If I was stranded on a deserted island and I was only able to take two beauty items with me, I would take a lipstick or lip-gloss and mascara. (Each could double as a way to write a “get me off this island now” message.) Hey, I’m no dummy.
Anyway, when it comes to beauty, I’ve always believed that less is more. This does not in anyway indicate that I think you should use NO makeup. I love makeup, always have. I even used to sneak eye-shadow with my to high school and put it on myself and my friends during bathroom breaks.
Now that I’ve grown up (mostly), I still love to help my friends apply their makeup, but these days I am more concerned about the ingredients of what I am applying. It’s common knowledge that what we apply ON our skin is absorbed INTO our skin. You can argue about percentage of absorption, but I prefer not to have ANY percentage of toxic junk on or in my body.
This all leads me to taking my daily essentials – the lipstick and mascara and making sure that they are non-toxic, eco-friendly and safe enough to recommend to my friends. Today I am taking a look at some of my favorite mascara brands that are popping up in the beauty aisle. Whether you are looking to spend $9 or $39, I have theEcoDiva picks for you.
Physicians Formula – Organic wear® 100% Natural Origin Mascara – $9.95
What I Love
- No Parabens
- No Synthetic Preservatives
- No GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms)
- No Synthetic Fragrances
- No Synthetic Colors
- 100% Cruelty Free
- 100% Recyclable Brush
Could Be Better
- Could be less plastic packaging
- Mascara tube could be recyclable
Lavera Volume Mascara – $20.00
What I Love
- Uses extracts of organic jojoba & wild rose oils
- No Parabens
- No Heavy Metals
- Rinses off easily with mild cleanser
- Alright to wear with contact lenses
- Vegan
- Actually smells good
Dr. Hauschka Mascara Organic Volume Mascara – $30.00
What I Love
- No Parabens
- Made with natural ingredients such as rose and candelilla wax
- Smudge resistant
- Easy to wash off with gentle soap
- Neem leaf extract strengthens lashes
- Ideal for sensitive eyes & contacts
Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara – $32.00
What I Love
- This tube holds 75% MORE mascara then conventional mascara tube
- No Parabens
- Actually IMPROVES lashes and does make them look thicker
- Made with Algae Extract & Â Beeswax to condition lashes
- Comes in fabulous shades like plum and grey
These are a few of my favorites. What are yours? Leave a comment and let me know which brands are working for you.
Enjoy!
Signing off…EcoDiva
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So glad you addressed this topic. I never know how long to keep mascara. A tube seems to last forever — I use it once a day usually (twice if I dress up for a special event). However, some say you shouldn’t use it more than 6 months.
Any thoughts on this?
Hi Reena,
I tend to agree with that recommendation. Six months is really as long as you want to use mascara especially since you are using the same wand each day and bacteria does get on the wand. I find that with daily use the tube is pretty much near the bottom after 6-7 months.
I’ve been using the Physicians Formula most recently…so at $10 each, I feel like I can get a new one every 6 months easily and I can recycle most of the parts.
~Elena
Cute article! One of my best friends never leaves her house without mascara on, and she’s convinced me it is the one thing that really makes you look awake and beautiful. We both love MIESSENCE mascara because it contains certified organic and natural ingredients, works great and smells divine (with rose essential oil). I also appreciate what’s not in it: no parabens, no gmo’s, no synthetics, and no mercury (I was shocked to learn some mascaras have toxic mercury in them!). All ingredients for Miessence organic mascara are listed here: http://bit.ly/7vcUF9
Kathy,
Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to try the MIESSENCE brand as well.
And I totally agree that a little mascara goes a long way!
XO
Elena
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