There are fantastic store bought mascaras that are void of cruel practices and harmful chemicals while providing oomph to lashes. Unfortunately mascara packaging that can be recycled is non-existent in Australia. And even if I did have the option to use recyclable mascara the constant use of resources to make each packaged container and all the mascara wands did not sit right with me especially when I can reuse the same wand and container.
I have toiled, mixed, melted and swirled a variety of home-made mascara recipes. I had found an OK recipe but was not 100% happy with it. I wanted something easy – something I was used too. With the various tutorials out there for home-made mascara I have discovered that sometimes a recipe requires tweaking to allow the end result to suit the individual.
So I persevered and finally, FINALLY made an easy home-made mascara that is perfect for my lashes and maybe even yours too.
Easy Home Made, Plastic Free and Zero Waste Mascara Recipe
Adapted from here.
1/2 teaspoon finely grated soap
1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal
3 drops almond oil (can substitute for coconut or any oil you like)
1/8 teaspoon purified water
Method: Place your finely grated soap into a heatproof dish and warm on the stove (or microwave). I put my heatproof dish into a pot on the stove. As the soap warms up add the water then add the activated charcoal and oil. Mix together with a wooden skewer and pour into your designated container. Let set. Wash your heatproof dish and skewer for next time.
To use: Wet your mascara wand with a drop of water from the tap or use purified water. Rub across your mascara and apply to your lashes as you would normal mascara. The mascara dries quickly and there is no flaking. For more volume I let one layer dry then add another layer of mascara. No longer miss store bought mascara. Hoorah! To remove use a wet wash cloth.
UPDATE 12.10.2015 I have had person come back to me saying that when they cried the mixture stung her eyes. Save it for days when there is the potential for no crying. In the meantime, I am going to see if there is an alternate to the soap component.
Currently I am using activated charcoal capsules. They are messy and I suggest putting down an old tea towel when you open them to get out the charcoal. They come in a recyclable container but I would love to try Ariana's tutorial on making your own activated charcoal. No packaging + learning a new skill = win. UPDATE 2.12.2014 I have since made my own activated charcoal using Ariana's tutorial. Mascara is still looking awesome!
None of the ingredients used have an EWG rating beyond 0. Pretty awesome right?
I am very VERY happy with this easy home-made mascara that is zero waste and plastic free. So happy, I dance about it.
Have your tried to make your own mascara? How did it turn out? Let me know in the comments below.
Wonderful!! definitely trying this x
ReplyDeleteHope you have as much ease and success as I had. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask :)
DeleteFabulous tutorial and so simple!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Simple is always the best :)
DeleteThat looks amazing - I too can't survive without mascara. What is activated charcoal and where can it be bought?
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate :) I have had many compliments since i started using it. You can buy activated charcoal from most chemists otherwise make your own! Wellness Mama has a great explanation on what activated charcoal is --> http://wellnessmama.com/247/activated-charcoal/
DeleteI've been wanting to get away from shop bought, additive-packed make up for a while but as a fellow red-head, mascara was a tricky one to source or do without (eek!). Will definitely give this a go :)
ReplyDeleteI know your pain. I just could not do without mascara. I hope this works for you Bec :) Let me know how your go.
DeleteAmazing idea - I've looking for zero waste make up ideas for ages! Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteHuge hugs from fellow zero waster - Gittemary.com
Hey hun, you rock some awesome skills on your blog!! Hugs back to you. Thanks for the comment :)
DeleteHi! I have a question, what do you use for a mascara wand? Are there any that can be found plastic-free or doe they basically not exist without plastic??
ReplyDeleteThanks!
p.s. This how-to is life saving!
Thanks for your question. When I got rid of my old mascara I kept the brush/wand. Also my sister agave me her empty Clinique mascara tube to keep as a back up if I ever lose my current brush.
DeleteLast year I did have a look for plastic free mascara wands and only found one that was metal. http://raemorris.com/products/brush-17-mascara-applicator-1
I did email them and ask them what it was made of. This was their response: The comb is stainless steel (which contains a number of elements including Nickel), the handle is oak, and the ferrule and magnetic cap are metal (I’m not sure which type) and the comb itself is in a plastic head.
I decided to use the brush I already had as there seems to be no way to recycle mascara wands or tubes here in Australia.
Hope that helps Megan :)
I love this idea, but just wondering. Does it smudge???
