We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping People Tested We Tested 49 Waterproof Mascaras — These 10 Proved to Be the Best The Mac Stack Waterproof Mascara came out on top By Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with two years of experience in the digital media industry. Her expertise lies in the realm of fashion and beauty, where she covers the best products that your wardrobe and makeup vanity need like the best lip oils, boyfriend jeans, workout sets, ballet flats, and more. People Editorial Guidelines and Melanie Rud Melanie Rud Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and expert living in Chicago. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 28, 2024 04:24PM EDT In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Others We Tried Things to Consider How We Tested FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? People / Jhett Thompson Whether you’re a makeup minimalist or maximalist, we’re willing to bet that mascara is a staple in your daily routine. While the lengthening, lifting, and volumizing effects on your lashes are delightful, unwanted smudges and smears certainly are not. (Insert visual of Lauren Conrad's “mascara tears” on that classic episode of The Hills.) If you suspect you’re going to be around water, sweating a lot, or tearing up (we get it!), it’s a good idea to swap your standard tube for a waterproof version — but to that point, you’ll want to save them for one-off situations rather than making them your everyday go-to. “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 Bryan Cantor, a celebrity makeup artist who’s worked with Meghan Markle. Still, a good waterproof formula is worth having in your arsenal. To determine which ones really live up to the hype, our testers tried nearly 50 different options the past year. After swiping them on their lashes, they assessed their waterproof claims (by using eye drops to mimic tears and spritzing their faces with water), and rated each one for ease of use, wear, and overall performance. Keep scrolling for the best waterproof mascaras that PEOPLE tested. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Mac Stack Waterproof Mascara at Target ($28) Jump to Review Best Budget: Essence Lash Princess Mascara at Target ($5) Jump to Review Best Investment: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara at Sephora ($33) Jump to Review Best Drugstore: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara at Walmart ($10) Jump to Review Best for Glam: Milk Makeup Rise Lifting + Lengthening Mascara at Sephora ($28) Jump to Review Best for Natural Makeup: Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Best Volumizing: Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara at Sephora ($27) Jump to Review Best Lengthening: Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara at Target ($28) Jump to Review Best Non-Clumping: Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara at Nordstrom ($23) Jump to Review Best Nourishing: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara at Target ($9) Jump to Review Best Overall Mac Stack Waterproof Mascara MAC View On Target $28 View On Nordstrom $24 View On Ulta $28 Pros Its thin, sleek wand was able to get into the corners of our lash lines while hugging the natural curves of our lashes for optimal coating. The formula stood up to eye drops and spritzes of water without running. We were able to easily and comfortably remove the mascara with makeup remover at the end of the day. Cons The price is a smidge higher compared to other mascaras we tested, though you do get what you’re paying for. 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 snap up. Benefits: Volumizing, longwearing, clump-resistant | Size: 0.40 oz. | Shades: 1 People / Jessica Juliao People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best Budget Essence Lash Princess Mascara Ulta View On Target $5 View On Ulta $4 View On Essencemakeup.com Pro We only needed one coat of the mascara to get our lashes looking voluminous. The formula repelled water when we sprayed our lashes and added eye drops. We appreciated that the formula was easy to remove at the end of the day, which can be rare for a budget-friendly waterproof mascara. Cons This formula had the tendency to look a little clumpy from the first application. 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 (i.e. the absence of tugging and going through several makeup removers to remove the clay-like substance). Easy, voluminous, and budget-friendly — what more can you ask for? Benefits: Volumizing, lengthening | Size: 0.42 oz. | Shades: 1 People / Tamara Staples People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best Investment Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara Sephora View On Sephora $33 View On Ulta View On Dior.com Pros The thicker mascara wand made our lashes look more fanned out and natural than some of the others we tried. Our lashes didn’t clump together before or after spritzing our faces with water. There was absolutely no smudging or transferring of pigment after smudging our lashes with our fingers and water, which was no slight feat. We didn’t struggle to remove this mascara at the end of the day. Cons While we loved the thick wand for its volume-boosting effect on our top lashes, it distributed too much product onto our lower lashes. “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 oz. | Shades: 3 People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best Drugstore Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara Ulta View On Walmart $10 View On Ulta $10 View On CVS $13 Pros The formula was incredibly lightweight and didn’t make our lashes feel waxy or thick. Our lashes separated beautifully and didn’t flake when the formula dried down. It reminded us of the Benefit mascara that we love, just at a more affordable price. Cons It was harder to build volume with this brush because of its spiky bristles. 