Mascara is a cosmetic product that is used to enhance the appearance of eyelashes by thickening, lengthening, and darkening them. The ingredients of mascara vary depending on the brand and type, but some common ingredients include:
Positive ingredients:
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Solvents or diluents: These are the unifying base for the formula and can include water, isododecane, alcohols, glycerin, and propylene glycol.
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Pigments: These provide color and can include iron oxides, ultramarines, titanium dioxide, and mica.
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Waxes, gums, polymers, fibers, and starches: These stabilize and thicken the formula, and some form a film on the lashes and provide "volumizing" benefits. Fibers can "lengthen" lashes.
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Emollients: These can include isododecane, which is used in waterproof mascara, and lanolin, which is used as a thickening and stiffening agent.
Negative ingredients:
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Preservatives: These are used to keep the mascara fresh and can include phenoxyethanol, diazolidinyl urea, and thimerosal. Thimerosal can cause conjunctivitis and eyelid dermatitis.
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Potentially harmful chemicals: Some mascaras contain chemicals like propylene glycol, triethanolamine, and SLS, which can be irritating to the skin.
Its important to note that mascara ingredients are much safer than they used to be. In the past, lash darkeners contained scary ingredients such as turpentine, lead-containing kohl, and aniline, which left some women blind. Now, regulations strictly limit the ingredients to those that are safe to apply in the eye area.
The Falsies Surreal Extensions Washable Mascara is an example of a vegan formula that contains no animal-derived ingredients or by-products. Real Purity Non-Toxic Mascara (Black) has just 9 ingredients and an EWG score of 1, and they use extracts of ivy and sage in place of potentially problematic preservatives. Physicians Formulas non-organic mascaras contain yucky ingredients like propylene glycol, triethanolamine, phenoxyethanol, parabens, and diazolidinyl urea.
In conclusion, mascara ingredients can vary depending on the brand and type, but most contain a combination of solvents, pigments, waxes, and preservatives. Some mascaras may contain potentially harmful chemicals, so its important to read the ingredients list carefully and choose a product that is safe and suitable for your needs.
