The Best Waterproof Mascaras We've Tested Are So Smudge-Proof, You Can Swim in Them — And They Start at Just $5

There were many things that we loved about the Mac Stack Waterproof Mascara — in fact, so many that we gave it a nearly perfect five-star rating. This lash-defining jet-black mascara was the answer to all of our waterproof mascara prayers, making our lashes look full but not clumpy, defined yet not spiky, and voluminous without sticking our lashes together.

Best of all: When we sprayed our faces with water (yes, we really did this) and added eye drops into the mix, we still didn’t notice any smudging, running, or smearing. It’s safe to say that we wouldn’t hesitate to throw this tube in our bags before heading on a beach vacation.

While we do think the price is pretty high ($28 is somewhat steep for a mascara tube), we think it’s worth the small investment — especially because this formula was so easy to remove with standard makeup remover, which can be a struggle for most drugstore options. If you’re looking for a surefire solution to happy tears at your next wedding or raccoon eyes at the pool, this is the one to grab.

Benefits: Volumizing, longwearing, clump-resistant | Size: 0.40 ounces | Shades: 1

Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent and PEOPLE editors alike are fans of the Essence Lash Princess in its original form, so you can guess how excited we were to try the waterproof version during this test — and thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. From the very first coat, this skinny-wand mascara was able to get into our inner corners and lightly coat our top and bottom lashes to give us an amped-up, voluminous look. Our lashes had more of a full-glam look than many of our other favorite mascaras offered, which some makeup-lovers may like, and others might not. 

We thought this output of immediate volume made our lashes look a little clumpy, but it wasn’t a total deterrent to us. The formula remained waterproof throughout our test, though we did notice a tiny bit of smudging after the initial water spray. The best part was that we found this product to be very easy to remove, which was a stark contrast to our past experiences with drugstore waterproof mascaras.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Size: 0.42 ounces | Shades: 1 

“You get what you pay for” certainly applies to this rather pricey waterproof Dior mascara, coming in at $33 but reaching the top of this list for its remarkable quality, performance, and ease of removal. Dior likens the length and volume of this formula to that of lash-extensions, mirroring “the effect of professional lash extensions used backstage,” according to the brand. After a bit of testing, it was made very clear to us that this mascara wand and formula combination achieves just that.

The mascara was both lightweight and volumizing, delivering the standout lashes we were going for with just one coat (which means we can get more use out of this tube than others). One light flick fanned out our lashes and kept them from clumping, even after we spritzed our faces with water and rubbed our eyes with our fingers. There was no streakiness, no raccoon eyes, and not even a bit of dark pigment left anywhere but on our lashes — so if we had to tell you to invest in one pricey waterproof product, it’s gonna be this one. 

Benefits: Volumizing | Size: 0.39 ounces | Shades: 3

Too Faced’s regular Better than Sex Mascara is a staple in so many beauty lovers’ makeup collections. In fact, it’s the very best mascara that we tested in 2024. We had high hopes for its waterproof counterpart — and after several hours of testing this moisture-defiant formula in the NYC heat, sweating in the gym, and even taking a dip in the pool, we’re happy to say that this smudge-proof version lives up to its original formula.

Benefits: Volumizing, longwearing, curling | Size: 0.27 ounces | Shades: 1

There’s nothing worse than forgetting your waterproof mascara before heading on a beach vacation, but if you do, we’ve got you covered. The Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara is the one we’d pick up from the drugstore for a few reasons — it lengthened and defined our lashes, didn’t smudge, and was super easy to remove, despite our past experiences with lower-priced mascaras (i.e. standing in front of the mirror going through several makeup wipes to remove the clay-like substance). 

Our lashes felt super airy and light, but this may be because we weren’t able to apply too many layers of this product to boost its volume — one layer versus three didn’t seem to make a difference (despite claims that this is a volumizing product), and the spiky bristles on the wand were slightly irritating to our eyes. However, we thought its pretty, lash-lengthening results reminded us of the Benefit Badgal Bang Volumizing Waterproof Mascara that we also tried, just at a lower price, so we’d still recommend it for your next pool day.

Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, safe for sensitive eyes | Size: 0.24 ounces | Shades: 2

While waterproof mascaras have a track record for defining lashes rather than thickening them up, this formula was able to deliver the volumized look that we want when we have more glamorous outings to attend — or simply want our lashes to pack a bit more of a punch. This mascara was great for separating lashes while also lengthening and thickening each one with its curved brush, which was able to get into the typically hard-to-reach inner and outer corners of our eyes.

