10 waterproof eye makeup products and removers for summer

Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic in I-22, I-90 and I-30

If you want your eye makeup to last through the sticky days (and stickier nights) of summer, we have a little secret: waterproof makeup ain’t just for synchronized swimmers. But they are the experts, so we consulted Jacquie Jeffery, one of Make Up For Ever Canada’s lead artists and a major player behind the makeup looks for the Canadian National Synchro Team, to learn how to weather-proof our eye makeup as the thermostat rises. “Too often we think of waterproof products as makeup strictly for extreme situations, like underwater, but waterproof should also be considered ‘long lasting,’” explains Jeffery. “Every woman needs an element of long lasting makeup somewhere in her daily routine, and our Aqua Matic Eye Shadow Pencils are like having primer, pigment and shimmer, all in one.” Watch out: while bold and beautiful, these shadow sticks set quickly, so be sure to buff them out with a blending brush (or your fingertips) soon after application. $25 each, sephora.ca.

L’Oreal Paris La Couleur Infallible Eye Shadow

This shadow is the ultimate no-fuss-for-summer product. Thanks to its uniquely spongy texture, your fingertips and thirty seconds are all you need for a perfect application—no brushes required. For a night out, you can amp up the colour in your crease or outer-v, but “always remember to apply waterproof products in thin, sheer layers and build to desired intensity,” Jeffery explains, because clumpy eye shadow is far from flattering. $11 each, lorealparis.ca. Learn how to get the perfect smokey eye.

Mark No Place To Run Waterproof Eye Liner

Buying a waterproof liner is easy, but it’s next to impossible to find a waterproof liner that lives up to our very high expectations. This liner from Mark, cleverly called “No Place To Run,” delivers on each of its promises, like a long-wearing formula and bold, of-the-season colours. Each shade in the line, from the rich “navy seal” to the multidimensional “vintage khaki” (our favourite green liner to date!), glides on the lash line with ease and stays put for a full day’s wear... seriously. $10, avon.ca.

Urban Decay brush & Super-Saturated Ultra Intense Waterproof Cream

If you have yet to master this season’s hottest look, the cat-eye, this “perverse” duo is all the help you need to achieve the perfect flick. First, dip the ultra-thin and precise angled brush in the cream liner and pull it across your upper lash line, using short, light strokes. Then, stamp the angled brush upwards and outwards at the outer corner of your lash line, before smoothing out any kinks along the line. Urban Decay Perversion Angled Brush and Super-Saturated Ultra Intense Waterproof Cream, $19 and $26 respectively, sephora.ca.

Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Pumped Up!

If mascara is all the makeup you wear, a high humidex is your lashes’ worst enemy. Defeat the heat with a volumizing mascara that won’t fall flat. This mascara boasts an extra-large brush in a unique helix shape, which helps to coat lashes completely in an ultra black, long-lasting Pro-Keratin formula. Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Pumped Up! Colossal Waterproof Mascara, $9, shoppersdrugmart.ca.

Dior Diorshow Iconic Waterproof Mascara

There’s a reason this mascara is so often out of stock, and that’s because it works like a mini makeup artist. Its skinny, plastic teeth enable you to coat and manipulate each individual lash to achieve your desired look. We’re talking 24 hours of black, smudge-proof lashes. Our tip? Curl your lashes first to bring all the attention to your peepers. $35, sephora.ca.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer

Smokey eyes are sexy. Racoon eyes? Not so much. If your mascara or eyeliner tends to wander, it’s time to invest in a waterproof under-eye concealer. This creamy cover-up stick from Tarte nourishes even the most dehydrated under-eye skin with vitamins A and E, while hiding imperfections and ensuring eye makeup stays put. Plus, under-eye circles have no place at the beach. $29, sephora.ca.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour

A late night on the patio means a long morning at the office but, luckily, a subtly defined arch is often all it takes to look refreshed and wide awake. Use short, light strokes to fill in your brows and your co-workers might stop bringing impromptu espressos to your desk (unless you’re good with that). $27, sephora.ca. Learn how to properly fill in your brows.

Make Up For Ever Eye Cleanser & Shiseido The Makeup Facial Cotton

You don’t need to be a synchronized swimmer to know that “waterproof eye makeup remover should be in every makeup kit and home cabinet,” says Jeffery. When the day is done, use a soft but durable cotton pad to massage a moisturizing eye makeup remover onto the eye, being careful not to rub or stretch the skin. This cleanser “contains oils suspended in an aqueous gel,” which dissolves eye makeup instantly while “leaving very little residue behind,” says Jeffery. We like to pat the remaining oils into our skin for a hit of hydration before bed. Make Up For Ever Sens’Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser and Shiseido The Makeup Facial Cotton, $29 and $11 respectively, sephora.ca. For more beauty advice, visit our Style Desk blog.