Your eyes are windows to your soul… and a chemical sponge!

You know that everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. But did you know that the skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin, and so it more readily absorbs the chemicals in your cosmetics? If you are transitioning to non-toxic makeup, you should detox your eye makeup first.

Mascara may not seem like it can be absorbed into the skin because it coats the eyelashes. However, when is the last time you applied mascara without it touching the eyelash roots, where the lashes meets the skin? The rule “if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin” definitely applies to mascara.

Over the years, I’ve searched high and low for a truly natural mascara that rivals the performance of conventional mascara. I met with many disappointments but also discovered a couple of standouts. Here is my Natural Mascara Showdown!

Natural mascaras that I won’t repurchase

Beauty Without Cruelty Mascara, found here at Vitacost – This didn’t work for me. The words that comes to mind? Gloopy. Sticky. I think the formula boasts high potential to be extremely volumizing and lengthening if paired with a different applicator, but the wand picks up too much mascara and distributes it to heavily.

Lavera Volumizing Mascara, found here at Vitacost – I’ve used other Lavera cosmetics with success, but for this price of this natural mascara, it didn’t meet my expectations. When I used it, the brush picked up too much mascara, which went on overly wet and tended to clump. The formula is extremely gentle – designed for the most sensitive eyes – and washes off easily.

Natural mascaras that I enjoyed

Revita Labs mascara, found here at Vitacost – This was my mainstay natural mascara for the past four years. I repeatedly came back to it because it is cheap ($8) and lasts all day without smudging. It has a brush-type applicator that applies too much mascara when the tube is brand new. It veers on the side of wet and sticky rather than dry and clumpy. It is not buildable (once it dries, it’s dried), but it looks great if you get the first coat done properly. One caveat is that it is slightly more stubborn to wash off, be sure to use an oil-based makeup remover such as my DIY Makeup Remover.

Tart Amazonian Clay Mascara, found here on Amazon – This is a drier formula and I enjoy the definition and volume it gives. All in all, I liked it. It’s on the pricier end, so if I’m going to spend that much on mascara, it’s going to be my new favorite natural mascara which I discuss below.

Josie Maran GOGO Instant Volume Argan Mascara, found here on Amazon – I was pleased but not blown away. I thought it created fluffy, natural-looking volume but it did flake if I got sweaty. I wouldn’t say it delivers dramatic results, but lovely if you are looking thickness and definition.  It didn’t clump and is buildable.

And finally, what you’ve all been waiting for… the two natural mascaras that are keepers in my book!

The natural mascaras that blew me away

100% Pure Mascara, found here at 100% Pure – I’m a long-time fan of 100% Pure, which offers lovely formulations of fruit-pigmented cosmetics. My top three products from them are the Under Eye Concealer, their lip glazes, and their wonderful mascara. The wand is a hourglass shape with plastic-type bristles, and it lengthens and volumes without clumping or flaking.

W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Bio Extreme Mascara, found here at Spirit Beauty Lounge – At $23, it’s pricier than the some other options. But I’ll happily pay that price to experience the spiritual rapture of coating my eyelashes with this gloriously lengthening and volumizing formula. The brush is the plastic comb type, and works perfectly. From my first swipe, it delivered the perfect amount of mascara and is highly buildable. The one caveat is that the results were best for the first month or so, then the tube seems to dry out a bit.

Have you tried any of these natural mascaras? Is there another brand that you recommend?