What are the ingredients in mascara?

Answer 1

Water resistant mascaras have a composition based on a volatile solvent (isododecane - an Isomerof Dodecane), animal-derived waxes (Beeswax), vegetal based waxes (Carnauba_wax, rice bran wax, candelila wax), mineral origin wax (Ozokerite, Paraffin), pigments (iron oxide, ultramarine) and filmifying polymers. These mascaras do not contain water-sensitive moieties, offering an excellent resistance to tears, sweat or rain. As a result, these mascaras can only be removed with a specific make-up remover, able to dilute the dried mascara film.

Egg whites are often used in colored mascara.

Non water-resistant mascaras are based on water, soft surfactants (like Triethanolaminestearate), animal-derived waxes (Beeswax), vegetal based waxes (Carnauba_wax, rice bran wax, candelilla wax), mineral origin waxes (ozokerite, Paraffin), pigments (iron oxide, ultramarine), thickening polymers (gum Arabic, hydrophobically modified cellulose) and on preservatives. These mascaras can run under the effect of tears, but are easily removed with some soap and water.

Polymers in a water dispersed form (latexes) can bring some level of water resistance to the group of normally non-water resistant mascaras.

Waterproof mascaras are similar to oil-based or solvent-based paints. Non water-resistant mascaras behave like water based paints. For intermediate water sensitivity, mascaras and latex-based paints (acrylates) contain polymer dispersions.

thanks to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascara