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The best waterproof (and sweat-proof) mascaras, tested by 340 women
Our winners can withstand swimming, sweat and tears...
Tested by Nora MerikFormer Beauty and Grooming Tester
The temperature is rising, and beach days are upon us, which makes it a perfect time to invest in one of the best waterproof mascaras for your summer makeup bag.
Designed for staying power, they'll keep your look in place whether you get caught in the rain/a sudden heatwave (delete as applicable, we live in the UK after all), decide to tackle an extra sweaty gym workout, or just want to watch The Notebook for the 100th time.
But, finding one that won’t run can take years of trial and error. So, to save you the bother, the Good Housekeeping Institute experts and panellists have been busy putting the market-leading brands to the test, to find the formulas you can rely on. That’s a lot of weepy films watched.
The best waterproof mascaras 2025
More Tried and Tested makeup essentials: Best foundations | Best brow products | Best lipstick | Best concealer
How we test waterproof mascara
Our experts recruited a panel of 340 women to trial a range of the market-leading waterproof mascaras over a two-week period. They gave detailed feedback on the design and ease of use of each product, the finish it gave lashes, how waterproof and smudge-proof it was, and how easy it was to remove at the end of the day.
Back in the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, our experts conducted waterproof tests, applying each formula to a ceramic plate, alongside a non-waterproof control. They then sprayed the plate with water and analysed the colour of the drips versus the control formula to see how much the product ran. To assess how smudge-proof they were, our experts used their fingers to wipe from left to right to see how much mascara came off.
You'll find our top-rated products below, all proudly displaying the GHI Approved logo, and we've also included some picks from our beauty editors who get to trial all the latest releases before they arrive in the lab.
Eyes down for our winners…
Score: 93/100
Whether you’re trying some wild swimming, or commuting in torrential rain, you want a mascara that can do both. Rest assured, our panel’s joint winner from Eyeko proved to be completely smudge-proof on test. And it won’t just protect you from rain either – one panellist who suffered from very runny eyes was impressed with its waterproof properties.
All testers agreed that the formula lasted all day, so there’s no need to reapply. There also weren’t any issues when it came to taking it off. “It came off easily with an eye cleanser designed to deal with waterproof mascara,” said one tester. Sounds like a (joint) winner to us.
Benefit Badgal BANG! Waterproof Mascara
Score: 93/100
This Benefit classic “works magic”, according to one of our testers, leaving lashes looking long, full and luscious. Another panel member was impressed by its ability to “add volume without being clumpy” – the perfect combination in our eyes. And all our testers agreed that the mascara lasted all day without smudging.
It’s formulated with deep black pigment and contains ultra-light aero particles that help to lift your lashes without weighing them down. Though we would always recommend removing your makeup at the end of the day, the brand claims it can last up to 36 hours.
Score: 84/100
This one’s easy to apply, adds brilliant volume to natural lashes, and is simple to take off, according to testers. Tick, tick, tick.
Lancôme claims the formulation offers 24-hour, budge-proof, bold lashes, and the wand is designed with 360 micro-bristles to separate and bring out the best in every individual lash.
A curved wand can often be divisive, but our testers loved using this one. One tester liked that it was able to “take the exact right amount of product from the tube”, helping to avoid clumps.
Score: 84/100
Bigger doesn’t always mean better, and that’s certainly the case for this lower-lash mascara. Its small, slim brush is designed to pick up shorter lower lashes, which earned it extra brownie points with panel members for ease of application. “The slim wand helps you to get to each lash without overloading them with mascara”, is how one tester put it.
It wasn’t just the design that was well thought through. Its water-resistant formula is great for those who suffer with runny and sensitive eyes, and it’s also enriched with vitamin E and panthenol – two key ingredients for keeping lashes hydrated and healthy.
Maybelline Sky High Waterproof mascara
Score: 75/100
This mascara’s flexible, thin brush helps coat each lash in the volumising formula for a dramatic finish from every angle. One tester described the brush as “slim, easy to manoeuvre, slightly tapered and flexible,” which meant application was easy, with great coverage.
Our testers’ only niggle was that it was hard to remove, which isn’t uncommon for waterproof mascaras. We recommend stocking up on an oil-based eye maker up remover if you’re going for this one, and maybe saving it for those extra-hot, extra-long or emotional days when you need real staying power. Or all of the above.
