The 10 Best Sustainable Mascaras to Try in 2025
Mascara is a staple in beauty routines worldwide, making it one of the most popular cosmetic products.
While many have their go-to favorites, it’s worth pausing to consider what actually goes into your mascara.
Since it’s applied so close to your eyes, choosing a formula with clean, natural ingredients is essential—not just for your skin and lashes, but for the planet as well.
With millions of mascara tubes discarded every year, choosing an environmentally conscious brand can make a real difference.
The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice volume, length, or performance to find an eco-friendly mascara.
There are plenty of brands that prioritize sustainability and ingredient integrity while delivering the dramatic lash effects you love.
Here’s a comprehensive list to help you find your next favorite eco-friendly mascara.
Why Choose Natural, Eco-Friendly Mascara?
Traditional mascaras often contain hormone disruptors (endocrine disruptors) and other questionable ingredients, thanks to loose regulations in the cosmetics industry.
These chemicals can interfere with your body’s natural hormone processes and may accumulate in sensitive tissues.
Beyond personal health, harsh ingredients and non-recyclable packaging can have a negative impact on the environment.
Benefits of natural and eco-friendly mascaras include:
Gentler formulas, ideal for sensitive eyes and skin
Nourishing ingredients like plant oils, waxes, and vitamins that condition and strengthen lashes
Reduced risk of irritation or allergic reactions
Lower environmental impact through biodegradable, recyclable, or refillable packaging
Absence of synthetic dyes, parabens, and microplastics
What Makes Mascara Sustainable?
A truly sustainable mascara goes beyond just clean ingredients. Look for brands that emphasize:
Ethically sourced, natural, or organic ingredients
Refillable, recyclable, or plastic-free packaging
Carbon-neutral shipping and responsible production practices
Certifications like Made-safe, cruelty-free, or USDA organic
Not every brand will check every box, but the best sustainable mascaras combine high performance with a commitment to health and the planet.
Certification Table for Mascara Products
Top 10 List of Sustainable Mascara Brands
It may take a bit of trial and error to find the best eco-friendly mascara with natural ingredients, but we’ll make it easier for you by highlighting the best (and worst) attributes of each, along with why the brand makes it for sustainability.
Hopefully you’ll land on one you love!
1. Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
Amazon Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (5,976 ratings)
Price: $24.99/pack of 1
We’re starting strong with Ilia’s award-winning, eco-friendly Limitless Lash Mascara.
They created a patented brush, with one side for curling and the other for lengthening (a unique solution to a widespread dilemma if you ask me!).
This mascara is known to work well for sensitive eyes, and they hit all the marks when it comes to finding a natural ingredient mascara.
Why it’s sustainable:
Natural ingredients including Arginine, Biotin, shea butter, and ethically-sourced beeswax
Cruelty-free and ophthalmologist-tested formula
Pros: Smudge-proof, lengthening and curling capability, great for sensitive eyes, nourishing
Cons: Packaging isn’t fully plastic-free, could improve sustainability impact
2. Saie Mascara 101
Amazon Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 (238 ratings)
Price: $26.00/pack of 1
Saie Mascara 101 is quickly growing in popularity as a clean mascara that checks every box by providing lift without flaking or smudging while using clean ingredients.
The sustainable mascara has even caught the attention of wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow, who has supported the brand with endorsement and funding.
Why it’s sustainable:
Recyclable packing (tube, rod, and cap)
Clean ingredients including beeswax, shea butter, and quick grass
Certifications including Climate Neutral, Certified Plastic Negative, and 1% for the Planet
Pros: Inky formula that doesn’t flake or smudge, nourishing benefits, high-quality
Cons: Questionable if all ingredients are natural, higher cost
3. Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara
Amazon Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (727 ratings)
Price: $20.00/pack of 1
Another safe choice for sensitive eyes is Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara, which is a renowned sustainable mascara.
The short, curved wand is designed to get even the tiniest lashes while enhancing curl.
For the women who prefer to go natural, this mascara achieves a subtle look that follows a sustainable goal.
Why it’s sustainable:
Vegan, cruelty-free formula
No fragrance, parabens, or microplastics
Pros: Humidity-proof, smudge-free, ideal for sensitive eyes
Cons: Natural look (skips on the dramatic volume)
4. Fitglow Vegan Good Lash+ Mascara
Amazon Rating: 3.8 out of 5.0 (68 ratings)
Price: $28.50/pack of 1
Next, we have Fitglow’s Vegan Good Lash+ Mascara, which is a unique mascara and lash conditioning serum combo, made to amplify volume, length, and strength.
The blend of collagen, plant extracts, and proteins help build stronger, healthier lashes.
This mascara focuses on the benefits that natural ingredients can offer.
