Are organic sunscreens comparable in quality to their non-organic equivalents?

Does an organic sunscreen work? Don’t I want the highest SPF possible? Will I burn more easily if I use a green sunscreen? Sometimes it seems like organic sunscreen is just one giant enigma surrounded by a sea of chemical rumors. But the truth is out there. Yes, sunscreens containing organic ingredients are as effective as others. You will not burn more easily with a green sunscreen, (unless you don’t apply it correctly), and there is no evidence that any SPF higher than 50+ works better than others.

In fact, green sunscreens work really well. To celebrate this fact, we asked several of our green comrades to share their favorite eco-friendly sunscreen.

Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35 ($14.99)
Anna Getty, author and green living expert, recommends Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SFP 35. Another top-rated product from Skin Deep, this product uses natural minerals like zinc and titanium with no harmful nanoparticles. It’s also fortified with organic green tea, as well as organic sesame, safflower and avocado oils.

Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+ ($25.95)
Aysia Wright of Chartreuse PR is a Devita Solar devotee. As Aysia tells me, “It’s great for everyday use.” This product received a #1 rating from the Skin Deep database, offering full spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection with a SPF of 30+. Best of all, it goes on extremely light and is virtually free of any sticky residues.

Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, SPF 15 ($29.70)
What does Laura Klein slather on her face? The founder and publisher of Organic Authority shares, “My preferred sunscreen is a hat, long sleeves, and glasses. But when I use sunscreen, it’s Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm.” This product, which scores a rating of #2 from Skin Deep, does not contain any nanoparticles. Further, it creates a physical sun block that bounces the sun’s rays off of your skin, unlike chemical sunscreens that absorb rays.

Badger Balm 30+ Lightly Scented Lavender Sunscreen ($16.00)
Kristen Arnett, makeup artist, Ecosalon columnist, and the founder of Green Beauty Team, recommends this sunscreen for both face and body.
As she tells me, “It does go on rather white, but it’s safe, natural, works well, and lasts for quite a long time. It also doesn’t clog pores and is very hydrating.” This sunscreen also gets a #1 ranking from the Skin Deep database.

COOLA Face SPF 30 Matte Finish Cucumber Natural Mineral Sun block ($36.00)
We’ve made no secret that we’re big fans of COOLA here at Ecosalon. But we’re not the only ones. Another admirer of the brand includes Melissa Tournay, green beauty expert and co-owner of Primrose Organics Salon and Boutique in Los Angeles. This product, which rates a #2 from Skin Deep, is 95% natural with 70% certified organic inactives.

Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30+ ($20.00)
Our fearless leader here at EcoSalon, EIC Sara Ost, loves this product from Jurlique. As she tells me, “I adore Jurlique’s products, which are biodynamic. They just smell amazing, and their sun block is nice because it isn’t oily or greasy.” An Australian company, Jurlique is certified under different standards and does not fare as well in the Skin Deep database. However, along with biodynamic principles, the company does employ several sustainable initiatives.

Josie Maran’s Daily Sun Protection SPF 40 with Argan Oil ($32.00)
Anna Griffin, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Coco Eco Magazine, recommends this intense moisturizer from Josie Maran. (Skin Deep rating not available.) Containing some organic ingredients, this product is free of parabens and fragrance.  It’s an extremely hydrating product that is lightweight and fast absorbing.

FTC Compliant

Image: 15472273@N07

Don’t get caught this spring without some new beauty essentials to keep your look fresh.

Mystikol Eye Liner by Jane Iredale ($20.00)
Bright, super-saturated colors are on trend for spring, and we’ve filled our makeup bags with the all-natural best. Not a makeup artist and want expertly-lined eyes? Not a problem, this innovative new eyeliner sports a powdered applicator that even the most unwieldy artist can use with ease. One side offers a powdered eyeliner in rich colors so popular this spring, such as bright lapis lazuli, rich aquamarines, and shimmering onyx. The other side provides a complimentary highlighter for enhancing your peeps. Calibrated for sensitive skin, the Mystikol is gentle solution for sultry eye seekers.

Blue Volume Mascara by Lavera ($20.00)
Bright, eye-popping colors are all the rage this season, and the bright mascara hues offered by Lavera are right on trend. With organic jojoba and wild rose oils, this paraben and heavy-metal-free mascara offers up a hydrating cover for your lashes. Best of all? It’s not left running down your face at the slightest dew drop of humidity. Lavera, which is certified natural by BDIH of Germany, has been ranked highly by experts as a safe natural cosmetic line.

