Mascara has a history as long as the lashes we wish to attain using it. Since 3000 B.C., we’ve been painting our eyelashes black. But it hasn’t always been for vanity’s sake: in Ancient Egypt, materials like kohl and burnt almonds were applied to lashes and water lines to protect eyes from the sun’s rays. Sometimes these ingredients were mixed with honey or dung to make them coat effectively. And while that sounds anything but sanitary, it turns out carbon powders contained lead salts which boosted immunological response to bacteria.

Whether for cosmetic allure or health benefits, mascara has evolved with us — for better, and for worse. We’ve used everything from Vaseline and coal dust to turpentine to get that lashed-out look, but thankfully, today’s formulas are much safer and more effe

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