Waterproof mascara can be a tricky beast. Many formulas are prone to clumps and flakiness, and are a total bitch to remove. More than a few aren’t nearly as waterproof as they claim.
Of course, you usually don’t find this out until you get caught in the rain on your way to an important meeting, only to show up looking like an extra from The Walking Dead.
To save you the embarrassment of sad, sloppy panda eyes, we put four popular waterproof mascaras to the ultimate test: survive 30 seconds in a shower and come out intact.
The process was identical for each mascara. First, I curled clean lashes and applied two coats of mascara. I waited for it to dry completely, then entered the shower. I positioned my face directly under the shower head to soak the product as thoroughly as possible. After the shower, I blinked hard several times to see if the mascara would smudge, then photographed the results.
I also tried one non-waterproof mascara to establish a baseline for comparing the others.
Baseline: COVERGIRL LASHBLAST VOLUME ($10, Shoppers Drug Mart, 10 Dundas East, 416-591-1733, and others, shoppersdrugmart.ca)
Results: As expected, the mascara completely washes off my lashes, and they lose their shape. With black smudges under my eyes and long black streaks running down my face, I look like the Joker.
Contender: TARTE COSMETICS LIGHTS, CAMERA, SPLASHES WATERPROOF MASCARA ($25, Sephora, 131 Bloor West, 416-513-1100, and others, sephora.com)
Results: This formula goes on very wet and takes a long time to dry. Although there’s some post-shower clumping, my lashes more or less maintain their shape. There is slight smudging on my eyelids and a few dots under my eyes – one of which is pretty noticeable. This mascara requires only a minor touch-up after a good soaking.
Contender: BENEFIT COSMETICS BADGAL WATERPROOF MASCARA ($26, Sephora)
Results: This is a very light formula – great for everyday wear and long, separated lashes. Honestly, though, I expected a bit more drama from a mascara called BADgal. It dries quickly and barely budges in the shower. There is almost zero smudging, even on close inspection, and only the slightest clumping, but it’s barely noticeable. This is the only mascara I’m confident you could take a swim in and not have to touch up afterwards.
Contender: MAC COSMETICS HAUTE & NAUGHTY WATERPROOF LASH ($26, 363 Queen West, 416-979-2171, and others, maccosmetics.com)
Results: This is my favourite pre-shower formula. It’s actually a 2-in-1 that lets you choose whether you want a light and naturally defined look or packed and loaded. I choose the latter. My lashes gain lots of volume, length and curl. The mascara dries quickly and is the only one so far that doesn’t make my eyes sting in the shower. There are only fine smudges and flakes under my eyes, but, unfortunately, my lashes lose all their length. There is lots of clumping, and my lashes look stumpy.
Contender: HARD CANDY FAST & FABULOUS WATERPROOF MASCARA TOPCOAT ($6, Walmart, 900 Dufferin, 416-537-2561, and others, walmart.ca)
Results: I apply this over the CoverGirl LashBlast formula I used as a baseline. The topcoat is supposed to make any mascara instantly waterproof without changing its shape. Although I carefully apply two layers of the product, it has minimal success when faced with the shower. The mascara almost fully washes off one of my eyes (but doesn’t make them sting) and smudges significantly above and below the other eye. The topcoat may make the CoverGirl mascara more water-resistant, but certainly not waterproof.
