With the unbelievable growth of the beauty community, fads come and go. More and more expensive make up is pushed towards its viewers and its sources disregarded. As Mink lashes get more and more popular for their realistic look, their lightweight and their re-usability; people begin to forget that although it is easier to think that their pelt is collected humanely. Unfortunately, that is not the case for most popular cosmetic companies.
The Basics of Mink Fur and it’s Farming
Minks can be described as water loving ferrets, they are solitary creatures with long bodies and a pointed snout and sharp claws. With minks being naturally territorial, they only come together when their breeding season begins. There are two basic breeds, the European and the American mink, both with highly valuable fur and oil, and with only fur patterns making them different. The Fur Institute of Canada reports that minks only began being raised in captivity in New York in Lake Casadacka during the Civil War taking place in the years 1866 to 1887, by the Patterson Bros. Now mink fur farming has reached many provinces around the world, with approximately 85% of the fur that is used in the trade, coming from family owned businesses. As of the year 2013 there were nearly 273 mink fur farms, across 23 states in the United States. Together these farms grossed over 300 million dollars from around 3 million mink pelts.
Is it Cruel?
Many of the companies that claim that their 3d mink lashes are cruelty-free, tend to need a little of investigation to make sure that’s true. Since cruelty free means different things to everyone. Although it is true some companies can obtain fur from brushing, most eventually kill and pelt the animals and keep a few alive to use for breeding for the next winter coat. Furthermore, there are companies in North America that have a certification in the Fur Commission Humane Care Farm Certification and follow very strict rules for the breeding and captivity, making some options seem humane indeed. Yet, the large anti-animal cruelty organization PETA; views the entire mink fur farming industry as cruel, as the animals regardless if their coat is collected through brushing or through skinning, the animals are still bred and killed for their fur. The mink, just like any animal bred for industrial purposes goes through great mental and physical stress, and housed in small cages, faced with parasites and disease.
The Good news
Luckily, there are alternatives out there that give you the same results, without the guilt and increasing the fur-farms profit. And one of the best options in terms of similarity to natural 3d mink lashes would be faux 3d mink lashes. They have very high re-usability with the right care and tend to have a much lower price tag, with the same ability to be curled and easy use. For example, you can find plenty of beautiful faux fur 3d eyelashes at Kalinas Kay Eyez Boutique to complete your perfect make-up look or add volume to your lashes. You can also find, human hair or synthetic lashes as well depending on the price tag you are looking for and what you want to use them for.
To get good lash results doesn’t mean you have to take a large wedge of your pay-check, nor that you must give that money to the fur industry, no need for long salon session either. In this day and age with the internet and increased awareness there are always alternatives out there to help protect the environment and save the critically endangered European mink.
