An Honest Review Of 5 Toxin-Free Mascaras From Nourished Life
If I were to use only one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be mascara. A great mascara is a staple in every person’s makeup kit, especially when you’re ginger and your eyelashes flick to invisible mode when they’re not coated in black gloop.
I work from home, so I only wear mascara about 2-3 times a week. But boy oh boy: when I wear it, it better be darn good. Throw my eco/ethical values into the mix, and finding a fantastically natural mascara that makes my lashes as lush as my dog’s (you should see them, they’re impressive) seems impossible. But alas: natural mascaras that work, do exist! I realise it’s an expensive task to find a natural mascara that suits you, so as a proud partner of Nourished Life, I’ve tried my best to do some of the work for you.
Nourished Life are your online store for everything eco/natural/sustainable/toxin-free that you need in your home. Consider them your online eco pharmacy and health shop. They stock some of my very favourite beauty, home and general lifestyle products… including toxin-free mascaras that I’ve used in the past, plus some I am new to.
I’ve tried and tested 5 toxin-free mascaras from Nourished Life, in order to help you make the best mascara decisions.
WARNING: This will be a very honest review. I don’t have time for shit mascaras, and I know you don’t either.
NOTE: These mascaras come in plastic tubes. They can be sent back to Nourished Life to be recycled after use, but I think we need to work on a better solution (even though I’ve learnt plastic free mascara is really hard to create without compromising quality). Before publishing this blog post, I emailed each company individually to encourage them to continue their investigation into keeping the quality of the product, but changing the packaging to a more sustainable option.
If you find something you like, use code ETHICALLYKATE for 15% OFF.
This does not apply to already discounted items, and may exclude particular items. It’s an affiliate code, so I also make a small commission if you do purchase.
INIKA Bold Lash Vegan Mascara - Black $49AUD (12ml)
I’ve been using this mascara on and off for around 2 years. It’s a solid staple. The INIKA Bold Lash Vegan Mascara is easy to apply, and holds up well when I go for spontaneous swims. See the brush? It’s great at separating my eyelashes so they’re all defined. I don’t find smudging an issue with INIKA, but my mum has had some issues with hers in the past (maybe it’s just her eye wrinkles- love you mum).
Image by Nectar Photography.
Lily Lolo Natural Mascara - Black $25AUD (7ml)
This one definitely gets the ‘sexiest packaging award’. The tube is matte, so incredibly aesthetically pleasing. Anyway, back to the actual mascara. Very similar to the INIKA mascara, the Lily Lolo parts your lashes lovingly, and you won’t be left with panda eyes at the end of the day. I think this is also the best for avoiding clumps around the top of the tube, and base of the mascara wand. Mascaras, especially when they’re made without harsh toxins, can get gluggy over time and become hard to push back into the tube without black blobs getting on your hands. The function of this tube avoids this sticky situation more than others.
Image by Nectar Photography.
SCOUT Cosmetics Mascara with Fibres - Black $29.95 (8g)
I’m afraid the SCOUT Cosmetics Mascara let me down. The fibres (which I think are supposed to make my eyelashes fuller?) went all over my face. When applying, I tried my very best to get full lashes, but after a few minutes you could hardly tell I was wearing mascara. As I made dinner that same evening, I cut an onion and the little amount of mascara that was on my eyelashes, smudged onto my face. I heard reviews about the mascara stating things like this: “This has a great brush for a natural volume without getting clumpy, my definite mascara go to!” but unfortunately, the SCOUT Cosmetics Mascara was not for me.
Image by Nectar Photography.
Ere Perez Natural Almond Mascara - Black $34AUD (10ml)
Ere Perez has an excellent reputation in the natural makeup world, and their mascara lives up to it. Although it’s a lighter coverage than most other mascaras, it’s perfect for everyday wear. I love using it when I simply want my eyelashes to be darker, rather than go with a full face of makeup. The brush is my favourite out of all of them; sometimes I have even used another mascara, and then finished it off with Ere Perez to make sure my lashes fall into place. I’d recommend this for those who want a more natural lash effect.
Image by Nectar Photography.
Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara - 01 Black $54AUD (8ml)
If you’re seeking lush lashes that are FULL-BOLD-FABULOUS; Dr Hauschka is your go-to. This is the fullest mascara I’ve tried, and even though after a long 12 hour day I find a tiny bit of smudging, it’s worth it. I use this mascara when I need the most lash-confidence (is that a thing?), and want to shock the world with how long my lashes are. As time goes on, the formula has become slightly more clumpy, but it’s nothing worth crying over. I love this mascara.
Image by Nectar Photography.
As a rule, I only work with brands I love, use, and can whole heartedly back. I send the brand a large list of questions to answer first, and trial the product properly before saying yes to anything. This is a sponsored blog (I can't pay my electricity bill with free products), but 100% my own words, photos, and opinion.
All images are taken & edited by Nectar Photography.