The search for the best natural mascara is over! I’ve tried dozens of popular brands over the years and have found what works and what doesn’t. Plus, as someone with suuuper sparse lashes, I am THE most reliable person for this job because a non toxic mascara that doesn’t work amazingly simply doesn’t work at all for me (most are disqualified at first swipe lol!). Read on to learn what ingredients to avoid and my in-depth comparison of the best clean mascaras.

My Verdict

After testing all the top-rated clean mascara brands, my favorite ones are INIKA, Tower 28, Honest and ILIA Beauty’s. I also know that they generally work super well for the majority of people.

Ingredients to Avoid in Mascara

When looking for the best non-toxic mascara, pick ones without sulfates, SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, and hydroquinone.

• Parabens: Common preservatives like methylparaben or propylparaben, which may disrupt hormones and cause irritation, especially for sensitive eyes.
• Fragrance/Perfume: Synthetic fragrances can cause eye irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin or eyes.
• Formaldehyde Releasers: These preservatives, such as quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin, slowly release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and irritant, especially for the eyes.
• Propylene Glycol: This chemical can cause allergic reactions and irritation, particularly for those with sensitive eyes or skin.
• Petroleum-Derived Ingredients: Ingredients like paraffin and mineral oil can cause clumping and might be irritating to the eyes.
• Carbon Black: Used to create the rich black color in mascara, carbon black is a pigment that may be linked to carcinogenic concerns, especially if it’s contaminated.
• Phthalates: These chemicals, used to make formulas flexible, may disrupt hormones and have potential long-term health risks.
• Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A Acetate): Although it’s a beneficial ingredient in skincare, in mascara, it may cause irritation, especially around the sensitive eye area.
• Alcohol: Ingredients like ethanol can dry out lashes, making them brittle and prone to breakage.
• Teflon (PTFE): Sometimes added to provide a smooth texture, Teflon is part of the perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) family, which can accumulate in the body and may pose health risks over time.

I tried Inika Long Lash Mascara

INIKA Organic is one of the highest quality, truly clean makeup brands on the market and their non-toxic mascara is an industry standout in my opinion. With every tube I’ve purchased over the years, I’ve found the performance to be consistently stellar across all categories – it lifts, lengthens and adds crazy volume to my tiny lashes without smudging. I appreciate that their formula is super clean and completely non-toxic with botanicals like magnolia bark extract to strengthen lashes over time. This would be my go-to if I weren’t constantly testing new mascaras.

Price: $35
Key ingredients: Castor seed oil, Magnolia Bark extract, Sunflower Seed Oil
Varietals available: Long Lash Mascara, Bold Lash Mascara, Curvy Lash Mascara, Purity Lash Mascara
✔ Made with certified organic ingredients ✔ Vegan ✔ Leaping Bunny Cruelty-free

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I tried Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer (budget!)

I’ve used Honest Beauty’s mascara for so many years now and I still find it to be the best option under $20 for those who want a safer mascara that actually works. This is a dual-sided mascara that both primes and lengthens, much like the Maybelline mascaras I used to use. First I use the primer side, which is a creamy white formula, to help prep my lashes. Then I go in with the mascara which clings onto the primer super well and helps boost the volume, thickness and length of my lashes. It wears pretty well throughout the day with very minimal smudging.

Price: $19.99
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: jojoba esters
Varietals available: Extreme Volume Mascara + Bold Lash
✔ Vegan

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I tried ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara

I’ve used Ilia’s mascaras for a few years and find it to be a great mid-range priced option that actually performs. My only complaint is that there’s nothing actually natural in it that helps nourish my lashes compared to other organic mascaras. It’s got a violin shaped brush with different sized bristles to give the most volume possible. I’ve also used their Limitless Lash Mascara which has thin straight bristles and I find it excellent at lengthening. Both work great for me honestly. But for volume, I definitely reach for their Fullest Volumizing Mascara. I find it to have minimal to zero smudging. It doesn’t irritate my eyes at all.

Price: $28
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: Arginine, Panthenol
Varietals available: Limitless Lash Mascara
✔ Vegan

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I tried Tower 28 Beauty Mascara (sensitive eye friendly!)

It was love at first swipe with Tower 28. And I can actually tell that it does separate and lengthen with one side and build volume with the other. It’s got a Triple-Wave Wand with three flexible suspended bands that lengthen and define lashes + build boldness. It’s also specially formulated for sensitive eyes. The formula is slick and dense and transfers effortlessly onto my lashes. Just check out the difference between the left side (with mascara) and the right side (without)!

Price: $20
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: Castor seed oil, Sunflower seed wax
✔ Vegan ✔ Sensitive eyes-safe

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I tried SWEED Beauty Cloud Mascara

When I tested SWEED Cloud Mascara I was surprised by just how well it works. It transforms my lashes with very little to no effort and the formula instantly transfers over, volumizing and lengthening my lashes immediately. It does make a dramatic difference for me that’s super noticeable. My only complaint is that it’s low on the ingredient purity level compared to actually non toxic mascaras as there are some ingredients I prefer to avoid if possible.

Price: $30
Purity level: 3/5
Key ingredients: Panthenol, Rice Bran Wax
Varietals available: Cloud Mascara, Pro Lash Lift Mascara
✔ Vegan

I tried Lily Lolo Black Vegan Natural Mascara

Lily Lolo’s affordable mascara is 100% natural and silicone free, alcohol free, vegan, gluten free, GMO free, and cruelty free. I find it does an excellent job at lengthening the lashes but only for my longer lashes at the outer edge and did little for my short stubborn lashes in the center and inner corner. If all my lashes were as long as the ones on the outer edge I’m sure this would be super impressive to me. Instead of toxins, Lily Lolo uses Myrica Pubescens Fruit Wax, Acacia Senegal Gum, carnauba wax, Rice Bran wax and sunflower seed wax along with rosehip oil and Argan oil to nourish lashes. I think this would be perfectly suitable for someone who already has a lot of lashes and doesn’t need a mascara that does it all.  

