How María Catalá Is Raising the Bar on Vegan Beauty Tools

For nearly a decade, María Catalá has been a guiding voice in makeup education, helping aspiring artists and beauty enthusiasts master application techniques. After years of teaching, one recurring challenge became impossible to ignore: people weren’t struggling with makeup, but rather the tools themselves. This realization sparked the creation of her namesake brand.

“I wanted to create brushes that actually help you apply makeup,” María explains. “It’s that simple. Each brush I designed has a specific purpose—to simplify makeup application while delivering professional results, even for beginners.”

The result is a thoughtfully crafted, high-performance brush collection that’s quickly gained a devoted following. Each brush mimics the movement and precision of María’s own hand and personality—down to the signature golden drop detail at the base of every handle, a nod to her personal style and nail art. “These brushes are an extension of my hands,” she says. Who wouldn’t want the precision of a professional makeup artist in their collection?

Deeply committed to sustainability and cruelty-free beauty, María set out to challenge the long-held belief that natural hair brushes are superior. “I never found vegan brushes that performed like natural ones,” she explains. “I wanted to prove it was possible—and we did. You don’t need animals to create top-quality brushes. What you need is experience and a meticulous understanding of how to build a brush from the ground up.”

This level of precision is evident in every design, especially in standout tools like the Arrow Blending Brush. “I created it specifically for smoky eyeliner and that foxy lift effect—without harsh lines,” she says. “I hadn’t seen anything like it on the market, so I made it.”

Behind the scenes, the journey was anything but easy. Sourcing factories was just the beginning—true success demands hands-on involvement at every step. “It doesn’t matter what factory you work with,” she insists. “The magic is in the vision. The person behind the product has to guide the artisans, test every shape, every fiber, persistently until it’s perfect.”

What truly sets the brand apart is its fusion of technical mastery and empathy. The brushes are engineered to apply products in a pre-blended state—saving you time while helping achieve flawless results with minimal effort. “These brushes are soft, intuitive, and deliver color in weightless, blended layers. Most people struggle with blending, so my brushes do the heavy lifting for you.”

And her advice to other artists or beauty entrepreneurs? “Stay true to yourself. Social media makes it feel like you have to do everything, but that’s not the path. Focus on what you love, master it, and build a recognizable style. That’s what makes you stand out.”

With passion, precision, and purpose at the heart of her brand, María Catalá isn’t just redefining beauty tools, she’s empowering users to express themselves confidently, one perfectly blended brushstroke at a time. Check out her brush collection and see the difference.

Images courtesy of María Catalá Beauty