Almost every woman I meet asks the same question, usually with intensity: Do you have (or recommend) a good mascara?  Now the key word in this question is good. From my collected mascara understanding, good means:  waterproof, won’t flake, smudge, splatter or clump, makes eyelashes look amazingly thick and curly, does no harm when it’s being removed, is free of toxic dyes and chemicals, and costs about $10.00 or less.  Is it possible for all these traits to exist in one miraculous mascara?  The answer is almost.  The decision involves some personal judgement calls, hence the intensity.

One that I have tried and liked is Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara, which meets the desirable price point of $9.99 and is available online or at natural food stores. It’s water-resistant and workout-proof and the color comes from minerals (not harmful dyes.)  Some other users have found it lacking in the volumizing department. It’s a fact that most natural mascaras are lighter in consistency than chemical-based traditional varieties, so an expectation adjustment is often required to make the natural switch.

Truly Natural Mascara is not waterproof, which is probably a good thing, since waterproof-ability usually comes from adhesives or waxes which can be difficult to remove completely, and too vigorous cleansing is not recommended for delicate lashes. (FYI, sleeping in eye makeup or its residue, or sharing mascara can cause styes or eye irritation.)

However, speaking of eye irritation, there is a somewhat controversial preservative—phenoxyethanol—that Honeybee Gardens lists as the last ingredient of their otherwise truly natural mascara.  Phenoxyethanol is a current popular replacement for paraben preservatives in personal care products. Some think this is a poor substitution since phenoxyethanol can be a skin and eye irritant, capable of depressing the central nervous system when absorbed into the skin or ingested—though evidently in larger quantity than one swoosh of mascara could contain.  Strange then, that it’s widely used in vaccines, medications and cosmetic products, including perfumes.  The amount in Truly Natural mascara is probably .05%- 1%, and Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database, Skin Deep, rates the Honeybee Gardens mascara a 3 for “moderate hazard.”

While we’re examining potentially harmful ingredients, one to avoid is thimerosal (also spelled thimerosol).  It’s a form of mercury which is toxic by inhalation and skin contact.  It is also mystifyingly used in vaccines, ophthalmic and nasal products and tattoo inks as an antiseptic, antifungal agent.  If it’s on your mascara label, toss it out.  A good Rule of Lash is this:  if a mascara makes your eyes burn or sting, or has an acrid odor, return it or trash it.
More natural mascara discoveries ahead…Part 2 of the Perfect Mascara Quest will post soon!