Product details:
- Mascara is a cosmetic product applied to the eyelashes in either a liquid, powder, or cream substance with a brush.
- Mascara can thicken, lengthen, color, and curl eyelashes.
- The most common type of mascara formulation currently sold is a lamellar gel network (LGN) based oil in water emulsion, stabilized using soluble polymers. These formulations are quite versatile and can provide good application, functional performance, wear/wash resistance, and rapid drying.
- Mascara ingredients can include:
- Pigment to darken, typically from a carbon black or iron oxide pigment.
- Polymer to coat.
- Preservatives to keep it fresh.
- Thickening agents to give it texture.
- Emollients, like isododecane, in waterproof mascara.
- Silicones, like cyclopentasiloxane, in waterproof mascara.
- Waxes, like beeswax or candelilla wax, in waterproof mascara.
- Active ingredients, like argan oil and jojoba gel, to nourish and protect the lashes while providing length and volume.
- Harmful ingredients to avoid in mascara include parabens, formaldehyde, imidazolidinyl urea, thimerosal, and allergens.
- Natural and plant-derived ingredients can be found in some mascaras, such as those from Honest Beauty.
- Mascara ingredients have improved greatly since the 1930s, when the ingredients used to darken lashes were turpentine, kohl, and aniline.
Positive:
- Mascara can enhance the natural beauty of the eyelashes and add definition to the eyes.
- High-quality mascaras can contain active ingredients, like argan oil and jojoba gel, that nourish and protect the lashes while providing length and volume.
- Mascara formulas have improved greatly over time, and many companies offer well-preserved and extensively tested products.
Negative:
- Harmful ingredients, such as parabens and formaldehyde, can be found in some mascaras and should be avoided.
- Some mascaras can get clumpy, flake, or run.
Ingredients or materials:
- Pigment (carbon black or iron oxide)
- Polymer[[2]](https://www.healthline.com/health/be...
