My oily skin has always plagued my makeup game. Creasing bases, transferring foundations, fading colors, the general icky oil pool - I could go on and on why I’d prefer to be dry-skinned if I could choose my skin type! One particular drawback that I hate about being oily is (accidentally) smudging my mascaras. The point of having curled and coated lashes is to make my eyes look more awake, but panda eyes from my oily lids causing my mascara to smudge make me look like I put on dark circles. No thanks!
I’ve constantly been on the lookout for smudge-free mascara formulas since I first started using makeup, and I have tried a lot. From drugstore picks like L’Oreal, Maybelline, Covergirl, Max Factor, Ever Bilena, and Happy Skin to pricier options like Majolica Majorca, Heroine Make, Kiko, Too Faced, Tarte, Clinique, and Marc Jacobs - name it and I’ve probably tried it. After all that though, I’ve only found two mascaras that can survive on my oily lids: Heroine Make’s Volume and Curl Super Waterproof Mascara (about P650 from online stores) and Happy Skin’s Extra Drama Volumizing Mascara (P499).
So I did some research and found a lot of raves from fellow oily gals for Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara, Maybelline Hypercurl Mascara, Missha The Style 4D Mascara, and Shawill Amazing Curls Mascara. These are all under P250 finds so I figured why not - I was due a new tube anyway!
Over the course of two weeks, I tested these four contenders for a minimum of 8 hours daily on my top and bottom lashes. Curious which ones actually lasted? Here’s the result of the wear test if you’re looking for a mascara that can survive on oily lids!
Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara
The Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara promises to make your lashes two times longer and stronger. “Double length” is a bit much to claim, but it does lengthen and volumize well with just one coat. It has a plastic, straight comb wand that delivers a generous amount of product to the lashes so you do have to wiggle it out to keep it from clumping. I prefer keeping application to a single coat as layering with two coats can make the lashes look like stiff spider legs. It was pretty amazing that this mascara can hold up to 10 hours with zero smudging on my oily lids! The curl, length, and volume were all maintained and looked as fresh after 10 hours as it did shortly after application. It’s a non-waterproof mascara so I don’t suggest you take it swimming or working out.
Maybelline Hypercurl Mascara
I’ve tried several other Maybelline mascaras in the past but it’s the first time I’ve picked up Hypercurl. The Hypercurl promises to be a non-irritating, smudge-proof, and waterproof mascara that will make you life-ready with a fresh natural look. It has a curved wand with thick nylon bristles that’s supposed to make application easier. And if you find yourself without a lash curler, the curved wand does help to add a bit of lift to lashes. The formula is more focused on lengthening rather than volume, and it gives me long wispy lashes with just one coat. Similar to Fashion 21, I find that one coat works best as adding more coats can make it look dry and clumpy. I tested the waterproof claim and it turned out to be legit! I applied this to my lashes before wetting and rubbing them with tap water - and my lashes remained coated without any signs of running off! Unfortunately, this also means that it’s quite a bitch to remove. Attempting to remove it with a cleansing cream followed by facial wash just left me with dark panda eyes.
Missha The Style 4D Mascara
The Missha The Style 4D Mascara claims to be a water-, sweat-, and oil-resistant formula that lengthens, volumizes, and separates lashes. Worn side by side with just one coat on, it’s hard to differentiate Missha from Maybelline unless you touch your lashes. Whereas the Hypercurl side is stiff and dry, the Style 4D remains soft and feathery because of the inclusion of lanolin and plant waxes to the formula. Adding on a second coat gives more volume, without clumping or making the hairs stiff! The Style 4D Mascara has a long-handled thick brush with nylon bristles that works well separate lash hairs and keep them clump-free. On a regular day of just staying indoors, it holds up to 10 hours on my oily lids, looking as fresh as it did after application.
