Popular Q&A's for natural mascara
What's mascara made of?
Like all colour cosmetics, mascara is made from a combination of oils and waxes to give it its consistency, and pigment to physically colour the lash. Where most "traditional" mascaras contain heavy metals and parabens, our favourite natural mascaras are packed with botanical ingredients like Avocado, Coconut, Argan, Moringa and Chia Seed oils that actually work to strengthen and condition the lashes upon application- almost like a tinted lash treatment, rather than a standard mascara!
Some natural mascaras also harness natural colourants, like the black tea leaf pigments, cocoa and blackberries found in 100% Pure's Black Tea Ultra Lengthening Mascara, rather than synthetic dyes, to colour the eyelashes naturally.
Which mascara is best for sensitive eyes?
Natural mascaras are generally free from the common synthetic chemicals that lead to eye irritation- so if you suffer from sensitive eyes and find traditional eye makeup tends to flare up those sensitivities, you've come to the right place!
One of our favourite mascaras for sensitive eyes is the Lily Lolo Natural Mascara, which has been Ophthalmologically tested to be safe for sensitive eyes. We also love the Eco Minerals Mascara, which works to condition dry, sparse lashes and is suitable for even the most sensitive eyes.
Is mascara vegan?
Mascara is typically not vegan, as many mascara formulas (even natural ones!) contain beeswax which is, despite being a natural and hypoallergenic ingredient, an animal byproduct. This is because beeswax can give the formula flexibility and hold, and can help to create the illusion of thicker lashes and create something of a "film" to coat each lash.
Nourished Life is home to a number of beautiful vegan mascara formulas from brands who have found natural, vegan alternatives to ingredients like beeswax, all of which still deliver lengthening, thickening and long-lasting results!
Inika's Bold Lash Vegan Mascara is one of our all-time favourites (plus it's a 2020 Global Green Beauty Awards winner!) as it uses vegan ingredients including Magnolia Bark Extract and Sunflower oil to condition, strengthen and protect each lash.