Kohl, famously known as Kajal or Kajol is basically an ancient eye cosmetic which is traditionally made by grinding stibnite (Sb2 S3) for use similar to that of charcoal but in mascara. It is commonly and widely used in West, South and North Africa, Middle East. It is mostly worn by women, but also by some children and men. Traditional Kohls come in a few different forms, as a creamy stick or pencils, in a squeeze tube, or in a pot similar to a powder formula. This last form is usually kept on hand for religious purposes, applied delicately with a clean finger or a separate applicator, but it may also be used as makeup if you’re old school. Many countries have raised questions regarding the safety of Kohl due to the danger of lead poisoning.
Kohl is also allowed in Islam. In Islam, our Prophet Muhammad also used kohl and it is used by many Muslim men today during The month of Ramadan as a sign of devotion.
In the United States, kohl is not on the list of color additives approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which considers kohl unsafe for use due to its potential lead content. It is illegal to import into, or sell in, the United States.
