Decoding your beauty shelf: Vegan and cruelty-free labels explained
Understanding Vegan and Cruelty-Free Beauty Labels
Stroll through any beauty aisle, and you’ll find skincare and makeup products labeled as ‘Vegan’ and ‘Cruelty-Free’. But what do these labels truly signify? Let’s delve into their meanings.
Cruelty-Free
Although not regulated, a cruelty-free label should ideally indicate that the company refrains from animal testing at any production stage, under any circumstances. This implies that neither their finished products nor ingredients are tested on animals, either by the company or any third parties. Additionally, they should not procure raw materials from suppliers who conduct animal testing. The simplest way to identify a cruelty-free product is to look for a bunny logo on the packaging. For a comprehensive list of cruelty-free brands, refer to authoritative resources like PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies website.
Vegan
The vegan movement has transcended the dietary world and entered the lifestyle sphere, becoming a significant trend in beauty. For a product to be considered vegan-friendly, it must not contain any animal products, by-products, or other animal-derived ingredients like beeswax and mānuka honey. It’s important to note that vegan doesn’t always equate to natural or organic, as some vegan ingredients can be synthetic. Products should explicitly state if they are vegan or vegan-friendly. Here are a few animal-derived ingredients to be aware of:
- Beeswax: A natural wax produced by bees to build their honeycombs, used in cosmetics as an emollient and emulsifier.
- Lanolin: A waxy substance found naturally on sheep’s wool, often used in hair and skin moisturizers.
- Carmine: A red dye derived from crushed female cochineal scale insects, used as pigment in makeup.
- Collagen: A protein often sourced from cows and fish, used in many beauty products and supplements.
- Guanine: Created from fish scales and skin, it makes a pearlescent powder used in cosmetics.
- Shellac: A resin excreted from lac insects, used in nail lacquers and polishes.
- Squalene: Extracted from shark liver oil, found in face oils, cleansers, and body products, although many companies now use plant-derived squalene.
- Keratin: Obtained from ground horns, hooves, claws, nails, hair, and scales of animals, used as a hair and skin conditioner in cosmetics.
Looking to transition away from products tested on animals or containing animal by-products? Explore our selection of cruelty-free and vegan skincare favorites.
