OPINION: Make your own mascara
All-natural home-made mascara is easy to make and is a cheap and safe alternative to store-bought brands.
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This home-made all-natural mascara will do a great job in darkening, separating, and conditioning your lashes, and will not leave your eyes feeling red or itchy.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons coconut oil (or Argan, jojoba or virgin olive oil)
4 teaspoons aloe vera gel (for nourishment)
½ a teaspoon grated bees wax (the more bees wax the better the staying power of your mascara)
2 capsules activated charcoal (for colour)
A clean mascara container to store the mixture in.
Method
Heat the bees wax, coconut oil and aloe vera gel over a low heat.
Stir until completely melted.
Pour the 2 capsules of charcoal into the oil mixture and stir.
Remove from heat and pour into your storage container (you can use a syringe).
To apply your mascara, first apply all your eye make-up. Curl your lashes if necessary and apply a primer to your lashes (to enhance and to ensure your mascara adheres well). Begin applying your mascara while your primer is still wet. While applying, place your brush horizontally on the base or root of your eyelashes and gently comb it towards your eyelash tips, making slight wiggling back and forth movements as you do so. You can dab tissue paper on your eyelashes to remove the excess to ensure no clumping.
Like all mascaras, it is important that you use your home-made product wisely. Make sure to keep the lid of your container on tightly or the mascara will dry out. Dispose of the mascara and brush after four months or if it begins to smell strange or pungent – mascara can grow bacteria.
*Vegan home-made mascara recipes are available.
Claire Brown is a natural remedy expert based in Northcliff.