Rimmel London Thrill Seeker Mascara Waterproof
Score: 71/100
This is a waterproof version of Rimmel London's iconic Thrillseeker mascara, and you’ll be glad to know that it delivers just as much volume as the original product. It also has the same hourglass wand to capture and coat each lash.
The brand claims that the waterproof formula makes it a comfortable 24hr wear, and testers were impressed with how long-lasting it was. Many also praised the pigment. Be careful on application though, as some testers found the brush dispensed too much product. But if you want “voluminous and impactful” lashes, this is the one for you, according to one satisfied tester.
Editors' picks
Revolution Wrap Lash Tubing Mascara
All eyes on Revolution latest water-resistant, smudge-proof and volumising tubing mascara. This clever formula separates each lash and individually coats them for long-lasting results. It also contains nourishing shea butter and castor oil for healthier looking lashes.
This launch was a hit with our beauty director, Lynne Hyland, who loves the mascara’s fattening and volumising results, as well as the affordable price tag. Read more in her roundup of the best tubing mascaras.
Clinique Lash Power Mascara – Dark Chocolate
Brown mascara is having a moment right now, but it’s hopefully here to stay as it can be more flattering than black, creating a softer finish that’s particularly suited to those with hazel or blue eyes.
This Clinique mascara certainly isn’t going anywhere, thanks to its infused innovative thermal technology, which helps it stay in place for up to 24 hours.
Bobbi Brown describes its No Smudge mascara as a “raincoat for lashes”, and we don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty appealing. It has a long-wearing, buildable formula, which lengthens and curls your lashes for the day ahead.
Whether you want a couple of swipes to look alive in the morning, or multiple coats for a bolder evening look, this won’t disappoint.
How does waterproof mascara work?
Designed to have more staying power than regular formulas, waterproof mascaras shouldn’t run or smudge under the eyes when they come into contact with water. They should also help to lengthen, lift and add volume to lashes in the same way a regular mascara would, staying put throughout the day without flaking.
Mascara formulas generally contain pigments for colour, polymers to coat and lengthen lashes, and thickening agents such as waxes to add volume. But waterproof mascaras also include an additional waterproofing agent to make ensure your look doesn’t budge. This is often a water-repellent silicone that sticks to lashes and gives them a smooth finish.
How to remove waterproof mascara
Thanks to the hard-working waterproof formula, you’ll likely need more than a few swipes of a micellar water-doused cotton pad to take it off. Instead, opt for the best cleansing balm that's oil-based, as they’re more effective at softening and dissolving the waterproof coating around the lashes.
When waterproof mascara dries, the lashes become stiff and are therefore more prone to bending and snapping, which is why it’s particularly important to remove it at the end of the day or at night.
For more tips, read our beauty director's advice on how to remove waterproof mascara without any skin-damaging scrubbing or pulling.
Can you swim with waterproof mascara?
A good waterproof mascara will contain specific chemicals (e.g. dimethicone copolyol), which help it stay put even when you’re submerged in water. Look out for mascaras labelled waterproof rather than water-resistant.
The verdict on the best waterproof mascaras
Our joint winner, the Eyeko Beach Waterproof Mascara, is the ultimate defence against watery eyes, rain or sweaty workouts, as it scored full marks for its smudge-free staying power.
Tied at the top was Benefit's Badgal BANG Volumising Waterproof Mascara, which is a great choice if you’re after more drama, thanks to its deep black pigment and volumising power.
Or cover all bases with Pixi’s Lower Lash Mascara, which is designed with an extra slim brush to pick up the shortest of hairs.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
For over 100 years, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing market-leading products to find the best of the best. That includes everything from the best LED face masks and the best day creams, to staple household appliances such as the best vacuum cleaners and best air fryers.
To find the best waterproof mascaras, our former beauty tester, Nora Merik, put in place strict protocols to ensure every product was assessed against its claims in the lab. We also sent them out to our panel of at-home testers to see how they fared day to day.
Madeleine Evans, our lifestyle writer, has written about hundreds of beauty products and has tried many of them herself, so she knows what to look for in a reliable makeup buy. She translates all the lab results and panel feedback into easy-to-read reviews you can trust.
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