Between melting down your face on sweaty city days and pool-related panda eyes, mascara and summer just don’t do well together. Even after the mercury drops, you’ve still got oily lids, transfer under the eyes and watching The Notebook (/similar tearjerkers) to deal with. Enter waterproof mascara. Non-water-soluble, it takes a good oil remover to break the bonds between these beauties and your lashes – though that does mean you’ll need an oil-based make-up remover to get them off.
Almost every beauty brand out there has a waterproof offering, so we put themto the test, starting with simple splash tests to see if they ran or smudged, then wearing them on sweaty summer days and during exercise to get the full low-down. We also looked for products that are easy to apply and work well to enhance the lashes, too, so you can get all the features of your usual favourite, plus their waterproof benefits. Here’s what we found.
1. Bourjois Volume Glamour Push Up Waterproof: £8.99, boots.com
This mascara requires only one or two strokes and separates and defines lashes rather than clumping them together. The tapered brush curls upwards within the first couple of strokes and it doesn’t smudge at all, even in a sweaty environment. If you want a more dramatic look, make sure you layer it up.
2. Yves Saint Laurent Luxurious Waterproof: £25, yslbeauty.com
You certainly get what you pay for with this mascara: a full coating with one stroke and instantly longer and fuller lashes that do not budge. It’s also got a thin, delicate wand for really easy application, even on shorter lashes. Just make sure you grab a really good oil-based remover to take it off at the end of the night as this mascara is a tough one to remove.
3. Maybelline New York The Colossal Go Extreme Waterproof: £6.99, superdrug.com
Maybelline, makers of the best budget mascara out there (Great Lash, in that little green and pink tube), is always a reliable bet for your lashes. If you’re not sure if a waterproof is for you, this is a great first purchase as it’s inexpensive and easy to get a good effect. The bumps on the wand are designed to deposit twice as much product on the brush as you pull it out (minimal effort, maximum effect), and it’s a great size for popping in your handbag on a night out.
4. L'Oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Waterproof: £10.99, feelunique.com
Our tester loved this one for everyday use as it didn’t transfer under the eyes and is buildable, so just as good for natural daytime wear as for dramatic evening eyes. The fat wand separates every lash and the formula goes on clump-free.
5. Lancôme Hypnose Drama Waterproof Full Impact Volume: £22.50, feelunique.com
If you’re looking for a long-wearing mascara that survives exercise, this is the one for you; we gave it the full-on sweat test at yoga on a hot summer’s day and it didn’t smudge once. The curved brush makes your lashes curled and fuller in a natural way, so if you really feel the need to wear some make-up to the gym (though keep that skin clear), it won’t look obvious.
6. DiorShow Waterproof Waterproof: £24.50, johnlewis.com
We already love the DiorShow Mascara so were expecting big things from the waterproof version - and, from the fancy packaging to the formula itself, it doesn’t disappoint. It applies smoothly in buildable layers and requires no reapplication throughout the day. The fat brush doesn’t overload your lashes and gives them a fanned effect, though you might find it a little tricky to get around shorter corner lashes.
7. Urban Decay Canonball Ultra Waterproof: £15.50, urbandecay.co.uk
If you have fairly short eyelashes, Cannon Ultra is a good choice because it’s great at lengthening, curling and fanning your lashes out – no need for eyelash curlers here. It holds throughout the day, too, even if you do find yourself stuck on sweltering public transport; a great mid-priced product that can hold its own against some of the pricier designer numbers out there. We also love the swimming pool graphic behind the text on the packaging.
8. Bare Minerals Locked and Coated Waterproof Lash Topcoat: £12, bareminerals.co.uk
If you’re not quite willing to give up your hard-earned Holy Grail mascara, just yet, this genius invention from the mineral make up giants layers over your usual to make it waterproof. The small skinny brush allows you to apply a layer of clear sealant over without altering the mascara you’ve already applied, keeping it locked all day, even after a dip in the pool. The formula dries instantly, too, though you do have to make sure you cover all your lashes.
9. Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal Eyes Waterproof: £6.99, feelunique.com
The quality of this applicator is excellent considering the price, with a flexible wand and fat brush for big effect. It applies in to top lashes particularly well, though isn’t quite delicate enough for the lower, and layers to give a more full-on look without clumping.
10. Benefit BadGal Waterproof: £17.50, benefitcosmetics.co.uk
The BadGal range is one of our favourite Benefit products (beaten only by the Porefessional primer) and this waterproof version is just as good. The huge wand captures every tiny lash within one stroke and you can easily layer up it for a poppy, glamorous look without flaking. The extreme length held throughout the day, too, despite Britain’s temperamental summer weather.
Verdict:
The best high-end mascara here is YSL’s Luxurious Waterproof Mascara as it really enhances your lashes for a bolder look, and does not budge unless you’ve got a good oil-based remover, while Bourjois: Volume Glamour Push Up is a pretty good alternative if you're on a budget. If you want a more natural, everyday look, the L'Oréal Paris’s Million Lashes is for you, and we love Bare Minerals’ clever Locked and Coated Topcoat if you can’t bear to ditch your usual product.