MySteppes Makeup Kit by Jane Iredale ($58.00)
Want a mini-makeup bar that can fit into the palm of your hand? Mineral makeup giant Jane Iredale has introduced her MySteppes Makeup Kit, an all-in-one compact containing two lip glosses, a blush, a bronzer, and a mirror for touch-ups on the go. Available in two shade themes, warm and cool, each kit features hand-picked colors such as Iced Mocha and Crabapple or Cotton Candy and Pomegranate. We love the stackable packaging which makes it an easy addition for on-the-go makeup touches.

Argan Illuminizer by Josie Maran ($28.00)
We’ve always known a healthy glow is the best makeup, and this new product gives it to us in a bottle. Adding an instant luminosity to our face, neck and collarbones, the Argan Illuminizer eliminates dark circles and conditions the skin. The Illuminizer sports universal coverage that compliments any skin tone. Containing some organic ingredients, this product is free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. (Don’t forget to layer a sunblock underneath for ultimate skin protection.)

Fuchsia Lip Pencil by Zozimos Botanicals ($13.00)
What’s got organic makeup artist Jessa Blades excited for spring? Bright, juicy colors offered up by Zozimos Botanicals. As Jessa told us, “I love the fuchsia lip pencil by Zozimos Botanicals. I fill in my whole lip, smack my lips together to really let it sink in, and then swipe a bit of H. Gillerman flowers lip balm on top and voila! The pop of color mixed with the moisture from the balm makes the perfect combo- without being too glossy.”

Taj Mahal Lipstick by Primitive ($17.50)
We love this luscious lip cover by Primitive, which adds a shine to lips that can withstand the windiest spring storms (See: Applying lip gloss and then immediately having your hair stuck to your mouth). It goes on lips smooth as a lipstick but picks up the light as if you’ve got diamonds dancing across your pucker. Primitive offers up vegan lip care with clean and pure ingredients made in the USA.

Back in the day when I wore makeup with nary a green thought in my mind, one of my favorite products was from a certain well-known brand with the words “longwear” and “lip color” bandied about the tube. Why? Because I could put it on in the morning and have “longwear” lip color all day. Sure, who knows what kind of chemicals I was sinking into my lips – I had lipstick that no drink or food could kiss of my choppers. And you know what? I loved it.

Then I got green. Suddenly, I wasn’t so comfortable painting my face with something that could permanently mark up leather. After throwing out – excuse me, recycling – half my makeup bag, I let go of my long-lasting lip wear. And just that much more color went out in my world. Okay, just my on lips. But still.

Then I heard about the advent of Josie Maran’s Lip and Cheek Stain Magic Markers.  Was it possible that the world of natural (or I should say, “more natural”) cosmetics was offering up its own version of the lip stain? Investigations were immediately implemented, and here’s what I found.

Packaged in a recyclable stick, Ms. Maran’s Lip and Cheek Stain is free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and phthalates. It does have Sephora’s “natural” seal of approval. This means that it has high concentrations of antioxidants, botanicals, essential oils, fruit extracts, minerals or more. Yes, I agree that this is all rather mysterious. Maran’s Lip and Cheek Stain is designed to “flush” lips and cheeks with a natural-looking stain, and it is available in six colors. Each shade is named after a dance, a nod to Josie’s stint on Dancing with the Stars.

And it all sounds promising, right? But does it work? Cue drum rolls and green fairies – yes, yes it does! Not only does it work as well as the longwear products of old, (my old – they’re still thriving on the market,) Josie Maran’s lip stain provided lasting color. It also worked well on my cheeks, giving me a rosy glow I hadn’t seen since middle school. But be careful with the product – it is a stain. Meaning, if you go out of the lines, you will be scrubbing to get it off.

Want to know more? Here’s Josie herself talking about her lasting Lip and Cheek Stain.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I were wandering through a book release party when we came upon the lovely makeup ladies of Josie Maran Cosmetics. They were offering up complimentary makeovers. Already a fan of the eco-conscious cosmetic line and all things “free,” I quickly hopped into a makeup chair. First, I noticed that my own mascara had headed south like a pack of ducks for winter. Second, I picked up on the fact that all the Josie Maran makeup artists had dewy, glowing skin. And by picked up, I mean hit in the face like a lighthouse beacon. These ladies had a glow, and I wanted it yesterday.

