The Best Mascaras For Your Wedding Day
Photography by Elena Popa PhotographyThink about that magical moment when you say, “I do” and you're fighting back your happy tears. The last thing you want to be thinking about is your mascara smudging. There’s one beauty essential you absolutely can’t overlook: mascara. And not just any mascara. We’re talking about the kind that can handle emotional vows, awkward speeches, and the dance floor without smudging, smearing, or flaking. Whether you’re going for fluttery lashes or a bold, dramatic eye, your mascara needs to be as committed as you are. In this guide, we’ll dive into the best wedding mascaras that won’t betray you, no matter how many happy tears fall.
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The best wedding mascaras for your wedding day
Should you wear waterproof mascara to a wedding?
The short answer is yes. The reason why? It’s just so much easier all around whether you’re a bride or a wedding guest. A waterproof mascara, not to be confused with any mascara branded as ‘smudge-proof’ is specially formulated to not budge or smudge when in contact with any water including sweat and other liquids. So, it just makes sense to wear waterproof mascara at a wedding due to all the happy tears, sweat from the dancefloor, and just general longevity. A wedding lasts all day and all night! No ‘regular’ mascara is going to last you up to 16 hours.
Plus, waterproof mascaras can sometimes actually hold your lash curl better than non-waterproof mascaras. The reason for this is the formulation of these mascaras. If you’re someone who has more straight eyelashes and uses an eyelash curler, this is another reason to consider a waterproof mascara.
How to choose the best wedding mascara for you
Everyone will have their own priorities of what they want their mascara to achieve and this can all come down to a few things. You should think about your eye shape, your natural eyelashes, and the look you want to achieve for the wedding. These keywords below are what you should look for when shopping for your wedding mascara.
Lengthening
If achieving long lashes is your goal, you’ll want to be on the lookout for a lengthening mascara. These mascaras focus on separating your lashes and stretching them to achieve the appearance of fuller, longer lashes.
Volumising
Going for something a little more bold? A volumising mascara is something you should choose. These mascaras thicken the lashes to make them look more dramatic. The mascara wands for volumising mascaras are often larger to help deposit more product on the lashes.
Buildability
Buildability is important for anyone who likes to go over their lashes a few times with a few different layers to get the look they want. This speaks to a maraca’s ability to not clump up and give you that dreaded spider legs look. Think of Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove.
Waterproof
As mentioned above, having a waterproof mascara isn’t a priority for everyone but you might as well go for the waterproof option if there is one available. You can be so confident that you won’t cry on the day but who knows how you’ll fare during the wedding speeches? It’s better to be safe and look for waterproof mascara.
Tubing
What is a tubing mascara? We’re so glad you asked! Tubing maracas are our latest obsession and are a recent mascara formulation that allows mascara to literally be removed in tubes. That’s right, you don’t need to scrub your eyes and ruin your lashes with your makeup remover, and you don’t have to use an oil-based cleanser that leaves a sheen over your eyes.
Instead, tubing mascaras are just as long-lasting and flexible wearing as waterproof mascaras. They don’t smudge or flake and won’t run or transfer, even if you're sweating or crying! The best part is that you can remove them just with a flannel or cotton pad and water. That’s all! They’re perfect for people with sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers!
Best Lengthening Mascara For Your Wedding Day
1. L'Oréal Paris
Telescopic Mascara
Why do we recommend this?
This is one of our long-time favourites at Rock My Wedding. The L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara is a jet-black mascara that lengthens your lashes to the heavens. It gives you that fanned-out, dramatic effect. The mascara utilises an intensely lengthening formula, designed to evenly coat and stretch the look of lashes, which is enhanced by the high-precision flexible multi-comb.
Why do we recommend this?
If you're looking to break free from your favourite falsies, this lash-grabbing wand is your one-way ticket to intense length and lift. Although not waterproof, this mascara provides that instant lift we love.
2. Hourglass
Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara
Best Volumising Mascara For Your Wedding Day
3. Too Faced
Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
Why do we recommend this?
This water-resistant mascara enhances hold and adds volume while conditioning lashes with peptides for a fuller, fluttery look. This is a waterproof edition of the number one selling mascara in the U.S!
Why do we recommend this?
This formula uses plumping polymers to deliver the ultimate volume for a fanned-out effect. The ultra-curved lash styler brush uses soft bristles to hug, grip and separate each lash. Plus, it is infused with jojoba waxes to nourish your lashes too!
4. Charlotte Tilbury
Exaggereyes Volume Mascara
Best Waterproof Mascara For Your Wedding Day
5. Benefit
Badgal BANG! Volumizing Waterproof Mascara
Why do we recommend this?
