Mascara is a cosmetic product that is used to enhance the appearance of eyelashes by thickening, lengthening, and darkening them. The ingredients in mascara can vary depending on the brand and type of mascara, but they generally fall under the categories of waxes, oils, pigments, emollients, and preservatives. Here are some of the most common ingredients found in mascara:
Positive ingredients:
- Beeswax: derived from honeycombs, it works as a thickening and stiffening agent and helps keep the product smooth.
- Iron oxide pigment: used to darken lashes.
- Natural oils: used to create consistency, pigment, and color.
Negative ingredients:
- Parabens: harmful preservatives added to beauty products to increase shelf life.
- Formaldehyde: a known carcinogen.
- Mercury: a mercury-based element that is readily absorbed through the skin and considered particularly toxic to the developing brain during pregnancy, infancy, and childhood.
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): used as preservatives in mascara and are considered endocrine disruptors.
Preservatives are included in mascara to give it a longer shelf life and prevent the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms. Manufacturers use different types of waxes, oils, and emollients to achieve the desired texture and consistency of the mascara. Waterproof mascaras contain additional ingredients like emollients, silicones, and waxes to make them water-resistant.
Its worth noting that the safety of mascara ingredients has improved greatly since the 1930s when some consumers experienced blindness as a result of using mascara with harmful ingredients like turpentine, kohl, and aniline. Today, mascara ingredients are much safer than they used to be, and they are assessed for their potential to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