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 oz. | Shades: 2 Best for Glam Milk Makeup Rise Lifting + Lengthening Mascara Sephora View On Sephora $28 View On Kohls.com $28 View On Milkmakeup.com Pros Just a few coats of this mascara gave us the thickest, fullest, and most dramatic lashes out of all of the formulas we tested. Its curved wand made it easy to coat the inner and outer corners of our lashes. The silicone tube allowed us to grip and manipulate the wand easily during application. Cons Too many layers made our lashes look a bit spidery, so we’d recommend 2-3 coats at maximum. 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 oz. | Shades: 1 People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best for Natural Makeup Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara Sephora View On Amazon $30 View On Nordstrom $26 View On Sephora $30 Pros This formula was immovable after spritzing our faces with water and rubbing our eyes. Our eyelashes were individually defined and separated to give us a full, wide-eyed look. Its lightweight texture and non-flaky formula when dry was a pleasant surprise compared to a lot of the other waterproof mascaras we’ve tried. Cons It was a little bit more of a struggle to remove this mascara than the others. 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 oz. | Shades: 1 People / Tamara Staples People / Jhett Thompson People / Tamara Staples People / Tamara Staples People / Jhett Thompson Best Volumizing Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara Tarte View On Sephora $27 View On Ulta $24 View On Dermstore $27 Pros We achieved luscious and thick lashes that didn’t turn spidery or clumpy. The formula dried down quickly and didn’t smudge or smear when we spritzed our faces or touched our lashes. Cons This one was pretty tough to remove, too. 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 oz. | Shades: 1 People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best Lengthening Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara Urban Decay View On Target $28 View On Sephora $28 View On Urbandecay.com Pros We achieved some of the best length that we ever have with this Urban Decay mascara. The formula was incredibly lightweight though the mascara itself is thick (in a good way!) on our lashes. Even with touching our lashes after the water test, there was no makeup transfer or smudging. Cons It took a while to remove the mascara, though it wasn’t uncomfortable. Staff shopping writer Alyssa Brascia uses the regular version of Urban Decay Perversion Mascara daily, so we were excited to see how the waterproof version fared. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. Two to three layers of this product 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 especially 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 oz. | Shades: 1 People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best Non-Clumping Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara Ulta View On Nordstrom $23 View On Sephora $26 View On Ulta $26 Pros This brush separated our lashes beautifully and the formula made our lashes look nice and defined. It only took one to two coats to get the lush look we were going for. Despite water and physical touch, the mascara didn’t bleed, flake, or smudge onto our skin. Cons The mascara was slightly hard to remove, but it didn’t tug on our eyelashes at all. 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 oz. | Shades: 2 People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson People / Jhett Thompson Best Nourishing Neutrogena Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara Walgreens View On Target $9 View On Walmart $11 View On Walgreens $3 Pros The hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and keratin in this formula work to help hydrate and strengthen your lashes. This mascara delivered a lot of volume with just one coat. Its tapered wand made it easy to reach areas like the inner and outer corners of our lashes. Cons Some found it a bit more challenging to remove compared to other mascaras we tested. The very ingredients that make waterproof mascaras waterproof can also take a toll on your lashes, leaving them dry and brittle. 