Question

All > Miscellaneous

OnTheFlipSide: 5 months ago | Last edited at 2:45AM on 12/29/2012

What is mascara made of?

I've always heard it was made of bat guano.....

Answer This Question

Report as

Answer 1

chouetteraccoon: 5 months ago via iPhone | Last edited at 7:58AM on 12/29/2012

Nope, not from bat guano.
Clicketyclack gave you the true poop -- I mean, scoop.
However, I can tell you how that idea got started:
It's because of the "guanine" ingredient, that Clicketyclack listed.
Guanine (C5H5N5O) happens to be one of the 5 building-block molecules for both RNA and DNA. It was first isolated in 1844, from seabird poop which is also called "guano" (!), and so it was named guanine. Yes, guanine is also in bat guano, and anything else that has DNA/RNA.
However, the stuff used in cosmetics is actually crystalline guanine and they extract it easily and cheaply from _fish scales_. It's the stuff that makes "pearly" or "iridescent" finishes in cosmetics.
-- However, do you wanna get grossed out for real? There's a facial treatment on the market that comes from Japan and is popular because they say it gives the skin a "pearly glow". It's called Uguisu No Fun by the Natural Japanese Beauty company. THAT stuff is actually made from powdered nightingale poop!! I swear on my cat's toes!
-- Some people will buy anything!

Helpful (5) Fun (4) Thanks for voting Comments (5)

Report as

clicketyclack: 5 months ago

Hahahahahaha Yep! I always try to give straight true poop---I mean scoop lol

Report as

chouetteraccoon: 5 months ago via iPhone

Lol! And yours smells good, even -- or is that just the chocolate I smeared on my iPad?

Report as

clicketyclack: 5 months ago

Ha!!!!!

Report as

Rathkeale: 5 months ago via iPhone

Chouette, protector of Racoons and their Ilk, you really do know everything. Thank you for permitting me to follow someone such as yourself!

Report as

chouetteraccoon: 5 months ago via iPhone

Hahaha thanks for letting me follow you, too!

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 2

5FDP: 5 months ago

Bat poop?!

Helpful (2) Fun (1) Thanks for voting Comments (5)

Report as

OnTheFlipSide: 5 months ago

Yep. But I don't know if that's true.

Report as

5FDP: 5 months ago

Its not. Ever heard of pink eye? Its caused by people touching bacteria that has their poop in it and then touching their eyes.. It infects their eyes.
If girls are wearing poop on their eyes and sometimes get it in their eyes, then i dont think anyone would be wearing mascara.

Report as

OnTheFlipSide: 5 months ago

Ok, I didn't think so but I had always heard that rumor.....
Purified bat guano? lol jk

Report as

5FDP: 5 months ago

Purified bat poop?!

No. Lol

Report as

OnTheFlipSide: 5 months ago

Hahahaha!

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 3

AlexDrakoRusso: 5 months ago

Different kinds are made of different things

Helpful (2) Fun (1) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 4

clicketyclack: 5 months ago

lol No, not bad guano although a lot of people thought so for a long time. Most mascaras contain the same ingrediants. They are a carbon black pigment, guanine, beeswax and mineral oil, linseed oil, castor oil or lanolin.

Helpful (4) Fun (2) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 5

Rathkeale: 5 months ago via iPhone

Hi MsC. another good answer.

Helpful (2) Fun (2) Thanks for voting Comments (3)

Report as

clicketyclack: 5 months ago

Hey my friend!! thanks!!

Report as

clicketyclack: 5 months ago

and, Rath, my name is Patti :-)

Report as

Rathkeale: 5 months ago via iPhone

Lady P it is then. I am Brenda.
This should have appeared as a comment under your answer. I must have been sipping the last of the wine out of the bottle as I typed!

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 6

stillwatersiren: 5 months ago

Also interesting to note, the first mascara of modern times was just a little bit of black coal dust mixed into some Vaseline by a girl named Maybel. It inspired the real product manufactured by her brother, who named it after her. Maybel + Vaseline = Maybelline. :)

Helpful (3) Fun (3) Thanks for voting Comments (2)

Report as

chouetteraccoon: 5 months ago via iPhone

Great one! I love fun facts like that.

Report as

GodRocks1: 5 months ago

That's so cool!

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 7

nollaf4: 5 months ago

depends on the type

Helpful (1) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 8

treeguy54: 5 months ago

Sewer crust resin

Helpful (2) Fun (2) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 9

NoaPaperno: 5 months ago

All mascaras are made out of pigmentation, oils, and waxes. Different mineral oils, linseed oil, castor oil, eucalyptus oil, lanolin, and oil of turpentine can be found most frequently among the many formulas. Waxes usually found in mascara are paraffin wax, carnauba wax, and beeswax.

Helpful (2) Fun (1) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 10

iciss123456: 5 months ago

pig sweat! :3

Helpful (1) Fun (3) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 11

jamie798: 5 months ago

cow man-ewer

Helpful (1) Fun (2) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 12

Red21517: 5 months ago

out of people they take you and grind you up!

Helpful Fun (1) Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 13

awesomegirl989: 5 months ago | Last edited at 9:47AM on 12/30/2012

Originally mascara was made from soot or charcoal. Through the years mascara has been made from various materials, but within the U.S., only natural and inorganic pigments are allowed. The FDA no longer allows the use of tar or coal since it is hazardous.

Helpful (1) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 14