Are expensive mascaras worth it?







I was looking for a new mascara at the sephora website. I have to be very careful with eye products as I have a chronic problem (they get irritated very often). And here came the question, what makes a mascara more expensive? I supposed it would be the components, but I wanted to prove it. I chose the most expensive mascara I could find: the Noir G de Guerlain Exceptional Complete Mascara and Maybelline´s the rocket mascara, which is pretty affordable. I spent a couple of hours checking out the components of both mascaras and doing some research on them. (I am taking biomedical and chemistry classes)
So here are the results:
Guerlain
Maybelline
Water
Water
Beeswax
Beeswax
Polybutene (a liquid oligomer, an organic molecules that consists on various monomers or smaller molecules joined together, used in cosmetics for its stickiness, also used in additives in oils, gasoline, adhesives…)

Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, another compound made of polymers

Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer
and Ethylenediamine(another copolymer with the same function)
VP (free-flowing powder that helps hold hair by absorbng its ability to absorb moisture)
VP                             
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2 + stearic acid
Stearic Acid (very similar, same but with 10 carbons more)
Paraffin (a wax that acts as an emulisying agent)
Paraffin



Carnauba (thickener, good texture, moisturizer)
Butylene glycol (viscosity decreasing colorless liquids)
Butylene Glycol

Cetyl Alcohol (prevents emulsion)


Palmitic Acid (opacifying agent)
Palmitic acid

Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate
 (used to dilute other solids and increases viscosity)
Triethanolamine (reduces emulsion)

Silica (prevents clumps and gives opacity)
Silica

Acacia Senegal Gum
 (adhesive)

Phenoxyethanol (prevents microbial growth and spoilage)

Phenoxyethanol

Caprylyl Glycol (Prevents microbial growth and spoilage)

Caprylyl Glycol
Sodium Dehydroacetate(Prevents microbial growth and spoilage)

Sodium Dehydroacetate
Sodium Laureth Sulfat (emulsifies or solubilize oils, and suspend soil.)


Tetrasodium Edta (helps prevent the deterioration)

Tetrasodium Edta and Disodium edta

Hydroxyethylcellulose (adhesive, bulking agent and emulsify)


Trihydroxystearin (Thicknesses the  oils, preventds the loss of water)


Dimethicone (prevents the loss of water and is an antifoaming agent)
Butylphenyl Methylpropional (fragrance)

Fragance

Tocopheryl Acetate(antioxidant)

Tocopheryl Acetate

Dimethiconol (antifoaming)
Laureth-21 (emulsifying agent)

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (emulsifying agent)

Polyurethane-35 (provides binding between the components)

Linalool (fragrance)

Artemia extract (skin conditioning agent with protective, regenerating and repairing agents)

Citronellol (fragrance)


Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
(fragance)

Potassium Sorbate (fragrance)

Oleth-7(emulsifying agent)

Benzyl Benzoate (Fragrance)

Geraniol (Fragrance)

Limonen (fragrance)

Citral (fragrance and flavoring agent)


In conclusion, both products have the same basic ingredients. None of the chemicals they contain are harmful or dangerous.
The differences: Guerlain mascara has more fragranced products, so like most of the high street brands; I suppose this has a strong smell. It is not a bad thing, but it will probably be more irritating. I suppose it is also more liquidy, as it contains more emulsifying agents. As you know, oils cannot mix with water soluble substances. Why? Water molecule is polar, and fats are not. Polar substances are soluble in polar solvents and apolar substances in apolar solvents. So, what these emulsifying agents do is break the oils into super small droplets (made of few molecules) so that water surrounds all of them and it seems like they have dissolved, when in reality they are still there.
Maybelline mascara has way less products, but I don´t know how to feel about this. I am not sure if it means that as it contains less chemicals it is more “neutral” or if in the other hand it is not as complete as the Guerlain one.
Thank you so much for reading this post, if you would like me to do another investigation comparing any other products just let me know! xx

April favorites

Wellcome to my blog! As April has just finished I decided to start my blog with an "April favorites".
1. Kiko smart lip pencil in 712. This color is almost the exact color as my lips. I absolutely adore this lip liner, it makes my natural lip color pop and defines my lips without being overwhelmin.
2. Bourjois powder blush in Radiant Rose (15): I seem to like this color becuase it is very similar to the kiko lip liner, is a brownish kind of pink (seems more pink in the picture) This blush smells amazing, It comes with a little fluffy blush which I don´t use but I find it could be nice to take it in your bag. It has a little shimmer to it, but nothing glittery. I have oily skin and I have to be very carefull and make sure to wear bright and not shimmer products so I don´t look like a dico ball.
3. Loreal color riche collection exclusive pure red  "J Lo" This lipstick is from a limited edition, it includes a large range of reds signed by its most famous models. This is the perfect matte red lipstick for a mid tone skin. It is more on the dark side, but it is still a very bright red lipstick. It is not the most hydrating lipstick, so you have to make sure you moisturize your lips before applying it. It stays on forever (even after eating and drinking) 
4. Clarins ever matte foundation. It says to be a SPF-15 oil free, skin balancing foundation. I have problems wit acne, and this foundation is absolutely amazing. It doesn´t break me up, it stays matte (I use a setting powder) and is super light weight and still medium coverage (buildable to a high coverage) 10/10
5. Loreal Mega Volume Collagen 24h in Black Smoke. I was very suprised with this mascara. I was in love with the loreal Manga mascara, and  when I found out they had run out of it I almost cried, so I decided to give this a try, now I am not sure which of them I like the most. I have normal length eyelashes so I look for both, lenghtening and volume. One coat of this mascara and your lashes are perfectly defined and separated and very natural looking, the second coat makes them super voluminous and fake looking (without being too fake)
6. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac (270) last summer this was my staple nail polish and after seeing some summer pictures I decided to go with it for the spring. The only problem I find is that it chips very quickly, but apart from that, it´s very nice.
7. Clinique Anti-Blemish Solution Clearing Concealer. This is a super creamy and high coverage concealer that does not break me up and covers literally everything. Now this shade is too light for me so I mix it with a foundation a little darker to get a very nice medium to high coverage that stays all day long

That´s it for my favorites! I hope you´ve enjoyed my first post. xx
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