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Looking for some eco-friendly makeup brushes that are consciously created with a low impact on the environment? In this post, I’m sharing 10 vegan and eco-friendly makeup brushes to try in 2021.
Why choose vegan synthetic bristles instead of natural hair animal brushes? Learn more here →
Remember that the most sustainable and eco-friendly makeup brush is the one you already have. Use it up till the very end, and when it’s time to buy a new one, consider some of these eco-friendly makeup brushes. Learn more: Tips on Choosing Eco-Friendly Makeup Brushes →
The Best Vegan Eco-Friendly Makeup Brushes
Below you will find a list of animal-free, vegan, and eco-friendly makeup brushes designed to last and are made with sustainable materials like bamboo, responsibly sourced wood, or recycled materials.
Eco Tools
Eco Tools provides affordable vegan makeup brushes and brush sets that are made with the finest quality sustainable materials, including recycled aluminum & plastic, renewable bamboo, and super soft synthetic bristles. Their packaging is also made of 100% Tree-Free paper, produced with 20% cotton and 80% bamboo fibers. You can find EcoTools on Amazon, Ulta, and most drugstores.
Elate Cosmetics
Elate vegan makeup brushes are made with Taklon, a high-quality synthetic alternative to animal hair, and the ferrule is made of high-grade aluminum that is bound to the sustainable and ethically sourced bamboo handle with an eco-resin-based glue. You can find Elate Vegan Brushes online.
The Body Shop
The Body Shop now has a collection of vegan makeup brushes made with bamboo & aluminum and super soft, dense nylon bristles that are completely cruelty-free. You can find The Body Shop’s Vegan Brushes on thebodyshop.com.
Westman Atelier
Westman Atelier offers a collection of high-end and luxurious eco-friendly makeup brushes. Handmade in Japan using traditional techniques, Westman Atelier’s sleek vegan brushes are made with the finest sustainable hardwood birch from FSC-certified forests in Eastern Europe. You can find Westman Atelier designer brushes at Sephora.
Vapour
Vapour’s consciously crafted vegan makeup brushes are fine artist-curated and deliberately sustainable. They’re made with vegan hand-tied fibers and FSC-certified birch handles. You can find Vapour’s sustainable makeup brushes at vapourbeauty.com or Amazon.
Aveda (Estee Lauder)
Aveda offers eco-conscious, professional, and vegan makeup brush sets. The handles of their makeup brushes are made with flax fiber & post-consumer recycled resin, and the bristles are from non-animal fibers. You can find Aveda Flax Sticks Brush Sets at aveda.com
*Note: Aveda is cruelty-free but the brand is owned by Estee Lauder, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
delilah
Each of delilah’s eco-friendly brushes is hand-cut to shape and made with FSC-certified wood handles. The soft synthetic fibers are also made with Taklon Fibers. Available at delilahcosmetics.com.
Hurtig Lane
Hurtig Lane offers a couple of collections of beautifully handcrafted vegan and sustainable makeup brushes. Choose from either their range of eco-friendly bamboo or sustainable wood handles makeup brushes. The ferrules are even made from recycled aluminum and both sets come in an organic natural cotton gift bag.
ILIA
ILIA’s mindfully designed and expertly crafted vegan brushes are lightweight, durable, and recyclable. The handles are made from aluminum and FSC-Certified wood and the vegan bristles are crafted with synthetic, man-made fiber. You can find ILIA sustainable makeup brushes at iliabeauty.com, Nordstrom, and Beautylish.
Urban Decay (L’Oreal)
Urban Decay has a lineup of pro-level vegan makeup brushes made from recycled aluminum, and super soft- synthetic hair that’s made from recycled plastic bottles. Available at urbandecay.com.
Natural Makeup Brushes Are Hurting Animals
‘Natural’ bristle makeup brushes are made from animal hair. The type of animals used vary and can consist of goat, pony, squirrel, badger, and horsehair.
Brands selling natural bristle brushes claim it’s “cruelty-free,” in which the process of obtaining the animal hair doesn’t hurt or harm the animals. The problem is there are no animal welfare laws or regulations protecting how fur-bearing animals are treated or housed to make our makeup brushes. So that means we have to trust the very same people trying to sell us their products. And take their word for it when they claim animals weren’t harmed.
But if you think about it, there’s no way to humanely capture and cage animals so that we can give them a haircut and “take what we only need.” Animals do not willingly give their hair to us. We take it from them.
What can we do instead? Opt for makeup brushes that are made with synthetic bristles instead. Try to filter out the term “cruelty-free” makeup brushes. It means very little when it comes to makeup brushes. Look for the “vegan” label instead. This means the bristles are made from non-animal materials.
Tips on Keeping Your Makeup Brushes as Environmentally-Friendly as Possible
Make Your Makeup Brushes Last
Prolong the life of your makeup brushes by regularly and gently washing them to avoid product and bacteria buildup. Do not submerge the entire brush in water as the glue may come off. And ensure you dry them flat or hang them upside down to dry.
Only Buy What You Need
Resist the need to buy the latest launch of makeup brushes or collaboration just because it’s new. Instead of buying another brush set, consider buying individual brushes of only the ones you know you’ll use.
Repurpose and Recycle Old Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes will eventually have an expiration date. You’ll know when it’s time to throw away and replace your makeup brushes when the bristles are falling out, or it’s misshapen and no longer holds its shape, or it doesn’t apply makeup like it used to. Check with your local recycling services to learn how to dispose of your makeup brushes in your area responsibly.
Opt for Brushes With Sustainable & Recycled Materials
This is the option I focused mostly on in this post. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need to replace a brush, choose makeup brushes with sustainability and longevity in mind. Quality synthetic brushes that were made to last and produced with sustainable materials is the next best eco-friendly option after using what you currently have!
