Review of Thrive Causemetics

Indie brands have been having a moment lately and some of their popularity can definitely be attributed to the conscience policies that a number of companies have adopted. Brands like Beauty Bakerie, Farmacy, and Tatcha contribute to specific charities, and their commitment to give back is appealing to many customers. The name Thrive Causemetics literally has the word cause in it and that’s because they donate both products and financial recourses to multiple charities every year.

• Thrive Causemetics Overview
• Thrive Causemetics Review
  • Products
  • Mission
• Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Review
• Thrive Causemetics Cosmo Power Blush
• Cruelty-free and Vegan Status
• Where to Buy Thrive Causemetics
• Final Thoughts

Thrive Causemetics Overview

Thrive Causemetics was created by product developer Karissa Bodnar who previously worked as a product manager at L’Oreal. She launched her company as response to losing a close friend to cancer and developed her line with immunocompromised patients in mind.

The entire line is said to be cruelty-free and vegan, as well as free of parabens and sulfates. Their cosmetics are produced at the Thrive Causemetics lab in California. Since the brand launched in 2015 it’s grown to include a variety of both makeup and skincare products.

Thrive Causemetics Review

Products

Thrive Causemetic’s makeup line is a curated collection of what they call “high performance cosmetics”. Their most popular item is undoubtedly their Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara, however there are quite a few other items in the line. While most categories are represented by at least one product, there are a few that are not included.

Though they offer a cc cream, the brand currently does not have a foundation. In the powder category they only offer a loose powder and not a pressed version. The line does include brushes and a beauty sponge, as well as lashes and lash adhesive.

All of their products come in the Thrive Causemetics signature teal packaging which gives the brand a cohesive look. The few products that I’ve tried have hefty, weighted packaging which definitely adds to the appeal.

The skincare line is still rather small but does contain several core products. Currently in the line are a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sleeping mask, peel, and lip treatment. They also have a couple of body products in the form of a hand cream and hand sanitizer.

An interesting approach that’s rarely seen from other beauty giants is Thrive’s attempt to include their customer base in product development. They’ve gathered customer input via surveys and utilized it while creating items such as their liquid liner and lip liner.

Mission

The brand’s philosophy is Bigger Than Beauty and they’re dedicated to helping women thrive (hence the name Thrive Causemetics). They’ve partnered with multiple charities that benefit women. Some examples are foundations that aid domestic abuse survivors, women emerging from homelessness, breast cancer organizations, and female military veterans.

Thrive’s “Buy One, Give Back” policy states that for every product purchased, they donate either one of their products or a cash donation to a charitable cause. The brand also claims to practice responsive giving, which means they use feedback from each nonprofit to contribute in a way that best suites their needs.

In addition to their year-round donations, Thrive also holds periodic events that benefit a specific causes. In the past year they donated 100% of the profits of either specific items or a particular day’s sales to initiatives such as Covid19 aid, and Black Women’s Health Imperative.

Thrive Causmetics Liquid Lash Extension Review

This is really the product that put Thrive on the map. If you’re an Instagram user, it’s highly unlikely that you haven’t been spammed by at lease one ad for this new wonder mascara. It’s also quite popular among certain beauty YouTubers which definitely helped it gain exposure.

Overview

The Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions retail for $24 and contain 0.38 oz of product. It comes in a very weighted tube and is available in brown and black.

The brush has short rubber bristles that taper toward the end. I like the size of the brush and the tapered point, however I’m not a real fan of rubber bristles.

Performance

The real draw of the Liquid Lash Extensions is that it’s a tubing mascara. The idea is that as the mascara dries, it forms a tube around each lash that sets to a dry rubbery texture and doesn’t smear or flake.

The mascara can feel kind of heavy on the lashes however, I don’t struggle with keeping a curl so I can’t say how it would impact a curled lash one way or the other. Looking at the reviews, they were somewhat mixed on the topic but I did see a good number complaining that it dropped the curl.

In terms of length and volume I think this mascara is better on the length. You can continue to build it up but at some point the rubberized texture starts to clump up on itself and that quickly translates into spidery looking lashes. I found the best way to build up is to apply the added layers before the first one dries.

In terms of separation it’s not the most defining mascara, especially if you apply multiple coats. It can be difficult to separate the lashes if they’ve already started to dry.

Longevity

Once set you need to be careful not to rub on your lashes because that can cause them to stick together. Even though it’s not wet by any means, the mascara will stick to itself if it’s pressed against another lash. That being said, even if you do rub on the lashes, the mascara won’t smudge or flake at all. This makes it ideal for long days or for someone who struggles with keeping mascara on.

As far as removing the mascara goes it will rub off with warm water but it can take a bit of effort. For me, I was tempted to peel off the tubes while they’re still dry which is a terrible idea because it can remove your lashes along with it. As you apply warm water, the mascara peels off in rubbery strings but it can take a few attempts before it’s all off. I also found that sometimes small bits got into my eye which may be irritating to some.

Final Thoughts

So in conclusion, this is not my favorite mascara. I definitely have others that are easier to apply and give me a better effect, such as the It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. I also don’t find it the most comfortable mascara to wear.

That being said I reserve the Liquid Lash Extensions for specific uses when I need my mascara to wear for an extended period of time without smudging. If you just need something absolutely smudge and flake proof, I think this is probably one of the best performers in that respect.

Thrive Causemetics Cosmo Power Blush Review

The blush retails for $34 contains 0.3 oz of product. It comes in a weighted teal compact with a mirror and a magnetic closure.

There are two shades available. Angelina is described as a golden brick shimmer. Rosie, which is the shade I have is cool toned bright pink with a copper shimmer.

Looking at the blush in the pan, you can see the powder is speckled with bits of the shimmer color. The effects starts to diminish as the powder wears down and you’re left with more pink than copper. The color is quite pigmented so I would recommend using a light hand.

The texture of the blush is a bit crumbly and looks pretty patchy when swatched. On the cheeks I found that it didn’t always apply evenly. Several times the color ended up missing an entire section of my cheek when applied.

In terms of the shimmer, there is a slightly golden sheen on the cheeks. The effect is pretty seamless and you can’t really pick out where shimmer begins and the blush ends.

The reason I picked this up is because I was attracted to the pink hue. It’s a pretty blush but the texture leaves a lot to be desired. The patchy application really wasn’t very flattering and for $34 I think you can find better.

Cruelty-free and Vegan Status

Thrive Causemetics is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. They don’t test ingredients or finished products on animals and neither do their suppliers. They don’t sell their products in countries where animal testing is required by law and they don’t have third parties test on their behalf.

Thrive does not use animal derived ingredients in any of their products making their entire line 100% vegan.

Where to Buy Thrive Causemetics

• Thrive Causemetics – Free shipping on orders over $35. Limited International shipping available.

Final Thoughts

I think the strengths of this brand are rooted more in their philosophy than their actual products. If the idea of giving back appeals to you or you want an all vegan line this is great place to look. For me, the high points were the packaging and the longevity of the mascara. I don’t know that I’m intrigued enough to try more from the brand but I’d love to hear if you have any recommendations in the comments.

Thanks for reading, share your thoughts in the comments below.

Bye now,