ReplyDeleteHi Paula, thanks for your question. It does not smudge. When soap is away from water it stays pretty dry. The soap is the main component that allows this to be an effective smudge free homemade mascara recipe. I have long eyelashes so I prefer something that will dry and not smudge.
DeleteI have tried SO MANY mascara recipes from natural and zw bloggers and this is the FIRST one to work for me! I had all but given up on making my own mascara as when previous experiments failed it was SO messy and I was feeling really frustrated! But when I saw your recipe I had to give it a try because it was so different from all the others that used waxes and fats. I just applied it this morning and I am in LOVE! I hope it lasts and stays smudge free all day :)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say a big THANK YOU!!!
I am very happy to hear that it worked for you. I would not put any recipe up here that did not work so am confident it won't smudge on you :) Like you I tried so many recipes that did not work and i don't want to put one up here that will waste peoples time. Fingers crossed it does work for you.
DeleteHeard about the egg yolk mascara? I am thinking about trying this one and the egg one and i wondered if you had tried it?
ReplyDeleteHi Aya, yes I have and it worked really well. The only issue was the egg going off really quickly which was a shame.
DeleteI wonder what a person could use to make brown mascara. I love brown, because I am fair skinned, and prefer to save black for night time.
ReplyDeleteTry cocoa or brown clay. You will probably still want to add a small amount of activated charcoal to darken it up a little.
DeleteI am fair skinned also and brown does suit me. I have yet to try anything but perhaps cocoa could work? Thanks for the idea, will have to investigate.
DeleteTyping with my freshly made mascara on! So far so good; thanks for a great recipe!
ReplyDeleteI used cocoa and home-made charcoal in a 1:3 ratio. I made the charcoal by burning an almond in a tea strainer (Bea Johnson's simple method from her book, Zero Waste Home).
I have not read her book. Sounds like I a need too. I have not tried almond to make my charcoal. I used a peach pit. Did the cocoa give it a brown colour at all?
DeleteCocoa worked pretty well, but I used a bit extra and it does need black as well. I still have iron oxides left over from my pre-no-waste makeup making days and I must admit, I prefer that. I have an arrangement with a local diy cosmetics supplier to supply me with the few bulk, unscented base products I use. I send her containers or I buy the glass ones from her and she fills them, then sends them back in re-used cardboard. I might hit her up for some oxides next.
ReplyDeleteBea Johnson's book was the first no-waste book I read and is by far my favourite. Her solutions are second to none for their ease and how darned well they work. Her book is extremely practical, simple and was all I needed. Except some links to Australian sources!!
That's great you have that relationship set up. I have tried to find oxides package free but gave up. I am pretty happy with what i am using now but will try henna as a way to tint my lashes in the future. Are you based in Australia?
DeleteWill hunt down Bea's book when summer rolls around later this year.
I have a very oily skin. I'm afraid the mascara will desolve on my eyelids.
ReplyDeleteWarm Grts from the Netherlands
I have oily skin too Marianne. Luckily the soap helps dry out the mascara on the lashes so there is no need to worry about it dissolving...unless you get caught in the rain or start crying. Neither have happened to me yet.
DeleteYou've got FAB lashes - thanks for sharing! x
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteHi! I loved this recipe, but I have a quick question: what brand of soap did you use? I was thinking of grating the bar of castile soap I have. Do you think that would work?
ReplyDelete-Thanks :)
I buy my soap from The Australian Natural Soap Company. Here is the link http://www.theaustraliannaturalsoapcompany.com.au
DeleteI am unsure of the ingredients in your soap, so I really cannot advise.
This is great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNo worries :)
DeleteDid you choose the "sensitive skin" one of their soaps? If I don't wash my face, say if I'm sick for a day, the natural oils on my eyelids can make my eyes STING like mad. I'm nervous that the soap in the mascara would have natural oils that would do the same thing.
DeleteI would then advise for you to not try this, just in case, as the soap is full of natural oils. I have a review coming up for a mascara that is zero waste and ready made.
DeleteHi Erin! Thanks so much for sharing recipes you have tested yourself! I had a look at the soap you recommend. There are so many different kinds on there! I was wondering what kind you tested? Only Olive? Pure Macadamia? I figure if there is patchouli or something in the soap it might irritate the eye.
ReplyDeleteI use a plain olive oil soap, made locally in Melbourne.
DeleteThis was great! I found the recipe VERY small. I think it's because a lot got stuck to the sides of the jar I was melting in. I also had to add more water than it called for. Not sure if it was evaporating or what. But anyway, basic components=awesome. I am definitely going to play with this a bit and see what happens!
