What do waterproof mascara and your best friend have in common? They’ll both stick by you — no matter what. Whether you’re headed to a hot yoga class, enjoying a humid summer day, caught in a downpour, or just need a good cry, using a couple of coats of a sob-proof mascara will ensure that your lashes stay perfectly curled and coated, regardless of how much sweat and tears are involved. You won’t even have to take a second to fix any pesky smudges or flaking.
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Not sure what makes a mascara waterproof? Cosmetic chemist Ginger King says to look out for ingredients like isododecane (a solvent), paraffin (a type of mineral oil that resists water), and VP/eicosene copolymer (film former). However, since they’re designed to basically withstand anything, you may want to invest in a high-quality cleansing oil to fully melt away these persistent formulas.
5 high-end and affordable waterproof mascara
Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara
Makeup artist Lavonne has fallen head over heels for the mega-viral Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara in Very Black — so much that when she spotted a rare restock in person, she grabbed three tubes in one go. “This mascara makes my lashes look like I’ve had a lash lift and use growth serums,” she says of the drugstore volumizing wonder. For $11, those results are hard to beat.
Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Waterproof Mascara
You can count on the conditioning vitamin E in Pixi Beauty’s Lash Booster Waterproof Mascara to keep lashes feeling soft and nourished for hours on end. “Not only does this mascara add lots of volume and length, but its curl-boosting formula also gives your lashes a ‘push-up’ effect,” makeup artist Amrita Mehta says. Both shades, but especially Blackest Blue, do an amazing job opening up her clients’ eyes.
As if one of the best-selling mascaras on Amazon couldn’t get any better, Essence’s Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara has a waterproof (and summer-proof) formula that creates the same dramatic, falsies-like effect as the original. The cone-shaped brush works like a charm separating and lengthening each individual lash to its fullest potential.
Nyx Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Waterproof Mascara Black
If you want sky-high, long-lasting lashes that cost less than $10, Nyx Professional Makeup’s Worth The Hype Waterproof Mascara Black fits the bill — literally. Moisturizing safflower, jojoba, and argan oils ensure your lashes don’t clump, even after multiple layers, and the tapered tip lets you get up close and personal with even your smallest lashes.
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Waterproof Mascara
“L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Mascara is a staple in every makeup artist’s kit,” Patrick Ta says. And he’s right: This drugstore formula counts Mario Dedivanovic, Ariel Tejada, and Mai Quynh as fans, and the brand’s waterproof formula is just as beloved. Ta swears by it for long days on set. Even if you’re not a celebrity with long schedules, keep this one around for those busy days when you’re out and about from sunrise to sunset.
