Best Natural Mascara: The Best and the Not-So-Great
I have been using (and loving) green beauty products for well over ten years now. So, I kind of have a lot to say about what I have tried, hence this best natural mascara review.
One beauty product I could not live without is mascara. Without a doubt, it is my go-to makeup product and if I don't use anything else that's OK, but mascara is a must.
So when I started to make the switch to natural mascaras, I was hesitant to give up my tried and true faves. In fact it was the last conventional product I made the switch over to when I first began this journey.
This post continues to get updated as I try new mascaras, this was last updated as of November 2021.
Why Use Natural Mascara?
Before we chat about the best natural mascara brands I love, lets talk first about why I use natural products.
- Hormone disruptors: Certain ingredients are known endocrine disruptors. Our endocrine system refers to a "collection of glands that produce hormones that help to regulate our metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things." When we routinely use ingredients that are known to mess with our body in this way we may do any of the following: alter the production of hormones (either increasing or decreasing them), they may imitate other hormones, interfere with hormone signalling and even accumulate in our organs that produce hormones. When it comes to beauty and personal care products, watch for the following: phthalates (this is hidden in fragrance), formaldehyde (found in nail products, fake eyelash adhesives and hair dye), parabens, DEA/TEA/MEA (Ethanolamines), Diethylene glycol (or DEG) (found in fragrance and sometimes in glycerin and propylene glycol).
- Lenient regulations: It saddens me that the regulations on cosmetics in both the U.S. and Canada is so lenient, especially when compared to the EU which has far more banned ingredients. The main issue I have with how ingredients and chemicals are approved is that they are not considered from a cumulative perspective. The buildup of these accumulated ingredients over time is what presents a bigger problem. The average woman uses 12 products daily totalling 168 unique ingredients. Fragrance or "parfum" is a term that allows a complete loophole for the cosmetic industry as they do not need to disclose what is included in this. And products such as toothpaste, antiperspirants, and anti aging lotions are not considered cosmetics which excludes them from following any cosmetic regulation altogether.
- The Earth: What you choose to put on your body and throw away goes somewhere. Often times, when you use more natural products they also include better packaging that is friendlier on the environment. Beauty products like Kjaer Weis, use completely refillable makeup which I love. Other ingredients directly affect animals like fish, crustaceans, amphibians and more. All life on earth is dependent on the water cycle. Chemicals transferred to our water system can vaporize into the clouds and come back down as rain. Hence, every living being is affected.
Best Natural Mascara That I Recommend:
100% Pure Mascara:
What I Like:
- This was the first mascara I used when I first ditched the conventional ones I was using and I continued to use it for years.
- I really like how it goes on and makes my lashes look full and long.
What I dislike:
- It tends to get clumpy after about a month or so.
- it also ends up flaking and running which results in that annoying black line under your eye that you constantly need to keep wiping away.
Check out 100% Pure Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out 100% Pure Mascara in Canada here!
Kjaer Weis:
What I Like:
- It's refillable along with their whole range of products.
- It's quite subtle: which is perfect for a soft everyday look.
- Doesn't smudge.
What I Dislike:
- Not great if you want lots of volume or length.
Check out Kjaer Weis Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out Kjaer Weis Mascara in Canada here!
W3ll People Expressionist Mascara:
What I Like:
- It provides decent lengthening.
What I Dislike:
- Smudged a lot over the day.
- Very hard to remove at night and I don't like rubbing my eye area to remove mascara.
- I wouldn't repurchase.
Check out W3ll People Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out W3ll People Mascara in Canada here!
W3ll People Expressionist Volumizing Mascara:
What I Like:
- Holds up very well throughout the day.
- Incredible volume.
- No flaking.
- Love the hourglass wand for reaching those hard-to-get lashes.
What I dislike:
- Can be a little hard to apply because of the brush size, it just takes a little practice and patience I find.
Check out W3ll People Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out W3ll People Mascara in Canada here!
Here's a pic of me wearing the new mascara, the volume is AMAZING!
Sappho Paradigm Vegan Mascara:
What I Like:
- Doesn't smudge.
- Lengthens very well.
- Easy to remove.
What I Dislike:
- The formula can be a bit thin.
- Doesn't give as much volume as I like.
Check out Sappho New Paradigm Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out Sappho New Paradigm Mascara in Canada here!
Lily Lolo Best Vegan Mascara:
What I Like:
- Doesn't flake or smudge.
What I Dislike:
- The texture was clumpy for me and did not apply well to my lashes.
- I didn't like this one at all personally and wouldn't repurchase.
Hynt Nocturne Mascara:
What I Like:
- Lengthening and volume was good.
- Good for a subtle everyday look.
What I Dislike:
- Smudged (quite a bit).
- Could get a little clumpy.
Overall, I wouldn't repurchase this one.
Fitglow Vegan Good Lash:
What I Like:
- Provided decent length and volume.
- Easy to remove.
What I Dislike:
- It can smudge quite a bit.
- The price point is quite a bit higher than others.
Check out Fitglow Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out Fitglow Mascara in Canada here!
Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
This is my NEW go-to mascara and it's the #1 best selling product at The Detox Market (for a reason). Seriously, the search for the best natural mascara is over, Ilia wins!
What I Like:
- Provides the best volume and lengthening of any mascara I've tried.
- No smudging or flaking.
- Separates lashes very well.
- Love the brush with dual sides. The short side is for curl and volume and the longer side separates.
- One coat is perfect, but you can build more volume with a second coat.
What I Dislike:
- Nothing! Seriously, it's perfect.
Check out Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara in Canada here!
Ilia Fullest Volumizing Mascara
What I Like:
- It does provide pretty wicked volume.
- Doesn't flake.
What I Dislike:
- It can be very goopy from the bottle because too much excess product comes off.
- It's hard to apply.
- The brush is a little too big for me.
- Can be clumpy when applying.
RMS Beauty Straight Up Volumizing Peptide Mascara
What I Like:
- I love the formula with the peptides in it to support lash growth.
- Goes on smoothly.
- Provides good volume.
What I Dislike:
- Can get clumpy when adding a second coat.
Check out Ilia RMS Beuaty Straight Up Volumizing Peptide Mascara in the U.S. here!
Check out Ilia RMS Beuaty Straight Up Volumizing Peptide Mascara in Canada here!
If you would like to purchase any products from The Detox Market's online Canadian store, please feel free to click here.
Or if you would like to shop the American site, feel free to shop here.
My code HOLISTICFOODIE10 will save you 10% at the Detox Market Canada website, it never expires!
Note: This code DOES NOT apply to sale section, product bundles such as the latest Detox Your Beauty Box, gift cards and all May Lindstrom, Kypris Beauty and Vintner’s Daughter products.This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products and services I have personally used and love. Disclosure here.
These mascaras are all ones that I have personally used over the years and have tested on myself. None of this is sponsored in any way. I do however use affiliate codes and as such receive a small commission from purchases made via my link.
What is the best natural mascara you've tried, let me know in the comments below!
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