Why it’s sustainable:
Vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and silicone-free formula
Made with botanical proteins and vegetable collagen
Pros: 2-in-1 mascara and serum, nourishes lashes while lifting and volumizing
Cons: Potential clumping and smudging, could offer more sustainable features
5. RMS Beauty Straight Up Volumizing Peptide Mascara
Amazon Rating: 4.1 out of 5.0 (167 ratings)
Price: $29.00/ pack of 1
As an ophthalmologist-tested mascara that offers lift, length, and fullness, RMS’s Beauty Straight Up Volumizing Peptide Mascara promises great results.
Their formula consists of peptides to support lash growth and is certifiability organic.
For those looking for extra length while staying sustainable, this may be the mascara to try.
Why it’s sustainable:
Clean, natural ingredients with peptides that strengthen lashes
Uses organic ingredients including shea butter, candelilla wax, and white tea leaf extract
Pros: Bold volume, goes on smoothly, nourishing, pro-peptides to help strengthen lashes
Cons: Can clump if layered too heavily, on the pricier side
6. GenSee Spectator Sport Mascara
Amazon rating: N/A
Price: $26.00
GenSee’s Spectator Sport Mascara is made for all the athletes out there.
As one of the first truly waterproof mascaras on this list, this renewable and recyclable mascara can make it through the intense workouts and outdoor activities.
The formula is powdery, but it works the same as any other mascara.
Why it’s sustainable:
Clean, vegan, cruelty-free ingredients including panthenol, plant-based fibers
Ophthalmologist-tested
91% natural origin
Recyclable and renewable in 1 year
26% biobased materials (negative carbon footprint)
Pros: Lightweight packaging, performance-focused, waterproof, easy removal
Cons: Less dramatic, less effect than other mascaras
7. Dirty Hippie Volumizing Mascara
Amazon Rating: N/A
Price: $39.00
As you may tell from the name, this is a unique one.
Dirty Hippie’s Volumizing Mascara comes with an interesting backstory of the owner growing/sourcing most of her ingredients from her own land in Australia or from her eco-community.
As someone with a “every-step-counts” perspective, she runs a highly clean, ethical, and sustainable plastic-free mascara brand.
Why it’s sustainable:
Handmade in small batches using locally-sourced ingredients
Compostable bamboo tube, reusable glass container, zero preservatives
Zero-waste mascara packaging (reusable and refillable
Pros: Extremely environmentally-friendly, thickening, lavender-scented and flake-free
Cons: Short 4-month shelf life, not waterproof, slightly less convenient
8. Zerra & Co. Zero Waste Mascara
Amazon Rating: N/A
Price: $23.99
Another highly eco-concious brand, Zerra & Co.’s Zero Waste Mascara is a zero-waste mascara alternative that features a glass vial and bamboo lid.
With natural, vegan ingredients and a refillable mascara tube, the product serves a sustainable goal for both the user and environment.
Why it’s sustainable:
Environmentally-friendly make-up (glass vial, bamboo lid, and metal components)
85% less plastic
Vegan, natural formula
Refillable mascara with return program for sanitization
Pros: Waste-free, vegan and natural formula, refillable, affordable
Cons: Brush consistency varies, drying time is slightly longer
9. ZAO Organic Refillable Mascara
Amazon Rating: N/A
Price: N/A
ZAO’s refillable mascara is one you don’t want to miss if you’re aiming for a highly organic, all-natural, and sustainable mascara brand.
With several shades available, you can choose your effect from options that are all of 100% natural origin.
The mascaras feature ingredients including castor oil, aloe vera, argan oil, acacia gum, and lime blossom extract.
Why it’s sustainable:
Certified organic and vegan
100% natural formula with silicone or nylon brushes
Stylish bamboo tube with refillable inner cartridge
Pros: Refillable, nourishing and gentle on the lashes, multiple options, natural origin and ingredients
Cons: Refills are harder to find in some markets/locations, less convenient than standard mascara
10 . Bésame Cake Mascara
Amazon Rating: N/A
Price: $25.00
As our last, and possibly most interesting and unique product, Bésame’s Cake Mascara is a 3-in-1 activated cake (or block) that acts as mascara, eye liner, and brow fill.
The plastic-free mascara is made with only 7 ingredients and designed for sensitive eyes.
If you don’t mind the difference in design, it may save some room in the makeup drawer with the 3-in-1 capability.
Why it’s sustainable:
100% plastic-free mascara
7 clean ingredients
Decades-long longevity (one tin can last for years)
Pros: Long-lasting, versatile (mascara, brow, eyeliner), plastic-free
Cons: Takes practice to use, water-activated is slower than using a tube, less convenient
Finding Your Perfect Eco-Friendly Mascara
Each mascara on this list is a standout for its clean ingredients, sustainable packaging, and ethical production.
Your ideal choice depends on your priorities—whether you want all-natural formulas (like Dirty Hippie or ZAO), maximum convenience (Ilia or Tower28), or a balance of both.
No matter your preference, choosing a sustainable mascara means making a positive impact on both your beauty routine and the environment.
Enjoy discovering your new favorite eco-friendly mascara!
Blog references:
https://gurlgonegreen.com/2022/01/06/natural-mascara/
https://www.holisticfoodie.com/blog-posts/best-natural-mascara