The 8 Best Waterproof Mascaras of 2024, Tested

Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, defining | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

A top-tier waterproof mascara is volumizing, lengthening, defining, and delivers on its long-wearing and waterproof capabilities. For this standout, that is only the bare minimum. This favorite from MAC effectively lengthens and volumizes for beautiful, defined lashes. Swipe on a single coat for an everyday makeup look or multiple for a falsie-looking effect sans clumps. We love that the brush combs and separates the lashes to ensure you achieve a fanned-out finish. While the bristles are a bit sharp and spikey (so take your time when applying this one), we think they’re an ideal length and perfectly spaced to allow the brush to grip the lashes effectively. 

We love the eye-opening effect it creates, but its impressive performance made it stand out even more. It stayed beautifully intact, lasting through a facial and sweaty workout. The cherry on top: It was much easier to remove than most waterproof formulas we tried, simply coming off with a few passes of micellar water.

Victoria, tester: “I loved this mascara brush! I was able to apply coat after coat without any clumping, and I coated the smaller lashes near my inner and outer corners as well as my lower lashes without any smudging. This mascara delivered both length and volume. It created an eye-opening effect.”

Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We all know and love drugstore mascaras, but this pick is considered even more affordable in comparison (it costs just five dollars). Aside from the great price, we were more impressed with this mascara’s lengthening and lifting impacts. The tapered wand easily coats the lashes in the inner and outer corners of our eyes. The bristles also did a nice job of gripping and painting each lash, and we were impressed by how well it lengthened and defined them. We only wish it added a bit more volume.

The formula is pretty lightweight, so it didn’t weigh down the lashes or ruin their curl. It created a pretty natural, defined look that’s great for everyday makeup looks. And it wore beautifully—while we saw minor running when we spritzed it directly with water in the lab, we didn’t experience any smudging or flaking while testing it in our daily lives. 

Jennifer, tester: “This mascara is truly great for the price—just $5. It lifts my lashes and stays put all day without any fallout. It’s definitely a great drugstore mascara.”

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Shades: 3 | Cruelty-Free: No

If you enjoy indulging in luxury makeup, we think you’ll fall in love with this waterproof mascara from Dior just like we did. It features a lightweight and buildable formula that thickens the lashes without weighing them down and ruining your curl. The effects are dramatic. We loved that, as we layered it, it didn’t get clumpy or stick the lashes together. While the brush is a bit large, the bristle design is perfect for a fanned-out look. And once it’s on, it’s not going anywhere. It remained intact without signs of smudging or flaking all day long. Bonus points to the brand for offering it in a true black, a warm brown, and a cobalt blue. 

Elena, tester: “This mascara does such a great job of coating, combing, and making your lashes look bold. This is not a natural-looking mascara at all. Instead, your lashes will look bold and dramatic—I love it.”

Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: No

Take your lashes to new heights (literally) with this pick from Maybelline. The narrow, flexible brush grips the lashes, evenly coating them in a lightweight, buildable formula that adds some serious length. The slightly tapered tip is great for targeting inner and outer corners, and we also love that you can go in vertically to separate and define individual lashes. A few coats worked to significantly elongate and emphasize every lash without weighing them down or creating any clumps. It didn’t smudge or flake during spritz tests in the lab or while wearing it daily. While it’s not the most volumizing, it creates a gorgeous, fluttery look that beautifully opens up the eyes.  

Read Full Review: Maybelline’s Sky High Mascara Creates Dreamy, Fluttery Lashes

Victoria, tester: “I loved the way my lashes looked with this mascara. It gave them a major lift and added a ton of length. I felt like my lashes were nicely separated and maintained the curl all day.”

Benefits: Lengthening, lifting, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s nothing worse than clumpy lashes. Luckily, this editor favorite separates your lashes for a full, fanned-out look. The magic is all in the brush: The long and narrow wand grasps even the tiniest of hairs, lifting them and giving them a spread-out oomph. Combine that with the lightweight and long-lasting formula, and the results are full, lifted lashes that hold their curl throughout the entirety of the day. Plus, this standout has true staying power as it didn’t flake, smudge, or budge. We also love that it could be layered without looking spidery. It’s worth noting that we found this pick more difficult to remove than other options on this list, so we recommend using a solid eye makeup remover to avoid harsh rubbing.

Victoria, tester: “My lashes definitely looked way longer with this mascara. This formula also gave them more of a lift—to the point that I didn’t feel like I had to use my lash curler beforehand. My lashes looked separated, not clumpy, and the look stuck around all day.”

Benefits: Volumizing | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

This baby takes volume to a whole new meaning thanks to Lancôme’s large, fluffy, bristled brush. The soft wand effortlessly combs through hair, giving them a noticeable push. While we had no issue gliding this mascara through our top lashes, we did have a bit of a more challenging time coating our bottom ones. We appreciate that the lighter formula doesn’t weigh down the lashes and were surprised to discover that this pick can withstand high temperatures and humidity. There’s nothing better than va-va-voom lashes that look defined, separated, and plush.

Victoria, tester: “It was easy to work through my upper lashes, and they looked more voluminous for sure. I went for a few walks around my neighborhood on afternoons when it was in the high 80s, and while I was sweaty, my lashes looked fine. ”

Benefits: Lengthening | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: No

This mascara feels like it was designed to give perfect, subtle definition and length. The brush doesn’t pick up too much product, allowing you to control your application and achieve a clump-free finish. We thought the brush was easy to use and did a nice job combing and separating our lashes. It added length, color, and a bit of thickness, but it’s not a super buildable formula, so it isn’t ideal for volumizing. Instead, we found it best for no-makeup makeup or everyday looks. Once applied, we were quite impressed with the performance. It didn’t smudge or flake at all and was among the easiest to remove.

Tina, tester: “I think this achieved more of a natural look. The brush picked up a good amount of product. I am personally someone who likes to build, so not having a lot of product on the first go was nice.”

Benefits: Lengthening, lifting, separating | Shades: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Love the benefits of waterproof mascara but dread the removal? This pick from Milk Makeup is a breeze in comparison. Infused with hemp-derived cannabis seed oil, the formula nourishes and conditions for healthier-looking lashes, the brand claims. We appreciated how hydrating the formula felt and loved the fluffy, bristly wand. It helped us achieve long, full lashes with noticeable volume. The tube itself is easy to control, and it manages to coat all of our lashes in a single swipe. Given that it’s easier to remove, it is not as long-lasting as the other recommended mascaras. But if you’re looking to say goodbye to harsh rubbing and irritation, that’s a compromise we are willing to make.

Victoria, tester: “I found this mascara to be the least drying out of them all. It came off easily with a cotton pad dampened with waterproof makeup remover. I didn’t experience any lash fallout with this product, and my lashes didn’t feel dry or uncomfortable after I removed the mascara.”