I rarely wear it these days, as it’s not a necessity for me on a day-to-day basis and is usually harder to remove at the end of the day! I love that it exists, and it’s definitely what I’d opt for if I knew I was going to be out and about with possible crying moments!
— Christine
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I love waterproof mascara because it does not budge. Random watery eye during the day? My mascara is still good. What I don’t like about it is that, depending on the brand, it can be difficult to remove. I mostly wear non-waterproof mascara for this reason but it occasionally comes back to bite me if I have a watery eye at some point in the day or forget that I’m wearing makeup and rub my eye. Then I’ve got mascara on the tissue and around my bottom lid lol.
Love: It’s waterproof!
Hate: Difficult to remove. I can’t afford to lose any lashes, so I never use waterproof for this reason. Although my eyes leak at the outside corners sometimes, my non-waterproof mascara is never affected (thank goodness).
Waterproof mascara formulas are the ONLY mascaras that will hold up my lashes. I have very long, thick lashes but they are straight, PLUS my monolids push them down so I perpetually have a curtain over my eyes… pretty much 99% of mascaras on the market after I curl and apply, my lashes just slowly uncurl and become longer and thicker but still ruler-straight. Holding a curl is always my #1 priority when browsing mascaras to buy… I’ve had to resort to using Kiss Me Heroine Make’s mascaras and they are SO annoying to remove 🙁
This is me too. I’ve only found Lisa Eldridge’s soak method to work for removal
Heroine Make is my top go-to as well. Somehow, whatever complaint I have about a formula is decidedly less with that brand. Their waterproof never smudges into concealer. My lashes are adequate in length, not determinedly straight, but on the thin side and pretty transparent, so it’s not the same issue. But that is one great mascara brand.
I only wear waterproof mascara! It is the only kind to hold the curl from my eyelash curler. My lashes are naturally pin-straight and stubborn.
Before bed, I double cleanse with an oil-based cleanser, followed by a more traditional facewash, so removing it is very easy. It’s always 100% gone, as is all the sunscreen I wear. I don’t even need or use traditional makeup remover any more… which is good, since most removers contain alcohol and irritate my skin.
Agreed, I could’ve written all of that myself!
I’ve never had a problem with flaky or dribbly mascara- just the other day I sobbed all through Men in Black (long story) and my eye makeup was fine afterwards. I don’t know what that’s about, exactly- eye shape? The way I cry??
ANYWAY. So I try to stay away from waterproof mascara, which for me requires not just the usual oil cleanser and 2nd cleanser, but also detail work with a Q-tip dipped in moisturizer. And I still always have dark circles the next day. So I don’t really get the benefit, for myself.
I never wear it because it is drying and hard to remove without a lot of wiping which is also hard on the lashes. I’m glad it is available as I’m sure there are times when some women need it, but I’m not one of them. If I know I’m going to be in a situation where my mascara might run, I just go without because I have long black lashes to begin with.
I have rather straight and fine lashes, and I curl them before applying mascara. Only waterproof mascaras hold the curls of my lashes. They work even better if they become a bit dry.
All raves!
Waterproof (or at least water resistant) mascara is my ride-or-die! I have watery eyes, very sensitive; wind, dust, allergens, anything can make them tear and I need my mascara to stay put. Off course, there are some regular mascaras that have decent staying power for me and most days my eyes are not so watery, but I prefer to pick the waterproof option.
I never actually found waterproof mascara that hard to remove particularly; I’m usually more into cleansing balms and gels, and my mascara just comes off along with all my other make-up. I had harder issues with brow products. 😆
Not really much to rant about from my perspective. I use an oil based cleanser as my first step cleanse and I have yet to have a problem getting my mascara off and I wear waterproof mascara every day that I apply makeup. I have very hooded eyes with a large above the hood area that is a magnet for any mascara that isn’t waterproof. I have had more raccoon days in my life than a raccoon has so it is a necessity for me. I don’t mind a tubing mascara but finding a good one that gives me the length and volume I need is more difficult than it sounds.
Waterproof mascara is one of my ‘Can’t Live Without’ items for two reasons: 1. My lashes are pin-straight and need to be curled to be visible; regular (non-waterproof) mascara simply won’t hold the curl. 2. I’m light-sensitive, so my eyes water regularly; if I wear regular mascara, I end up looking like a raccoon after a few hours, plus the mascara gets into my eyes, making them irritated and even more watery. I envy those women who don’t need it, but for me, it’s a must-have.
It’s actually become a necessity for me since I began doing temp work through a restaurant/dining outsourcing company. I’ve had to pick up outdoor server shifts, which can often mean watery eyes, and even even some BOH/kitchen jobs, which can get hot & humid. While it can be difficult to remove, Lancome Bi-Facil works beautifully, and I’ve recently discovered a much cheaper, even more effective alternative with Wet n Wild Makeup Remover/ Micellar Cleansing Water. At $5, and even cheaper when I catch a sale, it’s easily replaced my former Lancome HG, and I find I use less product.