The secret to this glow? According to Josie Maran Cosmetics, it is their Argan Oil. Otherwise known as Moroccan Oil, this is Josie Maran’s organic take on an ancient product out of Morocco that has been used for centuries and was sold in Moroccan markets even before the Phoenicians arrived. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it contains emollients that are excellent moisturizers for your hair and your skin.

But does it work? Filled with hope that this product would be the cure-all for dry skin, I slathered up my face and lips. I have chronically chapped lips that no lip balm has been able to cure, so I had high hopes that said Argan Oil would accomplish the impossible. I found that the Argan Oil absorbs quickly and that it is best to treat it like a cold cream. It is highly moisturizing and yes, I give it mad props as an excellent solution to dry skin. Did it cure my chapped chopper covers? Sorta. After applying, they would remain moisturized for a while, but would require touch ups.

Argan Oil also claims to be great for hair. Frankly, I have hair strands so fine that a light conditioner makes it look and act like a paper weight. So I asked those with thicker, richer locks to share their experience. As luck would have it, EcoSalon’s Editor-in-Chief Sara Ost is a user of the product – not Argan Oil, but MorrocanOil – similar, just not organic, MoroccanOil is cruelty-free and uses recycling in their packaging. As Sara told me, “I actually just started using MorrocanOil because it was on sale at Nordstrom Rack. Yes, so green, I know! I bought it because I was excited to see something green at a box store, and it’s normally ridiculously expensive. It took a few times to get the amount right – I had some uber grease streaks going on the first day – but now it’s my favorite hair product. Tames the frizz and defines the curls without being crunchy. In fact, there’s no ‘product feel’ to my hair at all.”

Don’t want to invest in the $48 Josie Maran Argan Oil or $39 for MorrocanOil? Organic olive oil will get you similar results on your skin, hair and nails. But be forewarned – I went through a brief spat of being saturated in olive oil a few weeks back. Yes, my skin was hydrated, but it took forever to absorb. I was leaving more oil slicks behind me than a tanker in Prince William Sound. (Yes, there are more topical references, but I’m not going there just quite yet.) You can easily use olive oil for skin hydration, but just be careful sitting down or brushing up against any unfortunate furry friend in the meantime.

FTC Compliance

The fall shows are over and though we won’t see those collections in stores until the end of summer, we still need to start busying ourselves with the tasks at hand.

As eco-fashionistas looking to reuse and recycle to maximize our wardrobe’s potential, now is the time to get a jump start on incorporating the trends that will flatter an independent sense of style.

Designs shown at this year’s Green Shows prove producing clothes sustainably and ethically is no longer a style compromise for contemporary eco-designers. But, with the economy seemingly teetering on a pair of cheaply-produced heels, be extra-discerning with your remaining clothing budget. Thanks to vintage, thrift and consignment stores, rounding out your eco-designs with a few second-hand finds is a thrifty and environmentally sound solution.

Happily, the 2010 trends lend themselves beautifully to the creative urban rummager. Ranging from menswear for women to layers and decorative patchwork (yes patchwork) here are some of next seasons most easy-to-green trends:

Marc Jacobs fall 2010, Courtesy of Elle

Menswear: Borrowing from the boys has been an enduring theme. Beyond the vest, the boyfriend jacket is still a strong option because it so effectively pulls together a diaphanous spring look when slung over the top. While in the menswear section, keep your eyes open for a velvet dinner jacket. Fall’s velvet crush is most flattering as a tailored piece but the fabric is really everywhere.

Mothlove, fall 2010

Layering: Working equally well Spring or Fall, were a profusion of looks anchored by the presence of tissue-thin knit turtlenecks. You can utilize this layering piece to take existing items from the specific to the seasonless. Create a neutral background you can contrast with the pop of a colorful, revealing, or avant-garde piece on top.

This look played out with many designers showing dresses over trousers and, more daringly, socks with sandals. While a great excuse to unbox last years summer shoes early, it requires paying close attention to the subtleties; ensure sandals are chunkier than the socks. For the most leg lengthening effect, wear nude colored socks. Alternately, replicate the rock and roll effect of the bootie trend by matching socks with the color of the shoe.

Trenches Reworked: In uncertain times we often look to the classics for reassurance. This take on the trench has a decided twist though. Appearing cropped and swingy at the waist, reworked as vests, or simply cinched with a contrasting dress belt, there are many options for remaking a cast-off trench coat. For the uninitiated sewer, your tailor can help.

