What harms and what helps us? Mascara and its components

Mascara is a beauty product used by the sizeable majority of women worldwide. Some of them reach for the colour cosmetic to build lash volume, other to extend their length, or to curl them. Since a mascara is in close contact with eyes, if ill-matched or applied in a wrong way, it can damage sight. This danger applies mainly to women with the tendency to wear makeup while sleeping or performing imprecise makeup removal. For that reason, choosing the right mascara is crucial, it has to be selected wisely and stop being used when any adverse reaction occurs. What conditioning and toxic ingredients may a typical mascara contain? What is an alternative to a mascara?

Mascara – the most common ingredients

In most cases, a mascara contains plant origin waxes such as Carnauba or beeswax. The very ingredients enhance mascara’s hold. Also, the use of waxes contributes to boosted eyelash volume. Moreover, a typical mascara composition is also enriched with non-refined oils such as sunflower oil or castor oil that nourish eyelashes and at the same time stimulate their growth. The list of mascara’s ingredients shall also contain silicones because they considerably ease application of the cosmetic. On the other hand, the preparations containing silicones require more precise makeup removal. Being comedogenic, they clog skin pores which in the consequence may lead to acne cosmetica. When it comes to polymers, they extend lashes by increasing their elasticity and leaving a thin film around each one of them.

Mascara – potentially toxic ingredients

Some women complain about constantly experiencing watery and itchy eyes which most of the time is caused by a mascara – it’s either past its expiration date or applied in the wrong way, sometimes the composition triggers this kind of adverse reaction of the eyes, too. In the first two cases the bacteria that multiply in a mascara throughout its use can cause the infections. Other reason of watery and itchy eyes is the doubtful mascara composition. Here are the toxic ingredients that should be avoided:

Parabens

Despite being effective preservatives, they do harm. The main aim of using parabens in cosmetics is to prevent bacteria accumulation, especially in mascara products. Since a mascara tube is a very convenient environment for microbes to develop, parabens do play an important role in this product’s composition. At the same time, it’s worth realising that too high concentration of parabens can disturb the work of hormones leading to cancer development.

Powdered aluminium

This substance’s task is to give the products it constitutes a particular colour. Application of cosmetics that base their composition on powdered aluminium can lead to nervous system damages: firstly, aluminium clogs skin pores and then penetrates through skin to start irritating immunological system. It isn’t only added to mascara products but to antiperspirants too.

Retinyl acetate

This ingredient is vitamin A derivative that has a destructive influence on cells and may encourage mutations. For that very reason, doctors advise against using cosmetics featuring retinyl acetate, and this applies mainly to pregnant women.

Propylene glycol

This is a solvent constituting the base for other substances used to create a particular cosmetic. It frequently triggers allergic reactions such as eye skin area itchiness. Propylene glycol is present in many cosmetics and sanitary products such as toothpastes, mouthwashes and, of course, in mascaras.

Mascara – conditioning ingredients

Many women can’t leave house without wearing a mascara. Indeed, lashes deprived of volume make face look fatigued – it lacks enhancement. A quality mascara doesn’t only give eyelashes an intensive colour but also curls them and boosts their volume. There are also mascara products that improve the looks and condition of lashes as well as display similar action as a conditioner/serum. Such mascaras contain among others:

Argan oil

Argan oil is obtained from Argania Spinosa nuts that is frequently added to hair and eyelash cosmetics. Regular application of a mascara with argan oil content reinforces eyelash bulbs which translates into combating the problem of lash loss. Thanks to this, the conviction that wearing a mascara contributes to excessive lash thinning becomes false. Moreover, argan oil contains vitamin E which is appreciated by its anti-oxidant and regenerating properties. Vitamin E moisturises and nourishes lash fibres, also it protests the hair against the destructive influence of external aggressors. It’s a good idea to apply a mascara containing argan oil especially to fortify weak and thin lashes.

Camellia oil

Camellia oil is pressed from Chinese green tea seeds to be used in manufacturing nail, hair and skin care cosmetics. When added to a mascara, it plays the role of the main regenerating ingredient. It contains oleic acid as well as omega-3 and omega-6 acids that reinforce lashes from the inside and, consequently, nourish them. Thanks to this, all thin and falling-out lashes restore their vitality and boost their volume. Apart from fatty acids, camellia oil contains mineral substances such as calcium, potassium and phosphor, as well as vitamin E. Every single one of the components is found crucial by lashes.

Silk for lashes

Because of its moisturising qualities, silk is a frequently-used ingredient added to conditioners and hair masks. Proteins that silk contains, which are sericin and fibroin in particular, are similar in their chemical structure to proteins naturally occurring in skin and hair. Silk added to lash conditioning products is still a rare thing, yet it’s quality keeps increasing. How does it work? Firstly, it delivers natural proteins constituting lashes, and this translates into strengthened eyelashes that consequently became thicker and stop falling out. Sericin displays strong water-retaining qualities thanks to which it provides the eyelashes with the right level of hydration. Fibroin in turn creates a thin film on each lash that protects them against the harmful action delivered by the external aggressors.

Mascara – any alternatives?

Women whose body reacts adversely to most drugstore mascaras, they can make use of a homemade mascara. To prepare such cosmetic, you will need:

• egg yolk,
• activated charcoal tablets,
• lavender oil.

Keep crushing activated charcoal tablets up until you obtain powder. Then mix it with egg yolk and a drop of lavender oil. Pour the mixture into a used mascara tube. Since it’s typical for the homemade mascara to foam, aid yourself with a toothpick.

Your homemade mascara can be used safely for 3-4 weeks. Its expiration date is determined by the egg yolk.