The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Makeup Brushes

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, an animal lover or simply want to embrace a cruelty-free lifestyle, you are probably very conscious of the food and products that you buy to make sure that they comply with your values. However, one thing that you may not have considered are your makeup brushes. Did you know many makeup brushes are made with animal by-products?

If you're looking to avoid makeup brushes that are not classified as vegan, you're in luck! There are plenty of vegan makeup brushes out there - especially at Superdrug - so you can go about your life knowing the brushes you use on the regs align with your ethos! Here are what you need to know and some vegan-friendly makeup brushes you can find on our shelves.

What Makes Vegan Makeup Brushes Different?

The key difference between regular makeup brushes and vegan makeup brushes are that the bristles are synthetic – meaning that they are artificially created rather than coming from an animal. Regular makeup brushes can use hair or fur from a variety of animals such as weasels, squirrels, minks, badgers, ponies or goats.

Vegan brushes on the other hand are normally made from Taklon or Nylon. Here comes the science bit: Taklon is a soft and delicate synthetic fibre derived from polyester which is pulled and tapered to an extremely fine point. Nylon is an extremely versatile fibre which is used to make a variety of items, but Nylon's robust and slightly firmer texture makes it ideal for makeup brushes.

Taklon is used when a softer texture is needed, this can be for a blush or powder brush. Nylon is used if a firmer texture is needed, this might be for a foundation or concealer brush. The great thing about synthetic fibres is that they can be blended together to get the benefit of both, a brush that is firm enough to pick up foundation but soft enough to also blend – science is cool!

The Benefits of Using Vegan Makeup Brushes

100% Cruelty-Free

Many products can claim to be cruelty-free, however it’s very difficult to know if a product is truly cruelty-free. There are many companies that state that they or their products are cruelty-free. But without proper investigation this can be a little misleading.

With makeup brushes that use synthetic bristles you can rest assured that the product is 100% cruelty-free as no animals are used throughout the entire production process.

Naturally Hypoallergenic

As there are no animal by-products present in synthetic bristles, they are hypoallergenic. This means that the risk of having an allergic reaction is minimal, this same fact also makes them great for people with sensitive skin.

Same Cost & Quality

You may have thought that synthetic brushes would cost more than regular brushes but in terms of price and quality they are practically identical. Vegan brushes are available in a range of prices so whatever your budget you’ll be able to find a brush to suit you.

Easier Clean-up

All makeup brushes should be cleaned regularly, this will not only make the brushes last longer but also help to remove any bacteria that you may end up wiping across your face if the brush isn’t cleaned. The reason animal hair or fur is more prone to harbouring bacteria is the fact that natural hair has an irregular surface which can trap a whole host of things including bacteria and chemicals. Synthetic fibres do not have these surface irregularities which make it more difficult for things to get trapped and also make them easier to clean.

Caring for synthetic brushes is a breeze. Just thoroughly clean them with an antibacterial soap or shampoo and then lay them flat to air dry.

Lastly, if you aren’t sure what brands produce vegan makeup brushes here are a few:

B. Brushes: Developed and designed by makeup artists, these makeup brushes are hand-crafted and made from synthetic fibres so are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.