In general, mink lashes are only called that because their texture is as soft as animal mink hair. So yes, mink lashes are vegan and cruelty-free, and have nothing to do with animal mink. Some brands even call it synthetic mink to avoid confusion. PETA discovers that a beagle abuser illegally imported more than 1,000 monkeys into unlicensed airlines.
Of all the animals raised for their fur, the demand for minks places them at the top of the list. Today, more than 50 million minks are cultivated every year. Although it is often sold as “cruelty-free”, with claims that the skin has been “removed” only after brushing the minks or that it is collected in a “free field farm”, the truth is that millions of animals are being confined in tiny, cramped wire cages in unsanitary and unhygienic conditions Before their fur their hair is often removed from their bodies. By nature, they are afraid of humans, and any manipulation would cause them a high level of stress and would likely lead them to lash out.
In the past, their shiny fur was a popular choice for making coats for the super rich; today, it is also frequently used in small quantities for false eyelashes and eyebrow fillers. It is driving the burgeoning mink fur industry, where animals suffer fear, stress, torture, illness and inhumane slaughter when considered to be no longer profitable. Raising and killing them for their fur doesn't help keep mink populations in their natural habitats. From Hollywood celebrities to makeup influencers on YouTube, putting on eyelash extensions for a voluminous look has become a beauty must-have in the past decade.
The number of European minks is rapidly declining: as a species, they currently occupy only 20% of the range they used to occupy. While the news coming from Denmark continues to shock the world, the media group Moving Animals has published a report according to which stores in the United Kingdom continue to sell mink leather products, including blankets, jackets and shoes from Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Flannels. Every year, more than 100 million animals suffer and die at the hands of the fur trade, including foxes, chinchillas, raccoons, rabbits and minks. Fur farms are very unlikely to be “brushing minks” to get their fur and are much more likely to kill them for it.
Even Beyoncé, who claims to have opted for “part-time plant-based”, swears to wear 100% authentic mink lashes, adding her name to the long list of celebrities who also support animal hair, such as Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Kylie Jenner. Mink cultivation has also come under criticism in recent times because of its connection to the coronavirus pandemic. While the use of fur coats has become controversial in recent years due to growing concern for animal welfare, beauty enthusiasts have largely ignored the use of mink lashes, which are by no means free from animal cruelty. Many retailers, such as Lilly Lashes and Tatti Lashes, use mink fur on their false eyelashes because they say they are very fluffy, lightweight and comfortable.
The first major problem is that if the beautician or the brand you're buying from doesn't claim that your mink is cruelty-free, there's definitely a chance it was obtained by killing animals.
