As I’ve discovered, finding a good natural mascara isn’t easy. So many mascara formulas are packed with chemicals, and the natural ones don’t always perform well. I’ve tried a few brands in the past that either gave me raccoon eyes after an hour or barely made my lashes look any different than when they’re makeup-free.
For years, I used Aveda Mosscara, which – while a good step up from drugstore brands – does contain parabens, something I’m trying to get away from as much as possible. So, I was happy to try out something new: Dr. Hauschka Volumizing Mascara, which does not contain parabens, petrochemicals, paraffin, silicone, synthetic fragrances or colors and is also free of ethoxylated ingredients, GMOs and preservatives (whew!).
I chose ‘Aubergine’, a lovely deep purple shade that complements my green eyes perfectly. I found this mascara to be exactly what I was looking for – it made my lashes soft, long and full without looking fake. It’s not clumpy at all, and feels really light on the lashes (I hate that heavy, goopy feeling you get with some mascaras!) It lasts all day long without flaking, but is really easy to remove.
Another big plus – I accidentally got a big glob of it in my eye when I sneezed while applying it one day, and it surprisingly didn’t irritate my eye at all! I rinsed it out without feeling like I’d just come close to blinding myself – try that with Maybelline.
Get more info on Dr. Hauschka Volumizing Mascara, or check out the brand’s other mascara formulation, Dr. Hauschka Mascara Intermezzo, which gives lashes extra length.
This mascara sounds great… all but the “no preservatives” bit…
In my experienced (and educated) opinion, since the first ingredient is water, a preservative is absolutely NECESSARY, especially since we’re dealing with the eye area. Water breeds bacteria, period, and since one would be utilizing the brush and then replacing it in the container after it has been exposed to microbes in the air and on the lashes, and possibly a finger, tissue, or other surface, it is most certainly contaminated.
The eyes become infected very easily and that is part of why it is reinforced so adamantly throughout the industry to throw away a tube after 3 months (and those are preserved tubes)! One might think that b/c we’re discussing a large, famous brand that these circumstances couldn’t apply here, but that simply is not true. Dr. Hauschka has either released a dangerous product (one that could cause a potentially fatal infection) or has not disclosed all of the ingredients, including a preservative, and deceiving consumers.
I normally like Dr. Hauschka very much, so this is not a personal issue with the brand–rather concern for safety.
If $23.00 per WEEK fits into your budget, by all means, continue to use this product and replace weekly to avoid the above-described micro-bacteria infestation! =) Otherwise, you may want to go back to Aveda… better yet, try ecco bella and support a more honest company! http://www.eccobella.com/produ.....ucts_id=51
07/14/08 » 8:54 pm »
This is in response to Cassidy’s comment. You are right that since water is its first ingredient, it definitely needs preservation of some sort. Upon reading further, the product details page actually says “No Artificial Preservative.” This does not mean no preservative. There are plenty of natural preservatives out there. Some plant and essential oils, herbal extracts and vitamins are natural preservatives. Packaging in tubes and pump bottles also helps in the preservation of a product, as does the use of the purest ingredients.
Just a thought
07/24/08 » 8:33 pm »
Cassidy is obviously not familiar with all of the ingredients in the aforementioned mascara. Considering there are two major natural bactericides/fungicides in it – Neem and Castor oils, I would not even go any further as to see whether there are more preservatives in it. Neem has been used for centuries as an anti-bacterial/antifungal and even as an insecticide (it is a very effective natural treatment for lice and flees). It is also used for treating bacterial and even viral infections on the skin. Castor oil is another amazing anti-fungal ingredient, which has been used in India for a very long time as a base for Kajal-like eye make-up (the oil was burnt – which made it black) – it is a wonderful way of ensuring that the bacteria and fungi are killed on and around the eye lashes. In fact, I’ve personally seen great results with castor oil in people with blephtaritis (a nasty condition, which is normally caused by several of factors, the result of which is generally that a fungi that normally lives on the scalp, starts to grow out of control, causing irritation and excessive dandruff, gets onto the eyebrows and later in the skin around eye lashes – it spreads through the dandruff flakes, and also obviously through microscopic spores and contact of the hand with the scalp and then the eye area; once it reaches the eyes and starts breeding there it causes itchiness, flakes, redness, stickiness, etc. — the condition then may be diagnosed as blephtaritis). A conventional approach to resolving this is antibiotics, which are generally not effective, since the condition is caused by a fungi – not bacteria, furthermore – the patients are advised to bath the eyes in medicated shampoos – which, you can imagine, is VERY irritating to the eyes and makes the area around and the eyes more susceptible to infection, as the delicate skin in-between eye lashes is being aggravated by the shampoo. This is why castor oil is so uniquely brilliant for this condition, when its primary cause is fungus – a nightly application for several days only clears the major infection, however, for full recovery one would have to addressthe fungi in the eye brows and especially the scalp, plus to get to the route cause and eliminate it completely, the PHJ of the body in general and the scalp in particular has to be addressed – as the fungus cannot breed successfully on the scalp in excess, when the conditions (PH of the skin) is not overly acidic – there are ways to deal with the body PH, of course, but this is material for another post. What I am trying to illustrate here is just how strong castor oil is as a non-irritating, natural an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compound. Upon closer examination of other ingredients, Dr. H’s mascara also has 2 types of alcohol in it – which kills bacteria and is a natural (depending on the type of alcohol, of course, but in this case, if I’m not mistaken, it’s wheat-brewed) preservative and disinfectant. If you are not convinced and can’t be bothered to check it out online or int the local library, think of the surgeons cleaning their hands with alcohol (medical spirit).
09/05/08 » 3:32 pm »
I have had a tumor removed from my lower eyelid, 75% of it removed, because of the toxins in chemicals I have been using all my life. My MOm worked for Revlon putting toxic chemicals on women across the US for 20 years. She died of cancer at age 56. I was doused with these chemicals. I found out about them about 10 years ago and sought out products without the harmful chemicals. I found a 20 year old company, Neways, that has been manufacturing safe and green products for over 20 years. I have no problems with the Neways True Touch Cosmetic line, I wear eyeliner and mascara, no problems, no running, no smearing and stay on all day.
http://www.ineways.com/positivehealthyliving
10/26/08 » 7:43 pm »
I am thankful (on this Thanksgiving Day) I discovered this website and these comments. I realize I must throw out every bit of old makeup I have and begin again with products that are safe and gentle for me to use.
11/27/08 » 3:09 pm »