As consumers are increasingly becoming more eco-conscious, they reuse shopping bags, buy second-hand clothes, and wash yogurt pots. However, our beauty and personal care products are often overlooked. In most cases, the colorful bottles, tubes, and jars that line their bathroom shelves are made from plastic.
The global cosmetics industry is a significant polluter, generating more than 120 billion packaging units per year. Unfortunately, even if you attempt to recycle them, few are accepted by recycling programs. As a result, most personal care and beauty products end up in landfills, and their microplastics are clogging up our oceans, drinking water, and food supply.
Are you one of the many people who are frustrated by your makeup’s negative impact on the environment? Then, consider incorporating DIY mascara into your zero-waste beauty routine to moisturize, enhance, and strengthen eyelashes without harming the planet.
This DIY mascara recipe will help you eliminate the waste and avoid toxic chemicals associated with conventional brands without losing its quality – thanks to its use of rich, all-natural ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter. As a bonus, the recipe isn’t complicated and takes only 15 minutes—less time than buying a new tube of natural mascara from the store.
What You Will Need:
- A small spatula
- A small saucepan
- A small funnel or piping bag
- An empty mascara tube with a wand or sterilized container
Ingredients:
- 3 teaspoons aloe vera gel
- 1 1/2 teaspoon grated beeswax
- 1 tsp shea butter
- 1 to 2 capsules of activated charcoal
- 2 drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil (optional)
Instructions
You will need to sterilize your old mascara tube and wand for your homemade makeup. First, remove the old mascara gunk and pour rubbing alcohol (which contains at least 60% isopropyl alcohol—an effective disinfectant) into the tube, close the cap, and shake well. Next, use a towel dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean the wand.
1. Melt Ingredients
Combine aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in a saucepan and leave on medium-low heat until fully melted.
2. Add Essential Oils
Adding a couple of drops of rosemary or lavender essential oils doesn’t only create a fresh scent but also helps your DIY natural mascara last longer since they both contain antibacterial properties.
3. Add Charcoal
Open the activated charcoal capsules, add them to your mixture, and blend thoroughly—the liquid concoction should be completely black—before removing it from the heat.
4. Pour Mascara into Tube
Allow the mixture to cool down and then transfer it into the sterilized mascara tube. To do this, you can use a tiny funnel, a syringe, a piping bag, or a thick plastic bag (one that has been used and reused repeatedly) and cut the tip of one corner to pour the mascara into the tube.
5. Apply and Repeat
Your new mascara will only last three to four months before it expires, so the sooner you use it, the better. Don’t forget to save the tube and re-sterilize it before making another batch.
Options and Tips
- If you want a brown shade, swap the activated charcoal for 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder. You will end up with a rich brown-colored mascara rather than black.
- For waterproof mascara (ideal for unexpected rain, tears, or swimming opportunities), you will need to add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of beeswax, give or take.
- If your DIY mascara is too thick, add a drop of oil and mix thoroughly. Is it too thin? In that case, add a pinch of clay and mix well.
