I was looking for a black greasy base quite some time, that I would use it as a base for heavier make-up like a dark smoky eye or as a bold line on the eyes. I remembered about Lakshmi, since I knew them for quite a long time with their eye khols in different colours. I tried this black khol and additionally found out that they also have a rose water in their collection. I decided to try both products and found them in the Argo naturals shop where I have found the nice Thanaka powder too. Here are my thoughts about them.
This Lakshmi khol / kohl / kajal comes in an elegant black and gold package and is very precise in its application. It has a really black pigment that stays on for a long time. If you want to smudge it, it’s easy to blend, but you have to do it right when you apply it, until is still greasy.
As you can see from the swatch above it’s really black and very pigmented. However, Lakshmi is not an usual khol liner, but is made from Demeter ghee carbon and you find it in different versions: with or without camphor (this one is for sensitive eyes). Why?
Some history, origins and use of kohl liner:
Kohl is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding galena (lead sulfide) and other ingredients. It is widely used in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of West Africa as eyeliner to contour and/or darken the eyelids and as mascara for the eyelashes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohl_(cosmetics)
As mentioned above, from historical facts, I’m fascinated about this make-up product even more. It wasn’t used only for beauty purposes but mainly as a protection for eyes against outside influences like: dust, insects, sun,… Even now the khol is meant to serve this purpose since we are affected by different stressors like pollution, air conditioning, computer screens and contact lenses,… “Lakshmi® kajals bind irritating pollen, dust and other particles, allowing them to be washed out by tears. At the same time, the dark colour imparted by the carbon provides protection against excessively strong light.” And because of purified natural camphor some Lakshmi Ayurvedic kajals feel cool; this has antibacterial properties and helps prevent inflammation. Its astringent properties also help rid the eyes of unsightly red capillaries, leaving them clear and bright. Now, you know what is the real purpose of khol, beyond just lining the eyes in black mysterious colour.
Applying kajals is very easy: the cone shape of the product allows you to rim the inside and around the eyes easy and precisely. If you want you can also smudge it with a brush. In this case you can use the product from the larger part of the product.
Lakshmi Rose water
You know that I’m a huge fan of all sorts of toners, mists, waters, hydrolats, you name it 🙂 So Lakshmi rose water was a product to try. It is made as a byproduct of steam distillation from Rosa alba. It has a delicate scent of rose which is quite specific, slightly different from usual roses that I know from other brands. I use it as a toner, before oils or serums and even after to set my make-up.
Anyone using khols / kajals? Please share with me different experiences from different cultures please!