The first use of mascara can be documented around 4000 BC by the ancient Egyptians using a substance called kohl. The product that people would recognize today did not develop until the 19th century by a chemist named Eugene Rimmel (I’m guessing in London cuz… of the “Rimmel London Look”).  Across the Atlantic and around roughly the same time (1913) T. L. Williams created a very similar substance for his sister Maybel. Long story short…. “Maybelline” was born!!!

(I loosely paraphrased this from Wikipedia. I suggest you look it up. Very interesting.)

People were developing their own mascara recipes all over the world. Including my grandmother!!

Now I would just like to point out that I DO NOT advocate trying this at home. It is dangerous and if you cry one single tear you will burn the crap out of your eyes!!! But in the 1930′s in Quito, Ecuador;  Maria Angelica de Endara was such a glamourpuss that she couldn’t live without long lucious lashes for one single minute.

See?? I keep telling everyone, it’s in my blood. I just can’t help it. I feel this only proves it.

I had to call my mother and ask her how Abuelita (Grandmother in Spanish) made it. She gave it to me as well as she could remember… Although she did make me swear I would not try to make it myself.

Abuelita would take a soap called “Jabon Rosado” (loosely translates into pink soap) and shred it. I guess maybe with a cheese grater??? I didn’t think to ask that part. Sorry.

Then she would take a candle and burn the bottom of a tea kettle until black soot formed. She would scrape all this black soot off then mix it with the soap until it turned into a nice creamy mixture. And then POOF!!! There was her mascara!!!

I remember she used to keep it in a Ponds Cold Cream jar.

My mother did say that it was the best mascara she had ever used. Everyone in school called her “spider lashes” because they were so long and thick. But don’t even think about crying!!!

All in the name of beauty, style and glamour……

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