If your eyes are the windows to your soul, it’s probably a good idea to keep them free from toxic chemicals and harmful microplastics. The trouble is, most mascara and other cosmetics contain a whole bevy of nasty substances. Some chemicals are acutely toxic to fish and other wildlife, and some bioaccumulate and persist in the environment, causing harm for years to come.
Mascara might be a key part of your make-up routine, but it can take a heavy toll on your eyes and skin and on the planet. Not to worry though, we have done hours of research to come up with the best non-toxic, eco-friendly mascara options!
First, though, a quick primer on what to avoid in conventional mascara.
The problem with conventional cosmetics
The U.S. has no robust regulation restricting the use of dubious chemicals in cosmetic and personal care products. Some companies and many consumer advocacy organizations and activists are pushing for the Personal Care Act to be enacted to help protect consumers. Until that happens, many mascaras and other cosmetics will continue to feature toxic chemicals known to harm human health and the environment.
Some of these chemicals have acute effects on aquatic life and the health of waterways.
- BHA and BHT (Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
- Carbon Black
- Coal Tar
- Ethanolamine Compounds (MEA/DEA/TEA)
- Ethoxylated Ingredients
- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA)
- Ethylparaben
- Formaldehyde
- Mineral Oil
- Nanoparticles (Nanomaterials)
- Parabens
- PEGs (Polyethylene Glycol)
- Phenoxyethanol (2-phenoxyethanol)
- Phthalates
- Propylene Glycol
- Propylparaben
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) like benzalkonium chloride – can cause asthma
- Talc
- Triclosan.
This list is not exhaustive, so if you spot a mascara you like the look of, be sure to check the full ingredients list against the EWG database or leave a comment with a question below.
It’s also best to avoid mascaras that contain acrylate copolymers or other microplastics. Like microbeads, these microplastics end up in waste water where they persist and can cause serious harm to wildlife including fish, birds, amphibians, and small mammals.
The easiest option, of course, is to choose one of the Leaf Score recommended products! All of these are free from microplastics and many are zero-waste too.
Our top picks
River Organics Mascara
Highlights: Zero-waste, non-toxic, vegan, solid mascara in compostable packaging. Helps condition lashes and easy to remove!
- Zero-waste – comes in paper packaging as a solid block
- Non-toxic formula
- Vegan-friendly
- Made with organic, natural ingredients that condition lashes
- Easy to remove with jojoba (or other) oil
- Even the mailers are eco-friendly and totally plastic-free!
- Suitable for contact lens wearers
- Doubles as brow tint!
- A bit of a learning curve to apply it well
- Best to also purchase the River Organics mascara brush
- Not waterproof, so best on dry days!
River Organics is an eco-friendly, family-run company making zero-waste products including an innovative solid mascara in a paper pot.
This mascara contains no toxic ingredients and instead uses coconut oil and clay to create a conditioning, lengthening, volumizing mascara that doesn’t clump and stays put (except in a downpour).
It can take a bit of practice to use solid mascara. It’s worth watching the videos and persevering though, as the River Organics mascara produces great results once you get the hang of it.
This mascara also doubles as an eyebrow tint. We recommend getting the River Organics mascara brush for best results as this also features a brow brush.
Elate Beauty Essential Mascara
Highlights: Non-toxic, vegan-friendly, refillable mascara in an easy-to-use bamboo tube.
- Beautiful bamboo tube mascara that is refillable for zero-waste
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free, certified by Leaping Bunny and Beauty Without Bunnies
- Free from nano-sized ingredients
- Verified non-toxic through the Think Dirty App
- Refills shipped using seed paper that can grow wildflowers!
- B Corporation that uses FSC bamboo
- Green Business Association and Surfrider Foundation member
- Only two color choices
Elate Beauty is our top choice for refillable cosmetics, with a wide range of products including the Essential Mascara.
If you’re not keen on a solid mascara from River Organics, Elate Beauty offers a more conventional option in a bamboo tube with glass refill inserts available to order. This means less waste and lower costs. It also means the bamboo tube is higher quality and looks great compared to throwaway plastic tubes and brushes.
Zerra & Co. Zero-Waste Mascara
Highlights: Totally zero-waste mascara in a glass vial with metal cap. Optional bamboo brush or reuse your own!
- Zero-waste mascara in a glass vial with metal cap
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Non-toxic
- Available in two colors
- Not as straightforward as conventional tube mascara
- Brush needs to be stored somewhere
Zerra & Co. is a smaller company offering two mascara options. The one below is a more conventional (refillable, but not zero-waste) option. This one is totally zero-waste as it comprises just a glass vial with metal cap. You can either reuse your own mascara brush from another product, or purchase a bamboo brush with your first Zerra & Co. purchase.
The mascara itself is available in black and brown and is non-toxic and vegan.
Zerra & Co. The Mascara
Highlights: Non-toxic, zero-waste mascara with refills available and two colors.
