Commercially available mascaras all use the same bases: fats and pigments. Quite similar to those used since Antiquity, they have been enriched with more or less toxic products over the years. To preserve them, you can buy organic mascara, but it is rather expensive. Or make your own mascara: simple, hypoallergenic, economical and ecological!
The origins of mascara
Desert nomads…
First used by nomads in North Africa, mascara came from a black rock reduced to powder: antimony powder. It was used to emphasize the look, but also to protect the eyes from dust and sand. Egyptian kohl had the same functions. Its composition was more complex, and even contained lead, chosen for its bactericidal properties. Roman women added rose petals.
…to the women of today…
According to countries and times, this make-up treatment has known variations, but the formula we know today and its packaging in tubes is recent. It was a certain Mr Rimmel who in 1880 launched the modern mascara formula, based on petroleum jelly and petroleum distillant. Later on, this distillant was replaced by coal powder. The mascara was presented in the form of a loaf of mascara on which a small eyelash brush was passed. Helena Rubinstein created the mascara in a tube in 1957.
Why make your own mascara?
Thickeners, silicones, preservatives, water-resistant products … The additives found in today’s mascaras damage the lashes and often cause irritation, allergies and even ageing of the eye contour. It is therefore important to use only products that respect the lashes and eyes. You can find them in organic shops, but they are expensive. The ideal is to make your own mascara!
How to make your own mascara
Ingredients :
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon beeswax
- one or two capsules of activated vegetable carbon or one teaspoon of cocoa powder
- a clean, empty tube of mascara
Preparation:
In a saucepan, heat your wax balls or shavings, aloe vera and coconut oil over low heat. When the wax has melted well, open your powdered vegetable charcoal capsules, or choose cocoa, depending on the desired colour (black or brown). Pour them into the mixture. Stir again and remove from heat.
If your coconut oil is too liquid (depending on the season or where you live), add a little more beeswax. This will also give your mascara a waterproof look!
Packaging :
To be able to pour your mixture into the mascara tube, you will need a little patience: this paste does not pour with a funnel. You will have to make yourself a kind of small piping bag, like for whipped cream. To do this, pour your mixture into a clean, slightly thick plastic bag. Push it all the way into one of the corners of the plastic bag, then with scissors make a small hole at the tip, delicately. Then gently press it into the bottle, without overflowing. If this step is tedious for you, you can perfectly opt for another method of packaging. For example, a small empty moisturizer can with a tight-fitting lid. Simply dip your mascara brush inside to apply.
This homemade mascara will keep for about 6 months, like all organic mascaras.