Tag Archives: petroleum jelly

During the Great Depression, beauty didn’t disappear — it adapted. When mascara became an un-affordable luxury, women turned to one of the most resourceful hacks of the era: soot mixed with petroleum jelly. It was simple, inexpensive and surprisingly effective, giving lashes the dark definition that made eyes look awake, expressive and feminine in a timeContinue reading “Great Depression Soot + Petroleum Jelly: The DIY Mascara Women Invented”