Living a vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle goes beyond the food we consume – it also extends to our fashion, makeup, and skincare. Food is the easy part! The rest can be a little more tricky to decipher, as many products have hidden ingredients that are definitely not vegan friendly.
common animal ingredients
Animal ingredients used in skincare include beeswax, lanolin (grease from sheep’s wool… ew!), uric acid from cows, gelatin, collagen (from cows or fish), and carmine – a red powder from crushed insects. Sourcing all-natural skincare can be difficult, especially because marketing hype will tell you it’s less effective – so not true – and it’s historically more expensive.
why vegan is better
Vegan products are in fact much better for your skin. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that vegan products contain help to repair and hydrate, and ingredients such as natural oils, algae, hemp seed and berry extracts will leave your skin feeling as healthy as can be. Plus, with the popularity of veganism skyrocketing, these days you’re guaranteed to find all the lotions and potions you need at affordable prices.
choosing natural
Telling the difference between natural, organic, and vegan products can be a labour of love. An overwhelming number of brands claim their products use ‘all-natural ingredients’, however this is disingenuous, as many contain as little as 1% (yes, you heard right) natural or plant-based ingredients. So, how to be sure you’re applying only the good stuff to your skin? Check the ingredients! Ingredients are listed from all-natural to non-natural, so aim to pick a product where synthetic ingredients are right at the bottom of the list if included at all. Natural ingredients are likely to be listed according to their scientific names, so check a cosmetic dictionary if you are unsure (names can sound like chemicals when they are actually natural). The product you want won't contain GM ingredients, controversial chemicals, parabens, phthalates, synthetic colours, dyes or fragrances.
Keep an eye out for Part Two of this series, where we will talk more about organic and vegan skincare, and some of our favourite products. Stay tuned!