- Bamboo tube mascara with refills available
- Two colors
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Non-toxic
- A little pricier than other options, even for refills
- Not waterproof
- Needs to dry for a few seconds to prevent smudging
- Not totally zero-waste as the spoolie/brush will eventually be discarded
If you like the idea of zero-waste but find Zerra & Co.’s glass vial and metal cap a bit too fiddly for day to day use, check out the low-waste option instead. This mascara is the same as in the vials for the zero-waste mascara but comes in a more conventional mascara tube.
When you get to the end of the mascara, order a refill and return the empty (cleaned!) for recycling. You can keep using the same brush too, to save waste.
Zao Mascara Aloe Vera
Highlights: Vegan-friendly, mostly organic, refillable mascara in two colors in a bamboo tube.
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Refillable with an easy-to-use brush/wand
- 100% natural ingredients
- 51% of ingredients are from organic farms
- Not EWG verified
Zao offers a fabulous mascara in a refillable format that looks great. The bamboo tubes are good quality and can be refilled time and again to save waste.
The formula features 100% natural ingredients and more than half are from organic farms. The brush is specially designed to lift and separate lashes for extra definition.
Honeybee Gardens Bellissima Mascara
Highlights: Non-toxic mascara made from ethically sourced ingredients.
- Made from organic and ethically sourced ingredients
- Cruelty-free
- Available in two colors
- Bold and volumizing
- Comes in a plastic tube that’s hard to recycle
- No refill options
Honeybee Gardens is one of our top picks for nail polish, and the company also makes excellent mascara. This is available in Black Lace and Coffee Bean and is bold, volumizing, and easy to apply.
The only trouble is that it comes in a plastic tube that’s hard to recycle, and there are no refill options.
If Honeybee Gardens figured out a zero-waste or low-waste solution, this fantastic mascara could rocket up our list!
SAPPHO Maximum Intensity Mascara
Highlights: Cruelty-free, vegan mascara in a refillable tube.
- PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free
- Mostly natural formula with at least 70% certified organic content
- Bold, rich color with good staying power
- Metal tube (with plastic lining) comes apart for refills
- Easy to apply and easy to remove with water only
- Good for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers
- Ethically sourced and verified child labor free
- Lab-tested and clear of PFAS to the detectable limit
- Silicone wand
- A bit pricey, even for refills
- Not water-resistant
SAPPHO’s mascara formula has been beloved by many since 2016, but it’s finally made our cut because the company upgraded the packaging to be refillable!
This intense, bold mascara is vegan-friendly, non-toxic, mostly organic, and free of PFAS (in the mascara and packaging). And now you can order refills to reduce plastic waste.
The only downside is that the mascara is not water-resistant, so isn’t a great choice for funerals, weddings, or sappy movies.
Au Naturale Bold Statement Vegan Mascara
Highlights: Formula features plant-derived waxes and natural pigments while being available in a variety of colors. Use code LEAFSCORE for 20% off.
- 100% Cruelty-Free and vegan
- Available in a wide variety of colors
- Made in the U.S.
- Mostly made of certified organic ingredients
- Company lobbies to improve cosmetics safety regulations
- Not zero-waste, refillable, or plastic-free
Au Naturale Bold Statement Vegan Mascara features plant-derived waxes and natural mineral pigments to create volume and rich color that lasts. Clean, green, and cruelty-free, this vegan mascara is available in Black, Brown, Navy, Teal, Violet, and Cobalt.
Bold Statement is made in the U.S. without:
- Animal bi-products
- Synthetic preservatives
- Nanoparticles
- Gluten
- Parabens
- Toxic chemicals.
Most of the ingredients in this formula are certified organic, EcoCert, and/or Kosher/Halal certified.
Au Naturale launched its full product line in 2011 and is now a global company that has established partnerships with fair-trade farmers across the globe. The founder is a keen lobbyist pushing for the US to enact the Personal Care Act, a movement to demand stricter regulation of cosmetic products.
Au Naturale is also offering LeafScore readers a discount! Use coupon code LEAFSCORE at checkout for 20% off of your purchase.
Final thoughts
Finally, you’re going to need something to remove mascara, such as organic cotton rounds or reusable makeup remover pads.
We recommend:
- Organyc Organic Cotton Rounds in biodegradable and compostable packaging – View on Amazon
- Sephora Organic Cotton Rounds with GOTS certification – view on Sephora
- TL Care’s Nursing Pads made with organic cotton – made for nursing but great for removing make-up and nail polish! – View on Amazon
- Priveganic organic cotton make-up removal pads in a convenient washbag to stop them getting bunched up or stuck in a dryer vent – View on Amazon.
It can be tricky to find makeup remover pads made entirely with organic cotton. Most ‘eco-friendly’ pads are made with bamboo and a little cotton, but, as I’ve mentioned before, bamboo is a very tough fiber, making it a great choice for long-lasting mascara tubes but a terrible choice for soft textiles.