Lash Out Loud: What is Really in Your Mascara

Alright love, you know I have thoughts, so let us get into it.

Mascara is honestly my little black dress of makeup. Even on days when I skip everything else, a few swipes of mascara make me feel alive again. But I am always talking about how fast mascara expires, and I swear people never believe me. It really does go bad quicker than almost anything else in your makeup bag. And there is a reason for that.
Every time you open your mascara and pull the wand out, a little air goes inside the tube. That air brings in bacteria, and it dries the formula faster. Since mascara contains water, it becomes the perfect environment for germs to grow once it is exposed. That is why brands always say three months

If your mascara ever smells weird, irritates your eyes, or starts applying patchy, just toss it. I know it hurts but your eyes are worth more than that tube.
A lot of people do not realize that some preservatives in mascara are actually the reason their eyes burn. Things like parabens, phenoxyethanol, and those hidden formaldehyde-releasing preservatives can make your eyes water or feel sore. Fragrance can too. Clean formulas, like the ones we use at Flex Beauty, avoid most of the heavy irritating stuff. Your lashes get the lift without the sting.

If you want to help your mascara last its full three months, just treat it gently. Do not pump the wand because that shoves extra air in. Twist the wand out slowly. Close the lid tight every single time. And keep it out of the heat. Hot cars and hot bathrooms are mascara’s worst enemy. And yes, curl your lashes first. Always before mascara. If you curl afterward, you are basically curling stiff lashes, and that is how breakage happens. Curl first, apply after, and your lashes will look so much more lifted and softer.

Thank you for hanging out with me and talking about clean beauty with me.

Mileena
With love