If you’re anything like us, mascara is a staple in your daily makeup routine. Even on the most bare-faced of days, you better believe our lashes are getting a swipe from our trusty tube. Depending on your preferences, you may want a "clean" ingredient list—though we do want always to reiterate there's no regulated definition for what clean really means. That said, there are so many offerings we love that fall into the clean category.
These include vitamin E, moisturizing shea butter, coconut oil, and hyaluronic acid—all of which will keep lashes soft and reduce the risk of breakage. But, just because an ingredient is clean doesn’t mean it’s harmless. “Sensitizing ingredients vary from person to person but looking for hypoallergenic formulas is a good start,” says Hatice Yildirim, a cosmetic chemist at KKT Labs. She suggests avoiding ingredients like lanolin, a natural emollient that can trigger reactions in sensitive skin.
We selected 19 clean mascaras and tested them for 312 hours in our lab and at home. After using each formula three times a week for two weeks we assessed them on ease of application, lengthening and volumizing abilities, how well they separated and defined our lashes, and how they lasted throughout the day. With these insights, alongside guidance from our cosmetic chemist expert, we landed on these 11 top-performing clean mascaras that truly stand up to more traditional formulas.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Buildable:
Best Volumizing:
Best Lengthening:
Best Curling:
Best for Bottom Lashes:
Best for a Subtle Look:
Best Long-Lasting:
What We Like
Double-sided brush for easy application
Doesn’t bleed, flake, or smudge
Natural, lengthening look
What to Consider
Only comes in one color
Benefits: Defines, lifts, lengthens | Size: 0.1 / 0.3 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This award-winning mascara is a Byrdie editor favorite. It's formulated with shea butter and arginine (keratin) to fortify and strengthen, alongside a combination of carnauba wax and beeswax to condition and lift each lash.
We loved the unique double-sided brush design (ILIA tested 100 versions before landing on this one). One side has curled, shorter bristles that pack on more product for lots of volume and the other touts longer, straight bristles that pull through each lash for mega-length. We loved the flattering, natural look this mascara created—our lashes but better with just one coat! The formula didn’t bleed, flake, or smudge and held up well against our watery eyes despite not being a waterproof formula. Our lashes still looked phenomenal at the end of the day.
Tester Sarah, age 24 with dark brown lashes: “This instantly earned a spot in my regular rotation. It's a one-coat wonder, unlike my other mascaras. And the wand is GENIUS.”
Read Our Full Review: Today in Mascara Reviews: ILIA Beauty's Limitless Lashes Mascara
What We Like
Lightweight, long-lasting formula
Makes lashes look lengthened and separated
Natural look on top and bottom lashes
What to Consider
It smudged slightly when eyes were watery
Benefits: High-impact definition and length | Size: 0.30 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
A key component of mascara versatility is the ability to layer coats, allowing you to keep it natural or build a more dramatic look. This fan-favorite formula from Ami Colé utilizes 87% naturally derived ingredients to create a flexible finish that won’t flake or clump with additional coats. Plus, hydrating shea butter and jojoba oil condition and soften the lashes with each swipe.
This mascara was really easy to apply; the thin, tapered wand reaching even the tiniest lashes on the bottom. Two coats provided a long, separated result that never looked clumpy or spidery. We loved how lightweight and buildable the formula was, and that it always looked natural. The mascara did smudge slightly when our eyes were watery, but in general, it looked as good in the evening as it did when we first applied it that morning.
Tester Jackie, age 35-44 with black lashes: “I like how the thin brush makes it easy to apply without getting it all over your eyelids/under eye, and how it lengthens the lashes without getting clumpy at all.”
Best Volumizing
Beautycounter Think Big All-in-One Mascara
What We Like
Doesn’t clump or flake
Buildable formula
Natural look
What to Consider
Very wet when first applied
Benefits: Lifts, lengthens, and volumizes | Size: 0.27 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
According to Yildirim, mascara must have a good balance between its solid and liquid ingredients to build volume and waxes can help with that. This lash-plumping formula from Beautycounter relies on calendula and carnauba waxes for what it calls “creamy volume with a weightless feel.” Add to that a cocktail of lash-care conditioners and strengtheners including provitamin B5, and you’ve got a mascara that will help you achieve fuller lashes in the long term, too.
