Product Reviews: My Two Favorite (Mostly) Natural Mascaras [UPDATED]
A good mascara is hard to find, as everyone who’s dabbled in clean cosmetics can tell you. It’s difficult enough to find a good dirty one, which is why when you do, you get all “you can pry it from my cold dead hands” about it.
It’s without question the one thing clean girls admit to “cheating” with—and I did too, for the longest. Until I found these two.
Last week, we started the conversation and I was reminded that I’ve been completely holding out on you! I’ve been using—and loving—two mascaras for months now without writing a proper review of either. We also want to mention—though we can’t name names—that some of our favorite brands are also working on their own mascaras, so stay tuned for that.
For now, here’s the criteria a mascara must meet for me to love it and use it daily—instead of the Dior Show I still have lying around:
• It can’t run down my face when I cry or walk on windy streets
• It can’t run down my face when I don’t cry (which, yes, obvious, but anyone who’s tried lots of natural mascara knows this is not something you can take for granted)
• It can’t be too clumpy
• But it has to be thick enough
• The wand has to be awesome
• It has to last at least from morning till I get off work (I am of the opinion that reapplying for night is perfectly reasonable)
I’m happy to say that two—TWO!—mascaras make the cut.
The first, which I’ve mentioned before, is from 100% Pure. I have the navy and the black, and I use whichever is closest to the top of my makeup bag. I find it looks best if I apply Jane Iredale’s lash extender first, because the mascara itself is on the thinner side. The Jane bulks it up, which is a look I like, especially since my lashes are so pale, and so are my eyebrows. The wand is rigid, and goes on easily, without clumps. It doesn’t flake or melt, it doesn’t wear off or sting if it gets in my eyes, and the only times I’ve had any raccoon issues are when I wear it to yoga. I think it’s absurd to expect makeup to last through a workout, so in those instances it’s more of a “Why didn’t you wash your face before class, dummy?” as opposed to an “I can’t believe my mascara ran when I was dripping with sweat!”
The other one, from Honeybee Gardens, was brand new to me, and was introduced to me by our friend Shirley at W3LL People. She gave me one as a gift when I was in Austin, and I was blown away! The wand is more like the Dior ones I love: Thick and bristly, giving a nice heavy coat. It separates my lashes and lasts as long on me as 100% Pure does. I also just love the packaging: I find it attractive and look forward to putting it on. For night time, I like two coats of this, without the primer. It’s thick enough that I don’t need the Jane underneath. One coat is pretty for day, too. (It contains phenoxyethanol, and I can live with that, for the simple reason that it’s otherwise clean and a great mascara is very, very hard to find.)
Have you tried either?
Here are the complete ingredient lists for both:
100% Pure ingredients: Organic Green Tea, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Honey Beeswax, Contains All or some of the following Pigments: Blackberry, Blueberry, Black Tea, Grape Skin, Pomegranate, Acai Berry, Boysenberry, Blackcurrant and Raspberry, Oat Protein, Wheat Protein, Provitamin B5, Seaweed Powder, Coconut Stearic acid, Mica (for shimmer in the Blackberry and Blueberry), Cocoa Butter, Pearl Powder, Rice Powder, Cacao Powder and Powdered Coffee Beans, Lavender Honey, Extracts of Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender and Golden Seal
Honeybee Gardens ingredients: purified water, vegetable glycerin, beeswax, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax, vegetable glyceryl stearate, lecithin, vegetable stearic acid, safflower oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil (and) aloe barbadensis leaf extract, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, silica, cellulose gum, tocopherol, xanthan gum, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, phenoxyethanol. May contain: mica, iron oxide (CI 77499, 77491, 77492), titanium dioxide (CI 77891).
Thanks for the recommendations! I actually would not even consider using a mascara that did *not* have phenoxyethanol in it. If it’s going near my eyes, it better be well-preserved. Will definitely check these two out.
I think you accidentally put the wrong ingredients under the 100% pure mascara – thought it was weird that they had the exact same list so I double checked. It’s actually:
Ingredients: Organic Green Tea, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Honey Beeswax, Contains All or some of the following Pigments: Blackberry, Blueberry, Black Tea, Grape Skin, Pomegranate, Acai Berry, Boysenberry, Blackcurrant and Raspberry, Oat Protein, Wheat Protein, Provitamin B5, Seaweed Powder, Coconut Stearic acid, Mica (for shimmer in the Blackberry and Blueberry), Cocoa Butter, Pearl Powder, Rice Powder, Cacao Powder and Powdered Coffee Beans, Lavender Honey, Extracts of Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender and Golden Seal
I’ve never heard of honeybee gardens before, it looks amazing and so much cheaper than I’m used to seeing around here! Has anyone tried their lipsticks? I’m been looking around for a great bright pink and a bold red.
