Every day more skincare and cosmetic companies can be seen leaving the traditional animal testing approach. Vegan Skincare approach is prevailing across the world. Cosmetics companies are choosing to use cruelty-free approaches for their products. People are reevaluating their stance on animal cruelty every day. No bunnies should suffer just for lip-gloss.
A revolution has started in the cosmetic industry as huge brands and small brands are opting for cruelty-free approaches for their products, cutting back from the harm which they had been causing to animals and the planet.
This change is extremely important as it has caused a worldwide impact, similar practices can soon be adopted by other industries as well.
However, it must be noted that there is a difference between putting an end to animal testing and creating products that are natural and vegan- one that often confuses customers. To put it in a nutshell, vegan skincare is skincare that does not have any animal ingredients nor does it have any animal byproducts.
Following is everything you need to get informed about what vegan skincare is and why it would be in your favor to opt for it.
Difference between Vegan Skincare and Cruelty-free
We understand that understanding the difference between Vegan Skincare and Cruelty-free can quite often be difficult.
In order to better tell the difference, you must remember that any products which are labeled cruelty-free do not mean that they are also vegan.
In order for something to be vegan none of its ingredients must originate from an animal. This means that it should not have any animal by-products, animal-derived products, or any animal ingredients at all. In a vegan product, everything is harvested from plants.
Thus, the same would apply to all vegan products which include vegan food, vegan clothing, and of course vegan skincare.
On the other hand, Cruelty-free is products have not been tested on animals at any stage of their production. These products however could still have animal ingredients in them which include things like the milk from a cow, cochineal dye (a dense pigment which is created by crushing beetles), honey, and lanolin (a substance created using the wool of a sheep).
Thus, if you are looking for a way to not use products like this, vegan skincare is the answer to your problems.
Why Vegan Skincare and Cosmetics are better for you
You might be wondering if making the switch to vegan products would have the same results for you as your other products. What is the difference between changing a few small ingredients?
To start things of your product would inherently contain fewer additives that are added into products that have animal ingredients that are added into them to preserve those ingredients. This would be better for your skin especially if you have skin that is very sensitive.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the primary source of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals are plants, as almost all the nutrition in the world is essentially derived from them. All of which are used in order to protect, hydrate, and nourish your skin.
So it should be worth it if you take your time and choose products for yourself that are natural and contain non-toxic ingredients to flourish your skin. Many people which have made the switch have reported a remarkable difference, the reduction of chemicals in skincare products provides more benefit, who knew!
How Natural Skincare is better for the world
When looking at this through a larger spectrum, it can be observed that it is not just you who will see benefits by using these products it is the entire planet earth. As the entire process of raising animals and then processing animals and growing food for those animals can have very negative effects on the environment. In a statistic, it was noted that the total emissions of greenhouse gasses which were omitted by the animal agriculture industry were greater than the entire transportation industry of the world.
So, it is good for the environment to drive an electric car but reducing the usage of animal products is an even better alternative.
The leading cause of deforestation is the growth observed in the animal agriculture industry over the past few years. The boom in demand for animal products has led to unprecedented levels of pollution and an increase in dead zones of the ocean. By opting for plant alternatives it does help in reducing events like this.
Benefits of Vegan Skin Care
By choosing vegan products as alternatives to other products which harm the planet, you would not have to label yourself as a vegan nor would you have to completely change your entire lifestyle.
Vegan Skincare products are beneficial for all skin types and so they should not be limited to just vegans. Ingredients which are used to create these products are all-natural, nourishing, and minimal. This makes these products the best choice for your skin as they have a lesser chance of causing any irritation which can be caused by the inclusion of excessive chemicals in products.
Botanicals have been defined as a “plant or plant part valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor, and scent.” All over the world people are using botanicals to their advantage. By including things like coconut oil, eucalyptus, colloidal oil, and avocado oil among a plethora of other things, in their skincare routine, and are benefitting from the unparalleled results which come from using natural products.
The best source for nutrients and good antioxidants are plants and that’s that. In any scenario, natural skincare is the best thing for your skin no matter what is natural skincare.
In order to better understand the difference, would you rather put polythene, toluene, and parabens on your skin or rosewater, vitamin C, and aloe? In order to achieve that natural glow you all want, opt for Natural skincare!
The Catch
If a product is labeled vegan it means that it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients, however, that does not mean it is only made using plants, vegan products can also be filled with synthetic chemicals.
If you were looking to make a switch to more natural skincare options, you should not just get anything that is labeled vegan. It is imperative that you make sure that the product you are getting is made of mostly plant-based ingredients.
Ingredients which come from Animals
Animal ingredients have been around for so long, many people are not even aware of how many animal ingredients are present in their skincare products. Here are a few animal-derived products that you are likely to find inside your skincare products.
Collagen: Collagen is produced by our bodies in order for it to help keep our skin tight and plump. We start producing lower amounts of collagen as we age, so in order to battle this effect, we use anti-aging creams which are rich in collagen. The collagen which is added to these products certainly does not come from another human!
Guanine: Guanine is so commonly used that there is a high probability it might be sitting on your face right now. This is derived from fish scales, it is used to create a shimmery look on your eyelashes, nails, and lips.
Cochineal Dye: The cochineal dye is used because of its red color. The making of this dye includes crushing beetles together. This dye is then used in the manufacturing of lipsticks and blushes.
Tallow: Judging from the name, Tallow does not seem like a harmful ingredient however, it is similar to a pig’s lard but it comes from cows. Tallow can also be found in margarine, imagine that smeared all over your face right now.
FAQs about Vegan Skincare
What is the difference between Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Skincare products that have no ingredients which are derived from animals or their by-products are labeled as vegan skincare.
Cruelty-free skincare products are those products that are not tested on animals. This does not mean that they do not include any animal ingredients. It seems contrasting towards the main idea, cruelty-free should mean that no animals had to be harmed in the process of developing that product.
