How to be a Cry Baby and Still Look Good: Tear-Testing Waterproof Mascaras
My wedding is coming up this weekend, and while I'm super excited, I tear up immediately when I start to think about it. I got one sentence into writing my vows and had to run to find tissues. It's a problem...
Then again, I've always been a bit of a cry baby. You know those videos where military members surprise their family members or pets by coming home? Instant waterworks. And don't even try me when I'm PMS-ing.
Knowing the tears will be flowing on my big day had me in a bit of a panic. I'm doing my own makeup, so my plan is to stick to the tried and true products I love. That said, I don't typically use waterproof mascara, and I can be a bit picky in how I like my lashes to look.
After a bit of research, I picked up 4 different mascaras. All of them are volume formulas, which I prefer, and they're varying price points (because who doesn't love a good drug store find?)
The factors I look for in a mascara are how well it curls my lashes, how long it lasts, and how easy it is to remove. If it can last through a big, fat, ugly cry without smudging, flaking or drooping; We have a winner!
Since inducing tears takes next to nothing, it was just a matter of picking out things that I knew would make me cry. Might sound cruel, but at least it gave me excuses to binge watch a few shows/movies.
Before we get into this, I do want to note that I used the same Neutrogena cleansing oil (this one) to remove my eye makeup. If I had to use anything additional to take it off, it will be mentioned!
Essence I Love Extreme -Volume Mascara
I don't hear much chat around Essence, but I feel they're highly underrated! I'm a big fan of their eye-shadows
This brush is intimidatingly large, it's honestly a bit ridiculous. It's like they looked at a chimney sweep and said, "Yeah, that'll work."
I was fearful of using it because I was worried I'd smudge it all over my lid! I've never been so cautious applying mascara in my life!
For a product that really drives home the whole 'bigger is better' ideal, it felt a little lacklustre.
The Test
Ten Things I Hate About You; the famous scene where Kat reads her poem to the class. Without fail, I always cry like an infant.
I was pleasantly surprised to see my lashes were still curled and lifted, and only a teensy bit of flaking on my lower lash line.
Removal
Came off without too much hassle! I was amazed at how easily it came off, given how notoriously difficult some wateproof formulas tend to be.
Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara
The consistency of the formula is much drier than I'm used to in a mascara. Especially compared to the original formula, which is one of my all-time faves.
Because of this, I found it didn't spread onto my lashes as evenly and clumped in certain areas.
The Test
The Episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica get married. I felt appropriate, given the circumstances as to why I'm testing things. And it turned me into a blubbering mess, so mission accomplished there.
I found it crumbled a fair amount after drying my tears, and transferred a bit onto my tissue.
Removal
This stuff was stubborn as hell! Even when I thought I got it all off with my cleanser, I woke up with major raccoon eye the next day. That said, it all came clean off with a swipe of coconut oil.
Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara
This hasn't touched my lashes since high school, but I do remember how much I used to love it. The short spikey bristles do a great job of fanning out my lashes
The formula is wet, but it's not thick or heavy. It feels very lightweight.
I love the lift it gave my lashes, especially since I don't use a lash curler. They looked super long and defined, with just a little extra oomph that I love!
The Test
Since I was running low on time, I wore this the same day that I tested the Smashbox mascara (Don't worry, I wore each one on the opposite eye). But for good measure, I watched the next episode of Friends where Rachel finds out she's pregnant. I thought I had used up my tears during the last episode, but evidently I was wrong.
My lashes stayed pristine even after dabbing at my eyes! I'm actually in awe.
Removal
Cleanser took it clean off, though I did have to really work it into my lashes to make sure it would remove properly. I noted a few leftover lash crumbs the next morning, but they wiped away fairly easily with water.
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara
I will preface by saying this product is not waterproof, but many reviews and sales associates have assured me it is in fact 'water resistant'. One saleswoman confessed it lasted through a viewing of 'A Dogs Life', so that was promising!
This also happens to be one of my all-time favourite mascaras. Yet as often as I wear it, I've never taken note of how tear-proof it can be.
I've talked about this product before, so I won't get into too much detail at the risk of sounding repetitive. The brush is very unique in that it scoops and curls all of my lashes and evenly coats them all. I love the amount of lift it provides me, so I look ten times more awake than I do without it.
The Test
My Girl was on Netflix. This was a bit of a gamble as I've never seen it before, but my best friend told me how much this made her weep.
Unfortunately, the weird 80s movie pacing didn't trigger any tears for me, so I pulled out the big guns instead (Link here, but don't say I didn't warn you).
I feel like I should have seen this coming but alas, I wound up with mascara everywhere. The proof is in the pudding...erm..tissue?
Removal
As much as I love this mascara, it is a tedious process to remove it. It really is the downfall of this mascara's formulation; it's like tar. I can't explain it better than that.
I hate that I have to attack my lashes just to scrub them clean. Again, coconut oil to the rescue.
I really love the length and definition it gave my lashes.Who would have thought I'd be back to using my OG high school fave?!
It was a close tie with the Essence I Love Extreme, but that humongous wand is too much of a threat to the rest of my eye makeup! I will definitely be using it over the summer months, though!
What is your favourite waterproof mascara? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!
