The last time I posted a picture of my lashes on Instagram many of you wanted to know what I use. I finally got my homemade natural mascara just how I want it! A lot of you asked for the recipe, so I’m sharing it now.

DIY Natural Mascara

I must admit- this was one of my most frustrating homemade recipes to figure out. I tried a lot of different combinations before I finally found one I liked. Some versions were too dry and started flaking. Others were too thin and just made a mess. It was a lot of trial and error but I’m finally happy with the results!

Why bother making your own beauty products? It’s easy to look past our eye makeup collection when it comes to cleaning up our daily routines. It may seem insignificant until you realize that mascara is right on top of mucus membranes. And I’m sure all of us have gotten at least a little eye makeup in our eyes at some point.

Ulta, Sephora, and many drugstore brands use ingredients like talc, sulfates, phthalates, and parabens. Then there are the harsh preservatives and silicones. Not something I want next to sensitive eye areas! Now that my daughters are getting older, I’m thinking about safe options for them too. The best natural mascaras feature natural and organic ingredients. I also want something hydrating and relatively clump-free.

Homemade Mascara Ingredients

I tried dozens of ingredients before I found the ones that worked in this recipe. I tested this with ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, castor oil, and jojoba. Many natural mascaras use beeswax or carnauba wax to thicken. None of those made the cut here. Unlike most of my clean beauty recipes (like toothpaste and lotion bars), homemade mascara uses some unusual ingredients.

Here’s what I use:

• Black mineral powder (a mixture of soil based minerals-use the code “wellnessmama” for 50% off – I also drink this daily) One jar of mineral powder has enough to make 15+ batches of mascara.
• Bentonite Clay – Helps the mascara dry and harden and not smudge. Any cosmetic clay should work.
• Vegetable Glycerin– Makes the mascara smooth and helps it adhere to lashes.
• Aloe Vera– For long-wearing texture and smoothness
• Lavender Essential Oil – For scent and to help lashes grow

Coloring Your Natural Mascara

Different brands use different pigments to dye their mascara. This usually means iron oxides. You can get a very similar effect with the black mineral powder. You can use activated charcoal or black clay instead, but I prefer the texture with the mineral powder. It’s a little pricier up front, but it can do more than coat your lashes.

Don’t Want to DIY?

Don’t already have these skincare ingredients on hand? Or maybe you’re short on time. Buying natural or certified organic pre-made mascara might be a better option. For the best clean mascaras, I look for a natural looking mascara with a good EWG rating. They’ll often feature lash nourishing ingredients like sunflower seed oil and rice bran (an antioxidant).

In the past, I’ve used Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara. This one has a top safety rating from the EWG. While it’s still my go-to organic mascara, I still like making my own natural mascara sometimes. Here are a few more healthy pre-made options if you want to skip the DIY. Several of these you can find on Amazon.

• ILIA limitless Lash Mascara (non-toxic and cruelty-free)
• Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Mascara (for volumizing and long lashes)
• Toups & Co Organics Long Lash Mascara

How Does it Work?

I absolutely love the buildable texture and fullness of this recipe, so I still make it often. Thanks to the nourishing natural ingredients I feel good about what I’m using. To make more of a volumizing mascara or a lengthening mascara, there are a few tricks. I like to lightly dust my eyelashes with arrowroot powder or organic cornstarch first. This lash primer makes eyelashes appear longer and fuller.

If you want lashes with more curl, use an eyelash curler before using the mascara. It doesn’t work as well after because then the mascara clumps.

Is This Waterproof Mascara?

While it does dry well, this is not waterproof or water-resistant. The bentonite clay helps it to dry harder to help prevent smudges, though I can’t guarantee it’s 100% smudge-proof in all situations. I do find it to be fairly long-lasting once dry.

Natural Mascara Supplies

I also found these supplies very helpful when putting this recipe together.

• A clean mascara container. I got this one and have just reused it as needed. I tried to clean out an old mascara container and it’s a tremendous hassle. Using a small jar or lip gloss container with a mascara brush will also work.
• A medicine dropper (like for giving medicine to children). This or a similar tool helps to fill the containers.
• A small spatula.

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Homemade Natural Mascara Recipe

This DIY natural mascara combines black mineral powder, bentonite clay, aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, and lavender essential oil for an amazing mascara.

Prep Time10minutes mins

Total Time10minutes mins

Yield: 1 container

Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

• 1 Mascara tube
• Small spatula
• Medicine dropper (optional)

Materials

• ¼ tsp black mineral powder (use code wellnessmama for 50% off)
• ¼ tsp bentonite clay
• ⅛ tsp vegetable glycerine (4 drops)
• ¼ tsp aloe vera gel
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients in a very small bowl until completely smooth.
• Add more aloe vera gel if needed to get a smooth consistency.
• Carefully scoop into the medicine dropper with a spatula and slowly squirt into the mascara container or jar.
• Alternatively, you can add the ingredients directly to the mascara tube and mix them with the mascara bristles. This option takes a while to get the ingredients smooth inside the tube.
• Use as you would regular mascara.
• To remove, use a washcloth with warm water or use olive oil as a natural eye makeup remover.

Notes

• Dust lashes with arrowroot powder or organic cornstarch first to thicken and lengthen even more.
• This works with a lash curler but I’ve found it is better to curl first so they don’t clump.

Now that you’ve made your own mascara, here’s a DIY eyeshadow recipe to go with it!