There is still plenty of warm weather up ahead and that means sipping drinks poolside, sun worshipping on the sand, taking the boat out... and dealing with eye makeup that will ruin your look at the first sight of anything wet. Of course thanks to many luxury cosmetics brands, there are a number of products waiting for you to purchase, try once and hopefully not toss in the pile of other would-be waterproof choices. So, to make things just a little bit easier, we went ahead and took the plunge for you with a handful of options to see just who sink or swam (puns very much intended).
Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner by Too Faced - $18
I very much wanted to like this eyeliner and it does mostly stay in place. Too Faced offers a creamy, smokey look, one that you can really work into the base of the lash line... and work right back out if you rub too hard. That same creaminess is its strength however, as the look is forgiving when the liner moves around a little bit for a smokey eye, compared to a liquid liner which maintains strives to maintain an exact and precise look that ends up looking broken when put to the test.
Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara by Urban Decay - $20
I was talked into trying this one right at the counter, and I must say that it is one of the best waterproof mascaras I have yet to try. The applicator is thick and applying the cosmetic can be a little tricky, as it tends to want to cover a bit more than just lashes. However with that warning in mind, it should hardly deter from picking this as your go-to for even tougher wear and tear, like a very active day in the water. To really put this formula through the ringer, I spent an entire day at the beach, actively swimming in the Pacific Ocean. It didn't budge. I am impressed. Equally impressive was the fact that it came off almost effortlessly later on with remover.
Borghese Linea Precisa Liquid Eyeliner - $19
In terms of application, the Linea Precisa liner by Borghese is really strong. The heavier the hand, the thicker the line and if you are less experienced with liquid liner I think that you would find this to be much easier in comparison to more standard wand that you need to dip. Really, this works almost more like a marker. In terms of wear and tear, this liner held up well. It maintained its look both in and out of the pool, although rigorous swimming at the beach proved to be its down fall -- at least around the edges. By the end of the day the most important portions applied stayed firm, while the interior and outside corners tended to wear away. Overall a solid liner for lighter interaction with water.
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner - $22
This is an eyeliner that I will forever have in my arsenal. While it is not directly waterproof, it most certainly lives up the its name and is meant for those of us that depend on a long-wear liner. Walking the line between creamy and precise, the gel really allows flexibility with the kind of look you might want to create. Once you get used to it, using the brush as an applicator gives the user a lot of control to apply very thin or thick lines. Regardless of the fact that this is not technically a waterproof liner, it does a great job of staying in place regardless of sweat, tears and even a swim. One word of caution: if you do get really wet, avoid touching your eyes, if you manage to leave this stuff alone it will dry just as you applied it.
Diorshow Blackout Waterproof Mascara - $25
A powerhouse mascara, Diorshow will do wonders for volume and if that is what you are after, this is your go-to. The applicator applies a very thick layer on your lashes and those blessed with an already full set will probably look amazing. While I personally love love love the non-waterproof version, this mascara almost does too good of a job. In other words, it was quite the task to remove it later. Now that may not always be a bad thing if you are really going to be beating up your eyes, this might be the pick for you.
bareMinerals Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara - $18
By far the Flawless Definition applicator is my favorite, it is the same as the non-waterproof version if you are already familiar with the brand. The mascara goes on very cleanly and stays in place through beach trips and dipping in and out of the pool. This is not the version I would recommend for ample volume or lengthening, however it does do exactly what it claims to in that it beautifully defines and does enhance lashes. While this mascara did make it through a day by (and completely in) the pool, it did not perform as well when I actively swam in the waves, coming off at the tips and leaving that signature gray under-eye.