When we tried to build it up, we noticed that it was pretty easy for our lashes to look a little spidery (but this is also a testament to how minimal product you need to get a luscious, full effect). We discovered that two coats, maybe three at most, was the sweet spot for optimal volume and full-glam eyes — the perfect addition to wedding glam or summer events.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Size: 0.23 ounces | Shades: 1

If all you’re after is a light stroke of color and a little definition on your lash line before jumping in the pool or running places in the rain, then the Lancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara will be your new best friend.

This formula was non-flaky, lightweight, lash-defining, and truly water-repellant during our tests, giving us lengthy, separated lashes while holding up to water and eye-rubs, too. Oftentimes we’ll run into formulas that flake or dehydrate our lashes once the formula is dry, but this mascara remained flake-free and kept our lashes looking supple throughout the wear time.

We will say that because this mascara was so unshakeable during our spritz and eye drop tests, it was pretty hard to take off at the end of the day. But if you want a mascara that you know will really last you throughout even the most humid of days or hold up during a swim, then this is the formula to dive into.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening, sulfate- and paraben-free | Size: 0.33 ounces | Shades: 1

When we’re in a mascara bind, we always know that we can turn to Tarte for full, long, gorgeous lashes — and we were relieved to discover that the quality doesn’t change when it comes to waterproof formulas, either.

With just a few swipes we were able to achieve high-volume, lengthy lashes without the clumpiness and spidery look that other mascaras come with. Instead, our fringes were fanned out and separated, making this a great everyday or high-glam look, depending on how many coats we swiped on.

Several water spritzes and fingers on our lashes didn’t change the fact that this formula is heavily waterproof, keeping our lids and under-eyes smudge-free throughout the course of our testing process. Because this is a stay-put formula, we had some difficulty removing it at the end of the day — but hey, the whole point is for this mascara to not come off right? (Don’t worry, we did comfortably remove it by the end, it just took a little more elbow grease.)

Benefits: Volumizing, lifting, curling, safe for contacts, free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates | Size: 0.24 ounces | Shades: 1

Two to three layers of this mascara were enough to make our lashes look voluminous and full without feeling heavy, as this formula was very lightweight despite its thickness on our lashes. We loved the dense mascara brush, which was great for both building volume and making our lashes look ultra-long without needing to reapply and waste product (which we appreciated since this tube is on the expensive side). Plus, the formula is packed with lash-growing nutrients, such as proteins, amino acids, and honey extract, which work their magic with continuous use. 

We’ll admit that while it wasn’t uncomfortable to remove at the end of the day, it did take a while — which seems to be the mark of a good product, because this formula didn’t budge, smudge, or transfer when we wet our skin or ran our fingertips across our lashes (a pretty impressive feat, if you ask us). The Urban Decay Perversion Mascara line continues to be PEOPLE-approved.

Benefits: Lengthening, volumizing, growth-enhancing | Size: 0.34 ounces | Shades: 1

If you want defined, clump-free lashes that look just as good freshly-applied as they do once you finish a sweaty workout, then we’ve got the product for you. Enter: Clinique’s High Impact Waterproof Mascara. This formula was smudge-proof and didn’t bleed even after taking water to our lashes and rubbing our eyes, without so much as a blackened flake falling onto our skin in the process. 

Its thin brush picked up just enough product to evenly coat our lashes in a shiny lacquer, separating them into defined individual lashes over spidery, clumped fringe. It only took two coats to get the luscious look we were after and just one layer on the bottom for a little bit of definition. 

It was slightly hard to remove this product (we went through a wipe and liquid makeup remover to get the product completely off), but it didn’t irritate our eyes or pull our eyelashes out, so we were okay with putting in a little extra work at the end of the day for the long-wearing, gorgeous results that we could wear during.

Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Size: 0.28 ounces | Shades: 2

The very ingredients that make waterproof mascaras waterproof can also take a toll on your lashes, leaving them dry and brittle. “Waterproof mascaras are formulated with higher amounts of waxes and silicones and can tend to dry out your lashes, especially if you’re using them every day,” explains celebrity makeup artist Bryan Cantor. That makes the addition of hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing vitamin E, and strengthening keratin in this pick all the more noteworthy. 

We gave it top scores for performance, highlighting the dramatically voluminous effect it gave our lashes with just one coat. The tapered wand was another selling point, making it easy to coat our lashes in both the inner and outer corners. On the end, it was totally waterproof: We wore it on a day it rained and went outside without any protection and it didn’t run at all, making this one entirely worthy of your next spring makeup restock. 

However, this was another instance where some of us found it easy to remove with micellar water alone, while others lamented that it was tough to take off.

Benefits: Volumizing | Size: 0.21 ounces | Shades: 2