
We’ve solved another first-world problem: waterproof mascaras that won’t budge or smudge in Singapore’s sweaty weather. You’re welcome.
Lashes do wonders – aside from protecting your eyes from dust and debris, they also give the illusion of widening and elongating them. Not many of us are blessed with long, lush lashes, which is why we’re inseparable from our favourite mascaras. But the unrelenting Singapore heat (coupled with the curse of oily lids) leaves us with raccoon eyes by the end of the day. So we’re putting an end to it once and for all. Here are the very best waterproof and smudge-proof mascaras available in Singapore. Oh and if you can’t deal with all that effort of applying mascara, try eyelash extensions. It saves lives.
Best mascaras for Singapore’s weather
Clinique Lash Power Mascara, Black Onyx
Turn to this mighty tube if you’re seeking a natural finish with longer staying power. Thanks to its tubing formula, no amount of sweat, humidity or oil will smudge or smear the product. The wand also coats every strand of hair, lengthening them with every swipe.
Clinique Lash Power Mascara, Black Onyx, $39, available at Tangs
Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara
This stuff is pure magic. As its name suggests, it lasts through everything including work, gym sessions and even outdoor workouts. Plus, if you love a doll-like effect, this fans out and elongates your eyelashes. It’s near impossible to remove this if you don’t have a great eye makeup remover, which speaks volumes about its staying power.
Eyeko Sport Waterproof Mascara, $33.50, available online via LookFantastic and Revolve.
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Waterproof Mascara
Forget your falsies. This gives your peepers a voluminous lift and the appearance of winged lashes – so you don’t have to go to great pains to do a cat eye. It’s waterproof too, so you can slay all day in the Singapore heat without worry of smudging.
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Waterproof Mascara, $21.90, available at Guardian and Watsons.
Too Faced Better than Sex Waterproof Mascara
We’ve all heard of the famed Better than Sex mascara, but while it gives lashes the necessary oomph, it lacks the budge-proof factor. The waterproof version of this Holy Grail mascara delivers on all fronts, thanks to its inclusion of water-resistant polymers. One coat defines, two coats curls, and three curls – well that gives you the most luscious lashes of your life.
Too Faced Better than Sex Waterproof Mascara, $37, available at Sephora and online.
Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Bang! Mascara, Black
This holy grail has a waterproof version, so rest assured that we’re never letting this one go. Layer it on your lashes, and no matter how sparse they are, they’ll appear longer and fuller. Benefit promises that it’ll “last through storm clouds and showers” and it sure does. We’d like to add that it lasts through serious sweat too.
Benefit Cosmetics BADgal Bang! Mascara, Black, $44, available at Sephora and online.
Dior Iconic Extreme Mascara
Hello, va-va-voom peepers! Another tubing formula mascara on the list, this mascara uses the ‘Lift Model Extrême’ complex to coat and set those lashes. The highly pigmented product is pretty heavy duty and doesn’t budge but magically slides off if you go in with a facial cleanser. There’s no need to scrub your poor lids.
Dior Iconic Extreme Mascara, $54, available at Tangs, Sephora and Strawberrynet
Heroine Make Kiss Me Super Waterproof Volume & Curl Mascara, Black 01
A favourite among Singaporeans, this is great for sparse Asian lashes. Thanks to 5mm fibres and a “curl lock” to keep your lashes in place all day, it does a fine job of extreme lengthening and thickening. Bonus points for its waterproof formula too.
Heroine Make Kiss Me Super Waterproof Volume & Curl Mascara Black 01, $21.90, available at Watsons, Lazada and Shopee.
L’Oréal Paris Double Extension Curl mascara
This gives the effect of a lash perm – the secret’s in the two-step formula, which contains a primer and a mascara. The base coat comes infused with Aqua flex, which absorbs into the keratin structure of each lash to nourish. It doesn’t smudge or fade either, so expect to have full-on drama in your lashes all day long.
L’Oréal Paris Double Extension Curl mascara, $27.90, available from Watsons, Guardian and Lazada.
Lily Lolo Natural Big Lash Mascara
We’re all for a good coat of mascara but it’s not always a top priority in our makeup routine. Why? ‘Cos removing it can be such a b*tch sometimes. So we were surprised at how we got all the product out in a couple of swabs. This clean, cruelty-free mineral mascara intensifies lashes with more volume and definition – almost looks like you have falsies on! Plus it goes hand in hand with smudge-proof eyeliner. Double win. The vegan formula is also great for sensitive skin.
Lily Lolo Big Lash Mascara, $39, available online and all Robinsons and Metro outlets.
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara
Hourglass’ Caution Extreme Lash Mascara knocks it out of the park with a 4DAmplifier brush that creates big, bold lashes in one stroke. Pair it with a buildable formula that’s smear-proof and waterproof, and you’ve got yourselves a winner. The dual-sided brush – the denser bristles for top, and shorter for bottom – lets you coat even hard-to-reach lashes and creates volume in every direction.
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara, $49, available at Sephora and online.