Makeupaholic

Where Do our Makeup Brushes Come From?

If you are a Makeup Artist or a consumer and spending big bucks on natural hair makeup brushes is your thing, then I have alarming news for you.

Makeup brushes are commonly made from squirrel, mink, sable, horse (sometimes called pony or camel), or goat hair. Mink and sable brushes are products of the cruel fur industry. Every year, millions of animals are trapped, drowned, and beaten to death in the wild and strangled, gassed, electrocuted, or skinned alive on fur farms. Horse hair is commonly obtained from horses that are slaughtered for their flesh. Squirrels are hunted or trapped, and goats are shorn like sheep. Workers are often paid by volume, so they shear the goats quickly, which can result in serious injuries. If that does not make you cringe, many of these poor animals don’t die and are skinned alive.

Many makeup brushes are manufactured in developing countries where there are few or no animal welfare regulations. The good news is that we no longer have to sacrifice defenseless animals to get a great Makeup Application. There are some great companies that provide synthetic makeup brushes that are  cruelty-free, feel AMAZING, and provide professional results.

My top recommendation for cruelty-free brushes is a company called Eco Tools. Their earth-friendly Taklon brush sets are made up beautiful sustainable wood and brushed recycled-aluminum with incredibly soft (but completely vegan) bristles. These are truly of amazing quality!  And by far, the best and softest cruelty-free brushes I have ever used. (I have 4 sets always in my kit!) These are available at drugstores everywhere.   

As an artist, my mission is to educate and inspire women and other artists alike, to make informed and intelligent beauty decisions. That being said, I encourage all of you to make a very smart decision and go cruelty-free. Not only will you help save millions of innocent animals, you will help to preserve our planet. 

For more information on cruelty-free makeup brushes visit http://www.caringconsumer.com/cosmetics_squirrel.asp

“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans anymore than black people were made for whites or women created for men.” –Alice Walker

About the Author

Chantal Savinon-Soto is a board certified esthetician, makeup artist, educator, speaker and contributing beauty expert with over 13 years of experience. She is the founder and owner of Chantal Sauvignon, Inc. in Miami, Florida. She specializes in Multimedia, Production, Commercial, and Print. To contact Chantal please visit her website www.chantalsauvignon.com, email chantal@chantalsauvignon.com or call 786-877-2712.

Professional Make-up Brushes with Stylish Bag (18-Piece Set)

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Brow Brush - $22.5 Brushes up brows & removes excess powder Modulates brow & lashes makeup Gives professional makeup result

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Brush Set (Face Powder Blush Eyes Eyeliner Lips) 5pcs+1case $136.5 Dior Backstage Makeup Brush Set: 1x Face Powder Brush 1x Blush Brush 1x Eyes Brush 1x Eyeliner Brush 1x Lips Brush 1x Brush Case A selection of professional brushes Ensures precise application of all Dior make up products Made of top quality natural hair Friendly to skin

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Foundation Brush - $37 For accurate even application of liquid foundation Ensures a smooth natural finish on face Gives professional makeup result

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Eyeliner Brush - $20 For underlining eye with precision Helps place eyeshadow & khol pencil along upper & lower lashline Gives professional makeup result

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Cheek Brush - $50.5 For controlled natural application of blush Helps sculpt the cheeks Gives professional makeup result

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Powder Brush - $58 For gently applying loose or compact powder Helps sweep off excess powder Gives professional makeup result

Christian Dior Dior Backstage Makeup Lip Brush - $25 For applying lip color & gloss precisely & uniformly Helps blend the lip liner Brings accurate desired contour & lip shape Gives professional makeup result