The liquid formula glided onto our lashes easily and without clumping. It bled a tiny bit right after application but once dry it left our lashes looking impressively long and full. Two passes were the perfect amount for our preferences, but the formula was buildable and we could have easily added multiple coats. The mascara was very comfortable to wear, and it looked great on our lashes all day.
Tester Jen, age 45-55 with blonde lashes: “I liked the full coverage on the lashes without any clumping that the mascara provided. I also liked that it did not flake or bleed throughout the day.”
What We Like
Buildable formula
Makes lashes super long
Natural look
What to Consider
Brush picks up too much product, making it tricky to apply
Benefits: Boosts lash length, volume, and span | Size: 0.27 fl. oz | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If lash length is your priority, this formula by Inka is the one for you. Vitamin E-rich sunflower seed oil strengthens and protects lashes while carnauba wax helps extend and hold lash length.
This formula took a bit of practice to apply. It was much thicker than many mascaras we tried, coating the lashes so heavily that we had to use a dry spoolie brush to separate them. Once applied though the formula made our lashes look super long. We did experience a tiny bit of shedding and flaking by the evening, but we were delighted to find that the length remained.
Tester Kelly, age 25-34 with blonde/light brown lashes: “I'm impressed with how nice it feels on my eyes, and I like that it's more brown than black so it looks more natural.”
What We Like
Made lashes look full and long
Stays put all day
Buildable formula
What to Consider
Clumped on brush when first applied
Benefits: Separates, lifts, and volumizes | Size: 0.3 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
It’s not only the mascara formula that creates enviable eyelashes; the brush plays an important role, too. The curved shape of Jones Road’s mascara brush captures baby lashes and lengthens outer ones, lifting and curling them upwards for an eye-opening effect.
We found this formula a little clumpy, but by wiggling the brush we managed to get the separated, curled effect we wanted. While wearing this mascara our lashes looked the right amount of full and voluminous—somewhere in between natural and glamorous—and we got lots of compliments (always a plus). It didn’t bleed or smudge and stayed intact throughout the day. Overall, it exceeded our expectations of what a clean mascara could do.
Tester Lauren, age 25 with light brown lashes: “I loved the look of my lashes while wearing the product. They felt long and pronounced without looking spidery or too fake.”
Read Our Full Review: This Mascara Paints on Thick, Dark Lashes With a Noticeable Lift
Best for Bottom Lashes
Lily Lolo Natural Vegan Mascara
What We Like
Lightweight formula with no clumping
Doesn’t smudge or bleed
Lengthens and separates lashes
What to Consider
No waterproof version
Benefits: Defines, lifts, lengthens | Size: 0.23 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Applying mascara to the bottom lashes is tricky. It’s hard to get the light coating you want without smudging the formula or accidentally creating a spidery look. Enter Lily Lolo’s Natural Vegan Mascara. With its velvety consistency and tapered brush, this product takes the hassle out of capturing those tricky lower lashes.
We found the formula very easy to apply. The brush distributed an even amount of product to the top and bottom lashes, and we could build layers while maintaining a feathered look. There was no smudging or bleeding—not even beneath the lower lashes—and it still looked amazing at the end of the day. The mascara definitely had a more natural look, separating the lashes nicely. We would love a waterproof version.
Tester Alisa, age 45-55 with brown lashes: “I liked that it was a more natural look for every day. It was also lightweight and not clumpy.”
Best for a Subtle Look
Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
What We Like
Lightweight and comfortable on the eyes
Buildable without clumping
Lengthening and separating
What to Consider
Not the best for full lashes
Benefits: Lifts and lengthens | Size: 1.76 fl. oz | Shades: 1 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you prefer a more subtle makeup look, the world of clean mascaras has a multitude of outstanding options. Case in point: this Merit tubing mascara lifts and separates lashes, boosting your natural lash length without falsies-style drama.
It glides on silky-smooth and feels very lightweight compared to some of the other formulas we tried. After multiple coats, we were pleased with the natural look of our lashes. This isn’t a super volumizing, high-glamor formula but it’s perfect as a go-to daytime mascara. It stayed on well throughout the day with minimal flaking and was easy to remove before bed.
