People are disgusted after discovering what mascara is made out of

Even if you're doing the most natural make-up look in the world, many people hail mascara as one of the most crucial steps in their beauty routine when it comes to getting their glam on.

However, while many of us couldn't live without that little holy grail tube of magic, few of us actually know what's inside it.

People have since been left utterly disgusted after discovering exactly how it's made:

In a How It’s Made YouTube video by the Science Channel, the common ingredients of our beloved mascara were revealed.

Back in the day, the makeup product is known to have included the likes of animal fat, coal and petroleum jelly.

The narrator explains that today, mascara typically has basic ingredients of wax, water, pigment and binders.

And while formulations will differ dependent on the manufacturer, pretty much every mascara will consist of an oil-soluble phase and a water-soluble phase.

Getty Stock Photos

The narrator explains to prepare the oil phase, a technician combines four types of wax: carnuaba wax, candelilla wax, beeswax and glycerol stearate – this is an emulsifier to help ‘ingredients blend well’.

Vitamin E is added for a ‘smooth texture’ before a chemical compound called Pelemol D-2000, which makes the mascara water-resistant, as no one wants black streaks running down their cheeks.

The mixture is heated to melt before being blended together. While this is going on, the technician prepares the water-soluble phase separately.

Getty Stock Photos

And in case you couldn’t guess, it starts off with heating up cold water. An emulsifier is then added to make it bind to the oil phase.

Then, a cosmetic grade iron oxide pigment in a shade of black is added, giving the mascara its colour.

After blending, an organic compound is added to balance the pH level of the eye makeup. Other items are added for texture and then it’s blended with the oil phase.

And that’s it, mascara mixture ready for the trusty tubes following quality-control tests by chemists.

Viewers of the video called the makeup ingredients ‘one hell of a chemical soup’.

Another even put: “Wow I’m pretty sure most of the fluids in my car are less processed and synthetic.”

With one writing: “Nothing like that healthy Iron Oxide look all over your skin.”

But an impressed viewer did point out: “I had no idea it was so sophisticated.”

Topics: Beauty, Make-Up, Science

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.