Fast DIY: How to transform your make-up into skincare. Part zero: you can’t improve mascara

Using actives available from Skin Actives, it is possible to improve many make-up products. There are, however, some make-up products that can’t be “redeemed”, mascara is one of them. In fact, mascara is terribly effective at destroying eyelashes. Why?

Let’s look at an ingredient list: The following is an example of a mascara “disguised” as care product:

Water, Synthetic Beeswax, Paraffin, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Triethanolamine, Butylene Glycol, Carnauba Wax [cera Carnauba], Glyceryl Stearate, Polybutene, Triacontanyl Pvp, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehyrdroacetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Tourmaline, Rose Damascena Flower Oil, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Sodium Benzoate, Iron Oxides,  Fragrance (Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Eugenol).

Even this mascara pretending to be beneficial is likely to cause eyelash fall-off and growth slowdown. Why? The many waxes, paraffin, cellulose derivatives, and fragrances will block pores and affect cell division and metabolism of the cells that make hair, the keratinocytes. The “No parabens. Phthalate free. Fragrance free” is not going to help you keep your eyelashes healthy. And, incidentally, no way a product that contains citronellol, geraniol, citral, eugenol could be called “fragrance free”.

A mascara like the one below will not “save” your eyelashes but at least it will save you some money.

Water , Beeswax, Ozokerite, Shellac, Glyceryl Stearate, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Methylparaben, Quaternium-15, Quaternium-22, Simethicone, Butylparaben. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Mica.

What to do?

I suggest that you avoid mascara altogether. If you “need” mascara to feel feminine and attractive (blame advertising!) use an inexpensive mascara and remove it as soon as you can with an oil-based make-up remover. If nothing manages to remove the mascara, it’s because it’s bad for you, so try a different mascara. The longer it’s there, obstructing pores and harming your live cells, the less eyelashes you will see in your future.

Instead of mascara, try to revive yo own eyelashes using Skin Actives products, which provide the all important signal, keratinocyte growth factor, plus all the ingredients you need to make eyelashes (and eye brows) and keep the delicate skin around your eyes happy.

DISCLAIMER: These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.