Tester Emma, age 25-34 with light brown lashes: “The wand went through my lashes so smoothly, without clumps. I also liked that it was light-weight and perfect for a daytime look.”
What We Like
Short wand was easy to use
No smudging and long-lasting
Lengthens and separates lashes
What to Consider
Brush was not the easiest to use
Benefits: Defines, lifts, lengthens | Size: 0.31 fl. oz | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
In an ideal world, you’d apply your mascara once in the morning and find it still looking fresh at the end of the day. Saie’s Mascara 101 outlasts competitors thanks to organic beeswax, which wraps the lashes in a stiff but flexible coat, keeping them long and lifted from morning to night. The formula gets bonus points for the addition of strengthening arginine, amino acids, and moisturizing shea butter.
We found this mascara’s short brush easy to maneuver. The formula did clump a bit after applying a couple of coats, but with some effort, we separated the lashes and the finished result was great: long but still natural. The formula adhered to our lashes effectively and continued to look good on even the busiest, longest days.
Tester Taylor, age 25-34 with black lashes: “There was no smudging while I was wearing this mascara, and I wore it for 16 hours yesterday! It holds onto my lashes very well with no flaking throughout the day.”
What We Like
Make lashes look full but not fake
Brush lifts and defines lashes nicely
Long-lasting formula
Easy to remove
What to Consider
Not ideal for dramatic volume
Benefits: Flake-free tubing technology | Size: 0.38 fl. oz | Shades: 6 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you haven’t tried a tubing mascara yet, add Thrive Causemetics’ version to your shopping cart now. Unlike traditional mascara formulas that coat your eyelashes, tubing mascaras contain polymers that wrap each lash, creating a commanding false-lash effect. This one promises to flake and shed less than traditional formulas and boasts impressive staying power while being incredibly easy to remove.
The small, stiff bristles on this mascara brush made it easy to separate and wrap each lash in a thin coat, lengthening with dramatic results. The formula felt very light on and wore well, though it needed a refresh by evening. With its buildable volume and defined look this mascara made our eyes and eyelashes stand out. "Full but not fake" would be our description of this mascara, in a nutshell.
Tester Kathryn, age 35-44 with brown lashes: “I love the way my lashes look with the mascara on. It really makes both my eyes and my eye makeup pop and look more dramatic and defined, while still looking natural and not caked on at all.”
Read Our Full Review: This Thrive Causemetics Mascara Is Viral for a Reason
Best Lifting
Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Mascara
What We Like
Adds length and volume
Curved brush helps to grip and lift lashes
Smudge and flake-resistant all day
What to Consider
Tube dries up pretty quickly
Benefits: Lengthens and volumizes lashes | Size: 0.29 fl. oz | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Another editor-favorite, this mascara is excellent for giving the lashes a lifted look. The curved brush makes it easy to coat all your lashes evenly in the formula. It works to lengthen and provide volume and is also formulated with a castor oil blend for strengthening and conditioning benefits.
We thought the brush was incredible grabbing lashes right from the root and lifting them upwards. After our usual two coats, our lashes were lengthened, curled, and looked much fuller. We experienced no smudging, flaking, or clumping with this mascara. It wears incredibly well and it stays put all day—even on the lower lashes, which is rare for us.
Tester, Shannon, age 25-34 with blonde/light brown lashes: “I would recommend this mascara to anyone, it's a 10/10 from me. It's the best mascara I've used by far. Insane length and definition and easy-application wand.”
What We Like
Very easy to remove
Lengthens and separates lashes
Natural look but buildable
What to Consider
Not the most volumizing
Benefits: Lengthens, defines, and creates visibly fuller-looking lashes | Size: 1.12 fl. oz | Shades: 2 | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This dermatologist-developed mascara has a lot going for it. Gentle yet long-lasting, the formula includes plant-based ingredients like Vitamin E and Sunflower Seed Oil to condition and plump lashes, and, thanks to its molded rubber brush, it never clumps.