Now available in a waterproof formula, benefit's best-selling BADgal Bang Mascara offers the ultimate volume. The jet-black mascara uses weightless aero-particles to create intense volume without weighing down lashes. The formula also uses provitamin B5, conditioning lashes with every coat and lasts up to 36 hours!
Why do we recommend this?
The Sky High mascara is another tried and true with the Flex Tower mascara brush that lifts each lash from the root, providing intense volume and length. Enriched with bamboo extract and fibres, the waterproof formula envelops the lashes in nourishment while offering lightweight coverage.
6. Maybelline
Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara
Best Tubing Mascara For Your Wedding Day
7. KVD Beauty
Full Sleeve Long and Defined Tubing Mascara
Why do we recommend this?
If you need a mascara to last through a zombie apocalypse, this is probably what we’d reach for. The mascara features smudge-resistant long-wear technology with an easy-to-remove formula. Lightweight with intense pigment, the mascara coats the lashes in ink-black colour with extreme length and definition for a fanned-out effect.
Why do we recommend this?
The supple, pliable polymer coating is able to lengthen even beyond the natural tip of your lashes. The polymer coating system forms a tube around each lash, meaning no smudging or flaking throughout the day. When you’re done for the day (or night), simply use warm water to gently break down the mascara.
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8. Beauty Pie
Wrap Star™ Tubing Mascara
Best Curl Holding Mascara For Your Wedding Day
9. REFY
Lash Sculpt
Why do we recommend this?
REFY creates a sculpted, lifted, lengthened lash effect lasting up to 12 hours. The formula sculpts the lash while ingredients help nourish and strengthen at the same time. The curved applicator targets each lash to separate and lengthen, creating a high-impact finish without clumps, smudging or transfer.
Why do we recommend this?
Designed for different types of lashes, this Dior mascara defines, coats and fans the fringe of lashes to the extreme. This waterproof mascara lends lashes XXL volume, spectacular curl, and lasting shape to die for.
10. Diorshow
Iconic Overcurl Waterproof
Tips for Testing Your Waterproof Mascara Before Your Wedding
- Wear it all day long
It goes without saying that testing your mascara by wearing it all day long is a must. Your wedding day prep will start fairly early in the morning and you may not get back from your reception until early hours of the following morning. Long-wearing mascara is essential.
- Wear it working out or in a sauna
Get your sweat on by wearing your mascara during a run or any form of cardio. If you really want to put it to the test, head to the sauna and see if it can last through extreme heat.
- Watch a sad movie
Grab your besties and have a movie night! Stick on Marley & Me, P.S. I Love You, The Notebook or A Star Is Born or any film of your choosing to get those tears flowing.
- Go swimming
Can your mascara survive you swimming? If the answer is yes, you know you’ve found the holy grail product!
- Try a layer of your waterproof mascara over a regular mascara
Sometimes one coat is all you need. If you have a mascara you really love but it isn’t waterproof, then try adding just one coat of waterproof mascara over your regular one and see how it wears trying out all of the above.
- Apply using a few different techniques
Don’t forget to try applying your mascara in a few different ways. Angle the mascara wand in different ways. Try it with and without an eyelash curler. Consider indulging in an eyelash primer to help the mascara stick to your lashes more and increase the length and volume at the same time. Practice makes perfect.
- Test taking off your makeup
As much as you probably never want to take off your wedding makeup, after the long day and it being captured in thousands of your wedding photos, there’s probably no feeling quite like taking off your wedding makeup at the end of the night. What you don’t want, however, is spending ages scrubbing at your eyes because the waterproof mascara won’t come off and you don’t have the right cleanser for it. The wedding night is not a time to be playing around with dodgy makeup removal techniques.
Alternatives to mascara
Lash lift and tint - Also known as LVL, this is a lash-lifting treatment that works by applying serums to lashes that help them hold a curl followed by a tint to give them a more striking colour. The result can last up to two months.
False eyelashes - The most common alternative to wearing mascara is false lashes, whether that be a strip lash or individual lashes. This way it takes the pressure off of finding the perfect mascara and you can just instantly have those fluttery Disney princess lashes.
Eyelash extensions - On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more long-lasting, eyelash extensions could be the answer for you. These extensions last for up to 2-8 weeks depending on how you take care of them. Should you get lash extensions? We’ve got everything you need to know before making a decision.
Choose your best wedding mascara from waterproof, volumising, tubing and more!
So, now you have your wedding mascara sorted, you can focus on the rest of your makeup routine. If you are doing your own wedding makeup, take a look at our guide to doing your own wedding makeup for our top selected bridal beauty products. Considering getting lash extensions? Here’s everything you need to know about eyelash extensions.
