What are false lashes made of?
Alongside diamonds, false lashes are a girl’s best friend. They’re so easy to elevate any look with minimal effort, and maximal flair. However, not all lashes are made equal. So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive guide of just what goes into most false lashes, you’ve come to the right place!
Synthetic Lashes
Most synthetic lashes are made from Polybutylene Terephthalate. And luckily for all of us, we don’t have to try to pronounce it so we can just call it PBT. Others might be made of rubber or other man-made fibres.
PBT, in particular, is a type of polyester that gets heated and shaped. They won’t be able to imitate natural lashes the way other types might because of their synthetic nature.
Technology in the cosmetic world has advanced so that synthetic lashes look a lot less bulky and heavy than they used to when they first made their debut. More natural-looking styles are now available, which debunks the common conception that synthetic lashes look unnatural. Depending on where you buy them, they can be well worth the investment now that they’ve improved in design.
At Nicola Cosmetics, we opt for using PBT of the highest quality, sourced thoughtfully. This also means that absolutely zero animals are harmed in the process. That’s another thing about synthetic lashes - they’re cruelty-free because they simply don’t involve animals. So, if you’re all for vegan cosmetics and supporting brands that do the same, synthetic lashes are your best bet.
Human Lashes
Lashes made from human hair are awesome because they’ve got an almost-identical DNA profile to our real lashes. It makes sense that they would look the most similar to our own eyelashes!
And because they’re so good at mimicking our natural lashes, they’re often more expensive. So, it’s definitely something to consider as an investment, and usually it’s a worthwhile one.
Human hair lashes are relatively light on the eyes, making them feel quite comfortable. Their seamless blend with your natural lashes is definitely their star quality though.
As with all lashes, it’s always a good idea to experiment and find what feels best for you. They’re widely available nearly everywhere, and worth the try if you’re curious. They’ll come in a variety of shapes and styles, but a good starting point would be beginning with one and getting a sense of its feel and wear.
Animal Lashes
The most common type you’ll come across for animals is mink. They’re the most expensive out of the three options here, but it’s the most raved about for its quality (despite its often unethical practices).
To be completely transparent, lashes made of mink fur are pretty much unrivalled in softness. They’re fine and feathery, often praised for their luxurious feel and beautiful way it frames the eyes. Because they’re so light, there’s less heaviness on the eyes - which makes them the most comfortable out of all your options.
Obviously, anything in the cosmetic world that involves animals has sparked controversy. Some brands that continue to use mink fur in their false lashes assure that their procedures are ethical and that no animals are harmed in the process of collecting fur.
Nonetheless, there isn’t a way to 100% guarantee that no animals are hurt. And it’s always better safe than sorry to avoid corporations that are vague, or worse, don’t even state whether they are doing their work ethically or not.
In many cases, minks are kept confined in cages and terrible conditions. It’s definitely better to avoid mink lashes entirely if you’re not in favour of animal cruelty.
The other common variant of lashes is horsehair. It’s taken from the tail which means it’s a lot less scary to the animal, and a lot less cruel in the eyes of consumers. They’re subject to strenuous processes to ensure they’re sterile by the time they’re made into lashes. Again, there’s never a way to guarantee that the animal isn’t hurt though, so you don’t have to buy it if you’re trying to keep your makeup repertoire cruelty-free.
An informed consumer is an empowered one! Take this huge info-dump as some advice that will help you understand the world of makeup better, and just how it could benefit your own routine at home.
