L’Oréal Group just banned animal hair brushes.
The company—which is one of the largest cosmetics and beauty brands in the world—will no longer use animal hair to make its brushes, according to animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The ban extends to goats, badgers, and all other animals.
L’Oréal Group’s pledge comes after its subsidiary brand, Baxter of California, banned badger hair. The personal-care company ditched badger hair following a campaign by PETA and nearly 80,000 of its supporters.
“Every badger- or goat-hair brush represents a sensitive animal who endured a violent death,” PETA’s Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a press release.
“L’Oréal Group’s compassionate decision will help PETA push the beauty and art industries to embrace synthetic brushes that don’t harm a hair on a badger’s head,” Reiman continued.
Animal Hair Brushes
The organization has documented animal cruelty in the badger-brush industry, which uses the animals’ hair to make shaving, paint, and makeup brushes.
A PETA Asia investigation in China exposed badgers kept in deplorable living conditions. Fur factory farms confined the animals in small wire cages.
According to the group, workers beat the animals and then slit their throats. One badger was seen moving a full minute after its throat was cut.
L’Oréal Group joins nearly 100 other companies that have banned badger hair in brushes. Other brands include Morphe, Procter & Gamble’s The Art of Shaving, and The New York Shaving Company.
A number of cosmetics and beauty companies already use synthetic materials to make their brushes. EcoTools is one brand that makes its brushes without the use of animal hair. Its makes its blenders and makeup brushes 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free and with recycled and renewable materials, such as bamboo.
San Jose-based Luxie Beauty also specializes in vegan and cruelty-free brushes made from synthetic materials.
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