Kayla Young
When we talk about eyelashes, almost everyone wants them to be longer and thicker. There are tons of ways you can approach it: mascara, falsies, lash extensions, lash curlers, lash lifts, and more! But when it comes to false lashes and extensions, two of the common materials advertised are mink and synthetic.
What are mink lashes, exactly? Are they made from mink? Are the mink harmed?
Some lashes are actually made of mink, and supposedly the mink are not harmed. However, you need to look at the listings carefully, because lots of sellers advertise faux mink lashes, which are not mink.
In this article, we’re going to take a close look at mink lashes, and see if you want to put them on your eyes.
Contents
What Are Mink Lashes?
Mink lashes are very popular. However, that doesn’t mean that their popularity is solely based on the good things. Mink lashes are controversial.
So what exactly are mink lashes and why are they so controversial?
Part of it is using animal fur, and part of it is using marketing. Let’s break it down.
You see, mink lashes could either be real or faux. And the lashes you’re buying are faux. So you can have real mink faux lashes, or faux lashes with faux mink. See the difference? It can be hard to tell what you’re getting!
Let’s start with the real thing, natural mink lashes.
1. Real Mink Lashes
The real mink lashes are those that come from the fur of the Siberian or Chinese mink. They are sought after because of how lightweight they are.
The real mink lashes are those that come from the fur of the Siberian or Chinese mink.
They are also soft and fluffy which makes them look natural as well.
With their light weight, they don’t feel so heavy and weigh down on the natural eyelashes. That’s because the mink lashes are naturally hollow inside. If you are curling the lashes, results also last longer because they don’t weigh down on your natural lashes.
Real mink lashes are more expensive than synthetic lashes.
Additionally, you also need to curl them using heat. Eventually, they will lose their curl so you have to do the maintenance on your own at home. Just like our natural hair strands, they could lose their curl when they get wet.
Some people can be allergic to them. Those who tend to have allergies to animals are more likely to be allergic to mink lashes.
There are some sellers on Amazon that advertise real mink lashes. Here are a few:
The Controversy
Mink lashes are controversial because of how they are acquired from the mink, and how the mink are housed. Mink are famous for being the fur of mink coats, but mink lashes aren’t quite as bad. In theory, the lashes are made from the fur that is discarded from the mink as it grows. So supposedly, the mink is not harmed in order to produce mink lashes.
So supposedly, the mink is not harmed in order to produce mink lashes.
However, many feel this is simplistic, particularly groups like PETA, who argue that the mink are often kept in unacceptable environments and eventually are killed for their fur. These groups argue that by supporting mink farms, even if the lashes are not directly harming the mink, you’re still supporting the system.
2. Faux Mink Lashes
Real mink lashes have lots of benefits and are of great quality as lashes. However, due to the price and controversy issues, alternatives have been produced.
Faux mink lashes are synthetic lashes made to look as much like mink as possible. They are also designed to be lightweight and fine, just like the real mink lashes are.
These are usually made from plastic fibers but they do look just like natural lashes. They are also considered vegan.
Hard to say if something made from plastic is better for the environment or for you than something made of fur, but there you go. Sometimes, things are just murky.
Here are a few examples of synthetic mink lashes:
The Marketing
If you simply search for “mink lashes”, you’ll mostly come across synthetic “faux mink” lashes. But unless you read the fine print, it’s usually hard to tell. Sellers often do their best to make it look like their lashes are real mink.
You may even come across listings advertising “natural faux mink” lashes. What that means, we have no idea!
Typically if the word “Siberian” is in there, you’re probably looking at real mink lashes.
Try The Silk Lash Alternative
Apart from natural and synthetic mink lashes, there are also silk lashes available. These are made of synthetic material, as well. And although they may not be as light as your mink lashes, they are still very lightweight.
But to make things even more confusing, they’re not real silk!
Silk may be misleading because real silk comes from silkworms. Real silk wouldn’t be able to hold a curl or stand up.
Silk lashes are made from acrylic. They are similar to mink lashes because they are also produced as fine and light strands. They are durable and could last a while.
Silk lashes are made from acrylic. They are similar to mink lashes because they are also produced as fine and light strands.
Silk lashes can be used for either natural looks or dramatic looks. They are flexible when it comes to styling with them so they can be used for a variety of looks.
Most of the time, it is used for those who want to achieve a natural yet glam look. This is perfect for special occasions because they give you that glamorous look without being too heavy.
However, they are not ideal for those who are into very dramatic lash looks.
Other Alternatives To Mink Lashes
Apart from mink lashes, there are other products that you can use to make your eyelashes look better. They can look longer and thicker by making use of these products:
1. Other Synthetic Lashes
- 3D Extended adds maximum glamour for...
- False Lashes in a Flash: Easy to apply...
- Build and customize these 24 cruelty...
- The New Way to Lash: With tiny...
- DIY Lash Looks That Wow: VLuxe Extended...
Aside from real mink, faux mink, and silk lashes, there are still other lashes that are made from synthetic materials. They could be made of the same materials used for creating silk and faux mink lashes.
One good thing about ”synthetic is that they are very durable and are less likely to break or bend. They are thicker and firmer so they can hold a curl for a longer time.
They are one of the bests to use if you want to achieve a dramatic look.
However, they also come with drawbacks such as being too heavy. They are also not the best to use if you are opting for a more natural appearance.
2. Tinting Mascara
- FROM THE MIND OF CELEBRITY STYLIST PETER...
- LASH GROWTH SERUM: Fortified with High...
- FILL IN AND DARKEN BROWS & LASHES:...
- REPAIR AND STRENGTHEN: Protects...
- BLEND OF NATURE AND SCIENCE: The entire...
We all know that wearing mascara can make your eyes pop. But have you ever heard of tinting mascara ?
This product is just like a mascara that you apply to your eyelashes. However, as it works like mascara, it also tints your eyelashes in a darker color.
The darker color helps make the eyelashes appear thicker. As you use, it, it will gradually tint your eyelashes. Over time, you’ll have darker eyelashes.
3. Tubing Mascara
- Tetyana NATURALS 4D silk fiber lash...
- Apply the mascara in the morning, and...
- Say goodbye to spidery, flaky, and...
- Advanced thickening formula creates...
- If you're tired of your mascara flaking,...
There’s a lot of mascara available today but if you want to make sure that your eyelashes are lengthened and volumized as much as they can, go for tubing mascara .
This type of mascara will coat the natural eyelashes with a 3-D polymer tube. This is the product that makes your eyelashes look thick and long. The good news is that it is also waterproof so it won’t be easily removed throughout the day (just don’t try to wear it with lash extensions!).
Conclusion
Mink lashes are false lashes or extensions made of real mink fur, typically Siberian mink. The mink are supposedly not harmed, but certain groups argue with that.
Synthetic lashes are a generic term for “faux mink” or synthetic mink lashes made of plastic designed to look like real mink lashes. Due to the product landscape, it’s easy to get real mink and faux mink confused.
