The 7 Best Waterproof Mascaras for Beautiful Lashes That Last, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Waterproof Mascara

$9 at Amazon $13 at Ulta $15 at Walgreens

This fan-favorite drugstore mascara is our number-one pick for a few reasons: In addition to being very easy to use thanks to the scooped brush that holds just enough mascara, the product lives up to its claims — ensuring voluminous, separated lashes with every stroke. 

Once on, it didn’t smudge at all and efficiently extended our lashes. They looked fuller and we loved the results. Despite how well the product performed, we do admit that we wish the brush’s bristles were longer, as their short nature is noticeable along the lash line. (That said, it’s the brush's short bristles that are said to expertly comb through lashes for a separated lift.) Still, the curved design allowed for maximum coverage. Another gold star for this waterproof mascara? It’s part of Ulta Beauty’s Conscious Beauty initiative, so you know that it's made with high quality ingredients and sustainability practices in mind.

Benefits: Volume and Separation | Shades: Very Black | Longevity: All-day wear

Best Value

Maybelline New York Lash Discovery Waterproof Mascara

$8 at Walmart $13 at Walgreens $8 at Target

This best-seller is great for folks looking for a high-quality drugstore mascara at a more affordable price, as well as those craving a natural look. It was particularly great for coating bottom lashes, too, as the brush is so slim that it’s easy to accentuate each lash without worrying about smudging mascara all over the lashline. 

The mascara didn't smudge at all while we had it on. Beyond its smudge-proof nature, we applaud this product for its natural-looking enhancement and just how easy it is to remove. It coated our lashes perfectly without clumping or getting on our eyelids. Unlike other waterproof mascaras, this product was easy to remove without leaving a black ring around our eyes, too.

Benefits: Defines and Lengthens | Shades: Very Black | Longevity: All-day wear

Best Splurge

Lancôme Hypnôse Waterproof Mascara

$33 at Amazon $33 at Nordstrom $33 at Sephora

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Waterproof Mascara has been a dream come true for smudge-proof lashes. Made with a fluffy, S-shaped brush, this mascara enabled us to adequately coat our lashes from base to tip in one swoop. We loved the shape of the brush which made it easy to grab every lash as well. While the tip isn’t notably smaller, it’s angled inward, which makes targeting teeny bottom lashes and those around the inner and outer corners of the eyes that much more manageable.

Beyond how easy it is to apply, we were equally impressed with just how well it stayed put. We even tried it while using eye drops and a water spritzer. In addition to living up to its smudge-proof claims, this mascara goes above and beyond to create dramatic volume.

Benefits: Clump-free volume | Shades: Excessive Black | Longevity: All-day wear

Best Curling

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

$29 at Amazon $29 at Nordstrom $16 at Sephora

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is a cult-favorite due to its hourglass brush that introduces va-va-voom lash volume in just a few swipes. Since the original formula isn’t meant for wet activities, the brand released its waterproof formula, which has now amassed nearly thousands upon thousands of likes at Sephora. Needless to say, we knew we had to give this best-seller a try and we’re so glad we did. 

The Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara gave our lashes dimension and lift. Despite the applaudable volume, the mascara didn't make our lashes feel heavy in the slightest. Another pride point for the mascara is its packaging, which is especially creative. The metallic blue tube is heavy, making it feel luxe, and designed with raised water droplets to help make it clear that it's the waterproof version, should you have both and go simply off touch, as opposed to sight. 

Benefits: Clump-free volume | Shades: Black | Longevity: Quarter to half-day wear

Best Volumizing

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Waterproof Mascara

$9 at Amazon $12 at Walgreens $8 at Target

If your goal is to achieve natural-looking volume that won’t fall flat when you jump into the pool, sweat your bum off, or shed a tear, you can’t go wrong with Neutrogena Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara. Although it doesn’t offer dramatic lift, it works beautifully to lengthen, define, and curl lashes with just a few swipes, thanks to its slightly tapered, fully-bristled brush. 

This is a classic Neutrogena product, and it gave our lashes an elevated, natural look, which is what the company is famous for; it goes on light, feels clean, and there are no bells and whistles to it, but we trust that we could wear it all day and it would stay on my eyelashes. And when we did just that, it proved its worth by not smudging one bit.

Benefits: Hydrates and Lengthens | Shades: Black and Black/Brown | Longevity: All-day wear

Best for Dramatic Lashes

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara

$30 at Amazon $30 at Nordstrom $30 at Ulta

Now, if your goal is dramatic volume, your best bet is Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara. The bushy, medium-length bristled brush is designed to latch on to each and every lash to lift it to the high heavens. 

Although it works to expertly coat each and every lash, the application itself is very light. It’s extremely long lasting and gives drama, so for that reason it’s not for the subtle wearer. It gave a lot of definition and visible volume, so with more than two coats it can look a little heavy, without feeling heavy. Even though it deposits plenty of formula with each swipe, we found that this waterproof mascara is particularly easy to remove with both makeup wipes and micellar water. The one downside is that, while this mascara feels lightweight and does bring the drama, it can also introduce clumps into your flutter.

Benefits: Volume | Shades: Big Is The New Black | Longevity: All-day wear

Best for Short Lashes

L’Oréal Bambi Eye Waterproof Mascara

View on Amazon $15 at Walmart View on Lorealparisusa.com

If you have short lashes with high hopes of a lengthened flutter, look no further. L’Oréal Bambi Eye Waterproof Mascara is highly rated for its lengthening abilities that last all day long. We loved the way our lashes looked big — like false lashes without glue, and we were able to achieve that with just a few swipes.

Beyond the lengthening abilities of this mascara, we were truly impressed by just how well it stayed in place. It did not budge. Tears, rain, squint, sneezing, smudging, even purposefully trying to smudge it with our hands and fingers — nothing bothered this. Although it's able to really hold its ground, it’s incredibly easy to remove, only taking two swipes with a makeup remover pad to come off. 

Benefits: Volume | Shades: Blackest Black | Longevity: All-day wear