What You Should Know About Mascara

What You Should Know About Mascara
First and foremost, contrary to urban myth mascara does not contain bat dung; please. Guano is bat poop, surprisingly incredibly expensive, and will burn your eyes. Guanine, on the other hand, is extracted from fish scales and is safe for use as a color additive in eye cosmetics.

In ancient Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 B.C., the Egyptians used kohl (a charcoal or soot mixed with malachite and lead sulfite) on their eyelashes, eyebrows and to line their eyes. That is one of the earliest forms of mascara and eye liner known.

Modern day mascara as we know it originated in 1913, and was developed by the chemist who started Maybelline. Back then, it was a simple mixture of coal dust and petroleum jelly. Max Factor was the first to create a mascara with a wand applicator in the product tube, which started the modern mascara products available today.

Modern day mascara uses mainly carbon for the black pigment in the product, while iron oxide is used for the brown pigments. In the U.S., the use of coal and tar pigments in eye makeup is forbidden. Most mascara formulations today are made of oil, water and waxes (such as beeswax, carnauba wax or paraffin). Other ingredients are added to the basic mascara formula to achieve different effects. For example, fibers are added to lash building mascaras and some mascaras contain Provitamin B5 to condition the lashes, giving them a softer and more natural feel. Find out how to get Hollywood lashes without the Hollywood price tag.

Besides the formulation, the success or failure of a mascara's performance lies in the brush. It is both the formulation of the mascara and the quality of the brush that provides the desired effect. Then there's also the way you apply the mascara. You'll find tips on mascara application here.

What You Should Know About Mascara - For safety and health issues, mascaras should be discarded three months after being opened. Once the wand is exposed from the manufacturer’s packaging, it is a bacteria-breeding ground. The wand picks up the bacteria from your lashes and inserts it back into the dark, moist environment of the container.

These days, many women would not dare to leave home without wearing mascara. You may be able to make do without foundation, blush or even lipstick, but if your eyelashes are thin or pale, you need mascara.

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