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. (Makeup removal can truly be situational.) Benefits: Volumizing | Size: 0.21 oz. | Shades: 2 How It's Held Up We first starting testing this mascara last year, and after six months of use, we find ourselves reaching for this mascara every once in a while rather than daily. As a waterproof mascara, it's still a bit waxy (regardless of chemical makeup) and can be a lot to have on your lashes day in and day out. However, we continually find ourselves liking the even distribution of product, the ease of use when it came to the wand's design, and the longevity of its formula through rain or shine. People / Tamara Staples People / Tamara Staples Our Verdict Over the past year our team has tested 49 waterproof mascaras in the PEOPLE Tested lab as well as in the real world. While many of our top products have changed over this timespan, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara has remained on the list, although our testers recommend it as an affordable, nourishing waterproof mascara option rather than one made for everyday wear. If you're on the hunt for the latter, we recommend our best overall pick, Mac Stack Waterproof Mascara, which offered impressive results and an effortless removal process. Others We Tried It Cosmetics Superhero Volumizing Waterproof Mascara: This mascara impressed us in a few ways: its conditioning formula felt light and soft on our lashes, and its skinny brush gave us great control in the hard-to-reach corners of our lashlines. The formula was superb at building volume and length (while holding a curl!) in just one coat, but it did fall short in terms of some aspects of the “waterproof” territory. We found that our testers had different experiences with this product’s wear — one observed that it had the tendency to flake and smudge, but another said it wasn’t a messy experience whatsoever. This one seems to be up to the wearer, but we agree that this is a fabulous mascara for every day. Benefit Badgal Bang Volumizing Waterproof Mascara: We loved the Benefit Badgal mascara for the natural, yet fuller-looking lashes that this product left us with. It’s not as dramatic as our everyday mascaras are, per se, but we can appreciate the soft glam look that this formula left us with. Our fringes were separated nicely thanks to its savvy skinny brush, but we did notice that swiping on too many layers led to more clumps and bumps. However, it was super easy to remove at the end of the day, which is always a perk for us. Bobbi Brown No Smudge Waterproof Mascara: This product from Bobbi Brown gave us a beautifully natural look — darkened lashes, thicker fringe, and total curl enhancement, even in the humidity. Even after touching the tips of our eyelashes and spraying our faces with water we didn’t see any form of transfer or smudging, which is always the goal. It dried pretty quickly and didn’t tug on our lashes when we tried to remove it at night, but we do think that the one drawback is its heftier price. However, we think the product does a well enough job at waterproofing that we wouldn’t mind splurging if we think we’d get good use out of it. Chanel Inimitable Waterproof: This luscious lash-enhancer from Chanel certainly made our fringe look more curled and separated, but we wish we could have seen a bigger boost in volume. We think this product is great for the effortlessly chic person who prefers natural glam and doesn’t put thickness or noticeability at the highest of priorities — which isn’t for everyone, but is definitely for you if you like that look. The formula is a bit watery, so we did have a bit of transfer onto our fingertips when wet, but the product didn’t smudge unless we touched and provoked it. Plus, it was very easy to clean off later (and who doesn’t love that beautiful black and gold packaging?). People / Jhett Thompson Things to Consider Before Buying Mascara Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof It can be easy to mix up the two, but there is a notable difference, points out celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg, whose clients include Kaley Cuoco and Rashida Jones. Basically, water-resistant formulas have the potential to run, while waterproof formulas are designed not to. Given that waterproof mascaras can be a bit harsh and drying on lashes (not to mention require more elbow grease to remove — more on that point in a moment... ), she recommends sticking with water-resistant mascaras for most days, and reserving waterproof formulas only for occasions when you know you’ll definitely need them. The Intended Result Just like when you’re choosing regular mascara, determine what you want your mascara to do for you. “If you want longer lashes, go for a lengthening waterproof mascara," says Cantor. "If you want fuller lashes, choose a volumizing waterproof mascara. If you want natural separation, look for a defining waterproof mascara." Top tip: Many good mascaras come in both regular and waterproof versions, so if you find one whose effects you love, just pick up the waterproof iteration. People / Tamara Staples How We Tested Mascaras We’ve tested 49 waterproof mascaras total in both the real world and the PEOPLE lab. Each tester started makeup-free eyes to avoid a buildup of product or pre-existing residue that could affect the test results. Our testers in the lab then chose two products, one for each eye, to judge one against the other in real time. The real-world testers took one product home to try out for two weeks to see how they hold up to rainy commutes, workouts, humidity, and all the other watery elements one may run into in a day. Each person evaluated their products based on the same criteria: Ease of Use: We applied as many coats as we usually do to get our