UNE Casual Volume Mascara, make up REVIEW

UNE Casual Volume mascara, makeup review from a user’s experience.

The local store around the corner suddenly shows an entire new display, with a full range of make up products labelled ‘UNE’. A brand that makes no secret of being eco-minded. I’m intrigued! The display mentions the percentage of natural ingrdients in each product. Some products by UNE are 100 % natural, however, the mascara’s are ‘only’ 98.7 % natural. Since that sounds a lot better than the surrounding makeup brands ànd I just happen to need a new mascara, I decide to give the UNE Casual Volume Mascara a try.

Packaging

The brand UNE not only uses a maximum of natural and organic ingredients, it also got rid of the extra boxes around products, to minimize waste. In line with their ideas, the makeup is sold ‘unboxed’. Good point – don’t boxes end up in the trash can right after purchase anyway?

The dominant color white really stands out. I had to get used to it at first. As long as the product works, I don’t really care what color the wrap has though. The white does look refreshing and new in a way. On the UNE website, it says that their packaging is developed with minimal impact on the environment and can be recycled. Nice!

Texture

Creamy texture. A thick, supple and well filled brush to apply the mascara.

Scent

Smells interesting. Not very strong, but the scent reminds me of the glue I used in kindergarden. Always thought that glue smelled like bitter almond cookies. (It’s a Dutch treat.)

Ingredients

Before purchasing, I ask the lady in the store if she has more information on the 1.3 % un-natural ingredients in this product. She is very helpful and pulls out a catalogue to check with me. Apparently it is very hard to make a mascara without certain synthetic substances, or so it says on the official UNE website. “A small percantage of synthetic ingredients are needed to make sure a mascara will last all day.”

I decide to give it a try anyway.

Later, after experiencing discomfort when wearing this ‘almost entirely’ natural mascara, I go looking for the ingredients online, finding them on the UNE French official website only.

AQUA (WATER), CERA ALBA (BEESWAX), GLYCERIN, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, SILICA, ACACIA SENEGAL EXTRACT, PALMITIC ACID, STEARIC ACID, GLYCERYL DIBEHENATE, ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, TRIBEHENIN, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN), BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA STEM POWDER, MEL (HONEY), SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, HORDEUM VULGARE EXTRACT, GLYCERYL BEHENATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM CETEARYL SULFATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, DEHYDROACETIC ACID,

[+/(MAY CONTAIN) : CI 77019 (MICA), CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER), CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES), CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE), CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS), CI 77289 (CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN), CI 77510 (FERRIC FERROCYANIDE), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE)] 9UMY0081

Many, many wonderful natural ingredients in this mascara.

Also some questionable ones.

Benzyl Alcohol can be of natural or synthetic origin. Glyceryl Behenate is mentioned in EWG’s ingredients database as an irritatant to eyes, amongst others. Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) is necessary for making soap, but does it really have to be in a mascara? Sodium Lauryl Sulfate might be less agressive than some of it’s cousins in the SLS family, but still mentioned as irritant, expecially for use near the eyes. Dehydroacetic Acid is a synthetic preservative, in Europe classified as toxic and harmful when used around the mouth and on the lips.

What I like

UNE’s ideas on creating natural organic make up with ECOCERT certification is great and they seem like a conscious, eco-minded company. Actually, I like everything about the UNE Casual Volume Mascara… except for the mascara itself.

What I dislike

After trying the UNE Casual Volume Mascara over and over again (to be sure my issues were really due to this product !) I have to say that I don’t react well to it. I’ve read other people complain about the All-in-one mascara by UNE being runny and staining the eyelids. I don’t really have that problem, but something worse. My eyes start feeling itchy and burn after application. The itching comes and goes throughout the day, the burning sensation gets worse gradually. It is not unbearable, but still noticeable and uncomfortable. It is definitely the mascara – I’ve been wearing it all by itself, to rule out possible other influences.

Also, it makes my eyelashes very hard. Once dried, the lashes feel like… a freaking toothbrush! (the best comparison I can come up with) Hard and prickly. That makes it difficult to remedy lashes sticking together. At first, the mascara is too liquid and then suddenly it is dry and rock hard.

Final thoughts on the UNE Casual Volume Mascara

The relatively small percentage of synthetic ingredients is enough for not letting this mascara qualify for the ECOCERT certification. Apparently, it is also enough for my eyes to get irritated. Many other UNE make up products are labelled ECOCERT and the brand seems to be trying to come up with natural, organic make up. Regardless, the UNE Casual Volume Mascara is not for me. I’m delighted to go back to Dr. Hauschka and enjoy much softer ànd fuller eyelashes with – most importantly – no burning sensation. Unfortunately, this experience has made me reluctant to try other natural and organic make up by UNE.

Do you have a similar or totally different experience with the UNE Casual Volume Mascara (or any other of the UNE make up products), please feel free to drop a comment below. Thank you for sharing!

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UNE Casual Volume Mascara Review