Are mink eyelashes cruelty-free? If you believe that, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Nebraska to sell you. Read on to find out why mink eyelashes can never be “ethical.”
1. They come from fur farms.
Purveyors of mink fur used for false eyelashes slap familiar, reassuring labels on their products, like “ethically sourced,” “free-range,” and “cruelty-free.” But just like with meat, those labels serve one purpose: to deceive consumers. Minks can’t be “free-range.” They’re solitary, territorial animals who become aggressive when they feel threatened, and they would fight if confined to a small area together. Instead, they’re kept separately in cramped wire cages on fur farms, where they’re denied the opportunity to bathe, swim, burrow, or do anything else that’s natural and important to them and often denied even basic necessities such as food, water, and medical care.
© Animal Rights Alliance2. Minks don’t need to be “brushed.”
Minks aren’t housecats. They don’t curl up in human laps for treats and brushing. These animals are naturally scared of humans (rightfully so), and being forcefully held by a human who’s pulling on their fur would be, at best, terrifying for them and would, at worst, lead to an ugly fight. It’s extremely unlikely that fur farms are “brushing” minks in order to obtain their fur and much more likely that they’re killing them for it.
3. Animals trapped on fur farms are violently killed.
They’re electrocuted, bludgeoned, or gassed, or their necks are broken, and their skins are torn from their bodies while they’re still conscious.
© iStock.com/Betty4240
4. European minks are endangered.
Breeding and killing them for their fur does nothing to help sustain mink populations in their natural habitats.
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Eyelash extensions come in a wide range of animal-friendly fibers to suit every budget and every desired effect. Check out some of our favorite truly cruelty-free false eyelashes here.
