Looking for a great natural mascara?
Whether you want to avoid problematic chemicals, or you’re sick of your eyes being red and itchy by day’s end, here’s my picks for the best natural mascaras.
W3LL People Expressionist Bio-Extreme Mascara, $24
This mascara is well-known and loved in the green beauty community. The formulation is clean, plus it adds a bit more OOMPH than some other natural mascaras. Lashes look soft and defined.
The W3LL People Expressionist Bio-Extreme Mascara:
- creates lush lashes
- applies easily
- can be layered
- has good lasting power
I have found, however, that this mascara can smear a bit in humid climates or while sweating.
The brush is made of injection-molded rubber.
No parabens, phenoxyethanol, no propylene/butylene glycol, no phthalates, no sulfates, no petroleum. Gluten free. GMO free. Vegan. Made in the USA.
Ingredients: water, organic beeswax, c10-18 triglycerides, stearic acid, organic carnauba wax, castor isostearate beeswax succinate, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl caprylate, glycerin, potassium sorbate, sodium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, xanthan gum, cellulose, tocopherol, sunflower seed oil. May contain: titanium dioxide and iron oxides.
| Extremely Safe | Reasonably Safe | Proceed with Caution | Insufficient Data |
Purchase W3LL People Mascara here. Available in four colors (black, brown, purple, blue).
Mineral Fusion Volumizing Mascara, $18
In the natural world, this is the best-priced mascara that actually works. It has good lasting power with minimal smudging or flaking. It does feel a bit brittle on the lashes when it’s dry, but that doesn’t affect the wear of the mascara…I mean, who’s touching their lashes during the day anyways?
It can be worn on the bottom lashes without worry (applied with a small angled brush), but don’t try to layer it unless you like the clumpy look.
This mascara contains a preservative called phenoxyethanol, which is a non-starter for some purists. But remember: cross-contamination is a real concern with mascara (more so than with other types of makeup) so any natural or natural-ish mascara needs to be properly preserved.
Ingredients: water, beeswax, stearic acid, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, glyceryl stearate, sorbitan sesquioleate, shellac, vegetable glycerin, pomegranate extract, tocopheryl acetate, white tea leaf extract, aloe leaf juice, sodium hydroxide, caprylyl glycol, sorbic acid, phenoxyethanol. May contain: titanium dioxide, black iron oxide, red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide.
| Extremely Safe | Reasonably Safe | Proceed with Caution | Insufficient Data |
Purchase Mineral Fusion Mascara here. Available in 3 colors.
Or for more information about this mascara, check out the full product profile.
Lily Lolo Mascara, $19
Lily Lolo makes quality natural makeup that rarely disappoints. This mascara is no exception. It creates dense, defined lashes that last.
The color is a deep, creamy black which is extremely flattering on lashes. It also helps hold the shape of curled lashes, which not all mascaras can accomplish.
My only complaint is that this tube of mascara can dry out and become clumpy after a month or so. So screw that lid on tight!
The ingredient list is paraben-free, GMO free and vegan.
Ingredients: water, myrica pubescens fruit wax, propanediol, carnauba wax, polyglyceryl-6 distearate, sucrose stearate, acacia senegal gum, glyceryl dibehenate, sunflower seed oil, lactobacillus ferment bis-octyldodecyl dimer dilinoleate/propanediol copolymer, polyglyceryl-10 myristate, rice bran wax, glyceryl caprylate, rosa canina fruit oil, argan oil, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, glyceryl undecylenate. May contain iron oxides.
| Extremely Safe | Reasonably Safe | Proceed with Caution | Insufficient Data |
Purchase Lily Lolo Mascara here.
Or for more information on this mascara, check out the full product profile.
Here’s the overall problem with natural mascaras, even the good ones: the staying power. They’re more prone to flake or smear. Some natural mascaras are almost unwearable because of these kind of flaws. But I’ve tested a dozen natural mascaras, and these are the most wearable.
There are other natural mascaras—more expensive ones—but I find they don’t work as well as these three.
*This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.
**Products get makeovers too. Be sure to check if this product has been recently re-formulated before using it yourself.
