The 19 Best Cruelty-Free Mascaras

1/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: all-round

Tarte* – Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $$

This bestselling 4-in-1 mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes and conditions your lashes. It is formulated with rice bran wax to lengthen and provitamin B5 to condition and improve the appearance of your lashes. The true black mascara holds all day without any running, smudging or flaking. The ophthalmologist-tested formula is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers too. There also is a waterproof version, that is just as good only waterproof.

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, animal (by)products, gluten

*Parent company: Tarte is owned by Kose, a company that is not cruelty-free.

2/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: your-lashes-but-better

Glossier – Lash Slick

Shop at Glossier | $

If you are the no-make-up-make-up type, and you find most mascara make your lashes too overdone or spidery, Glossier is your winner. Lash Slick mascara basically stretches out your lashes and defines them, while keeping them super natural looking and wispy. The narrow silicone brush is great for separation and length. Plus, the lightweight formula it also holds a curl really well. This mascara is water-resistant, yet washes off easily with warm water only. If you’re looking for a heavy duty mascara – this is not it.

Vegan alert: Glossier’s mascara does contain beeswax, so it is not vegan.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, fragrance

3/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: smudge-proof

Blinc – Original Tubing Mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $$

If you love to wear mascara, but hate the smudges, tubing mascara is the answer. Unlike regular mascara that paints your lashes, tubing mascara forms tiny fibers (tubes) around each lash. Blinc’s Original Tubing Mascara adds length and a hint of volume. Once it sets (60-90 seconds) this mascara won’t go anywhere, not even when you rub your eyes. Best part of this mascara is taking it off at the end of the day. Only warm water and slight pressure with a cotton pad or wash cloth will make the fibers slides of your lashes. It doesn’t leave any tint, so you never wake up with raccoon eyes again. This mascara comes in 4 colors: black, dark brown, medium brown, dark green. For an even more natural look opt for a brown.

Free of: sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, fragrance, animal (by)products, gluten

4/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: false lash effect

Marc Jacobs Beauty* – At Lash’d Lengthening and Curling Mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Marc Jacobs Beauty | $$$

A single swipe of this luxurious ultra-black mascara transforms your lashes into lash extensions. The long and thin brush makes it easy to reach every lash, including the corner ones. The formula is not too wet and not too dry and just glides through the lashes. It is very lengthening, volumizing and has fantastic staying power. LOVE.

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, animal (by)products

*Parent company: Marc Jacobs Beauty is owned by LVMH, a company that is not cruelty-free.

5/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: all-round

Too Faced* – Better Than Sex Mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $$

This iconic mascara has been the winner of a lot of beauty contests and we understand why. The hourglass-shaped brush ensures you coat each individual lash in the deepest black. It adds so much volume, thickness and length in just one swipe, it instantly gives the illusion of false lashes. For even more drama you can layer without clumping or smudging.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products

*Parent company: Too Faced is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that is not cruelty-free.

6/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: natural formula

ILIA – Limitless Lash Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$$

If regular mascara tends to burn or itch your eyes, then a clean, natural mascara is what you need. Enter: ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara, Allure’s best of beauty winner of 2019. THE proof clean beauty can be just as good, if not better. The 99% natural formula doesn’t contain irritants such as paraben, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances and gluten. Instead it is formulated with nourishing ingredients including shea butter and keratin to help enhance your lashes. The mascara is lengthening and volumizing. The dual-sided wand offers a brush and comb to coat and separate for a fluttery clump-free finish. Bonus points for the recyclable packaging.

Vegan alert: this mascara contains beeswax

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, gluten

7/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: length

Urban Decay* – Perversion

Shop at Amazon | $$

If you’re looking for a mascara to give your lashes a lengthened flirty look, then this one won’t disappoint. The soft wand and creamy formula make it easy and quick to apply. It is buildable for more intensity. 100% smudge and flake proof. Note: as this mascara contains honey extract, it is not vegan.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES

*Parent company: Urban Decay is owned by L’oréal, a company that is not cruelty-free.

8/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: long healthy lashes

Fitglow Beauty – Good Lash +

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $$$$

Double-ing as a lash serum this vegan mascara not only elongate the look of your lashes, it actually makes them grow. The brush wand separates and covers from base to tip, revealing lashes you never knew you had. The result: longer, fuller and denser lashes. Made with clean and natural ingredients, this doesn’t irritate even the most sensitive of eyes.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products, gluten

9/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: drugstore

NYX Professional Makeup* – Doll Eye Long Lash Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $

On a budget? NYX proofs quality cruelty-free beauty does not have to be expensive. Their mascara separates your lashes, while lengthening them at the same time. It doesn’t clump. Even after 3 coats, your lashes will still look like actual eyelashes. It doesn’t do much in terms of thickening, instead this leaves you with soft doll-like lashes, hence the name. The creamy formula together with the thin wand make for easy smudge-proof application. Plus, it is long-lasting without any flaking.

This mascara is not vegan, as it contains beeswax.

Free of:

*Parent company: NYX Professional Makeup is owned by L’oréal, a company that is not cruelty-free.

