In about 1915, Thomas Lyle Williams, then 19 years old, saw his sister Mabel darkening her eyelashes and eyebrows with a mixture of soot, vaseline and sometimes the ashes of burnt cork.

In about 1915, Thomas Lyle Williams, then 19 years old, saw his sister Mabel darkening her eyelashes and eyebrows with a mixture of soot, vaseline and sometimes the ashes of burnt cork.

He was inspired and developed the idea with the help of a pharmaceutical manufacturer, then sold it by mail order under the name Lash-Brow-Ine.

He later changed the name to Maybelline, combining his sister's name "Mabel" with "Vaseline", in her honor.

Thus was born the first mascara and the brand that bears his name to this day.

Telegram sources