Makeup Brushes 101: Synthetic VS. Natural Animal Hair brushes. Photo by J. Zhang.
Essential tools for many makeup users, cosmetic brushes come in many brands, types, and two major categories: man-made (synthetic) and natural animal hair brushes.
Which is better and truly cruelty-free?
First of all, what is a cruelty-free makeup brush? Some companies may tell you that their natural-hair brushes are 100 percent cruelty-free, promising that no squirrels, camels, badgers, or any other animals used to make natural-hair brushes were harmed in the manufacturing process.
I’m skeptical with such promise or statement. While I’m not suggesting that these companies are dishonest, but in reality, many of these companies don't make their brushes in house but buy from manufacturers in other countries and therefore, they do NOT know firsthand how the animals were treated.
Unfortunately many popular brands' makeup brushes are made with real animal hair.
In my opinion, even if the animals were well-cared for during the manufacturing process, it's still not totally cruelty-free simply because the animals are kept and maintained for the purpose of using their hair to make brushes.
I just don't like the idea of using animals for any purposes except to love and respect them.
This brings us to synthetic brushes, the truly, 100 percent cruelty-free and my favorite type of makeup brushes.
Synthetic brushes have man-made, synthetic fibers. They don't contain any animal hair and are vegan and in most cases eco-friendly.
Better than natural-hair brushes, synthetic bristles are hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin. They're soft, clean, and overall superior products.
A set of cruelty-free, synthetic eye brushes. Photo by J. Zhang.
Depending on the brand, the costs of synthetic brushes differ but overall they're comparable to natural-hair brushes and in many cases, more affordable.
Some of my favorite synthetic brushes are by Urban Decay, e.l.f., and Sirius Beauty.
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Comments
I love your articles! Thank you for writing about cruelty-free products and being an inspiration! Kristen
Wow i never thought too much about this but it's true, how can it be cruelty free if you kept a bunch of animals to use their hair to make makeup brushes? Even if they're not physically harmed, these poor animals still don't have freedom. Great job on this!
That's is why I don't care for using brushes from other places. I bought a bunch eco tools which aren't with real hair at all. I'd rather pick animal safe ones ANY day!
Why would anyone want to use animal hair on their faces anyway, especially when the hair may be from a animal that's already dead after being exploited. Synthetic brushes for me. If you're animal lover, you should choose synthetic too.
I can tell you that synthetic brushes are as good if not better then a natural fibre.I've been in the industory for over 20 years.Any way how can anyone justify hurting a poor little animal for our vanity.Thank you for bringing this to the attention others as I am sure a lot of people have not given any thought of to where the brushes came from.
Il ne faut pas croire qu'on prend la peau des animaux morts (de quoi d'ailleurs pas précisé, il n'y a pas d'épidémie massive reconnue à ce jour) mais les fermes d'élevages servent à cela, les animaux sont d'abord élevés dans des conditions épouvantables et ensuite tués pour finir en blaireau pour la barbe. De grâce préférez le synthétique qui est aussi efficace et qui ne maltraite ni ne tue des animaux pour notre confort
It's always greed that drives certain actions, whether they're ethical, humane, or not. What a shame! What's the cost of beauty? Is it worth the innocent lives or wellbeing or freedome of animals? I think NOT! Synthetic brushes for me, or NO brushes!
I agree with all the ladies. This article really makes me think because I like to believe people when they tell me that their natural hair brushes are cruelty-free, but if you really think about it, how do they know if they get the brushes from India or Thailand, which is what most companies do!!!
I have a visual showing me tons of poor squirrels being locked up in small cages. I'll NOT support this.
I'm not going to lie, I love my natural hair makeup brushes. I paid ALOT of money for them. But before I read this, I never thought too much about the bristles. I know that they're natural hair but for some reason, I never equaled natural hair to natural animal hair or think about how they made them. Thank you for writing about this. I'm anti-fur for fashion, so I really should be anti-fur for makeup brushes and I am now!
Please recommend more inexpensive synthetic brushes because most retailers sell a combination of natural hair and synthetic. I'd rather buy from a vendor that only sells synthetic brushes.
eyeslipsface.com brushes are very inexpensive ($1 and $3 each), however, I don't really like their $1 brushes, the Studio line brushes are better. They're not made of animal hair.
Good article and very informative. I like the eyeslipface mineral make up but not their brushes either. I prefer to use a makeup pad to apply it.
Poor animals - living in cattivity without any dignitous aspect, for their hair, skin, fat, blood, meat.... think about! they are LIFE too on this earth! ALL OF THEM LET THEIR LIFE FOR US AND OUR UNRESPECTABLE WAY OF LIFE!!! they should be life in freedom and not be used to make money (in form of brushes and a lot of other DAILY USED products. THINK ABOUT! watch the products you buy everyday! a lot of beauty products are still tested on animals - that's cruel, too. you don't have to become vegetarian, but you can bann many other products, for themes animals must live their life in incredible cruel conditions - like they were things. they are LIFE as we are, but they have no rights. but you can help: buy vegan products, products without animal derivates, not on animal tested products, ecc. help free all animals from this unbelievible situation. IT'S TIME TO SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING: watch EARTHLINGS with partecipation of Joaquin Phoenix. I'm so sad! decide for yourselves! you have POWER
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