10/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: length + volume

Thrive Causemetics – Liquid Lash Extension Mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $$

Bring your lashes to new heights with the second tubing mascara of this list. Thrive’s mascara wraps individual tubes around your lashes, which once dried will stay put all day. Never dark smudges under your eyes again. Only the longest lashes in one single coat. No wonder it won Allure’s 2020 Best of Beauty Award. Due to the thin cone-shaped wand, the application is easy. Formulated with nourishing ingredients such as shea butter and Korean plant extracts, your lashes are taking care of during wear. Another plus is that it comes off easily with warm water at the end of the day. You can choose between the colors Brynn (rich black) and Crystal (brown black).

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates, animal (by)products

11/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: mineral-based

BareMinerals* – Lashtopia Mega Volume Mineral-Based Mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $

This mineral-based mascara comes with a big wand with natural bristles, that separates and coats every lash from root to tip and will give you that feathery false lashes effect. The solid black formula keeps your eyelashes soft, making it easy to layer and build up to your desire. It is clump-, flake- and smudge free and stays put all day. As it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, this mascara is safe for sensitive eyes too.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, synthetic fragrance, animal (by)products), gluten

*Parent company: BareMinerals is owned by Shiseido, a company that is not cruelty-free.

12/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: fanned out lashes

Buxom* – Lash Volumizing Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$

If you are about that natural fanned out mascara look, then Buxom is a really good bet. The silicone bristled wand helps separate and defines each individual lash. It doesn’t make the lashes spider leg thick, instead makes them long, full and fluttery. It is buildable without getting clumpy. The formula is so lightweight, you might even forget you are wearing mascara.

Vegan alert: this mascara contains beeswax.

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, synthetic fragrance

*Parent company: Buxom is owned by Shiseido, a company that is not cruelty-free.

13/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: drama + water

Too Faced* – Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$

This waterproof version is just as good as the original formula, only it is waterproof. If you like your lashes to stand out, even after shedding a tear or 2, this is your mascara. One coat with this hourglass-shaped brush and your lashes are volumized, curled and ultra-black. Plus, unlike many waterproof mascaras that tend to be on the dry side and therefor difficult to layer, you can easily swipe up several coats without getting any clumps.

Vegan alert: the waterproof version contains beeswax, so this mascara is not vegan. The original formula of Better Than Sex is vegan.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES

*Parent company: Too Faced is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that is not cruelty-free.

14/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: clean ingredients

Pacifica – Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mascara

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $

Looking for a clean mascara without having to compromise on quality? Pacifica’s all-natural mascara lengthens and adds just the right amount of volume for an everyday look. Go in for a second (or third) coat if you want to achieve more drama. The vegan plush wand allows for effortless separation. Infused with Coconut oil and Vitamin B this mascara hydrates and strengthens your lashes. The flake-free formula stays put all day. Available in 2 colors, black and brown.

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, silicones, animal (by)products

15/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: clump-free volume

Milk Makeup – Kush High Volume Mascara 

VEGAN

Shop at Amazon | $$

Even the tiniest lashes turn long, thick and volumized with this stuff. Housed in a sturdy metallic case, you find a quite big bristle brush that catches every lash and never makes it clumpy. The formula is on the wetter side, making it very buildable. It also happens to be made of 74% natural ingredients, including lash-conditioning CBD oil.

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products, gluten

16/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: clean ingredients

Kosas – The Big Clean Volumizing Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$

Another clean formula proofs we don’t need toxic ingredients to achieve long volumized perfect lashes. This mascara includes vitamin B5 and castor oil, known for its moisturizing, strengthening and lash growing abilities. The big rainbow-shaped wand makes it very easy to reach and max-out each and every lash. The formula is more liquid-y, meaning on oily lids/skin this mascara can smudge a little.

Vegan alert: this mascara contains beeswax

Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates (SLS and SLES), mineral oil, gluten

17/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: fanned out lash perfection

Chantecaille – Faux Cils Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$$$

You don’t have to be a makeup artist to achieve that full fanned out lash look with this mascara. The brush gives yo maximum control and separates each lash effortlessly. It gives your lashes length and volume, without making it overly dramatic. The carbon black formula doesn’t clump, smear, or flake, ever. It is kind of magical.

Free of: phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES

18/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: all-round

PÜR Cosmetics – Fully Charged Magnetic Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$

If your lashes are in need of volume, length, thickness and a lift, in other words, everything, then take a look at this big tube of PÜR Cosmetics. The formula is on the wetter side, making it the perfect mascara to build with. For even longer lashes, pair it up with the brand’s primer.

Vegan alert: this mascara does contain beeswax.

Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, gluten

19/19

Best cruelty-free mascara: long fanned out lashes

Smashbox – Super Fan Lash Lengthening Mascara

Shop at Amazon | $$

Alongside a smooth formula that coats each and every lash, the double-bristled wand is what sets this bestselling mascara apart. Using the brush to coat and the comb to separate you can really achieve that fanned out look. The result is jet-black, full and long Bambi lashes without any clumping or flaking.

Free of: paraben, phthalates, fragrance