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Looking to reduce single-use plastic packaging in your cruelty-free & vegan makeup routine?
I’m sharing some low and zero-waste mascara from brands that don’t test on animals in this post. Also, none of these eco-friendly mascaras contain any animal-derived ingredients, including beeswax.
I managed to find 10 low to zero-waste vegan mascara that comes in either compostable or reusable/refillable packaging. From eco-friendly paper packaging, and glass vials to metal tins and refillable systems.
Zero-Waste Packaging Mascara
River Organics
River Organics is an independent beauty company located in Wilmington, NC. They offer a zero-waste vegan mascara that comes in eco-friendly paper packaging with a biodegradable sugar cane label. You also have the option to get it with or without the brush to reduce waste further.
Lush Naked Mascara
This innovative zero-plastic packaging vegan mascara designed by Lush includes three wands to choose from for different effects, all made from non-plastic, bio-based, and non-toxic polypropylene. From a thick wand to add thickness and volume, a one-sided comb for added definition, to a wand with a circular end that separates lashes.
To use, hold your chosen naked mascara with clean, dry fingers. Lightly wet the tip of the brush and place it into the mascara shape using very minimal water. Rub the brush around the inside of the product in circular motions, making sure there is enough product coating the brush. Brush through lashes, just as you would with any other mascara.
Bésame Cosmetics
Bésame’s best-selling Black Cake Mascara is now vegan! Inspired by a product from the 1920s, this water-activated mascara is made from natural wax and is made especially for sensitive eyes. It comes in a low-waste, recyclable tin that can be reused with Bésame’s refills. Note that the small brush does come wrapped in plastic.
Birch Babe
Made in Canada with sustainably sourced ingredients, Birch Babe’s all-natural, plastic-free mascara cake comes in a tin with a reusable mascara wand. Crafted with all-natural, toxin-free, and organic ingredients to help strengthen and lengthen lashes while it goes on creamy and lasts without smudging. Available in Black and Brown.
Zerra & Co.
Handmade in Baltimore, Zerra & Co offers a plastic-free and zero-waste vegan mascara (in Black or Dark Brown) housed in a glass vial. They also claim that while many mascara manufacturers include a plastic insert to remove the excess mascara, Zerra & Co. has chosen to go without it to save the waste.
Refillable Mascara (Vegan)
Izzy – Refillable Mascara
Izzy offers a refillable mascara system where their tubes are made from medical-grade stainless steel and are designed to be cleaned and refilled over 10,000 times. Izzy mascara comes with no outer packaging and is shipped in reusable mailers manufactured from upcycled materials. The tubes contain zero plastic components, while the plastic wipers and brushes are reground and recycled at their facility.
MOB Beauty
MOB’s refillable volumizing vegan mascara is made with 100% post-consumer recycled PP and is designed using 70% less packaging material than the industry standard mascara. The refill snaps into MOB’s endlessly refillable Mascara Capsule that’s made with 50% post-consumer recycled PET.
The vegan, clean mascara formula is a creamy blend of sunflower and berry wax, olive oil, and jojoba to condition the lashes and provide a creamy, easy-to-build mascara without clumping, tackiness, or flaking.
Elate Cosmetics
Sustainable cosmetics brand Elate Cosmetics has vegan mascara in Black and Brown. Elate’s refillable Essential Mascara was created for even the most sensitive eyes; this water- and sweat-resistant formula helps your mascara stay put, even when you’re on the go. Made with organic white tea, it’s packed with antioxidants for healthier, stronger lashes.
Packaged in a recyclable etched glass vial and water-treated bamboo lid to further reduce the amount of plastic in our packaging. The frosted glass is sand blasted to ensure easy recycling at the end of life. Housed in a biodegradable paper tube to keep your mascara safe.
Zao Organic Makeup
Zao has two vegan mascara formulated with natural and organic ingredients; both versions of Zao’s mascara are refillable. Available in black and brown. The outer tube packaging is made of sustainable bamboo, and the inner plastic tube is made from recyclable PET plastic.
Sappho
Sappho’s maximum intensity refillable vegan mascara’s packaging and formula took over two years to come to life and was tested inside and out for PFAs (<10ppm). Sappho’s natural mascara creates intensely black, luscious, long lashes that don’t smudge and includes a wand to separate each lash; this mascara can build from natural to dramatic.
Tip: Keep your old mascara wands and donate them to local wildlife rehabilitation facilities that use them for grooming, cleaning, and treating wild animals. Check out Wands for Wildlife.
Some Great Options But Not Vegan
While researching for zero-waste mascara, I found some more options that come in either compostable or recyclable packaging, but unfortunately, they were not vegan. I thought I mentioned them in this post as I get asked about them, and I wanted to provide you with some vegan alternatives.
Kjaer Weis has two mascara: lengthening mascara and volumizing mascara. Both of them come in refillable packaging, but they also both contain organic beeswax and are therefore not vegan. If you want a refillable vegan mascara in a tube, check out Izzy.
Erin’s Faces Matcha Mascara – is housed in a glass vial for easy recycling, but it contains beeswax and is therefore not vegan. If you prefer a vegan glass packaging mascara tube, check out Pacifica Beauty.
I hope you found this eco-product guide to sustainable packaging and zero-waste mascara helpful on your journey to creating positive change. Some more sustainable beauty guides you might also like:
