Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Mascara: For each GOGO mascara purchased, Josie Maran Cosmetics will donate one mascara to a City of Hope cancer patient/survivor.
Finding the right mascara is a tough one. . . especially when going natural. I have tried many natural brands that work fairly well, but all seem to fall short in some area, whether it be volumizing, curling, or lengthening.
Mascara is a personal preference, and everyone seeks a brand or a type depending on their needs. For those looking for a lengthening mascara, 100% Pure’s Ultra Lengthening Fruit Pigmented Mascara is a great option. As you might presume, it’s coloured with 100% pure fruit pigments. The mascara comes in four colours: Black Tea, Blackberry, Blueberry and Dark Chocolate. The brush is narrow and the bristles are fine which is perfect for separating and defining each lash.
My lashes are extremely straight (I mean absolutley NO curl), fairly long, and relatively light in colour. So when I seek a mascara I look for one that is volumizing and curling. Josie Maran’s GOGO Instant Volume Argan Mascara works for me in both of these departments. It comes in one shade, ‘Pitch Black’, which glides onto lashes in a rich glossy colour with no flaking and minimal clumping. The brush aids in lifting and curling the lashes while the mascara thickens and adds volume. My only complaint with this mascara is the size of the brush. It took me a while to get used to the width, which makes it more difficult to cover short lashes and get into the corners of the eyes. All in all though, it’s a winner in overall performance.
Disclaimer: For those of you who are used to using mascaras with plastic polymers, unfortunately you will never get the same length with natural mascaras.
No mascara
Now you know my secret. . .
With Josie Maran Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara
On the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep database, Josie Maran’s GOGO mascara is rated as a ‘2’, which means that the ingredients pose a low hazard. The mascara contains no cancer causing ingredients (and no formaldehyde, thank goodness!), but does contain some irritants. Most notable is phenoxyethanol, which is a common cosmetic preservative. I would prefer not to have this in my mascara, but sometimes you pick your battles. For those who have major sensitivities, I would recommend 100% Pure’s mascara instead. It is also rated as a ‘2’ on the EWG’s Skin Deep database, but does not contain the same irritants as Josie Maran’s GOGO mascara.
Josie Maran Cosmetics are conveniently available at Sephora, another reason why I love this product! Now, I am a strong advocate for independent shops and local retailers. Unfortunately though I can’t always be running around the city, or waiting a week for the mail to arrive. If buying synthetic products is motivated solely out of convenience, and if it means more people will opt for the natural version, than I am all for the option of buying amazing natural products at big commercial stores. Just note: not all Josie Maran products are created equal and some are not as natural as they say. Be aware of what you are buying, check out the EWG’s Skin Deep database for yourself, and always look out for greenwashing!
So natural beauties, what amazing makeup items have you found that rival their synthetic counterparts? Please share!
– Seanna
Oceans & Potions 