Beauties, this is such a popular question! Most people always look at my brushes and gush over the fact that I have so many! In fact, I probably have over 100 makeup brushes in my professional makeup kit. I've probably used every brush at least twice. However, have you ever thought about how makeup brushes are made? Or even what they are made of? Are makeup brushes vegan? I dived into some research, and with the help of my mentor, Sonia Roselli, I have some answers for you! So let's get right in!
Are makeup brushes vegan?
Yes and no. So why is that? Well my friends, some makeup brushes are made with natural hair (animals), and some are made with synthetic fibers. So while some makeup brushes are vegan, not all of them are.
What is "vegan," anyway?
So first of all, how do we know what is and isn't vegan? I want to first talk about the concept of veganism. Veganism is the purposeful practice of not using any animal products in both diet and philosophy. So basically, vegans do not eat, consume, or use any animal products.
Natural Hair Makeup Brushes
We can automatically take natural hair brushes out of the mix. Natural hair brushes are made from animals. Most commonly pony, goat, weasel, squirrel. Because these brushes are made from animal hair, they are not vegan. And if I am being quite honest, this isn't the most humane way to create makeup brushes.
However, this type of hair is perfect to work with powder products. You will notice that I do carry natural hair makeup brushes in my professional makeup kit. This hair texture is perfect for powder products because it gently smooths powders on any area of the face without rubbing against or dragging the skin.
Synthetic Hair Makeup Brushes
These brushes are made from synthetic fibers. They are usually made out of nylon, polyester, and even plastic. Technically, synthetic hair makeup brushes are vegan. I say technically because it depends on the ethical stance of the company making the brushes. A synthetic hair makeup brush company is truly vegan if they are taking the steps to make sure that their brushes are cruelty-free. You also want to make sure that like makeup products, companies are not testing brushes on animals, too!
A lot of companies self-proclaim the idea of being cruelty-free. If you are unsure, do a quick search on the internet, you will definitely find out which brands are truly cruelty-free, vegan makeup brushes!
Friends, I will admit that this is not the most environmentally-friendly approach. Unfortunately at this time period, you do have to decide which is more important: cruelty-free, or environmentally-friendly.
Synthetic fiber brushes are perfect for creams, gels, and liquids, because they are less porous compared to natural hair makeup brushes. The fibers in these brushes will pick up cream products and smooth them right onto the skin. They make applying creams super easy!
The Downlow
So my friends, the downlow is this: yes, there are vegan makeup brushes out there! You really do have to do your research into companies and find their ethical practices in order to make sure that the company and the brushes are actually vegan. It does take a little time, but know that there are options out there!
If you are ready to find vegan makeup brushes, you are in luck! I can help you shop for great brushes that will help you achieve the perfect makeup look everytime! During your Personal Makeup Shopping appointment, we will talk all things brushes! To learn more about Personal Makeup Shopping, book your FREE 15-minute phone consultation today!
<3 Carla