I Tested Lancôme’s Mascara Melter Against My Strongest Waterproof Mascaras
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In the summer, I tend to shelve my usualtubing mascarasin favor of waterproof ones that can more easily handle heat, sun, and sweat. (Tubing formulas hang on well enough for everyday use, but easily soften and slide off your lashes in the presence of warm water.) The upside of waterproof mascara, however, is also its downside: Taking it off frequently requires an inordinate amount of scrubbing. My removal technique — dissolving the mascara with acleansing balm, then going in at least twice withface wash— works reasonably well, but sometimes I’ll still wake up and notice flecks or faint dark rings around my eyes.
So when Lancôme launched a new product calledMascara Melter, I was intrigued. It looks just like a regular tube of mascara, wand and all. You brush it onto your lashes, and the formula — which contains jojoba oil and squalane — is supposed to melt even the hardiest waterproof mascara so that you can rinse it right off. To test that claim, I tried it on three waterproof mascaras that I keep in my makeup kit. Below, my findings.
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Difficulty level: Easy
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Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara
Multiple makeup artists I’ve spoken with have recommended Maybelline’s Sky High Waterproof, and it’s my pick for thebest less-expensive waterproof mascara. It’s also my go-to mascara in the summer because it creates natural-looking lashes for every day but can be built up for more drama and volume. When I applied the Mascara Melter and splashed my eyes with water, the Maybelline mascara immediately started dribbling down my cheeks in black streaks. While the formula is more water-resistant than the washable version, it’s not marketed as a superglued-to-your-lashes waterproof mascara, so after one pass with the Mascara Melter, most of it had disappeared without putting up much of a fight. After I washed my whole face with a water-based cleanser, I feIt fully barefaced. Against this one, the Melter was highly effective.
Difficulty level: Medium
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I was initially skeptical of Dabalash’s waterproof mascara, as the formula mainly uses natural beeswax to provide its water-repellent properties. I thought that meant it wouldn’t be as durable as mascaras formulated with synthetic silicones and polymers, but it proved me wrong. After one coat of Mascara Melter over the Dabalash, I looked very raccoonlike; the mascara had smudged all over my eyelids, but wasn’t coming off without more elbow grease. Another application of Mascara Melter seemed to do it, as the second rinse cleared away most of the mascara residue before I followed up with my regular face wash. Ultimately, the Melter prevailed, but the Dabalash was tougher to get rid of than I expected.
Difficulty level: Hard
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Clio’s Kill Lash mascaracementsonto your lashes, which is why I only wear it for especially exertion-heavy days, like an amusement-park trip. One pass of Mascara Melter was definitely not enough to get rid of it all; even after a rinse, there was still plenty of mascara crusted to my eyelashes. A second pass of Mascara Melter got rid of more, but there were still lingering flecks of mascara on my face. It wasn’t until I’d also gone in withClinique’s Take the Day Off cleansing balmand then another two rounds of face wash for good measure that my lashes felt fully bare again. There have been times when I forgot to pre-cleanse and stepped into the shower with this mascara on — and stepped out with it still clinging stubbornly to my lashes. The Mascara Melter alone won’t be enough for this level of waterproofing.
Lancôme’s Mascara Melter is gentle and effective — if you’re willing to pay for it
If you’re someone who wears a lot of waterproof mascara, Lancôme’s Mascara Melter is definitely handy to have around. Because you basically apply it with a mascara wand, it’s easy to ensure that the formula coats every individual eyelash without smearingmakeup removerall over your general eye area. It’s also quite gentle on your lashes because you don’t have to rub it in, and when a little bit of the solution dripped into my eyes, I didn’t feel any irritation or stinging. I think it would be effective on most waterproof mascaras; I only ran into some trouble removing the strongest formulas that are built to stay on in a typhoon. At $28, it’s more expensive than all the mascaras I tried it on — but since I’ve been using it nightly and waking up without any lingering residue around my eyes, I think it’s worth the price. With that said, it’s essentially cleansing balm in a tube, so if you aren’t willing to shell out $28 to try it yourself, you may be able to achieve a similar effect with your balm of choice and apackage of disposable spoolies.
More makeup removers we like
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I’ve been using this pleasantly scented cleansing balm for years.
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A gentle micellar water that is also our favorite makeup remover overall.
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Suitable for most skin types and stands up against tough waterproof makeup.
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