What animal are fake eyelashes made of?

False eyelashes Eyelash extensions are sometimes made of mink fur, and yes, they probably come from animals imprisoned in the same seedy and filthy fur farms that supply the fashion industry. Did you know that your false eyelashes and eyelash extensions are made from the fur of an adorable mammal called mink? And no, they are not by-products nor are they free of animal cruelty. In fact, every year more than 50 million minks are raised worldwide, mainly because of their fur. The term “mink eyelash” refers to eyelash extensions made with a synthetic material called PBT.

Synthetic eyelashes are made with a plastic fiber called PBT or polybutylene terephthalate. This fiber is a type of polyester that is heated and molded into the desired tab shape. These types of lashes tend to be thicker than normal lashes and generally feel heavier on the eyes due to the stiffer band. Synthetic eyelashes are designed for single use only.

False eyelashes adorn the eyes of many different people around the world and are a basic necessity on film sets and on the small screen. Horsehair lashes can also be expensive and, due to their natural shape, can also mimic the look of human hair lashes. Eyelash extensions come in a wide range of animal-friendly fibers to suit all budgets and all desired effects. For the same PBT mink eyelash extensions, some brands would call them mink, while others would call them royal sabre.

Although horsehair is still used with some capacity, there are now three main materials currently used for false eyelashes. Once you know this information, exploiting these animals just to produce toiletries such as false eyelashes cannot be justified. If you have allergies to animals, it may be best to get eyelashes that are made of synthetic materials or human hair. The problem with mink eyelashes is that they come from an animal and there is no way to fully know if the animal suffered damage during the manufacturing process of these eyelashes.

If you lead a cruelty-free lifestyle and stay away from animal products, this wouldn't be your best option. The word “mink” tends to confuse many artists and eyelash clients, and many of them tend to believe that eyelashes are made of animal hair. No one knows the specific and exact activities that take place at each level of the supply chain before fur becomes fur coats and false eyelashes.

Randi Miera
Randi Miera

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