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"Safe" Mascara: Ask Diva

Dear Diva,

Help – what is your favorite “good-for-you” mascara?

Twitter follower @at1968media

Dear Twiva,

Good question.  Mascara is a product that we wear right next to our eye, so being careful with this selection is a prudent idea.

My  approach to converting to”safer” cosmetics and bodycare products has been to use up what I own, then replace that product with a safer product.  With Mascara I must have hit a good sale one day because it took me a long time to use up what I had, I finally switched to natural mascara earlier this year.

Part of switching to natural products has been to change buying patterns, my old habit of buying a few of one item and keeping them until I needed them no longer works.  Better for you products don’t contain as many preservatives, so they often don’t last as long.  I digress…

Very randomly one day I was at the drugstore (a rare event these days) and happened across Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara.  They were offering a rebate making the mascara free, cool deal and a win – win.  So I picked one up to try.  The mascara rates a 3 in the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.

This is an improvement over my longtime favorite L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara, which rates a 6 and the always mentioned Maybelline Great Lash Mascara which scores a 5.

For those who are really committed to purity, check out Coastal Creations Mascara, which scores 0.

Another brand I’d like to try is 100% pure fruit pigmented mascara which scores a 2 in Skin Deep.

There you have it, 3 different natural or organic options for you to try out!  Let me know how it all works.

Love,

{ 11 comments… add one }

  • Kristin December 28, 2009, 3:05 pm

    Hi Diva,
    someone suggested Larenim to me and so far I like it.  It goes on thin compared to the mainstream mascaras.  I used to always get dry eyes after wearing mascara a couple hours, which doesn’t happen with Larenim.  It’s rated a 4 in the Skin Deep database.  Next I’d like to give Coastal Creations a try.  Thanks for the info!

    • Tania Reuben December 28, 2009, 9:21 pm

      Thanks for the suggestion and for pairing it with a skin deep rating – saving me from having to look it up!
      The coastal creations looks interesting and I’d like to try the 100% pure too!

  • Alania Cowie December 29, 2009, 10:42 am

    Hey Diva,

     I recently tried Coastal Creations–web orders only. They actually scored the lowest on the Skin Deep database for levels of toxicity in mascara, and most make-ups actually. It has been awhile since I have been wearing make-up, but since becoming a business woman decided I needed to spruce up a little. I like the mascara, but it doesn’t always stay where it should. Maybe Im doing it wrong? Hmmm

  • Little People Wealth December 31, 2009, 4:29 pm

    Thanks for the options!  I’ve tried the physicians formula one, but none of the others.

    I hope you had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year as well!  I posted some linky love for you back at my blog, thanks for being one of my top Entrecard droppers in December :)

  • Kathy Lee February 18, 2010, 1:48 am

    I like Miessence organic mascara. It also has one of the lowest scores on the skin deep data base, with a low score of 2. I appreciate that it’s organic AND that there is no titanium dioxide, which is really amazing. I use Miessence natural and organic mascara, and it works well for me – no flaking, goes on easily, and makes my eyes look fabulous all day!

    • Tania Reuben February 18, 2010, 2:43 pm

      I have review of their skin serum that I’ll be doing soon. I’m impressed by what I know about their products so far.

  • Jamie March 17, 2010, 8:07 pm

    I’m using the 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented mascara and love it. Has the staying power of my former Covergirl LashBlast, but I’ve made the choice to use only all-natural products; I’ve found my natural mascara. It provides great length and enough fullness to keep me happy. It dries quickly and does not smudge even though I have extremely oily eyelids that eye shadow cannot withstand. Plus, it smells heavenly!

  • Lisa Liguori May 12, 2010, 10:48 am

    Thanks for the post about mascaras Diva! So many great healthy mascaras to try now, after reading this post and the comments. Healthy mascaras can be like finding a needle in a haystack among all the toxic brands. Yikes! Another good one is Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara. It stays on really well with no smudging and comes off easily when you want it to at night! It has a score of 3. I may go on a mascara test run now…

  • Amelie August 12, 2010, 1:45 pm

    Thanks for the post on organic mascara.  I’m getting ready to purchase one and hadn’t had time to research yet.  I’ll check out the brands you and other posters mentioned. 

    • Tania Reuben August 12, 2010, 1:48 pm

      I also just tried the Ecco Bella Mascara. It’s nice, not as volumizing at the Physician’s Formula.

  • Greenmakeup January 26, 2011, 3:30 am

    Hi! I recommend you to try 100%pure mascara, it’s fabulous! I dedicated it an entire post on my green makeup blog:) But if you want, you can also try the new Lavera mascaras; they have 4 new formulation of mascaras, that are very good and safe with ingredients. Or Jane Iredale makes also amazing mascaras. Wish you to find your perfect mascara!

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