Shawill Amazing Curls Mascara
The Shawill Amazing Curls Mascara claims to be a smudge-free mascara that will separate and curl lashes with a long-lasting formula, and lengthen and lift them for a natural yet enhanced look. It has a plastic, straight comb wand with layered bristles that lends a bit of length and volume to my lashes, but not as much separation. Like the other mascaras, application looks best with a single coat as two coats can result in spider lashes. Once it does dry, the mascara does maintain the curl and overall look for as much as 8 hours on my oily lids. I wasn’t able to catch it on camera, but it started showing signs of wear around the 10 hour mark, which is still fairly decent. It’s smudge-resistant but not a waterproof mascara, so I don’t suggest you use it when swimming or working out.
Final Verdict
While it’s hard to pick a favorite, I know for sure that I like the Shawill Amazing Curls Mascara the least as it’s the most uncomfortable to wear and most susceptible to clumping. For regular days when I don’t expect to be too active and don’t want to use a bi-phase remover, I’d go for either the Fashion 21 Double Up or Missha The Style 4D Mascara. I do have a slight preference for the Missha mascara though for the lush natural looking lashes that it gives that are durable yet are still soft to the touch. It’s something that I have never experienced before from all the other mascaras I’ve tried! Even with a second layer, my lashes stay defined, separated, and clump-free. Extra plus points that it’s crazy cheap, too! If I wanted something that will truly stay no matter the weather or activity though, I’ll reach for the Maybelline Hypercurl Mascara. Thank goodness I still have some Heroine Make Mascara remover because the Hypercurl continues to put up a fight even at the end of the day, which is impressive but also a bit of a challenge.
Which mascara were you most impressed by? There are almost as many smudge-proof mascaras as there are cars-and just like choosing the perfect ride, the very best smudge-proof mascara all comes down to your personal needs. They must stay put through sweat, tears, and maybe even the occasional nap, but you also want them to come off easily…and without sacrificing your lashes. However, while waterproof mascaras might seem like the obvious choice, they're not always a must-have. "To create a smudge-proof effect in a mascara, the key ingredients are film-forming agents and polymers that form a flexible layer over the lashes that helps the mascara stay in place, even when exposed to oils or sweat," says Shuting Hu, PhD, a cosmetic chemist and founder of Acaderma. Victoria Beckham Beauty's Vast Lash Mascara guarantees that your lashes are going to steal the spotlight. A 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, this formula delivers dramatic length and volume while staying flawlessly smudge-free-even in the stickiest, most humid conditions. Founder Victoria Beckham dubs it "Miami proof," meaning it's tough enough to handle heat, humidity, and the occasional tear-jerker.
Best Volumizing, Best Tubing, Best Curling, and more options are highlighted by editors and testers. Tubing mascaras, like Kevyn Aucoin’s classic or Thrive’s crowd-pleaser, are often the top pick for those with oily lids because they resist smudging. Tubing and fiber formulas provide different advantages, and reading labels helps identify these formulations. Avoid waterproof mascaras for daily wear if you want easier removal and less dryness, since tubing or fiber-based sets can offer excellent smudge resistance with easier removal.
On busy or humid days, some opt for a thin primer and translucent powder on the lids to delay oil’s arrival. This invisible layer acts as protective armor against smudging and helps mascara stay put longer. The eye makeup routine can be adjusted to prioritize mascara last, ensuring lashes don’t smudge during the rest of the application process. If needed, you can scrape off any smudges that develop during application with a light touch after the formula has begun to set.
Note: Avoid waterproof mascara for daily wear if you want easier removal and lash comfort; tubing and fiber mascaras often provide better long-lasting performance on oily lids.
How to Choose and Use Smudge-Proof Mascara
- Opt for tubing or fiber mascaras for better oil resistance and easier removal.
- Check for film-forming agents and polymers that create a flexible lash barrier.
- Limit layering to prevent stiffness and clumping; one coat often performs best on oily lids.
- Consider a light eye primer and a translucent setting powder to reduce oil breakthrough.
- Allow the mascara to dry fully before touching or blinking to minimize transfer.
