100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown vs Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara: which is safer?
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown is the clear pick. Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
Burt's Bees
100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers
PossibleBacterial growth and contamination in wax formula
Laura Mercier
Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in iron oxide pigments
PossibleBacterial or fungal contamination in brush/tube
PossibleFragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance compounds
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 Laura Mercier.
- We flag Heavy metals in iron oxide pigments, Bacterial or fungal contamination in brush/tube, Fragrance allergens or undisclosed fragrance compounds and Silicone or polymer film buildup on lashes on the Laura Mercier and not on the Burt's Bees.
- The Burt's Bees is Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base) where the Laura Mercier is pigments, waxes, film-forming polymers, waterproofing 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 Laura Mercier grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 →
More waterproof mascara: see the full ranking