We were struck by how effectively the brush lengthens and defines each lash. It does take several coats to achieve a fuller look, but we could keep building layers without experiencing any clumping. The mascara had almost no bleeding, smudging, shedding, or flaking—an impressive feat even some high-end brands haven’t mastered yet. Still, it comes off very easily with water—useful at bedtime, annoying during pollen season.
Tester, Michal, 25-34 with light brown lashes: “I would recommend this mascara for someone who wants a lightweight or lengthening formula. Or a mascara that’s easy to remove.”
What to Look for When Buying Clean Mascaras
A good clean mascara will take your lashes to fluttery new heights—sans questionable ingredients. To determine which clean mascara is right for you, we suggest considering the following points.
- Beeswax or Carnauba Wax: Many clean mascara formulas replace silicones with beeswax or carnauba wax (or sometimes a combination of both) to give you that flexible, waxy texture for a super smooth application. "In [clean] mascaras you’ll find ingredients like beeswax, as it is preservative free," says Renée Loiz, a celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert. Both can also act as emollients, which work like a protective film over the skin, locking in moisture.6
- Plant-Based Oils and Butters: Many of the formulas recommended here include plant and fruit oils, such as jojoba, avocado, and olive oil to condition and treat lashes to help make them fuller and stronger. If you want better-looking lashes in the long run, definitely look out for these ingredients before you purchase.
- Formula: You’ll want to make sure the formula you choose isn't prone to running, smudging, or flaking. Tubing options are excellent if you're concerned about smudging. Once dry, the tint tubes hold fast to the lashes until removed with warm water and your favorite cleanser.
How We Tested Clean Mascaras
Below are the features our editors and contributors evaluated over the course of two weeks to determine our top picks.
- Ease of Use: Like any other formula, clean mascara should be easy to apply. We considered how easily each wand picked up an adequate amount of product, eliminating options that got oversaturated. We also observed how evenly each formula applied, tracking the number of coats it took to achieve our desired look.
- Wear: When applying each clean mascara, we identified if our lashes felt heavy or weighed down. We also compared the differences in each formula, favoring options that dried down quickly and didn’t flake onto our face.
- Overall Look: Just because a mascara is clean doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. We considered how our lashes looked with each mascara, awarding points for added volume or lift. We also tracked the buildability of each formula, noting if it achieved a more natural or glamorous look.
- Ease of Removal: No matter how clean a mascara may be, it still needs to be removed at the end of the day. We considered how easily each formula washed off with eye makeup remover, disqualifying options that tugged or pulled at our lashes.
FAQ
What makes mascara clean?
There isn't any regulated, industry-wide definition. Clean mascaras tend to omit preservatives and other chemical-based ingredients that some consumers prefer to replace with beeswax, as well as plant, vegetable, and fruit oils. They also can include synthetics that can be even more sustainable than naturally derived ingredients, but they stay away from harmful chemicals.
Is clean mascara better for sensitive eyes?
Long story short—it could be. “[Clean] is great in many cases but unfortunately, it does not always mean better,” explains Yildirim “There are plenty of naturally-derived ingredients that are considered irritants, allergens, or even harmful and this varies.” She recommends considering clean or naturally-derived ingredients that have caused you irritation in the past and avoiding mascaras that include them.
Is it safe to wear clean mascara every day?
Yes! Just make sure to remove it (as well as the rest of your makeup, of course) before heading to bed.
Do clean mascaras have the same shelf life as traditional options?
Yes, clean mascaras contain plant-based preservatives to protect the formula from bacterial contamination, just like traditional mascaras do. Yildirim advises checking the packaging for a use-by date: “Each product has been tested and the packaging should display the lifespan of the mascara. The most common shelf lives range from 3 to 12 months,” she notes.
Why Trust Byrdie
Esme Benjamin is a freelance writer, editor, and podcaster based in New York. She began writing and editing for the Byrdie commerce team in 2023. As a wellness expert, she has a particular interest in naturally-derived beauty ingredients and the intersection of beauty rituals and self-care.
Additional guidance was provided by:
- Renée Loiz, a celebrity makeup artist and the founder of Color May Vary, a beauty guide for Black-owned beauty brands.
- Hatice Yildirim, a Cosmetic Chemist at KKT Labs where she formulates all-natural products for beauty brands.