Then again, I've always been a bit of a cry baby. You know those videos where military members surprise their family members or pets by coming home? Instant waterworks. And don't even try me when I'm PMS-ing.
Knowing the tears will be flowing on my big day had me in a bit of a panic. I'm doing my own makeup, so my plan is to stick to the tried and true products I love. That said, I don't typically use waterproof mascara, and I can be a bit picky in how I like my lashes to look.
After a bit of research, I picked up 4 different mascaras. All of them are volume formulas, which I prefer, and they're varying price points (because who doesn't love a good drug store find?)
 |
| Clockwise from top: Benefit Cosmetics Rollerlash Mascara in 'Brown', Covergirl Lashblast Volume Waterproof Mascara in 'Black', Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara Waterproof, Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara in 'Jet Black'. |
Since inducing tears takes next to nothing, it was just a matter of picking out things that I knew would make me cry. Might sound cruel, but at least it gave me excuses to binge watch a few shows/movies.
Before we get into this, I do want to note that I used the same Neutrogena cleansing oil (this one) to remove my eye makeup. If I had to use anything additional to take it off, it will be mentioned!
Essence I Love Extreme -Volume Mascara
I don't hear much chat around Essence, but I feel they're highly underrated! I'm a big fan of their eye-shadows
This brush is intimidatingly large, it's honestly a bit ridiculous. It's like they looked at a chimney sweep and said, "Yeah, that'll work."
I was fearful of using it because I was worried I'd smudge it all over my lid! I've never been so cautious applying mascara in my life!
For a product that really drives home the whole 'bigger is better' ideal, it felt a little lacklustre.
 |
| From left: Bare lashes, One coat, Two coats and one coat on bottom lashes |
The Test
Ten Things I Hate About You; the famous scene where Kat reads her poem to the class. Without fail, I always cry like an infant.
I was pleasantly surprised to see my lashes were still curled and lifted, and only a teensy bit of flaking on my lower lash line.
Removal
Came off without too much hassle! I was amazed at how easily it came off, given how notoriously difficult some wateproof formulas tend to be.
Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara
The consistency of the formula is much drier than I'm used to in a mascara. Especially compared to the original formula, which is one of my all-time faves.
Because of this, I found it didn't spread onto my lashes as evenly and clumped in certain areas.
 | |
|
The Episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica get married. I felt appropriate, given the circumstances as to why I'm testing things. And it turned me into a blubbering mess, so mission accomplished there.
I found it crumbled a fair amount after drying my tears, and transferred a bit onto my tissue.
Removal
This stuff was stubborn as hell! Even when I thought I got it all off with my cleanser, I woke up with major raccoon eye the next day. That said, it all came clean off with a swipe of coconut oil.
Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara
This hasn't touched my lashes since high school, but I do remember how much I used to love it. The short spikey bristles do a great job of fanning out my lashes
The formula is wet, but it's not thick or heavy. It feels very lightweight.
I love the lift it gave my lashes, especially since I don't use a lash curler. They looked super long and defined, with just a little extra oomph that I love!
 |
| From left: Bare lashes, One coat, Two coats and one coat on bottom lashes |
Since I was running low on time, I wore this the same day that I tested the Smashbox mascara (Don't worry, I wore each one on the opposite eye). But for good measure, I watched the next episode of Friends where Rachel finds out she's pregnant. I thought I had used up my tears during the last episode, but evidently I was wrong.
My lashes stayed pristine even after dabbing at my eyes! I'm actually in awe.
Removal
Cleanser took it clean off, though I did have to really work it into my lashes to make sure it would remove properly. I noted a few leftover lash crumbs the next morning, but they wiped away fairly easily with water.
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara
I will preface by saying this product is not waterproof, but many reviews and sales associates have assured me it is in fact 'water resistant'. One saleswoman confessed it lasted through a viewing of 'A Dogs Life', so that was promising!
This also happens to be one of my all-time favourite mascaras. Yet as often as I wear it, I've never taken note of how tear-proof it can be.
I've talked about this product before, so I won't get into too much detail at the risk of sounding repetitive. The brush is very unique in that it scoops and curls all of my lashes and evenly coats them all. I love the amount of lift it provides me, so I look ten times more awake than I do without it.
 | |
|
My Girl was on Netflix. This was a bit of a gamble as I've never seen it before, but my best friend told me how much this made her weep.
Unfortunately, the weird 80s movie pacing didn't trigger any tears for me, so I pulled out the big guns instead (Link here, but don't say I didn't warn you).
I feel like I should have seen this coming but alas, I wound up with mascara everywhere. The proof is in the pudding...erm..tissue?
Removal
As much as I love this mascara, it is a tedious process to remove it. It really is the downfall of this mascara's formulation; it's like tar. I can't explain it better than that.
I hate that I have to attack my lashes just to scrub them clean. Again, coconut oil to the rescue.
And the winner is....
After many sob sessions, I've decided to sport CoverGirl Lash Blast on my wedding day!I really love the length and definition it gave my lashes.Who would have thought I'd be back to using my OG high school fave?!
It was a close tie with the Essence I Love Extreme, but that humongous wand is too much of a threat to the rest of my eye makeup! I will definitely be using it over the summer months, though!
What is your favourite waterproof mascara? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!