Since many of us wear false eyelashes, we may not realize that the word “mink” on the packaging doesn't mean a color or style. In fact, it means that the eyelashes are made of real mink fur. That's right, mink lashes are equivalent to wearing hair on your face. Mink lashes are often sold as “100 percent cruelty-free” or “safely collected on a farm raised outdoors” or even “taken only after brushing the minks”.
Mink lashes are ideal for creating a set of lashes with impressive volume. Its round base makes it easy to move and deploy the tab fans. The natural fur used from the tail of minks, particularly Siberian mink or Chinese mink, is what we call real mink eyelashes. The manufacturers undertake not to harm the animals in any way during the removal of the fur.
Their tails are gently brushed to pick up the fur that is disinfected and dyed before packaging. Did you know that your false eyelash extensions are made with the hair of an adorable mammal called mink? And no, they are not by-products nor are they free from animal cruelty. In fact, more than 50 million minks are raised around the world every year, mainly because of their fur. They are mink skins that have been shaved off the body of a mink (either just before or immediately after the animal is killed on a fur farm) that are then glued in tufts to a human's eyelashes to achieve a “fuller and thicker look”.
Real mink lashes provide a lightweight, soft, fluffy and, ultimately, more natural look, which closely resemble natural human eyelashes. These individual synthetic mink lashes are crimped and sharpened to perfection, and are versatile and durable. As a result, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that all of the country's mink — up to 17 million — would have to be sacrificed, including healthy animals. Mink can also come in many different colors; some brands call them mink or use another nickname such as the royal sabre.
So what exactly is mink fur? Why is it so popular in the leather industry? What else is it commonly used for? And most importantly, how can people help reduce the numbers? There are many different types of eyelash extensions available on the market: mink, silk and synthetic mink. Compared to other fabrics such as wool, cotton and polyester, mink fur is still the biggest contributor to climate change. On the other hand, since real mink lashes are naturally obtained, they are softer, more flexible and more realistic in appearance than their synthetic counterparts. If you compare silk and mink lashes of the same thickness, you'll notice that silk lashes look softer and softer and result in a more natural look.
In addition, studies have shown that minks show signs of distress, known as stereotypes, when kept in captivity. Meanwhile, beauty company Lilly Lashes continues to sell mink lashes and uses fake marketing to trick customers into thinking they are buying an animal-friendly product.