Chloe fall 2010, courtesy of Elle

Patchwork: A rustic look that’s not for the sartorially faint-hearted! Just ask the Partridge Family! Patchwork, as a decorative motif, has returned in outerwear and across denim lines. If you’ve ever fancied yourself beginning a sewing project, this is the season to get out the bag of scraps.

Of course, the point here is fashion is meant to be fun! If all this is starting to sound like hard work, don’t worry. One catwalk trend is low effort and entirely democratic; apply a swash of vibrant red lipstick and sport it like the models, with minimal make-up. Try a natural, paraban-free variety such as RMS beauty’s Lip2Cheek: Rapture or Josie Maran’s sheer-red shade, Devious. Both in recyclable packaging no less!

Top photo Burberry fall 2010, courtesy of Elle

I am not Ultimate Eye Shadow Girl.

You know who I’m talking about – the girl who applies awesome eye shadow with such ease and flair that she must be a secret- agent-supermodel who can disarm a bomb from memory and never, ever trip in her high heels. She always has artfully applied eye shadow, and she always looks amazing and not the least bit clownish in it.

I have always wanted to be Ultimate Eye Shadow Girl. And it looks like this might be the year it actually happens.

This season, the trends in eye shadow are all about subtle, smoky eyes combined with neutral lips. (Or bright, berry lips combined with a neutral eye.) Forest colors are big, including lots of dark green, browns, plums, mauves and berries. And it is all about blending dark and light contrasts, or layering sheers over muted darks.

Here’s how to ace the eyes:

Start with the lighter color over brow. Blend in darker colors, but keep it below the crease. You can even add texture with a metallic blend or bright champagne color. You can also blend browns with a shimmery green or blue, which can reflect when the light hits it. Don’t forget to choose lighter eyeliner to enhance the smoky eye look.

And most importantly, what organic products to use? I sampled some of the top-rated eco-friendly eye shadows out there.

First, consider the eye shadows from Lavera Naturkosmetik. Their eye shadows contain organic hydrating vegan organic calendula and jojoba. The dual combination of Sand and Mocca is a good bet for shimmery earth tones. These products are certified by BDIH of Germany, free from parabens, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, emulsifiers and petroleum-based ingredients. They also contain  pure, organic plant oils, herb and flower extracts. However, they do contain talc, which in some studies has proven controversial.

NVEY ECO eye shadows offer up dark greens, silvers, deep purples and browns. They contain organic chamomile and vitamins A, C, and E. Further, they are free of talc, parabens, and preservatives. NVEY ECO contains no petroleum-based ingredients, propylene glycol, SLSs or genetically modified crops. And ,they are certified organic by the Australian government.

Josie Maran Cosmetics keeps up the season’s trends with some cool, smoky colors. (See? Everyone is all about smoky this season.) Their current line is extremely rich – Chianti is some of the richest bronze out of all the lines. Smoke and Maple also keep up the dusky trends. Josie Maran Cosmetics combines organic and mineral-based ingredients. They are free of parabens, fragrance, and petrochemicals.

Image: Mark Sebastian

Rachel Avalon, 2009 Project Green Search winner

Have you followed the progress of Project Green Search? It’s a recent contest that closed recently with winner, Rachel Avalon, being “crowned.”

Aysia Wright of Greenloop and Remy Chevalier of Lu Magazine, who co-hosted the event, say Greenloop’s education, outreach and fund raising arm naturally evolved into Project Green Search, a platform aimed at inspiring people to start thinking about how to align their careers with their environmental ethics.

Wright saw this inspiration as opportunity to reshape a particular  economic landscape, to support progressive, triple bottom line business models, media projects and non-profit organizations seeking to move forward in the realm of sustainable living.

In the case of Avalon, Wright admits she’s beautiful, but much more than just a fresh face.

“People relate to other people, especially people who tell a good story, who are accessible and authentic,” says Wright. “For many companies, non-profits, and media projects, telling their story in a compelling manner is a huge challenge. With the right person, this monumental task is so much easier.  It’s usually pretty clear when a cause is only skin deep to the person relating it, which affects its ability to take root and grow. When the right person tells the story though, a person who lives and breathes the story themselves, you can see it and feel it, and it resonates. ”

Wright says that is her goal with Project Green Search: to educate, inspire, make the connections and serve as the platform where all of this can take place.

Chevalier agrees, but has his own spin.

“Models and actors in ads or commercials need to believe in what they’re selling, so they’re not just doing it for the paycheck, prostituting their image to pay the rent,” Chevalier says. “We want to create an environment where that can happen, grow and expand, so as to transform the entire industry, which has always been led by where the next ‘it’ girl wanted to be.”

