100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown vs Notorious Mascara: which is safer?
Burt's Bees 100% Natural Nourishing Mascara, Black Brown is the clear pick. NARS Notorious 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
NARS
Notorious Mascara
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
ReportedUndisclosed waterproofing agents (potential PFAS)
PossibleEye irritation or sensitization from undisclosed additives
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 NARS.
- We flag Undisclosed waterproofing agents (potential PFAS) and Eye irritation or sensitization from undisclosed additives on the NARS and not on the Burt's Bees.
- The Burt's Bees is Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base) where the NARS is wax, polymers, waterproofing agents (unspecified), 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 NARS grade, at 35% 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 →
More waterproof mascara, see the full ranking