I’ve been using 100% Pure and loved it! Recently I bought some Jane Iredale Pure Lash lengthening mascara because I felt like branching out, but I kind of wish I had bought the primer to go with it… Is Jane Iredale’s clean though? I did some research and it seemed fine, but any comments would be appreciated :)
I’m a big fan of 100% Pure’s face lotion with SPF (recommended by you), but I can’t say the same for their mascara, which left me raccoon-eyed before lunch time. I’ll add Honeybee Gardens to my maybe list, but after wasting so much money on clean mascaras (I’d be embarrassed to say how much), I’m not optimistic about any. I haven’t had this problem with any other type of clean product — from cosmetics to shampoo to lotions.
Thank you Shawna for catching that! I fixed the post.
I love this post. After my Real Purity mascara runs off, I want to try these ones.
May I make a post suggestion? May you do a post with natural eyeshadow primers? Until now I didn’t find any really good, specially for my hooded and oily lids.
Anyone with celiac disease needs to stay away from the 100% pure. It has wheat protein and will send you right into hive city…
I love Physicians Formula Organic Wear! It’s my favorite, clean or otherwise! It’s certified organic by Ecocert, not tested on animals, the packaging is 100% recyclable, and it’s widely available, and inexpensive, which is what drew me to it in the first place! :) It takes a few coats, but it gives me MAJOR lashes, it holds a curl like nobody’s business, lasts all day, and washes off with soap and water! Here are the ingredients, from the box:
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water,*, glycerin, iron oxide, microcrystalline cellulose, glyceryl stearate, water, beeswax*, jojoba esters, tapioca starch*, coperinicia cerifera (caranuba) wax*, stearic acid, glyceryl caprylate, aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, cellulose gum, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract*, glycine soya (soybean) oil*, hydrolyzed oryza sativa (rice) protein, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, magnesium aluminum silicate, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract*,
*= produced through organic farming.
Happy hunting! :)
I love 100% Pure mascara, and I’ve been meaning to try the one from Honeybee Gardens, but I’ve heard mixed reviews on it and I am still debating whether I should try it or not! I heard it lasts and separates well, but looks too natural without much thickening and lengthening..
I just started using the Honeybee Gardens mascara (Espresso) last week. I purchased it at Whole Foods. I’m loving it…especially the price-point!
I just bought the Honeybee, thanks for posting! I tried the 100% pure and loved the way it looked on my lashes, but I found I had raccoon eyes after a few hours. Fingers crossed this works!
I have been using 100 pure for a few months now and I feel good knowing it’s a clean product, but it’s definitely been more clumpy that all other chemical mascaras I have used (one of my favs used to be maybeline’s original). I always have to remove pieces after applying. Also, the wand is SO long, it’s not the easiest to apply. If the price hadn’t been basically the same after shipping as travel size, I would have gotten the small size. My eyelashes are naturally already long so I was looking for something that thickens, which this does not, but it definitely has a nice natural black color for those who might not already have dark lashes.
These both sound great! I’m currently using the Josie Maran mascara which is really nice, but it’s not as ‘clean’ as I would like. Will check these ones out, thanks :)
I adore 100% pure mascara! I purchased the dark chocolate formulation back in september in dark chocolate, and it smells amazing! The only downside is that it takes a few minutes to fully dry- but the gentle, clean formula has done wonders for lengthening my lashes. So, so worth it!
I have heard of both, but have tried neither I’m afraid,,, The mascara I’ve been using since a while back is from Lotus Pure Organics, and I’m really liking it so far! it can be a bit difficult to remove depending on what kind of cleanser you use, but I reckon that also means it’s quite long-lasting! The formula actually feels pretty close to that of a conventional mascara, except perhaps the slightest bit drier.
Has anyone tried it? :)
Here are the ingredients (taken from their site): Water (Aqua), Chamomile Hydrosol (Matricaria Recutita), Beeswax (Cera Alba), Carnauba Wax (Copernicia Cerifera), Coffee Powder (Coffea Arabica), Rice Extract (Oryza Sativa), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Corn Starch (Zea Mays), Shellac, Lemon Peel Extract (Citrus Medica Limonum), Grapefruit Seed Extract (Citrus Grandis).
I have very sensitive eyes and I was wondering if anyone had any mascara recommendations :)
I have tried the Bare Escentuals, Josie Maran, Jane Iredale, Physician’s Formula Organic Wear and the 100% Pure mascaras and my eyes end up irritated, itchy and glossy a few hours following application. Before, I tried drugstore-brand mascaras and had the same reaction, but it was slightly more severe. I was thinking I might be allergic to something in mascara… :/
I have been using the Honeybee Gardens now for about a year after having used the much less clean Dior mascaras before that. I LOVE it!!!! I think it works just as well, and the wand is excellent. It’s the only kind I use now.
Well, shoot, I just ordered the Josie Maran. I hope I like it and will let you know!
Oh yes to the eyeshadow primer- I bought the Jane Iredale but it creases and makes no difference! 100% Pure is on my wishlist since the comments on the last post, as is NVY Eco which has just launched in Australia & that Josie Maran=- like the look of that brush. PS anyone know anywhere that ships 100%Pure overseas?
