Have you ever wondered where mascara comes from, and what it really does for your lashes?

I did a little research on the history of mascara, and here's what I found:

Mascara dates back to 3400-30 BC, when Egyptians made mascara from, are you ready for this, crocodile dung, honey and onion water!

During the Victorian Era, women rubbed castor oil on their lashes. In 1834, a beauty book from the period stated that some people used, “lampblack,” commonly known as soot.

In 1865, a 22-year-old chemist named Robert Augustus left the oil fields in Titusville, Pa., to return to his Brooklyn, N.Y. laboratory to experiment with a waxy substance. Seven years later, he patented this substance and called it petroleum jelly. Woman quickly began to use it to plump and gloss their lashes.

In 1917, the first cake mascara was made from soap and color pigment. By the 1920’s, movie stars such as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrick and Bette Davis darkened and lengthened their near-white lashes, and many women followed suit.

The mascara applicators used at the time resembled tweezers with brush-like tips, and were later followed by the sponge tip. They both rose quickly in popularity, but were difficult tools to use and were said to have no lasting power. Back then, there were no cosmetics regulations, and it was later discovered that lash dyes contained aniline (also used in hair dyes) that reportedly caused more than one woman to go blind.

Waterproof mascara arrived in 1938. Its main ingredient was a turpentine mixture, which allowed it to dry quickly, but smelled awful - most women had allergic reactions to it. The wand was introduced in 1958; it had a slim metal rod shaped like a fountain pen, a grooved brush and an applicator that grabbed liquid from the base of the tube. This look became very popular, one that you still see on the market.

So what does mascara do for you today? Imagine that you’ve gone through a lot of trouble to apply makeup to your eyes; mascara is the finishing touch. Mascara is an absolute necessity, as a little bit can do a world of wonder. It’s almost like a magic wand that you wave, and, viola, your eyes become beautiful. So what does this magic potion do? It thickens, darkens and adds alluring length to your lashes.

There are three different kinds of mascaras: water-based, waterproof and a mixed variety. Water-soluble mascaras are easy to apply and easy to remove, but if you come into contact with water, your mascara will run and smudge. The waterproof variety doesn’t react with water and therefore it is smudge-proof. The disadvantage, however, is that once applied, it refuses to come off easily; you need to use a waterproof remover. Mascaras come in different shades; some come in brown, black, gray, blue or green, but other colors are also available. Remember for safety and health reasons, mascara should never be shared, and should be discarded every three months from the date it is opened.

Does regular use of mascara cause eyelashes to weaken? The answer is, no, unless there is something very wrong with the mascara. It is possible to damage your eyelashes by leaving the mascara on for great lengths of time. Improper removal can cause eyelashes to be pulled out. When removing mascara, be sure to use the correct, oil-based product. Do not pull, be gentle and be sure to remove it every night along with your other makeup.

Rita Guido is owner of Unbelievable Solutions in Westerly. You can e-mail her with your questions about beauty and fashion.