Waterproof mascaras normally require more effort to remove. If the eye area is rubbed too hard, it could pull the lashes and cause eye irritation, so it’s important to be gentle. When waterproof mascara dries, the lashes become stiff and are therefore more prone to bending and snapping, which is why it’s especially important to remove it at the end of the day. Use an oil-based cleanser to remove waterproof products. If applying a cleanser to a cotton pad, hold the pad over the eye area for a few seconds and gently wipe until the makeup is removed. Rubbing can cause irritation and damage. Try to use hypoallergenic products, as these are likely to be more gentle on the eye area. All our testers agreed that this mascara was flake-free, waterproof and smudge-proof and mostly stayed put all day long. It made lashes look longer and more voluminous in just one or two strokes while the large brush helped to separate and define them. This made it easy to layer the buildable formula if more coats were needed. Although it's not best-suited for creating a bold eye look as its formula is thin, so it has a more natural-looking finish. We liked We recruited 149 testers to trial 11 waterproof mascaras over a two-week period. They assessed and scored each on its design, the finishing-look of their lashes, whether it's genuinely waterproof and/or smudge-proof and how easy it was to remove.

Our panel of 295 women trialled 18 waterproof mascaras over a two-week period. They assessed a range of properties for each mascara, including the design, 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. A good waterproof mascara will contain specific chemicals (e.g. dimethicone copolyol), which helps it stay put even when submerged in water. Look out for mascaras labelled waterproof rather than water resistant, as the latter means that it can only resist water to some degree. The top 10 below are all waterproof, so are ideal for swimming!

Due to it being harder to remove, we recommend you only use waterproof mascara when necessary, e.g. for a big event or when it’s hot and humid outside. If using one regularly, be sure to keep lashes conditioned with a lash serum. Can you swim with waterproof mascara?