100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown vs Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara Very Black: which is safer?

Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown is the clear pick. CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara Very Black carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown

Burt's Bees

100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 67/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base)

Confidence

78%

PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers

PossibleBacterial growth and contamination in wax formula

CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara Very Black

CoverGirl

Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara Very Black

PFAS grade

Poor 30/100

Overall grade

Bad 8/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Proprietary waterproof mascara formulation with undisclosed coating or treatment

Confidence

32%

Possible1,4-dioxane (cosmetic impurity)

PossibleFormaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

ReportedEye irritation or allergic contact dermatitis from fragrance or preservatives

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Fragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers and Bacterial growth and contamination in wax formula on the Burt's Bees and not on the CoverGirl.
  • We flag 1,4-dioxane (cosmetic impurity), Formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, Eye irritation or allergic contact dermatitis from fragrance or preservatives and Bacterial or fungal growth in product tube over time on the CoverGirl and not on the Burt's Bees.
  • The Burt's Bees is Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base) where the CoverGirl is Proprietary waterproof mascara formulation with undisclosed coating or treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Burt's Bees is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the CoverGirl grade, at 32% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

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