Vegan & Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

Buying vegan cosmetics and personal hygiene items seems like a daunting task. But it is not!

Now you can find a variety of products, but you need to be able to distinguish products that are in line with vegan ethics!

Vegan & Cruelty-Free:

They are often used as synonymous terms. But it is not. They mean different things.

There are dozens of stamps, certifications and fancy descriptions that state why a particular product is great and why you should buy it.

One of the most sought after terms these days is the “vegan” label. According to recent market research, sales of vegan cosmetics are only 100% higher this year. The main consumers are the 16 to 34 age group, which is probably more concerned about animal welfare.

But what does vegan cosmetics mean? How is it translated? And how is it different from “cruelty-free” products?

The two terms tend to be used alternatively, but mean different things.

Vegan:

The “Vegan” label means that a product does not contain animal products or ingredients of animal origin. It describes the ingredients and not the production process. It is certified as “vegan” by certain official bodies, but this does not always mean that the product (or raw materials) have not been tested on animals. For example, there may be a vegan cosmetic that is not cruelty free, ie it is a cosmetic product made 100% with herbal ingredients, all or some of which have been tested on animals for their safety.

Cruelty Free:

It is characterized as the product for which no animal experiments were performed, neither for the final product, nor for the raw materials it contains. This does not mean that it does not contain raw materials derived from animals. The term “cruelty free” has real value, only when certain conditions are taken into account, which we will see below.

So it is possible that a cruelty free cosmetic product contains non-vegan ingredients. Such as honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, albumin, carmine, cholesterol or gelatin.

Vegan & Cruelty-Free Cosmetics. So what should someone look for?

The best option is to look for labels on beauty and skin care products that have both terms on their label: vegan and cruelty free. They are harder to find but not impossible. Especially as demand increases and companies respond.

What you need to remember!
A company can claim anything on a label, so seek accreditation from reputable and reputable organizations. Select Cruelty-Free, The Vegan Society, PETA or Leaping Bunny to find out if the validity of the label is supported.

Also, keep in mind that the “Vegan” and “Cruelty Free” labels do not necessarily mean that these cosmetics contain ingredients that are “clean”, safe, green or natural. You need to read the label carefully to make sure you do not put dangerous chemicals on your skin.