I know this was a question about waterproof mascara, but I’m just so impressed by the WnW remover, that I had to mention it!
I love it! It’s all I ever wear because it holds the curl of my lashes so well. Regular mascara straightens my lashes and smudges around my eyes. I usually don’t have much trouble removing waterproof mascara, so no major complaints here.
Rave: I absolutely need it. Teary allergy eyes make it a necessity, not a choice. It does hold a curl far better, too. Lasts all day, even in heavy, humid weather. Plus, I’ve never had it smuge on me, either.
Rant: What a PITA it is to remove at night! And I always lose a few lashes when I do. Another bone I have to pick with it is that even though it doesn’t smudge, there are so many formulas that flake during the day, giving me little black “freckles”! ?
Went from always wearing it in my 30’s and 40’s.. I was riding and running in those years, to never wearing it. Too brutal on my lashes. Lots of options which have amazing longevity.
Rave, I guess, but I’m realizing my two favorite mascaras are billed as “long wearing” or “water resistant” rather than waterPROOF: Clinique Lash Power Long Wearing Formula and Glossier Lash Slick.
I don’t know if I just don’t know how to mascara right or what, but nearly every one of the beloved mascaras people rave about gives me raccoon eyes by midday at the worst or end of the workday at best. And I’m not one to rub my eyes and they don’t really tear up any more than the average person. Urban Decay. Too Faced. Dior. Lancôme. Benefit. Drugstore brands. Every single one of them give me big black smudges under the eyes by the end of the day. And as I get older, my eyes get even more easily irritated. I recently tried the waterproof version of TF Better than Sex and nearly wanted to claw my eyes out after an hour. The Clinique and the Glossier mascaras are the only ones that I have found that truly stay put without having to do some additional fancy tricks and now don’t irritate my eyes as that seems to be a thing I’ve been experiencing lately. And both come off with minimal effort at the end of the day.
RANT: It is so hard to find ones that I’m not allergic to, even more so than regular mascaras. Ones I used to wear are no longer in the stores, so it harder to find them than it used to be. Waterproof formulas are usually harder to take off.
RAVE: I live in the Pacific NorthWest, so waterproof mascara can really come in handy if I’m going to be outside a lot. It rains a lot here, and there are all kinds of allergens, so I get really watery eyes.
Love: Less likely to flake, smudge, or irritate my contact lenses. Also helps hold a curl in my long, fine straight lashes.
Hate: What a misery to remove sometimes. I have had some waterproof mascaras that took days to remove!
I love Bobbi Brown’s No Smudge mascara as an everyday and waterproof mascara. Its not pasty like I find some waterproof mascaras to be, and it is an excellent, stand alone mascara. I like it better than most waterproof and non waterproof mascaras. It is called No Smudge, which may be why it performs so well, not waterproof per say. But I have worn it swimming, and it did not budge. My only wish is that it came in brown. As a redhead with hazel green eyes, I don’t really like black eye liner or mascara as a daytime look because it can look blueish around my eyes, especially eye liner. Exception, again, is Bobbi Brown’s long wearing eye liner in Jet. It goes on smoothly and does not have as much of a blue undertone as UD’s famous black eyeliner. My go to eye makeup remover is the long discontinued Clinique Comforting Cream Cleanser. When they reformulated their cream eye makeup remover years ago, I had a bad reaction to the updated version. I was already using the CCC for my face makeup and tried it on my eyes. To my surprise, it was painless, tearless, non irritating, and removed waterproof eye makeup whereas their cream eye makeup remover did not. I used one tube for everything and got a Bonus every time I stocked up! I was thrilled. Until they abruptly discontinued it. I stocked up to such an extent that I may have a lifetime supply, if I curtail its use to only my eye area. However, I am desperate to find a currently made replacement. In summary, waterproof mascara is great if you have a great one and a great way to remove it. I currently have both, but will run out of one eventually. If anyone has any recommendations for a great, non irritating, fragrance free eye makeup remover, I would love to hear it. And if you guys at Clinique are reading, you now know the reason that I no longer line up for your bonuses, and can’t imagine why you would discontinue such a fabulous product. Bring it back or something extremely like it! Thank you.
There are situations when you need waterproof mascara and there is such an array of removers available now that I don’t have an issue removing it.
I only buy an occasional waterproof mascara for weddings and funerals. I buy very inexpensive ones as I am strict about discarding mascara between 3 to 6 months after first use.
They are so hard to remove and make my lash line feel itchy.
I have allergies so I need waterproof mascara on a daily basis. I use regular mascara first then seal it with a top coat of waterproof.
It makes it easier to remove!
I have watery… waaaaatery eyes. Waterproof mascara is a must or else I’ll look like a reject of the Fighter videoclip from Xtina.