When it comes to stay-all-day makeup, smudge-proof mascara is essential. In an ideal world, these mascaras should stay on your lashes without flaking or causing the dreaded "raccoon eyes" whether exposed to oil, sweat, or rain — but like most beauty products, some work better than others. Below, a guide to the three absolute best smudge-proof mascaras on the market.
But first, here's a fun fact: if you're looking for an absolutely-will-not-budge mascara, Asian beauty is the name of the game. Over the years, I've tested dozens of mascaras, and for some reason, the ones from popular Western beauty brands just don't hold a waterproof candle to their Korean and Japanese counterparts. And it's not just me: countless Redditors — perhaps the most devoted of the social media beauty obsessives — agree. Go any just about any r/AsianBeauty or r/MakeupAddiction thread about mascara, and you'll find Heroine Make's Long and Curl Super Waterproof mascara — a Japanese beauty cult-favorite — hailed as the best on the market in terms of length, volume, and of course, smudge-resistance.
One other tip? If you plan on using one of these smudge-proof formulas, you're going to want to pick up one of the best waterproof mascara removers, otherwise, you might find yourself struggling when it comes time to take your makeup off.