Homemade Mascara that Doesn’t Smudge

Learn how to make your own mascara with activated charcoal, bentonite clay, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, and beeswax. This homemade mascara works great and does not smudge.

Making your own makeup isn’t as hard as it seems. In fact, a lot of makeups share the same ingredients, such as homemade eyeliner and mascara, so you might as well make both.

Some of the ingredients in homemade makeup might surprise you and most likely, you already have some of them on hand.

I know when I started making things like homemade foundation, DIY setting powder and DIY dry shampoo, I was shocked to find myself gathering ingredients from my pantry.

I love that I make my own makeup right at home with all-natural ingredients. So I am excited to share with you my newest endeavor, mascara!

What is Mascara Made of?

For as long as I can remember, I have heard mascara was made with bat feces. I guess I never really believed it, or at least tried to tell myself it wasn’t true.

Mascara contains a colorant guanine, which can be found in bat feces, but for mascara, it is actually derived from fish scales.

Better than the alternative, at least. But, there are still many other ingredients found in mascara that I would rather not put on my body. I would much prefer to make my own to avoid such ingredients.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

To make your own mascara, you will need:

• Activated charcoal
• Bentonite clay
• Vegetable glycerin
• Aloe Vera gel
• Beeswax
• Essential oils, optional
• Empty mascara tube

How to Make Mascara Waterproof?

The added beeswax in this recipe will help to make this mascara waterproof. Beeswax has a natural protective substance called propolis.

Propolis has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties that can produce healthy lashes.

I prefer to use beeswax pellets to make measuring small amounts easier. If you don’t have pellets, you can shred some beeswax off of a bar to get the amount needed for this recipe.

How to Make Mascara that Doesn’t Smudge?

The beeswax will help keep the mascara from running, and the added clay will help it not smudge.

I am using bentonite clay in this recipe, but you could also use white clay, green clay, or pink clay.

Clays are used in homemade eyeshadow and other makeups because of their ability to absorb excess oils making it the perfect ingredient for a smudge-free mascara.

Bentonite clay is cleansing, purifying and can help remove impurities.

Homemade Mascara Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon (0.05 oz) beeswax
• 2 teaspoons (0.35 oz) vegetable glycerin
• 2 teaspoon (0.125 oz) activated charcoal; you may need to adjust depending on color preference
• 1 teaspoon (0.20 oz) bentonite clay
• 1 teaspoon (0.2 oz) pure aloe vera gel
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

Step 1: Add beeswax, vegetable glycerin, charcoal and clay to a small saucepan and melt on low heat. Stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon until the beeswax is completely melted. Its going to look clumpy and dry, but refrain from adding any more oil at this time.

Step 2: Remove from the heat and stir in the aloe vera gel and essential oils if using. Continue stirring until you get a really creamy texture.

Step 3: Transfer the mascara to your mascara tubes. Tip. I like to add it to a zippered bag, cut a small corner, and squeeze it into the bottle that way.

Step 4: Apply just like you would use regular mascara.

Tips For Making Your Own Mascara

• For an ashy/gray color-use less charcoal. For a pure black mascara-use more charcoal. To make a brown mascara, you can substitute half of the charcoal for cocoa powder.

• The mascara coming out of the saucepan is going to be a bit thick and pouring into the mascara tube can be difficult. I find it easiest to spoon the ingredients into a plastic bag, cut a hole in the corner, and squeeze it into the tube. You can also transfer it by using a medicine dropper.

• If the mascara is too thick, add more glycerin, aloe, or oils. Only add a very small amount at a time until the desired consistency is met.

• If the mascara is too thin, add more clay or beeswax. Again, add a very small amount at a time.

• Follow up with a DIY setting spray to help keep everything in place.
• Clean mascara off by loosening it up with fractionated coconut oil or homemade coffee scrub.

How Long Does Mascara Last?

This mascara should last up to a month in a cool, dark area.

I did opt for a preservative-free formula for a gentler experience, but that means keeping a close eye on the product’s quality is key.

To maximize its lifespan, store your mascara in a cool, dark drawer – think vanity cabinet, not bathroom shelf. Discard the mascara if you notice any separation, discoloration, or a funky odor. After all, healthy lashes start with a healthy product!

Best Essential Oils For Mascara

You don’t have to add in essential oils, but they do have some great benefits for the lashes. Rosemary and lavender essential oil can thicken, strengthen and help with hair growth.

Make your own eyelash serum with castor oil, rosemary oil, and lavender oil. Or you can just add the essential oils into your mascara to get the same effects while wearing makeup.

If you are reading this post but have zero desired to make your own mascara, you can add a few drops of the essential oils listed above into your store-bought mascara to help your eyelashes grow.

Other Essential Oils to Try:

• Cedarwood
• Sandalwood
• Frankincense
• Tea tree or melaleuca

NOTE: Essential oils should not get in the eye and should be flushed out with water if they do. Be careful when applying your mascara to make sure the oils do not get in the eyes.

If you like this post, you may enjoy one of these reads next.

• Homemade eyebrow gel
• DIY face primer
• All-natural DIY concealer
• Homemade lipstick recipe

Homemade Mascara that Doesn’t Smudge

Laura Ascher

Learn how to make your own mascara with activated charcoal, bentonite clay, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera, and beeswax. This homemade mascara works great and does not smudge.

4.43 from 89 votes

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Project Type Makeup

Category Beauty

Create ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Active Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Yield 1 tube

Equipment

• ▢
  saucepan
• ▢
  Mascara tubes old mascara tubes work well

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 0.05 oz beeswax
• ▢ 0.35 oz vegetable glycerin
• ▢ 0.125 oz activated charcoal you may need to adjust depending on color preference
• ▢ 0.20 oz bentonite clay
• ▢ 0.20 oz aloe vera gel
• ▢ 2 drops rosemary essential oil optional
• ▢ 2 drops lavender essential oil optional

Instructions

 

• Add beeswax, vegetable glycerin, charcoal and clay to a small saucepan and melt on low heat. Stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon until the beeswax is completely melted. Its going to look clumpy and dry, but refrain from adding any more oil at this time.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the aloe vera gel and essential oils if using. Continue stirring until you get a really creamy texture.
• Transfer the mascara to your mascara tubes. Tip. I like to add it to a zippered bag, cut a small corner, and squeeze it into the bottle that way.
• Apply just like you would use regular mascara.

Notes

The easiest way to transfer the mascara to the tube is by scooping it into a plastic ziplock, cutting a small hole in the corner and squeezing it into the tube.

I did include a few Step-by-Step images in the post above for reference!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was and mention us on Instagram @ouroilyhouse

This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.