Rounding Up My Favorite Safer Mascaras

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only keep one (that’s right, one) makeup product with you, what would it be?!?!?

Mine would, hands down, be mascara! Without it, I look like an absolute zombie, no matter how much sleep I got the night before and so even on minimal makeup days I’m slicking this stuff on.

Surprise, surprise though. . . most mascaras are made with toxic ingredients like coal tar, fragrance, formaldehyde, aluminum powder, thimerosal (a mercury-based element used as a preservative), parabens and so many more.

Are we shocked? Sadly, no, since the U.S. hasn’t actually passed legislation to regulate personal care product ingredients since 1938, but like I said, mascara is a game changer for this gal, so I’ve been on the hunt for safer options for the last 15 months.

As a side note, mascara is one of the hardest makeup products to formulate more safely because of how questionable nearly all of the ingredients used to make mascara are, so while these are all safer options, they’re not necessarily perfect. But as we say, when we know better, we do better and even small changes help in lowering our bodies overall toxicity levels.

Here are some of my safer favorites:

MERIT Beauty Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara:

MERIT Believes: “Your self-care routine should be safe. Our products are EU-Compliant, which means we've removed 1328 potentially harmful ingredients from our formulas, in addition to dozens more that don't meet our standards.” They also believe in caring for the planet (woop woop!): “Luxury can be responsible. We are vegan, cruelty-free and certified by Leaping Bunny. We aim to eliminate as much virgin plastic as possible from our products and operations, and our shipment packaging is recyclable, reusable or biodegradable.”

Retails for $26.

Fatty acids and olive oil esters condition lashes and vitamin B5 adds shine. Plant-derived rice bran wax helps to structure and lengthen lashes.

I’ve found that this is a great mascara for a fresh, minimalist look. It doesn’t clump and lengthens beautifully. I feel like it’s a true no makeup, makeup mascara. This is my most recent clean mascara addition, but I’ve quickly fallen in love with this formulation.

Tarte Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara:

A part of the Sea collection, products in this line are, “Simple, Effective, Always Vegan.”

Retails for $23.

Formulated without sulphates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban.

This is a go-to mascara if I’m looking for a dramatic, night-time look. I’ve noticed my lashes curl better with this mascara, which I love and there’s no flaking either. I have found that I need to be more precise when applying as the wand isn’t has forgiving as some other mascaras, but overall, this is a great mascara if you want to look like you’re wearing your previous go-to, not as safe mascara.

Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara:

Ilia says they, “ learned early on that not every natural ingredient is good for the skin, nor is every synthetic bad. Clean beauty is where those two collide—with conscious, carefully-selected ingredients, and no compromises.”

Retails for $28.

Made with a blend of organic Bee and Carnauba Waxes, this mascara conditions lashes, but still keeps them lifted. The formula is gentle for sensitive eyes and uses organic Shea Butter and Arginine to give your lashes a boost.

I would say this Ilia mascara is the mascara I use most often. It’s the perfect middle of the road minimal look, but with just enough umph to make me look alive. I love that the brush is dual sided, making it great for both upper and lower lashes. I’ve found that this formula works best with my lashes and that it’s super long-lasting.

Beautycounter Volumizing Mascara:

At Beautycounter, we are leading a movement to a future where all beauty is clean beauty. We are powered by people, and our mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Formulate, advocate, & educate—that’s our motto for creating clean beauty products that truly perform while holding ourselves to unparalleled standards of safety.

Retails for $29.

Made with natural fibers and cleaner, plant-derived ingredients, like carnauba wax and rice bran wax, that replace harmful emollients, while bataua oil helps soften lashes.

This baby is my tried and true and is the clean mascara I’ve used the longest. It’s the mascara I throw on in the morning before work when I don’t have time to put a drop of anything else on my face. It doesn’t make my eyes look out of place with zero other makeup on (you know, like that super dark eye look with a very minimal everything else look. . . I’ve made that mistake before). While it can sometimes be a little difficult to apply (seems waxy). . . use the tip below for smooth sailing.

Pro tip: “heat” the formula in a warm cup of water or under your arm before applying.

Hopefully you found this helpful! I’d love to hear your favorite clean mascaras if you have others to share!

Light, Love & the Highest Vibes,

Lon