day. —Shanna Shipin, contributing editor
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2/14
Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Waterproof Mascara
I'm all about piling on coats of mascara, and Lancome's formula is one of the few to produce no flakes or fallout. It doesn't budge against sweat and humidity, while keeping my lashes soft and fluttery (shoutout to the conditioning white tea extract) and the angled brush helps pick up every single hair. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor
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3/14
Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal Waterproof Mascara
I’m the kind of person who has to curl their eyelashes before applying mascara, and this one from Maybelline is one of the rare few that are great for holding those curls in place. My preferred technique is to wiggle the bristles into the base of my lashes, and then if I want a little lift, I’ll gently stamp them against my waterline. Drama, drama, drama! —Talia Abbas, senior commerce editor
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4/14
MILK MAKEUP KUSH Waterproof Mascara
Milk Makeup’s Kush waterproof mascara is my go-to for adding volume, thickness, and drama to my lashes. I can even wear it on my undereye lashes, and it doesn’t budge, clump, or irritate my (very sensitive) eyes. I especially love that it comes in a tiny travel size, so I can seamlessly tote it to work, on trips, and even in the most microscopic makeup bags. —Danielle Sinay, associate beauty editor
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5/14
Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! Volumizing Waterproof Mascara
Benefit Cosmetics' mascara is basically beauty legend at this point, and their waterproof offering does not disappoint. It has all the dramatic volume of the beauty brand's beloved mascaras, but with a waterproof formula that stays put. I'm also a huge fan of the brush, which picks up even the tiniest under eye lashes. —A.Y.
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6/14
CoverGirl Exhibitionist Mascara
It doesn’t take much to make me cry: a viral random act of kindness tweet, the first three bars of any song from Les Misérables, a random text from my tween brother…you get the idea. There’s a 50% chance that I’m weeping or close to it at all times; thus strong waterproof mascara is a must in my beauty routine. CoverGirl’s new Exhibitionist mascara is the best of the tear-free bunch I’ve tried this year. Not only is it a waterproof mascara that held up through the final scene of A Star Is Born (twice), but it’s the easiest mascara out there to apply. Just two coats give me natural, feathery lashes. —Halie Lesavage, contributor
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7/14
Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
Diorshow Mascara is one of those beauty staples I’ll always have on hand. It’s the ideal formula because it lengthens and add volume to your lashes, but is buildable and allows you to personalize your glam depending on your mood. Just a few extra coats delivers a super-dramatic look and goes a long way. Plus, it's waterproof! —D.S.
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8/14
ImperialLash Waterproof Mascara Ink
I always cry at weddings, whether the person standing up there is my little sister or my boyfriend's third cousin whom I met five minutes ago. And this mascara has lasted through multiple ceremonies and their subsequent sob sessions. I like how it lengthens and thickens my lashes without any clumps, but its waterproof feature is what has really made it a nonnegotiable for the wedding circuit. —Deanna Pai, contributor
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9/14
The Super Sizer Big Curl Waterproof Mascara
You know a waterproof mascara is The Good Stuff when it can last through an entire Nicholas Sparks movie, which is exactly what this drugstore formula did. The thin brush hooks on to every individual lash, giving you really fanned-out lashes. It didn't even clump when (major spoiler!) a character in The Best of Me dies. —Anna Moeslein, deputy editor
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10/14
Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara
I am super picky about mascaras. I want clump-free volume. I want staying power plus the ability to wash it away with only a gentle cleanser. And I never, ever want smudges. For all of these reasons, Chanel mascaras have been a longtime favorite of mine. The wand on this formula delivers major volume in one coat, and when I checked for smudges at 3 p.m., nothing had budged from my lashes. —Macaela Mackenzie, contributor
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11/14
L'Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Waterproof Mascara
This mascara took home the W from our Glamour Beauty Awards in 2019. Its two-step formula, which features a black primer on one side and a fiber booster on the other, lets you create lashes with an equal amount of volume and length. One of our judges even said it rivals the best falsies. I can wholeheartedly confirm. —T.A.
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12/14
GUERLAIN Noir G Volumizing & Curling Waterproof Mascara
I typically stay away from waterproof mascaras since I find they clump more easily and can look dry after a bit, but I started using Guerlain’s Noir G without even realizing it was waterproof and kept remarking how moisturizing it was. It never flaked or left me with raccoon eyes after a long day of wear. The brush is curled, which I love, and the pigment is so great, giving me the look of false lashes without having to do all that extra work. —Jessica Radloff, senior West Coast editor
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13/14
Revlon Volume + Length Magnified Mascara
I have two criteria for waterproof mascara: ultra definition and unmovable staying power. I check off both boxes with Revlon's Volume + Length Magnified Mascara, which I restock on every other Target run. It's beach-proof, shower-proof, and crying-over-a-breakup-proof, with a brush that carefully defines my lashes as well as premium brand mascaras I've tried. While the formula can stay put through just about any splash-zone situation and melting-hot summer commutes to work, it comes off easily with an oil-based eye-makeup remover at the end of the day. —Halie LeSavage, contributor
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14/14
Avocado Waterproof Mascara
Two things first caught my attention with this mascara: the packaging (so cute) and the use of avocado (a primary food group) in the formula. It's the perfect natural mascara—it won't give you sky-high length or blackout lashes, but it will give you a nice full coat that wears well and won't irritate your eyes. —S.S.