Kajal is one of the first makeup products that most young girls learn how to apply. To be sure, the eyes are the window to the soul, and every girl has the right to accessorize her 'window.' While kohl is widely available throughout the world, its ingredients remain a mystery to most. Kohl purchased from a store is heavily diluted and chemically processed.

Why is homemade kajal superior to commercial kajal / Kohl –?

Everything has changed today; commercially and industrially produced kajal is harmful to the eyes. Today, no one makes pure kajal from scratch. Some of the impurities found in kajal include charcoal, which is added to achieve a dark color, silver nitrate, which gives kajal a glow and if used in excess of 2%, causes irritation, burning, and redness to the eyes, and lead content. Even the kajal container is frequently not sterilized, resulting in diseases such as conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

Make a natural, chemical-free kajal for your eyes!!

Ingredients –

1. 50 mL Til (sesame) oil OR 100% pure cow ghee (preferable ghee over oil)
2. 1 large silver lamp that can hold 50 ml of oil ghee 
(If silver is not available, any other lamp will do)
3. 1 thick, long cotton wick
4. Copper plates (the ones used in poojas)

 

 

Procedure –

1. Set aside a half tablespoon of ghee oil, then pour the rest into the lamp, add a wick, and light it.
2. Position the copper plate on top of the lamp so that the flame touches the plate. With the help of a stand, secure the plate's position.
3. Place this lamp in an area where there is no wind and leave it to burn overnight or for as long as the oil burns. This will take about ten hours.
4. When the oil burns, a thick powdery black residue forms on the copper plate. This is the foundation of your kajal.
5. Pour the half teaspoon of oil you set aside earlier, drop by drop, into the black residue. For a minute or two, rub the residue and oil together with one finger. Make the kohl as uniform as possible. It should ideally have the consistency of eatable butter. If your kohl is too thin, it will smudge; if it is too thick, it will form lumps.
6. Your kohl is now ready to be used. Put the kohl in an airtight container. Refrigerate it for 2-4 hours before using. Take it out and set it aside at room temperature.
7. Use on your eyes.

 

 

Utilization –

Face and hands should be washed. Apply a small amount of kajal/kohl with your finger, a q-tip, or, as Courtney Cox does, a match stick. Apply sparingly to your eyes.
Homemade kajal is VERY dark, so one way to use it is to put it heavily on your eyes before going to bed, wash your face in the morning after bathing, and the remaining kajal leaves a beautiful, natural tint on your eyes that no makeup artist can replicate.

 

 

Advantages & Disadvantages of homemade kajal/kohl–

Advantages –

Extremely long-lasting, undiluted, and herbal, with no adulterants.
It is hygienic, healthy, and can also be used for medicinal purposes.
The color you get is pitch black and will not fade over time.

Disadvantages –

Smudging is a real possibility, especially on the skin.
The color is so dark that it may be difficult to leave at the end of the day.