Mascara's ingredients typically include a carbon black or iron oxide pigment to darken lashes; a polymer to form a film that coats lashes; a preservative; and thickening waxes or oils such as lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, castor oil, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax.
Good mascaras include natural and organic waxes, such as beeswax, candelilla wax, and carnauba wax. Good mascaras also contain natural and organic oils and butters, such as jojoba oil, sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter.
However, only a handful of reports in the literature describe allergic contact reactions to mascara or to its specific ingredients. Those ingredients include quaternium-22, shellac, colophony, p-phenylenediamine, yellow carnauba wax, coathylene, black and yellow iron oxides, and nickel.
The most common pigments in mascara are carbon black and iron oxides.
BHT and BHA
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) control the growth of microbes in mascara and other cosmetics. BHT, which EWG gave a score of 4, is classified as a respiratory irritant and is considered toxic or harmful to human organ systems.
Kim stated her favourite mascara isn't a diamond-infused formula – it's L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black, Kim Kardashian and her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic swear by it. This mascara is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften and build eyelashes up to four times their natural thickness.
Mascara's ingredients typically include a carbon black or iron oxide pigment to darken lashes; a polymer to form a film that coats lashes; a preservative; and thickening waxes or oils such as lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, castor oil, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax.
Most of the waterproof mascara, liquid lipsticks, and foundations tested in a recent study contained high levels of fluorine—suggesting the likely presence of toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
Waxes and silicones are what make waterproof mascara more resilient against sweat, tears, and water. If you compare two tubes of mascara—one regular and one waterproof—you'll notice the latter contains a few added ingredients, such as isododecane and cyclopentasiloxane, that aren't doing your lashes any favors.
Ingredients. AQUA/WATER/EAU, CERA ALBA/BEESWAX/CIRE D'ABEILLE, OZOKERITE, SHELLAC, GLYERYL STERARATE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, STEARIC ACID, PALMITIC ACID, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, METHYLPARABEN, QUATERNIUM-15, SIMETHICONE, QUARTERNIUM-15, BUTYLPARABEN.
In a Vogue Beauty Secrets video, the actress and singer shared that she uses IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara.
A small container of Elizabeth Arden “Pat-A-Crème” Fashion Makeup, an Elizabeth Arden eyebrow pencil in black, and an Elizabeth Arden mascara wand in dark brown.
Apply a light layer of Vaseline to your upper and lower lashes just like you would apply your mascara. (Be careful to avoid getting jelly in your eyes.) Why this works: Vaseline mimics the effects of mascara, leaving you with lashes that look extra thick, shiny and voluminous.
Lastly, mascara is vegan only when there are absolutely no animal ingredients or animal-derived ingredients involved in the product.
A class action claims certain L'Oréal and Maybelline waterproof mascaras contain undisclosed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can be toxic to humans.
The ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara is the least toxic mascara. It is an ophthalmologist-tested formula that contains 99% organic ingredients. In addition, the formula is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.