Mascara does not contain bat feces or guano. The myth that mascara contains bat feces comes from the similarity of two words: guano and guanine. Guanine is used in the cosmetics industry as a colorant and an opacifying agent, and it is sourced from fish scales. Mascara 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. Some mascaras also contain emollients like isododecane, silicones like cyclopentasiloxane, and waterproofing agents like beeswax or candelilla wax.
Positive:
- Mascara does not contain bat feces or guano.
- Mascara ingredients are much safer than they used to be.
- Mascara uses a variety of ingredients to lengthen and darken lashes.
Negative:
- Some mascaras can still contain some gross products.
- Consumers should be wary of thimerosal, a preservative that can cause conjunctivitis and eyelid dermatitis.
Ingredients or materials:
- Carbon black or iron oxide pigment
- Polymer
- Preservative
- Thickening waxes or oils such as lanolin, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, castor oil, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax
- Emollients like isododecane
- Silicones like cyclopentasiloxane
- Waterproofing agents like beeswax or candelilla wax
- Guanine, which is sourced from fish scales and used as a colorant and an opacifying agent.
