Waterproof Mascaras for Fluttery, Smudge-Free Lashes

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.

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 (a film-forming agent). 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.

Take a look at our guide below to discover 15 options that cover both high-end and affordable, drugstore formulas and absolutely won't let you down.

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.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara

The waterproof version of the Tarte's Readers' Choice Award-winning formula, Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara, lengthens, curls, and volumizes all at once for a visible lift that won't result in any streaky business, even if you shed a few (or a lot of) tears. King says that this particular formula contains pentaerythrityl hydrogenated rosinate, a film former that should "hold up even better" than the typical VP/eicosene copolymer she shouted out earlier. The wand's shorter bristles add major volume while the other side's longer bristles keep your lashes upright and curled to perfection.

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.

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara

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.

Byredo Waterproof Mascara

For a high-end pick that looks just as fancy as it feels, Byredo's Waterproof Mascara delivers up to 24 hours of smudge-proof wear. This 100 percent vegan formula is spiked with emollient rice bran wax for a soft, fluttery look. But no matter how humid the weather gets, your lashes aren't budging.

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.

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof Mascara

CoverGirl's plumping LashBlast Volume Waterproof Mascara is a must-have for New York City-based makeup artist Yuki Hayashi. "The fat brush makes application easy by allowing you to grab a lot of lashes in one swoop, and the volumizing formula layers easily without appearing clumpy or crunchy," he explains. If you need further proof that is a true drugstore classic, the original LashBlast Volume has won not one, but three Best of Beauty Awards. "The dark-black formula and matte finish emphasize any kind of eye makeup and stays on lashes all day long without flaking or smudging," Hayashi adds, confirming its iconic status once and for all.

No7 Stay Perfect Waterproof Long Wear Tubular Mascara

If, for some strange reason, you need your mascara to last 24 hours, No7's Stay Perfect Waterproof Long Wear Tubular Mascara can deliver. It coats lashes in flake-free tubes that stand the test of tears, sweat, and time. And ironically, it's water that will ultimately remove it — but only when you very intentionally soak a cotton pad with it and hold it on your lashes for 30 seconds. That's when the tubes slide right off.

Lancôme Hypnose Buildable Waterproof Mascara

"Lancôme just knows mascara, and this one still gives you good, full lashes while protecting you from the dreaded raccoon eye," says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Fiona Stiles of the Hypnose Waterproof Mascara. "Lots of waterproof mascaras give you long, skinny lashes, but this one gives you the volume you want," she adds, thanks to its patented, hourglass-shaped brush.

MAC In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Mascara

For dramatic, doll-like lashes that last for hours and hours, MAC's In Extreme Dimension Waterproof Mascara is your best bet. The Best of Beauty Award winner ensures your fringe looks fierce even on the hottest summer days.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

The Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara lives up to its name, to say the least. "It's waterproof, smudge-proof, sweat-proof, and has no fallout," says New York City-based makeup artist Stoj. Mehta agrees, adding that the super black formula "adds lots of volume and gives you all the drama you'd want."

Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara

When ishonest's associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen ran a half marathon a few years ago, the Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara got her to the finish line without a single centimeter of smearing. She also loves how the half-moon wand of the Best of Beauty Award winner allows you to cover all your lashes with just one coat.

Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara

Everything that makes Urban Decay's Perversion Mascara so popular among lash lovers — its intensity, creaminess, clump-free buildability, and blackness — hasn't been lost in its translation to a waterproof formula. It holds up under the wettest circumstances, all without compromising lash health, thanks to amino acids and honey extract to support and condition each tiny strand.

Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara

Not to get too gross, but according to Los Angeles-based makeup artist Molly R. Stern, you can "slobber and splash in the Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara and it will stay on." However, she notes that the highly-volumizing, non-chunky formula comes off well with eye-makeup remover.

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