Photographed by F&G for Vogue Arabia
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, American animal rights organization, Peta announced that Sephora would no longer sell mink-based lashes at any of their stores worldwide. “Breaking victory: After a powerful Peta campaign and more than 280,000 emails from concerned shoppers like you, @Sephora has banned fur eyelashes,” the caption reads. “The world’s leading beauty retailer will only purchase synthetic or faux-fur lashes going forward.” The latest retailer in a long list of brands including Tarte, Too Faced and Urban Decay to ban fur lashes, Sephora’s decision will also impact stores in the Middle East, including the flagship store at The Dubai Mall which is currently it’s number one store worldwide.
Commenting on Sephora’s decision, Peta’s Senior Vice President of International Campaigns Jason Baker says, “There’s nothing pretty about the fur industry: whether it’s a pair of false eyelashes or a coat, if you buy a product made of mink, you’re supporting cruelty.” Commending the retailer, Baker adds “Peta celebrates Sephora’s decision to leave mink-fur lashes off its shelves.”
In an article posted to their website following the announcement, Peta explained the dire circumstances underlying mink lashes, and consequently the motivation behind their fur-free campaign. Noting that mink fur is often derived from fur farms, where animals are forced to live under dismal conditions in unbearably small, wired cages, the organization explains that minks unfortunate enough to find themselves in these farms spend the entirety of their lives stressed and frantic. While Peta is still working toward creating an entirely cruelty-free beauty industry, their win with Sephora marks a significant shift that will potentially trickle down into other industries, and be adopted by other brands.
Showcasing the brand’s firm stance on their decision, a statement by Sephora reads, “At Sephora, we have always been committed to upholding the highest standards of beauty, and we take our responsibility to communicate transparently and honestly with our clients about the products we carry seriously.” “As we shared with Peta, earlier this year we had already decided to begin phasing mink products out of our assortment in 2020. We have only ever offered products our clients can trust and we stand by the people and partners who have made the Sephora experience what it is today.
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