Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Mascara Review
To say that I was buying my new Organic Wear Mascara with fear and trepidation is an understatement of the century. I have long ago learned that getting the mascara right is the toughest task for the natural makeup industry.
And I really needed a mascara. No room for error.
So I went to Wal-Mart. Because they have the best return policy. Just in case.
And I bought a regular big-brand mascara as well. Just in case.
So yah, I was one biased customer.
But I worried for nothing. The mascara IS good. For me, at least. But if you want to know more details, here is the really detailed review:
Product Name:
Organic Wear Mascara, by Physician’s Formula, also referred to as Natural Origin Mascara
About the brand:
Organic Wear is a Brand created by Physician’s Formula. You can read my Physician’s Formula brand overview here.
Price:
I paid just over $14 Canadian. It is about 10US dollars in the US.
Certifications:
EcoCert Certified Organic.
Packaging:
This is one of the most innovative packaging to hit the mascara world in a long time. The tube and handle are stylized with the handle looking like some kind of leaf. The brush itself is very flexible, which I think is a pro – it was easy to reach all the lashes. The brush is also 100% recyclable, which is a bonus.
Reading the ingredients:
The packaging says that 100% of ingredients are of Natural Origin and 47% are Organic. Which is commendable given that EcoCert requires only 10% of ingredients to be Organic and 95% to be natural. Basically, Organic Wear is taking its “natural” and “organic” claims seriously.
Reading the insert (or Other claims):
The back of the box is dedicated to 100%. It list a whole set of features for which Organic Wear Mascara scored a 100:
100% Natural Origin Mascara
100% Free of Synthtetic Solvents
100% Natural Origin Biopolymers – for clump free lashes
100% Natural Origin Preservatives
100% Natural Origin Rice Protein & Organic Tapioca Starch – naturally boost volume. Organic Beeswax 00 for a buildable formula.
100% Natural Origin Color Pigments
100% Free of Petroleum By Products.
It’s also 100% Cruelty Free.
It’s also hypoallergenic and fragrance free.
Scent:
I’ve read some other reviews where users have complained about the smell. Granted, it doesn’t smell like roses. It is fragrance-free, after all. But it doesn’t smell awful either. And it’s going on your lashes, not your nose. (Though I did smudge my nose while doing the smell test – it still didn’t bother me.)
Performance:
I applied it very carefully and had no clumps or smudges. It looked very natural on my lashes. I didn’t even feel the need for a second coat. After I applied it I accidentally hit the lashes with my finger and a couple of them stuck together – I used the brush to separate them without any issues. I didn’t smudge – I wore it for most of the day and didn’t have any problems. The next day I did two coats (very nice lashy look) and even a few time scratched my eye (carefully) – still no smudging.
Tip: to ensure perfect distribution and no clumping use an eyebrow brush or a toothpick to separate lashes you accidentally stuck together… But make sure you don’t poke your eye!
Verdict:
For such a low price (as far as organic mascaras go) this mascara is outperforming all expectations. No, it’s not water-proof – no does it claim to be. If you are going out in the rain or are headed for a serious sweat at the gym, this might not be for you. But for an everyday normal application it’s perfect.
I liked it. I liked it a lot. I’m keeping it for sure. The mainstream brand backup package is going back to Wal-Mart…
P.S: If you live in the USA, for a limited time (till the end of 2009) you can get a rebate on this mascara. Here is a rebate form from the company’s site: http://www.physiciansformula.com/rebates/2009/ow-mascara-rebate.pdf
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April 20, 2009 32 Comments
Packaging Organic Cosmetics
In the world of organic cosmetics, packaging can be a headache. Whereas the regular products tend to be scrutinized by consumers primarily from aesthetic and convenience point of view, organic products have to answer to much higher standards.
The manufacturers do have to content with the looks and user-friendliness as well. Naturally. If the product is not packaged attractively, no one will pick it of the shelf. Or so the rumor goes. And if you can’t get that product out – you aren’t likely to buy it again.
But in the natural skin care and makeup field there are two other serious considerations:
First, the natural consumers demand that a packaging is as earth-friendly as possible. It better be recyclable, or else 
Secondly, it is also important that the packaging contributes to the longer shelf life of the product. Because organic skin care usually (ideally) does not contain harsh synthetic preservatives, packaging has to help in protecting the ingredients from contamination.
One of the most popular packaging materials for natural cosmetics is glass. Glass is non-porous and inert material, which is good for the lifespan of the formulations. And it is recyclable, making it a popular “green” choice.
Aluminum tubes (with protective resin) are also popular because they are recyclable, and because they squeeze the product out and don’t refill with air — thus minimizing contamination. They are used by Dr. Haushka, Weleda and many others.
Incidentally, the worst packaging from preservation point of view are the open jars where you have to put your finger in to get the cream out. You effectively transfer the bacteria from your hands into the jar. Not to mention continuous air exposure. If you have such a product, try to use it as quickly as possible, store it in the fridge and always wash your hands! Or consider getting it out with a stainless steel spoon – but don’t double dip…
My recent excursion around the web has found a couple of other interesting packaging ideas:
I found a company called Megaplast (www.megaplast.de), which is a packaging manufacturer used by the likes of L’Oreal, Biotherm and Yves Rosher among others. They have recently patented a new type of dispenser, aimed specifically at bio-cosmetics and natural products. The Self-Sealing Actuator system “protects products from impurities and contamination through a membrane in the pump’s orifice that automatically seals once the formula has been dispensed. This prevents the product from coming into contact with oxygen, thereby reducing contamination, discoloration and product dry-out, and ultimately, increasing shelf life and effectiveness.”
This sounds promising. Preservation of natural products is a key concern when turning away from synthetics. But I think plastic is a bit of a drawback. Recyclable as it is, as Beth never tires to point out – we have too much plastic to deal with already.
And then there are companies like The Packaging Company (TPC), who introduced Biodigradable Cosmetic Packaging last year. They look like regular plastic products, but will biodegrade in a landfill after 5 years. Called PLA (polyactic acid or polyctide) the material resembles regular plastic in every way. But it is corn based. TPC presently makes compacts and lipstick cases from this material, and just by looking at it you’d never suspect anything unusual about them.
Hopefully the trend towards recyclable/biodegradable and preserving packaging will continue and leak into the mainstream as well. I think in the ideal world the job of preserving a product lies in the package – then we don’t have to ingest it. But this only works long term if the package is not the kind that will preserve itself in a landfill for thousands of years to come. Pretty or not.
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April 12, 2009 13 Comments
