Cruelty-Free and Vegan Makeup and Skincare.jpg

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you must have noticed the overwhelming change that has reshaped the face of the beauty industry – the green mindset has become the predominant one. It not only dictates our shopping decisions, but our overall lifestyle choices, which is precisely why so many brands have joined the green ranks.

However, the terms describing makeup and other beauty products, including “vegan” and “cruelty-free”, are far from interchangeable. In order to be able to make the right choices, you first need to understand the essential labels of the products you need, and the best ways to incorporate them into your everyday routine.

Defining The Difference

In order to deserve to be called “vegan”, a product cannot contain any animal by-products on the ingredient list. That means that both ingredients that are of animal origin, and derived from animals, are off the limits, and there are literally thousands of these ingredients used in the industry.

On the other hand, cruelty-free means that the product, whichever its ingredients may be, hasn’t been tested on animals during production and creation. This is where it gets tricky: some companies often use this “loophole” as a legal basis to claim their products are cruelty-free simply because they haven’t done the testing themselves, but they still have the right to purchase individual ingredients that have been tested on animals by third parties or their parent companies.

A product can be defined as vegan but still not be considered cruelty-free, and vice versa, so learning the distinction will help you shop precisely what you want. People often confuse the two and end up buying a brand that uses animal by-products, which means it cannot be labeled as vegan, or supporting a brand that tests on animals, which means it cannot be cruelty-free.

Names You Can Trust

Before you schedule your next makeup shopping spree, it’s best to do some research and discover which brands best suit your needs and your wallet, as well. Look for names that contain few ingredients and preferably use organic goodies, such as the Edible Beauty Australia line, that has everything you need for skincare and for every skin type. Think about simplifying your entire shopping experience!

Other names, including Phlur famous for their cruelty-free perfumes, also aim for variety without compromising quality or breaking your budget. If you’re looking for a palette to refresh your nails, look no further than Gabriel Cosmetics and their exquisite polish sets of various shades. As for mascara-lovers among you, the one made by Pacifica is not only cruelty-free and vegan, but also water-resistant and very durable for your everyday rush.

The Perks Of Both

Vegan makeup is often based on a minimalistic principle – meaning that they use fewer ingredients altogether, which makes them much more skin-friendly, and they use goodies that are not harmful for your skin or the environment. These plant-based and synthetically-produced alternatives are less harmful for your complexion, as they are much less likely to cause allergic reactions, particularly for sensitive skin.

Add to that the impact of not testing on animals, and you have a much happier, healthier world. Natural ingredients and plant-derived ones are safer for the environment, as they are non-toxic, biodegradable, and vegan-oriented companies also often aim to use recyclable packaging for the sake of a fully eco-friendly approach. Some are even much more affordable than you’d imagine, especially when compared to your traditional makeup names, making them a perfect long-term choice.

Ingredients To Avoid

If you’re truly vested and want to understand your makeup more, then it’s wise to remember a few top ingredients that are used in non-vegan products, just to stay on the safe side and always double-check the brand before you give them your trust. Of course, you cannot possibly remember all the nasties potentially found in these beauty bottles, but you can at least stay alert for a few top contestants.

Beeswax is one of the most common lipstick ingredients, but it can also be found in various lotions, creams, and lip balms. Then you’ll often find retinol in anti-ageing products, but it is often animal-derived, while collagen derived from animals is found in those lip-plumping balms. Carmine is another frequent name on the list, used to give that vibrant red tone to your lipstick, but it’s made by crushing beetles, and there are numerous plant-based pigments you can use instead.