Based on Chevalier’s remark about transforming the idea of what a model is or represents for a brand or even for our culture is massive, especially when you’re standing out for the eco-world. There’s a lot more to be hold accountable for.

Avalon has a lot of weight on her shoulders now, and I’m not talking about the Swarovski crystal-embedded crown. What makes her the green girl to stand tall?

I  asked all the Project Green Search judges one question: Was your choice to crown Rachel Avalon as the next green “it” girl based more on her being a fresh face or for her ease in being an advocate for all that is green and good?

Here’s what they had to say.

Darren Moore, Alter Eco Co- host on Discovery’s  Planet Green and Ecovations Founder:

“The reason Rachel Avalon was chosen as the next green girl was because all the judges considered her to be in the top two of their list. For me, Rachel represented the qualities we agreed were most important as judges:

1. History of work in the field
2. Relateable to the masses (look included)
3. Knowledge of green priorities (what’s most important)

This was a challenge to choose because each of the contestants had strong points with unique talents, skills and looks that were difficult to place in comparison with each other. This being the first competition, we had to devise our own criteria and all of us judges had a opinions on who they thought was the best public figure. We were essentially deciding on who we felt would be the choice of the people.”

Deborah Lindquist, Eco-fashion designer combining environmental responsibility with cutting-edge aesthetics:

“I suppose a bit of both. We needed to pick a girl who was commercially viable as a model but who also could speak well and was knowledgeable about the green lifestyle.”

Anna Griffin, Editor-in-Chief of CocoEco Magazine:

“My main criteria in choosing the Project Green ‘It’ Girl was to find a fresh face that was accessible to both big brands and the general public, who could also walk her talk in our green space, was passionate and had super integrity. In order to make green a mainstream conversation, it is imperative we start considering what is commercially viable, and build bridges between our industry, large brands and the general public.  Rachel has the ability to transcend each area, and has all the qualities needed to be that spokesperson.”

Starre Vartan, author of The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green and publisher of Eco Chick:

“I chose Rachel Avalon for three particular reasons: she has an amazing face that telegraphs natural beauty, she is graceful, well-spoken and easy on camera, and most of all, her passion for a greener planet is contagious and genuine. After interviewing Rachel, and speaking with her both formally and informally, her love for the planet was palpable, like something that spread from her and infected everyone around her. That is the quality I was hoping to find and several of our contestants were incredibly dedicated to various environmental causes, but Rachel Avalon’s love for the Earth is like a living thing and as we all know, Mother Nature needs representatives who can communicate both the challenges and the joys of going green.”

Josie Maran, Professional model and founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics:

“Rachel is our ‘It’ girl because she is fresh faced and a great advocate and spokesperson for all that’s good. She’s beautiful inside and out!”

Green girl Josie Maran has modeled for Glamour and Sports Illustrated and she’s appeared in films like The Aviator and Van Helsing. Now she’s an eco-entrepreneur whose eponymous cosmetic line is one of the best on the market.

What qualifies a model-actress to start her own makeup line? Models and actresses look fresh faced and makeup free for one reason – they are experts at applying makeup.

As Maran puts it, “When I began to land jobs, I discovered what a lot of girls already know: the power of makeup. I saw that a little could go a long way.”

After spending hundreds of hours in the makeup chair, she realized she was uniquely experienced to design her own line of healthy, natural cosmetics. And Josie Maran Cosmetics was born.

Recently, Maran shared some of her product and beauty tips from her fall line, exclusively for EcoSalon readers. Here’s what she had to say:

EcoSalon: A typical green girl might love makeup, but not love looking like she’s caked with it. What are your best tips for a natural look?

Josie Maran: You can achieve a natural look by using tinted day-cream instead of heavy foundation. Then, go in with a concealer to cover blemishes. For small areas use a pointy brush. This way you can place the concealer where it’s really needed.

Fall is here, bringing with it cooling temperatures and fading tans. What’s your best tip for transitioning our skin from the summer sun?

Smooth lips and hydrated skin are the ultimate foundation. Start your fall beauty routine with targeted moisture. This fall, balms are making a big comeback and my Argan Moisturizing Stick smooths chapped lips and hydrates dry, peeling skin. It targets areas that need moisture most, providing a smooth canvas to work with! And there are other fantastic balms to consider: Jurlique Love Balm and Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil.

