Vegan and/or animal-free skincare or cosmetics. You hear and read more and more about it and we at SELF can only applaud that. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of what they put on their face and body (and also eat, for example!), a step in the right direction! But, unfortunately, there are many brands that label themselves 'vegan' and/or 'cruelty free – not tested on animals' without actually having the right to do so. In this blog you can read what the VEGAN and ANIMAL TEST FREE label means.
WHAT IS VEGAN COSMETICS/SKINCARE?
When a brand says that it is a vegan brand, this means that no animals have been abused in the production of the product and that the products may not contain animal ingredients.
WHAT IS ANIMAL TESTING FREE?
Simple: this brand does not test its products and ingredients on animals. Animal testing is still a standard, especially in China. In fact, every care brand or cosmetics brand that wants to sell its products in China must have its products tested on animals. And China will also do this on imported products. So do you know that a brand sells in China? Then it will probably not be a cruelty-free brand.
IS CRUELTY-FREE ALSO VEGAN ANYWAY?
No! Let's be clear about this right away. Just because vegan skincare is not tested on animals does not mean that the reverse also applies. For example, products that are cruelty free may contain animal ingredients and that does NOT make them vegan.
So do you want to be sure that your skincare or cosmetics are completely cruelty-free? Then choose vegan skincare and/or cosmetics - so you are 100% sure!
But what are, for example, some common ingredients in skin care and makeup that are (or could be) of animal origin? Of course there are many animal ingredients, but these are the most important ones that you often find in beauty products and/or cosmetics.
Beeswax – think of many lip balms that use beeswax to give you nice soft lips.
Lanolin / wool fat – a moisturizing ingredient
Crimson - a red dye
Honey – often used in moisturizing facial moisturizers
Keratin – a protein found in the nails, hooves, claws, beaks and feathers
Collagen – glue-forming protein that usually comes from animal bodies
Elastin – Elastic protein in connective tissue. Including from cows.
Silk – Secreted by certain insects. Mainly the silkworm (Bombyx mori)
Natural bristles – just think of make-up brushes or hair brushes with natural bristles.
Especially with beauty products, it is important to be able to read the INCI list (the ingredients list) - this way you can also investigate whether a product is vegan. Of course you also have certain certificates, such as the Leaping Bunny certificate.
I hope to have given you some more clarity about what is vegan and what is not tested on animals!
