You know how you can feel fully clothed in a bikini despite being 95% naked? No? Fair enough! But we bet you can relate to slipping on a great mascara and lip gloss and feeling that your face is ‘done’.

With a swipe of gloss and a lashing of mascara we are ready for business meetings, nights out with the girls, just looking fabulous in general… no problem; as long as our lips and lashes are looking lush.

For many women, mascara is their go-to beauty product, and we wear it every day. So, it’s little wonder that we’re just a bit fussy about it being natural and free from crusty old chemicals!

Oh Natural’s top picks for natural mascara brands

Our stand out winner and reigning champion is 100% Pure Black Tea Lengthening Mascara. It’s natural, it’s non-toxic, it’s cruelty free – like all the products on our site – but more impressively, it looks fantastic, it stays put, and it smells divine! This lovely natural mascara also provides a great option for women with sensitive skin or eczema, like Eszter:

“I absolutely love this mascara! Having really sensitive eczema prone skin, I brought the black tea, and it is absolutely amazing! The smell is delicious, it is extremely gentle, and it not only stays on well all day, but is also easy to remove with just warm water. Overall, I would highly recommend this mascara, it was the best decision I’ve ever made cosmetic-wise, and I will be using this for as long as it’s available!”

We’re enamoured of the Inika Organic Vegan Mascara too – it’s moist and lush and being both organic and vegan means it’s a super ethical little beauty!

Zuii Organic Vegan Mascara is a gorgeous addition to their lovely range of natural makeup and we love this gorgeous brand – they also have a new Lengthening and Defining Mascara.

If you plan to sweat in the gym or dance in the rain, Ere Perez has the Volumizing Waterproof Mascara you need!

See the full natural mascara range here and read the reviews for yourself.

What foul chemicals are lurking in big brand mascaras?

Commercial brands commonly use a swathe of chemicals in mascara, which sits in dangerous proximity to the moist and precious surface of your eye. Tiny particles often fall in and around your eyes during the day. The most notorious chemicals to look out for in generic mascaras are:

• Parabens – Preservative chemicals linked to endocrine disruption, also known to affect estrogen levels, and a British study found parabens in 99% of breast cancer tissues.
• Phthalates – Carcinogens that damage the kidneys, liver, lungs and reproductive system
• Petroleum products – Say no more, really. In fact, just say no.
• Dioxane – irritation of the eyes (doh) and many more effects including damage to vital organs.
• Propylene Glycol – Ah this nasty skin irritant and allergen shows up all over the place. You really don’t want it in your eye!
• Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A Acetate) – This harmful ingredient is ranked as a high concern by the EWG because it can cause biochemical or cellular level changes. Yes, mutations.
• Aluminum Powder – A cosmetic colorant, aluminium powder is a neurotoxin, rated as a high concern by the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.

And, as you know by now, a sweet label promising ‘natural’ doesn’t meant that your mascara is safe either.

Smart mascara hygiene matters – and new mascara 3 monthly is wise

It’s important to replace your mascara around four times a year to minimise bacterial contamination. The combination of a damp dark tube with a wand that touches the eyelashes every day results in nasty bacteria like staphylococcus and streptococcus and even fungi growing in mascara tubes. It makes sense not to wipe these gross germs around your eyes, and new mascara is the only way to prevent this. Also, this is a great excuse to buy a new ‘magic wand’!

Clean mascara off carefully before bed every night, to reduce the chance of bacterial and oil build up; be careful to avoid washing the mascara into the eye. Don’t share mascara, and be careful not to scratch your eye with the wand. If you have irritated or infected eyes, give your makeup a rest. Always replace the lid of your mascara tightly.

We hope you enjoy using your natural mascara – and fluttering those feathery lashes fearlessly!