What are the best eye shadow colors you recommend for fall? And more importantly, what are your tips for applying it?

This fall is all about a neutral color palette. Create a natural smoky eye with my favorite earthy shades (for this look think: soft brown, not harsh black). Start by sweeping a muted, light brown shade all over the lid. I love the Maple shade in my line of eye shadows.

Then blend a darker, smokier brown into the crease for a dramatic effect. Try my Eye Shadow in Smoke, or my personal favorite Chianti – it’s a rich brownish plum, perfect for fall Smudge a brown eye liner along the lashes to get the smoky effect. Finish the look with brown mascara.

Lastly, what do you recommend for lips?

Red lips, naturally! Red lips have been a huge hit on the runways. I wear mine naturally with paraben-free lipstick in Desirous and shine it up with Joie De Vivre lip gloss.

Josie Maran Cosmetics is made up of a 70-piece line for eyes, lips, cheeks, skin and more. It’s free of parabens, toxins and petrochemicals, and it contains a large percentage of natural and organic ingredients. The product line is available online, at Barneys in New York City and at Vert in Venice, CA. You can also find products at various Sephoras around the country.

Some of us like to wear makeup. And some of us like to wear makeup that doesn’t feel like makeup, especially the kind of makeup that gives you the “raccoon eyes after a night of crying at various sad pet movies” look. For example, I recently made the mistake of applying mascara and then watching Marley and Me. I looked like a cross between The Joker and Marilyn Manson when it was all over. Not so pretty!

And so, running mascara is one of my greatest fears. (You know, next to nuclear war and the end of cupcakes.) Why? My lineage is Whitey McWhite, so my un-mascara-ed eyelashes resemble something you might see on the Invisible Woman. I’m forced to wear it, and it almost always ends up running. The only brands that seem to actually stay on said eyelashes seem to be from the old-school makers like Maybelline. And who wants to put parabens and synthetic dyes on our eyelashes?

We tested some of the top organic and natural mascaras out there. And, neatly ranked from favorite to not-so-much, here’s what we found:

Mascara by Josie Maran

This is a fantastic mascara that darkens, lengthens and simply gets the job done. It doesn’t clump and it goes on smoothly. And best of all, it withstood the ultimate test: while wearing it, I watched the end of yet another pet tear-jerker My Dog Skip. (Have you seen this movie? Rent it immediately with plenty of recycled tissues.) My one beef with this product is that it is harder than others to remove. But just keep the organic make-up remover handy and you are fine. It isn’t 100% organic and does contain iron oxides, but the product is completely natural, being free of parabens and fragrance, plus it contains organic ingredients like jojoba oil, argan oil and beeswax.

Volume Mascara by Lavera

This product provides great coverage, length and color. And it makes some of us look like we actually have eyelashes! It doesn’t clump and it goes on smoothly. The only downside is that it runs after a few hours – but then, most mascaras do. This product is also not 100% organic, but it is completely natural. It is made with extracts of organic jojoba and wild rose oils and is free of paraben and heavy metals. It rinses off with a mild cleanser and is vegan-approved, too!

Lash Masque by Lamas

This product is not a mascara, but a “unique formula [that] darkens lashes with non-irritating color from all natural ingredients without the harsh chemicals that cause premature breakage and irritation.” Great. But does it work? Well, I was a little slow on the uptake in realizing this wasn’t a mascara, and so I walked around wearing it as such. It does darken your lashes and it does stay on. In fact, it is a good choice if you just want subtle color as it sort of acts like “mousse” for your eyelashes. It claims to be “a perfect choice for natural looking lash definition during the day.” And I would have to agree with that.  This product is paraben free and formulated with organic botanicals.

Organic Mascara by Nvey

Nvey of the fantastic, best-on-the-market-organic lipsticks doesn’t quite hit the mark with their mascara. It takes several applications to go on. Thinking I had a dry tube, I emailed the company. According to the friendly Nvey rep, “our mascara is definitely a drier formula than many of the chemically based mascaras and natural mascaras on the market. However, the pigment actually instant adheres better to the lashes without a drier effect to the actual lashes, but rather a moisturizing and conditioning formula to lengthen and strengthen the lashes.” Lesson learned: if you have thin lashes like mine, this is not the product for you. But I had a thicker-lashed friend try it out, and she liked it. So there you go. This product is free of parabens, propylene glycol and sodium laureth sulfate. It contains nettle, horsetail herb and vitamin B5.

Main image: partycja