I’m with you on that, Lola. An excellent product.
100% pure really lengthens and it looks great when you first put it on, but sorry.. it definitely gives me racoon eyes in no time at all. especially where i live – it’s hot and humid all the time!
Great post! I have been using (and loving even more than my old pre-NMDL mascara) Josie Maran…but I would love to use something even more clean. My question…I wear contacts and find that with many mascaras, I get raccoon eyes alot more than when I wear my glasses. Any issues with the Honeybee Gardens running? I have no problem with the Josie Maran running at all.
I’m late responding, but just wanted to add a cheer for the Jane Iredale lash conditioner/extender. I find it makes any natural mascara MUCH MUCH MUCH better: I end up with markedly thicker, longer-looking lashes and the mascara lasts without running all over my face. Great product!
I haven’t tried either of these, but I have heard from a few other people that the 100% Pure runs/transfers during the day. I guess it just depends on the person – glad it works for you! My favorite natural mascara is Zuzu Luxe :)
I’m a fan of 100% Pure. I have the black tea, blackberry, and dark chocolate. I rub my eyes a lot, but the raccooning is no more severe than the 48$ dirty mascaras I used to wear.
ooh, I also like the Physicians Formula Organic Wear, even though I find it doesn’t last all day. I got it on a whim when it was on sale at Pharmaprix for like, $10 or less. I’ve also used their tinted moisturizer and always get compliments on how fresh my skin looks when I use it (both products also SMELL fantastic, which is so weird for makeup!)
I hardly wear makeup since I work from home, and still use some Cargo and Lancome stuff that I’ve been trying to get rid of for over a year (eeeep), but I can’t wait until I HAVE to buy some new stuff! Honeybee and 100% Pure look awesome..perhaps my next mascara purchase!
I’ve been using Couleur Caramel mascara, and I like it but doesn’t have the same “oopmh” that may beloved Dior show gave me! I’ll have to try out the Honeybee.
The Honeybee mascara is pretty good! Light, feathery, stays on pretty well! Not too dark, though, and sometimes takes a little effort to get on; it doesn’t deposit a lot at a time. More of a dark charcoal grey than a black.
Does run when I cry, but not for general watery-ness. (I have runny allergic eyes .)
Most importantly, DOESN’T MAKE MY EYES ITCH! I can’t believe it took me Decades to figure out that it was my mascara making my eyes itch & my lashes break & fall out. Aveda Mosscara stopped that, it’s a) great! but b) too expensive & c) not totally clean. Honeybee is my new saviour.
I’ve been using the navy mascara from Suncoat for a few weeks with good results…it doesn’t clump and only starts to flake after a good 12 hours. No running yet either. Coverage is good with one coat and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes. The wand is pretty standard but does the job. So far, it performs way better than many dirty mascara’s I’d used before. It’s advertised as being vegan and is sugar-based.
Aside from the iron oxide for colour, the ingredient list is pretty short: Aqua (water), kaolin clay, vegetable glycerin, hydrolyzed Zee mays (corn) starch (natural sugar-based biopolymer), lecithin, Citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, tocopherol (vitamin E), citric acid, pigments (iron oxide (CI 77499), ultramarine blue (CI 77007) for the navy blue).
Not sure how well-distributed it is (made in Canada), but it can be ordered online.
We sell 100% Pure and after years of searching, I’m a total convert from Dior Show to this, and for good reason! It smells great, the color comes from fruit pigment, it makes my lashes ultra long, spidery, and with a couple of heavily applied coats, has all the volume I LOVE in a mascara. I’ve found if you powder your lashes before applying to remove all traces of moisturizer or other residue, it gives the mascara extra staying power and helps with volume. Oh, and the brush is one of the best I’ve used. Love, love, love it.
After reading this I’ve just ordered the Honeybee Gardens mascara as it sounds great & price is excellent; fingers crossed it works for me too! I’ve been using Couleur Caramel which is OK but tends to wear off after a long day.
I just got the 100% Pure mascara in the mail and I looooove it. I like that it looks thinner on my lashes for everyday use, but I’m thinking about ordering the Jane Iredale lash treatment for nights out!
Love the one from Honeybee. It’s cheap and just as good as an expensive “normal” mascara!
Also love the wand…. finally it’s bye bye Maybelline!
I have a real problem getting mascara off – the Clinique/Prescriptives ones I used to use came off with warm water which was great for me as I can’t find anything to take eye make off that doesn’t irritate my eyes. The natural ones all seem to be impossible to get off with warm water. Any suggestions as to natural mascaras that come off with warm water or non irritating eye make up removers – natural oils just give me spots around the eyes if I use them.
I’ve tried the 100% pure mascara, and while I love most of their products, this stuff does not stay put. It ended up giving me raccoon eyes, so I didn’t even bother finishing the whole tube. Right now I use Maybeline but the reviews for Honeybee make me optimistic that I can find a clean mascara that won’t break the bank! I’m going to order it post haste!