Mink lashes are rapidly becoming the most popular luxury beauty product. Once upon a time they were only worn by the rich and famous, but with the rise of makeup tutorials and beauty gurus they are now accessible to us common folk. The difference between synthetic and mink lashes is the quality. There’s a big difference.
Mink is 100% natural fur, so it provides a natural shine, is super lightweight and flexible, gives a feather like look, can be curled like real human hair, and can be worn up to 25 times. Mink eyelashes are considered a premium high end product when compared with synthetic ones (source). Of course with the good comes the bad, and there is a bit of controversy surrounding these lashes–you know, besides the typical “are falsies bad for my hard-earned natural lashes?” controversy.
So what’s the deal? Are they worth it? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
The Pros of Mink Lashes:
Let’s start out with the pros. The obvious reason- they look amazing. They are wispy, fluffy, and look like your real lashes. False lashes made from mink can be worn multiple times, and if you opt for mink extensions they can last as long as a month before requiring a touch up.
The Cons of Mink Lashes:
With great lashes comes great responsibility, and oh honey, are mink lashes a great responsibility.
Mink lash extensions don’t hold a curl so they need to be permed professionally, and then maintained at home. And not only are the extensions high maintenance- they are also very expensive. These bad boys will set you back about $300- $500 plus the cost of touch ups. They will last about one month before naturally shedding.
A set of false lashes made from mink can cost you $30- $50 per pair (and from experience manufacturing them, I can tell you that they’re pretty pricey on the factory’s end, too). $30-$50 is pretty pricey for one pair of lashes, but considering you can wear them about 25 times, they may be worth the investment.
Are Mink Lashes Cruelty-Free?
And now for the elephant in the room…
Any product made with the help of our furry friends should be examined for possible cruelty. Mink (and fur in general) has had a long history of controversy. Some companies claim that their mink lashes are “cruelty free” because the fur used to make them is obtained from brushing the animal, as opposed to killing it, but even then the process can still be questionable.
A media liaison from PETA doesn’t believe in ‘cruelty free’ mink lashes, “these lashes are not PETA-approved. Even if the companies that sell mink eyelashes claim to obtain the fur by brushing live minks, those minks still suffer on farms and ultimately will be killed for their fur. We encourage consumers to choose alternatives to any materials that are derived from animals, ensuring that they are not contributing to an industry that causes suffering.”
So while even though the animal isn’t being killed for its fur, the conditions they are living in aren’t exactly the definition of “cruelty free.” Mercy for Animals, an Ohio-based nonprofit, points out some of the cruel conditions that minks suffer on breeding farms, including self-mutilation, small cages, chronic stress, and infected wounds.
Takeaways: The 411 on Mink Lashes
So are mink lashes worth it? In my opinion.. probably not.
Not only are they incredibly high maintenance, they are also expensive and cause unnecessary harm to the animals used to make them. I would say pass on these and go with faux mink, or synthetic lashes. There are tons of great options out there for both!
And as you all know, if you’re looking to improve your natural lashes and skip the falsies, WINK is a great natural (organic!) option for keeping your natural lashes long, strong and healthy.