desired look (though one to two coats is what we recommended as a baseline). During this step we took into consideration how easy each product was to grip, if the brush was adept at getting all of our lashes (even the tiny corner ones), and whether or not it was easy to build up the product to get our ideal length and fullness. Wear: We hammered home the waterproof test by waiting 10 minutes for the product to dry (the time it would probably take you to finish your makeup, throw on your clothes, and head out the door) before starting the water phase. In this step, we assessed for smudging and streaking by squeezing our eyes shut and using eye drops to mimic tears. We took things a step further by spritzing our faces with water, simulating sweat and rain, and our real-world testers actually wore these water-repellent products out in these conditions all over the country to get a good gauge of each’s effectiveness.Overall Look: Aside from resistance to water, an equally important factor when testing waterproof mascaras is the overall look and likeness to normal mascara of each product. We rated each tube based on its ability to give us fullness, length, and glamor — whether dramatic or natural. This was also when we recorded whether or not the formula tended to clump our lashes together or fan them out into beautifully separated fringe, which scored extra points in our books.Ease of Removal: We all know the struggle of removing this kind of mascara when the day is done, so another crucial step was to see how easy (or hard) it was to remove each product with the rest of our makeup. If the formula had specific instructions regarding removal, then we followed those to get fair results — but if the brand didn’t specify anything particular, then we removed them how we individually would (usually makeup wipes or liquid remover). We then ranked each mascara on a scale from one to five based on these qualities, and the average of these scores were found to determine their final performances. We analyzed both the real-world feedback in tandem with the lab results to deem the 10 mascaras above (and four honorable mentions) worthy of your next beach vacation or pool day. People / Jhett Thompson Frequently Asked Questions How are waterproof mascaras different from regular mascaras? Waterproof mascaras contain higher amounts/different types of waxes and silicones that make them better able to resist being broken down by water, explains Cantor.The drawback: The inclusion of these ingredients also means waterproof formulas are heavier and generally harsher and more drying to lashes. That is, unless you opt for something like Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Plumping Mascara, which is designed to pump hydration back into your lashes instead of drying them out. Is it okay to wear waterproof mascara everyday? Both experts we spoke with say that it’s not ideal, again, given those potentially drying effects. “It’s best to avoid using these daily if you can,” says Greenberg. If you do want to use one on the regular, Cantor recommends layering a conditioning lash primer underneath the waterproof mascara. It won't necessarily increase staying power, like an eyeshadow primer would for the makeup on your lids, but it helps mitigate the likelihood that the mascara will dry out your lashes, he explains.Otherwise, reserve waterproof mascaras for special occasions and/or long days when you know you won’t have an opportunity for touch-ups, suggests Greenberg. What’s the best way to remove waterproof mascara? As seen during our testing, the removal process can be the biggest drawback to using a waterproof mascara. The last thing you want to do is aggressively rub and scrub, as that can damage both your lashes and the delicate skin around your eyes.For the best results, soak a cotton pad with an oil-based makeup remover and press it against your lashes for 15 to 20 seconds to give it some time to break down the mascara before gently wiping it away, Cantor advises. Repeat if necessary, then finish by washing your face and eye area with a gentle cleanser to remove any leftover residue. Why Trust PEOPLE? Melanie Rud is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and contributor to both PEOPLE and Byrdie. She has previously held editorial positions at Shape, Good Housekeeping, and Health, covering topics from skincare to makeup in the shopping space. For this article, Rud consulted with celebrity makeup artists to get real, red carpet-approved advice and expertise on the qualifications and appropriate applications of a good waterproof mascara. This story was later updated with new and improved products from 2023 and 2024 by Alyssa Brascia, a staff commerce writer at PEOPLE. These new additions were decided by the insights given by our experienced testers after being assessed in a controlled lab setting and in the real world for a two-week period, where each product earned their stripes for their dependability and performance. Meet Our Experts Bryan Cantor is a celebrity makeup artist who has previously worked with Meghan Markle. Jamie Greenberg is also a celebrity makeup artist, boasting clients like Rashida Jones and Chelsea Handler, while also owning and operating her namesake cosmetics company, Jamie Makeup. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.