The 10 Best Clean Mascaras On the Market for Healthy, Gorgeous Lashes
Odds are, you've heard the term "clean beauty" pop up more and more in the past year or two, but it definitely should not be lumped in as a passing trend or gimmick. Clean beauty is merely about paying attention to what's inside the beauty products that we slather on our skin daily. Really, it's never a bad idea to be mindful about any and every beauty product you're using, including mascara.
Just think: If you apply mascara every single day, whether you're a flutter fanatic or prefer something subtle, you're exposing your eyes to product, of which you might know nothing about. Considering the eyes are one of the most sensitive areas on your body, that can be concerning. This is where clean mascaras come in.
Clean and natural mascaras often omit questionable ingredients—like formaldehyde, parabens, 1,4-dioxane (a carcinogen used to make your lashes look glossy), synthetic dyes, and more—that are toxic or that can irritate your skin. And luckily, there are a lot of great clean mascaras out there that don't make you sacrifice. Instead, get all of your favorite length, volume, and curl without the icky ingredients. (Each brand has a different definition of clean, so always look on the ingredient list.)
If you're in the market to experiment with more clean beauty products in 2022, here are 10 of the best clean mascaras on the market to invest in now.
ILIA Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara
Anyone familiar with clean mascara—and even those who aren't—can't get enough of this naturally enhanced mascara that gives one enviable set of lashes. It features a unique brush—the brand tested more than 100 different designs—with curled, short bristles on one side (which are great for mega-volume) and long, straight ones on the other (which are ideal for lengthening and separating).
Shop It: $28; amazon.com
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Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer
Shoppers hail this affordable drugstore option as the best of the best. Beyond a good-for-you natural formula, this tube works as a two-for one with two brushes (one on each end). One swipes on a nourishing primer, while the other finishes with a lash-lifting high-definition mascara. Besides, we've always thought two brushes are better than one.
Shop It: $16.99; amazon.com
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Kosas The Big Clean Volumizing + Lash Care Mascara
The name says it all. This cult-fave clean brand came in hot with a mascara made to give fat, fluffy lashes without any harmful ingredients. (It's also cruelty-free, gluten-free, and comes in recyclable packaging.) The real star here is the big rainbow-shaped brush that has spiraled bristles to ensure every lash is volumized, lengthened, and curled.
Shop It: $26; sephora.com
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CoverGirl Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara
Everyone's favorite drugstore mascara with a fat brush for volume and compelling price point is back with a clean formula that's free of parabens, sulfates, talc, and mineral oil. It's also infused with argan and marula oils to condition and nurture lash health and growth.
Shop It: $7.99; amazon.com
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Bite Beauty Upswing Full Volume Mascara
We've always been big fans of an hourglass-shaped brush, because it's the best for making eyes seem more awake and doe-eyed. (That's a result from the brush shape applying more product to the inner and outer corners.) Made with vegan tree berry wax, this intense black mascara is able to give lashes an instant and buildable boost. So if you want supersized lashes, this is the one that gets double takes.
Shop It: $28; sephora.com
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Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara
Another favorite drugstore find that won't irritate super sensitive eyes, this 100% natural mascara is perfect for those who prefer a look that says, "your lashes but better." It's simple, wholesome, and comes packed with jojoba oil and glycerin to nourish lashes with every use.
Shop It: $12.99; amazon.com
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Beautycounter Volumizing Mascara
Beautycounter was one of the first brands to really define and excel at clean beauty. In fact, it bans more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals from their products. (Over 1,400 of those ingredients are not banned in the United States. We know, spooky.) The brand boasts two super reliable and highly pigmented mascaras, including this volumizing option, as well as a lengthening option.
Shop It: $29; beautycounter.com
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W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Pro Mascara
This tube practically takes clean, natural, and eco-friendly to a whole new level, thanks to a non-toxic formula that's also made using sustainable energy. The mascara itself offers different levels of lash power, which can be credited to a rubber brush that helps keep the product from clumping as you layer on as many coats as desired. Apply one coat for subtle and three coats for bold.
Shop It: $19; ulta.com
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Pacifica Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mascara
This natural mineral mascara works to give your lashes a boost of health, which comes with lovely side effects like longer, softer, and thicker lashes. It's infused with coconut oil and vitamin B for epic hydration, and the super plush vegan brush allows you to build up volume easily.
Shop It: $14; ulta.com
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Tarte SEA Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara
You won't get a better instant curl than with this newer vegan mascara from eco-smart brand Tarte. Great for those who are always on the go, it boasts a sweat-proof, flake-free, and smudge-proof formula with plant waxes, algae, and vitamin E that help to strengthen your lashes.
Shop It: $23; sephora.com