Posted by Laura Steele
Hey Beauties,
Let's talk about the one product we all reach for on the way out the door, usually in the car or at a red light, shhhh we won't tell. Yes, it's mascara.
It's also the product most of us girlies never think twice about. It sits right at the lash line, close to our eyes, every single day. So it's worth a second look at what's inside.
The waterproof problem
Waterproof formulas are the ones to watch. A University of Notre Dame study found high levels of fluorine, a marker of PFAS (aka forever chemicals), in many of the waterproof mascaras they tested. PFAS are the "forever chemicals" that don't break down in the body or the environment, and they're on our BO No List. They're often not even on the label which is even more frightening.
So our simple rule: if you don't need waterproof, don't buy waterproof. If it's smudge-proof you're after we can sort that without the need for it to be waterproof.
What to look for
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No fluoro-anything. Scan the ingredients list for "fluoro" or "PTFE."
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No fragrance. Your eyes don't need to smell nice.
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Kind preservatives. Skip formaldehyde releasers like DMDM hydantoin.
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Tubing formulas. These wrap each lash in little tubes that slide off with warm water. They're great for sensitive eyes, and there's no panda eyes happening.
What to expect
Clean mascara has come a long way from the flaky, clumpy tubes of 2015 or the weak mascaras that did nothing.
Simple hacks for your clean mascara:
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It builds best in thin layers. Two coats, a few seconds apart.
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Curl first if that's your vibe (I'm terrible with a lash curler), then apply mascara straight away.
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Replace it every three months. That's a hygiene rule for any mascara, clean or not.
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Don't pump the wand. Instead use gentle twists.
What the girlies know now
You don't have to choose between lashes that make you feel put together and a formula that's good for you. Ditch your current tube if the ingredients aren't so good, and get a fresh tube every 3 months to avoid bacteria (eww) and clumping.
Shay x
