Terri Bly
Finding the perfect natural mascara has not always been an easy task. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way in just a few short years.
Oh to look back just 6 years ago, when I was first testing natural mascaras, searching for an alternative to my beloved Dior Show. For a while there, the outlook was grim – Goth, even, as it seemed like each new mascara deposited more product around my lashes than it did on them.
But I was determined to find a healthier lash lengthener. After all, not only are so many of the ingredients in commercial mascaras toxic to people and the environment, they aren’t great for your lashes, either. Coating them in thick layers of plastic and other sealants may keep your lashes thick and dramatic come hell or (literal) high water, but it also deprives them of oxygen. I’ve helped more than a few women looking for a more natural mascara after their lashes began falling out in clumps. It wasn’t pretty.
Thankfully for all of us, the last couple of years have seen some impressive leaps in natural mascara formulations. With the addition of Alima Pure’s gorgeous new lash-lover, my list of the best natural mascaras on the market now includes at least 3 I can recommend without hesitation:
Alima Pure Natural Definition Mascara
OK, to be clear, Alima Pure’s new mascara is not a 100% natural mascara. The company is clear about that, too – their website clearly states that 90% of the ingredients are natural or naturally derived. While I don’t love the inclusion of Acrylates/ Octylacrylamide Copolymer, the reality is that for those of you struggling to a natural mascara that doesn’t smudge (due to oily lids, watery eyes, etc), this synthetic fixative might be exactly what you need. The copolymer makes the mascara water- and smudge-resistant, but it doesn’t feel or look thick or heavy, and I find that it still washes off fairly easily with my regular face cleanser. It also doesn’t seem to irritate my lashes or my eyes at all. I love its glossy finish, lack of aroma, and unlike many other natural mascaras, my lashes don’t lose their curl after application. If you’ve yet to find a natural mascara that doesn’t wander around your face, I highly recommend giving this one a try. $22 at alimapure.com.
Ingredients:
Ingredients: Aqua, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Lanolin, Stearic Acid, Cera Alba, Euphorbia Cerifera, Sodium Carboxyethylsilanetriol, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/ Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Ozokerite, Glycerin, Panthenol, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Copernicia Cerifera, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate. [+/-: (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)].
Logona Volume Mascara
One of my favorite commercial mascaras used to be Clinique’s naturally glossy mascara. I have long lashes, so during the day, I often prefer a mascara that
enhances and lengthens, but isn’t quite as…well, as showy as Dior Show. Logona’s Volume Mascara has been an excellent replacement for my former daytime favorite. It delivers a beautiful, glossy finish, and my lashes look and feel natural and soft. I love the brush, which adds some volume, but doesn’t clump. For most people, this mascara stays put. It never flakes, and doesn’t seem to smudge unless you have seriously oily lids. As with most European companies, the aroma is stronger than you’ll find with most American-made mascaras. While only essential oils are used, those with super sensitive eyes might want to steer clear. $22 at Natureofbeauty.com.
Aqua (Water), Alcohol*, Stearic Acid, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Sorbitol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Parfum (Essential Oils), Inulin, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Algin, Glyceryl Oleate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Esters, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Alaria Esculentus Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Quartz Powder, Amethyst Powder, Amber Powder, Limonene, Linalool, CI 77268:1 (Carbon)
Couleur Caramel Mascara – Cils Longs
This was the first mascara to give me faith in Nature’s ability to decorate my lashes. It makes sense, I suppose, that a French company would be the first to make a eco-version of Dior Show. With a 98% natural ingredient list, Couleur Caramel Mascara delivers intense volume, dramatic length, and a matte finish. As with the Logona mascara, most (but not all) of you will find that the mascara stays put. And while the brush can get a little clumpy, I have found this to be less of a problem with the cils longs (long lash) version than with the cils courts (short lash). It’s also easy to wipe off the bit of the extra product that accumulates at the end of the brush onto a tissue or even back into the opening of the mascara tube, which I find resolves the clumping problem. For drama and volume, without lash-killing synthetics, there just isn’t anything like this best-selling mascara from Couleur Caramel. $24.25 at couleurcaramelusa.com.
Aqua, Glycerin, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Cera Alba (beeswax), Carnauba Cera (Canauba Wax), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Clyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Hydroxide*, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol*, Sodium Hydroxymethyl Glycinate*, Citric Acid, Natural Fragrance [x/- may contain: CI 77510, CI77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77007, CI 75470]. *synthetic origin products
Of course, I’m always on the prowl for the best natural mascaras out there, so if you’ve found one you think deserves a spot on my “best of” list, please tell me all about it in the comments section!
