A while ago we received an email from a reader asking us for recommendations for mascara without phenoxyethanol preservative, having found this ingredient in a number of high street options, such as those by the Body Shop and Lush, and needing to avoid it due to allergy.
We looked into it a little and came up with a small suggested list, which we’ll share with you as we did with her, in case you’re looking for the same thing, and which we’ll add to in time. Here they are:
Green People offer both a black and a brown volumizing mascara, which are preserved using benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid. They are gluten free, EcoCert certified, and vegetarian (but not vegan, as they contain beeswax). Find them here (UK).
If you’re looking for an ultra-natural option, then consider 100% Pure‘s Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara or their Maracuja Mascara, both of which you can find here (international link). The first of these may well be a good choice if you’re nickel sensitive too, as it doesn’t contain any iron oxides / minerals, which sometimes contain trace nickel that those allergic to it may react to.
Inika Organic offer a number of vegan mascaras, such as Long Lash Vegan Mascara and Bold Lash Vegan Mascara, in brown and blue as well as black, which you can find here (UK) and here (US).
Ilia‘s Fullest Volumizing Mascara is this natural brand’s newest launch, and it is safely phenoxyethanol free. Describes itself as a smudge-free, flake-free formula. Find it here (US).
Phenoxyethanol-free brand NATorigin‘s Lengthening Mascara is a previous Bronze medal winner in the Free From Skincare Awards — it’s a high-tolerance and hypoallergenic product, with multiple free-from credentials. Find it here (UK).
Jane Iredale‘s Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara is a previous Gold winner of the Free From Skincare Awards, and is available in Black Ice and Espresso. Both contain beeswax, but are naturally preserved. They contain good, rarely reactive ingredients. Find them here (UK) and here (US).
If readers can recommend any others, please do drop us a line!