Price: $19.50
Purity level: 5/5
Key ingredients: Castor seed oil,
✔ 100% natural ✔ Vegan ✔ Leaping Bunny Cruelty-free

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I tried Fitglow Beauty Good Lash Mascara

Fitglow has one of the healthiest mascara formulas using certified organic ingredients in clean beauty! It’s as much lash care as it is makeup and contains collagen, Horsetail Extract, and Plant Protein for stronger, healthier lashes. I find that it adds instant volume and length and seems to even feel super nourishing! The downside is that it’s one of the more expensive clean mascara on the market.

Price: $38
Purity level: 5/5
Key ingredients: Castor seed oil, Magnolia Bark extract, Sunflower Seed Oil
✔ 100% natural ✔ Vegan ✔ Made with certified organic ingredients

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I tried Living Libations Raven Maven Mascara

Raven Maven Mascara is a non-toxic option with one of the healthiest formulas out there. The formula is all natural with earth-pigments, peptides, Frankincense in true Living Libations fashion, natural waxes, resins and oils. The formula feels light and not super heavy duty, so I don’t experience that dramatic of a volumizing effect as with other clean mascaras. I find that it looks like I’ve had a lash tint done versus like I’m wearing makeup. For someone with actual lashes, this would probably work better.

Here’s what OBL reader Erina thought of Raven Maven:

The texture was nice and smooth. After wearing it the whole day I normally get smudges but this lovely one didn’t! I was amazed!! But to be honest it didn’t keep the lashes curled up until at the end of the day. Think my lashes are the problem. Overall a great mascara

Price: $60
Purity level: 5/5
Key ingredients: pea peptides, bayberry fruit wax, beeswax, frankincense resin, kaolin, pullulan, rosemary leaf extract,
✔ 100% natural

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I tried Kjaer Weis Im-Possible Mascara (refillable!)

Kjaer Weis’ mascara is decent but not exactly impressive in my opinion. After a while the formula does get a bit clumpy and messy around the tube. However, major bonus points that it’s sustainable and can be refilled. It’s got Raspberry Fruit Water and Marula Oil to help condition and nourish lashes along with certified organic beeswax. It does add an okay amount of volume, but doesn’t really lengthen them. Kjaer Weis might work for those of you who already have great lashes but not for those with sparse lashes.

Price: $35
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: Certified organic beeswax, Raspberry Fruit Water and Marula Oil
✔ Made with certified organic ingredients ✔ Refillable

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I tried Caliray come hell or high water tubing mascara

Caliray’s mascara is…surprisingly good. I find that it gives a good amount of volume and even has decent hold power. The formula isn’t the cleanest as there are a few iffy ingredients like phenoxyethanol, but it has a higher number of lash-nourishing ingredients compared to other clean mascaras. There’s coffee seed oi, avocado oil and even peptides and ceramides to build stronger, healthier lashes. The tube itself is extremely light and very easy to handle.

Price: $24
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: Coffee Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, peptides, ceramide
✔ Vegan

I tried Iris & Romeo Lash Up Peptide Thickening Mascara

Iris & Romeo is another mascara that would probably work well for those who already have a good amount of lashes, but not for barely there lashes. This has got to be the most gigantic tube of mascara I’ve ever used. The fluffy brush has a unique curved shape and adds a decent amount of volume, but doesn’t work at separating and lengthening the lashes. I didn’t feel that the formula transferred to my lashes as well as other clean mascaras I tried. I have to say the ingredients are innovative – it has Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 and a patented wax blend of Carnauba Wax, Vegan Beeswax, and Proprietary Emulsion System. However, overall performance-wise I wasn’t impressed sadly.

Price: $29
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17
✔ Vegan ✔ Made from recycled waste

I tried Athletic Cosmetic The G.O.A.T. Sweat & Water Proof Vegan Mascara

The best non-toxic waterproof mascara is Athletic Cosmetic Company’s The GOAT mascara. You have to be careful with any waterproof mascara because they usually contain toxins known as PFASs, which can enter the body through the eyes. Athletic Company’s mascara is muuuch cleaner than conventional waterproof mascaras and infused with actives like peptides and hyaluronic acid. It’s able to be sweat proof thanks to water-resistant polymers. I can definitely notice the consistency feels a bit drier than other slicker mascaras. I find that it adds a decent amount of volume and length, though nothing impressive, and doesn’t leave me with raccoon eyes even throughout an intense spin class.

Price: $29
Purity level: 4/5
Key ingredients: Peptides, Hyaluronic Acid
✔ Vegan ✔ Sweat proof ✔ Formulated for athletes and active people

I tried Ogee Beyond Clean Volumizing Mascara

Ogee’s mascara has a squeaky clean formula and starts with a base of organic aloe leaf juice, which I’m not sure I’ve ever seen in a natural mascara before. It’s packed with a generous amount of beneficial ingredients like Jojoba Oil and Oat-derived Proteins. I find that it felt quite wax-heavy and teeters close to being a tad clumpy. While this is great for adding volume, it’s a bit too dense for my liking.

Price: $36
Purity level: 5/5
Key ingredients: Organic aloe leaf juice, jojoba oil, oat-derived proteins
✔ 100% natural ✔ Vegan