Are you still looking for an amazing  natural mascara you could spend the rest of your life with? My personal hunt continues…

Recently I overheard two women talking about liking Bare Minerals mascara, so I checked it out online.  Their Flawless Definition mascara is $18.00 and ingredients look okay, except for the last-ingredient phenoxyethanol preservative (see August 2010 post, The Quest for the Perfect Mascara, Part 1).

Another authentically natural brand I discovered online is Whispering Seas Mascara by Coastal Classic Creations.  A little pricey at $25.00, but when you read the ingredients you’ll see why—it’s exceptionally natural.  And it actually rates a zero hazard rating on the Skin Deep site.  The Whispering Seas description says “no animal fibers”—which makes me wonder what animal source we are happily avoiding. Traditional drugstore mascaras generally use nylon or rayon fibers for the thickening factor.

So how do we get thicker lashes when we go natural without those pesky fibers?  We apply several coats, and/or powder our lashes first, say the manufacturers.   Just be ultra-careful if you do the powder-on-the-lashes thing—apply minimal powder (talc-free) with a cotton swab, keeping your eye closed.

Two other well-formulated mineral-based mascaras you might want to check out are by Jane Iredale and Afterglow,   both rated a 2 in the EWG cosmetic database.  Iredale’s Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara comes in 5 colors and could win our virtual Perfect Mascara ribbon—except that its ample size retails for $35.00.   Afterglow’s  volumizing  Pure Soul mascara sells for $21.00. You may find it easier to purchase these two brands online since they are generally a little harder to find in local retail outlets.

What’s YOUR vote for the Perfect Natural Mascara?  I’d love to hear from you!  Leave a comment here or email:  Barbara@naturesface.com

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!