The Sprig List
14 Best Eco-Friendly Mascaras
by Elizabeth McMullen
Who doesn't like lashes that go on for days? Find the perfect pure mascara for you here.
What's your lash style? Long like Jessica Alba's or curled like Emily Rossum's? However you choose to frame 'em, we've got a mascara to help make your peepers their prettiest. And because we know how loyal you are to your magic wands, we tested a bunch to find the very best. All of the picks below keep clumping to a minimum, wear well (no raccoon eyes!) and wash clean — delivering eco-fabulous results that'll rival those of your current beauty-counter fave. So skip the chemicals and go batty!
Your lashes are so long, they've got their own zip code. Take them to the outer limits with Gabriel Cosmetics' ZuZu Luxe, which brilliantly defines and elongates in one swell swoop. An equally low-cost contender was Suncoat's Natural Sugar-Based Mascara, which took our lashes from ho-hum to whoa! in a single swipe.
Do you put yourself through a mini-medieval-torture routine (read: eyelash curler every morning to get that upturned fringe?) If you're pressed for time, Josie Maran and Jane Iredale's mascaras both do the trick, leaving you with full, lightly curled lashes and strong (Josie's) or soft (Jane's) color. With these and any other mascaras, we recommend a swipe with a lash comb to smooth out any kinks.
If you want dark, alluring eyes like Salma Hayek's, you can get that smoldering look with Korres' Deep Colour mascara, which delivers on color (four shades, including an enticing gray-green) and length, to boot. Speaking of color, a bold ebony stroke was the first thing we noticed about Larenim's Mineralash, in addition to a nicely defined fullness.
For look-at-me lashes that pack a dramatic punch, Tarte's Lash Hugger natural mascara will keep heads turning with an all-out fringe like you've never seen. Long and ultra-lush, this is the mascara to wear on a glam night out, when you want your eyes to speak for themselves. If you're heading to a party, Urban Decay's Big Fatty Colored Mascara is one accessory you don't want to leave home without. Choose from fabu hues like Black Cherry and Electric Blue to match your mood.
If you want color and definition, but don't go for drama, try Ecco Bella's FlowerColor natural mascara in rich brown, which subtly emphasizes the lash line with well-separated strokes of color. Garden Botanika's Natural Lash is another option for amazingly easy, lovely lashes with a nice shot of color. For an even lighter touch, try Honeybee Gardens' Truly Natural Mascara, which would be our pick for no-fuss freshness on the run.
Euro-stars Lavera, Sante, and Logona — all meeting stringent German Bundesverband Deutscher Industrie und Handelsunternehm (BDIH) eco-standards — have more than one great thing in common: These ultra-light mascaras glide on so smoothly, you won't bat a lash. One swipe gives your wide eyes instant definition and a hint of color (we love Logona's gray-blue anthracite, for one). Flawless separation and touch-and-go application make them perfect for lazy-day weekends.