ReplyDeleteI use a small tint bowl (http://www.salonshoponline.com.au/shop/beauty/tinting/Eyelash-Eyebrow-Tint-Bowls/) from the days when i used to tint my brows and lashes. It works really well and nothing gets stuck to the sides. I have had the water evaporate quickly on some occasions. Let me know how it goes for you.
DeleteVERY late to the party here, but I finally tried this and I had the same problem Hannah! I ended up adding in way more oil than required and as a result, I'm not sure my mixture is as good as it could be as it is smudging a TINY bit. It looks good though! So I'll try again. I also had an ambitiously large container to put it in, haha. I think my issue as well was I was waiting patiently for the soap to melt but it just...didn't? Is it just purely supposed to get warm and not melt? I didn't grate it fine enough to begin with so I was hanging out for the melting...
DeleteI guess the issue is that you might not be using the same of soap as I did. I find most DIYs call for some small modification to work with what you have. These days i'm not making this anymore, instead I buy a ready made option from Keeping It Natural. Here is a blog post with a review http://www.therogueginger.com/2017/09/keepingitnatural-zero-waste-cake-mascara.html
DeleteHi Erin, this looks great! I understand you use theaustraliannaturalsoapcompany soap, but I was wondering why exact soap type from their website you order for your mascara?, Thanks xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Lara, the soap is called Only Olive.
DeleteHI there Erin.
ReplyDeleteI found you from this article: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/talking-rubbish-the-woman-who-stores-hers-in-one-jar-20151123-gl5is0.html And after giving your blog a good read I must say. Good job Erin. Keep on Green.
Allen :)
Thanks for your kind words Allen
DeleteHelloo, thanks for the post! I've just embarked on the plastic-free challenge as well, it's hard but rewarding!
ReplyDeleteJust wondering, where do you get the activated charcoal plastic-free? And on a separate note, have you ever managed to find essential oils without plastic lids??
Sarah
I agree, it is hard but totally rewarding. I have yet to locate an option for plastic-free activated charcoal. It can be purchased at the pharmacy in a recyclable plastic container. Unless, you want to make your own. My hunt for essential oils without plastic lids has returned futile too.
DeleteThis looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteDo you think I could use a different oil besides almond? I don't have that on hand and would prefer to not have to get new ingredients if I can use something else. Do you think olive or castor oil would work?
I think castor oil would be ok, but since I have not used it, it's hard for me to comment. I have read that castor oil is used to help eyelash growth though.
DeleteCan I use Beeswax instead of soap?
ReplyDeleteYou could use beeswax instead of soap, but you will need to add more oil. The beeswax can get very hard.
DeleteHow do you store your wand? I can't get my old tube clean enough to store it in there, but I don't want to have it laying around (especially while traveling)
ReplyDeleteI keep my wand in a small cloth bag that I made. It keeps it clean from rolling around in my toiletry bag.
DeleteAwesome, I'm gonna try at home! Do you think it can be used as an eyeliner too?
ReplyDeleteYes it can Ana, but not very well.
DeleteHi, I made your mascara and had some interesting results. First of all, I tried melting the soap in the microwave for over 3 min, checking every 30 seconds, but it would never melt. I resorted to putting my dish over a pan of simmering water and that finally did work. The rest of the preparation went smoothly. I used Jajoba oil in place of almond, and a natural white coconut oil based soap. After transferring the product into a small jar I noticed the consistency was uneven and did not create a smooth cake. I added a few drops more water and stirred it until it was perfectly smooth and even. (And watery) Then I ran a hair dryer on low to help the extra water of evaporate faster, and left it overnight to dry. This resulted in a smooth even cake, much like a commercial product. Beautiful. Then I want to try it. It went on perfectly, like a professional mascara. I also wet to a liner brush and did a beautiful Upper line. A perfect product – except - a half hour later-yow!! My eyes were burning!! I had to run and take it off, using a oil based remover. I plan to experiment with the formula and try a glycerin soap, or maybe order your Australian soap, and also try beeswax. Has anyone figured out a good beeswax to oil proportion? It sounds promising. Luckily these ingredients and the quantities used cost almost nothing so I don't mind experimenting. I will let you know how things turn out. Thanks for the recipe and any advice you could offer!
ReplyDeleteHi Erin! I'm so sorry if you've already answered this, but how long would you recommend using the same batch of mascara? I very infrequently wear mascara but would love to have some waste-free mascara available when I do want to wear it. Any thoughts?
ReplyDelete