This recipe has been a long time coming! I’ve tried many different mascara recipes all to no avail (and some burning eyes and smudgy marks!). Mascara is especially hard because you want it to be liquid when you put it on, dry hard after just a minute or two, not smear on your face, and come off easily at the end of the day. It can be a tall order to make something so complex using natural ingredients I can get in bulk!
Just one example of how it looks when done wrong!
After quite a few missteps, I have finally found one that works quite well! This mascara recipe has relatively basic ingredients that I have been able to find all locally without having to ship anything. I have to purchase the aloe vera gel in a plastic bottle but I use it for quite a few recipes and it lasts me a long time. I did recently discover that Haggens sells aloe vera leaves that I might be able to get my own gel from! The coconut oil and lavender essential oil I get in glass at my local coop and the bees wax, activated charcoal, and bentonite clay I can get in bulk at a local soap making store. If you find that one of these ingredients is rather hard for you to get, try swapping it out for something similar (jojoba oil for coconut oil or emulsifying wax for beeswax).
This mascara is not waterproof and will smudge if you sweat or rub your eyes. I have not come across natural mascara (DIY or otherwise) that is actually waterproof so if you need to attend a wedding, try borrowing some from a friend!
Jenica wearing her homemade natural mascara!
Homemade Mascara
Ingredients:
1 tsp. Coconut Oil
1 tsp. Aloe Vera Gel
½ tsp. Bees Wax
¼ tsp. Activated Charcoal
1/8 tsp. Bentonite Clay
5-6 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Melt the coconut oil and bees wax in the microwave or over a double broiler.
Add in the aloe vera gel and stir.
Add in the activated charcoal and stir again.
Lastly, add the bentonite clay and lavender essential oil.
Pour the mascara into the container of your choice. I recommend a small metal tin for easy access and easy refilling.
This type of mascara will dry relatively hard, similar to a cake mascara. In order to apply it, wet the mascara brush lightly (only a drop or two of water). Rub the brush through the mascara until a paste sticks to the bristles. Depending on how much water you added, the mascara wand may only have a liquid coating that won’t lie on your eyelashes that thick. If this is the case and you desire a thicker coating, wait two or three minutes and reapply.
I use an old mascara brush that I cleaned to apply the mascara. Each time I make a new batch of mascara, I make sure to clean the wand and container I keep the wand in to avoid contamination and remove any bacteria that may have built up. Given what I have read on the internet, this mascara has a shelf life of around three months. I, however, have used this for up to six months before being concerned about bacteria growth. If you are ever concerned though, notice a strange smell, or start to have eye irritation, stop using the mascara immediately until you know that is causing it.