What is Mascara Made Of: The Most Common Ingredients
It only takes a minute to coat your lashes in mascara, but it can make a world of difference to your face. A good mascara frames the eyes and opens them up like no other product can. It’s no wonder that 51% of make-up lovers chose it as their go-to makeup product, according to the Clarins Skindex report — beating categories like lipstick and concealer. But have you ever wondered: what is mascara made of, really?
The ingredients in mascaras tend to be hard to decipher, most often containing a plethora of chemical names. To simplify this, we’ve compiled a list of some of the ingredients that are most commonly found in mascaras: the good, the bad and everything in between.
Common ingredients found in mascara
Mascaras are typically made of a combination of ingredients that broadly fall under the categories of waxes, oils, pigments, emollients and preservatives. These are some of the most common mascara ingredient list:
Beeswax
Beeswax is derived from honeycombs. You will find it as one of the main ingredients in mascara. It works as a thickening and stiffening agent and helps keep the product smooth.
Castor oil
The fatty acid oil is derived from the castor oil plant. In mascaras, it works as a thickening agent. It also helps condition and moisturise lashes. You may have heard rumours of its lash-lengthening properties, although there is no solid evidence to back this claim.
Paraffin wax
This soft wax is obtained from petroleum and functions as a moisturising agent in most cosmetics. In mascaras, like most other waxes used, its purpose is mainly to help the colour adhere to the lashes.
Floral waxes
Some mascaras also contain waxes derived from flowers that coat and protect the lashes, for example:
Carnauba wax
Another wax used in mascara, carnauba wax is extracted from the leaves of the carnauba palm, native to various Brazilian states. As it’s plant-derived, it’s a vegan alternative to various animal-derived waxes typically used in mascaras.
Iron oxide
It’s used as a colouring agent to create black, yellow and red pigments in cosmetics. Black and brown mascaras derive their hue from this ingredient. It can have either natural or synthetic origins. However, the latter is more common in cosmetics. It’s considered safer for use as natural-origin iron oxide has a higher chance of being contaminated with impurities.
Carbon black
As its name suggests, carbon black is also one of the colourant ingredients in mascaras. It works as a black pigment.
Nylon, rayon and silk microfibres
They’re typically used in mascaras that are called ‘fibre mascaras’. They stick to the surface of lashes and add length and volume. These are not recommended for contact lens users as the fibres can irritate the eyes.
Glycerin
It’s one of the most popular ingredients found in cosmetics, mainly because of its moisturising properties. When used in mascara, it makes the consistency of the product smooth and also helps it stick to the lashes. It also has
Lanolin
This is another waxy ingredient that’s derived from the wool of sheep. Wool-bearing animals produce this to keep their coats dry and protected from the cold. In cosmetics, it’s often used as an emollient. Waxes are typically used in mascaras to help them coat individual lashes and thicken them.
Mineral oil
This petrolatum derivative is often used in mascaras to give it a viscous quality. Although there is much debate on the safety of this ingredient, the FDA
What is waterproof mascara made of?
Waterproof mascaras typically contain very low levels of water. Waxes and silicones added to the formula help make it resilient against water. Some of the waxes mentioned above like paraffin wax, carnauba wax or beeswax help enhance water-resistant properties, as water naturally rolls off wax. In addition, the most common ingredients in waterproof mascaras are:
Isododecane
This ingredient is both an emollient and a solvent that’s highly volatile. This quality makes it useful in waterproof mascaras.
Dimethicone copolyol
This is a derivative of silica that adheres to the lashes and naturally repels water.
Clarins waterproof mascara like Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D Waterproof also contains these common mascara ingredients, enriched with plant extracts, and blue lotus wax to add volume and protect the lashes.
Cyclopentasiloxane
This is another silicone often used in mascaras. It’s non-greasy and evaporates quickly once applied, which is why it’s often used in quick-drying products.
Are there chemicals in mascara that you need to look out for?
PFAs
Some waterproof mascara formulations have been found to contain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as
Shellac
Shellac is a resin that offers a glossy effect and is sometimes used in mascara formulations. However, it can cause allergic reactions.
Thimerosal
This mercury-based element is sometimes used in mascara formulations as a preservative as it kills bacteria. There has been
Parabens
These are common preservatives used in many mascaras to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. However, some forms of parabens have been found to be
Toxic ingredients aside, it’s also important to properly take off your mascara before bed. Any remnants left behind could dry out your lashes and potentially even damage your eyes.
Always use a make-up remover that breaks down stubborn mascara. The
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