If you’re new to the world of vegan beauty, navigating the aisles of a beauty store can feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret society meeting. With buzzwords like vegan, cruelty-free, and organic floating around, how do you know what you’re really getting? Let’s decode the labels and uncover the truth behind vegan-friendly beauty products.
What Does “Vegan” Mean?
Beauty products are considered vegan if they don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients and have not been tested on animals. This includes everything from the ingredients in the bottle to the packaging materials and the manufacturing processes.
But here’s where it gets a little complicated. There are other terms you may come across that have similar, but not identical, meanings:
- Vegan: No animal products used in any stage of the product.
- Vegetarian: No animal flesh or byproducts (like gelatin) used in the product.
- Cruelty-free: The product was not tested on animals.
While some products may be both vegan and cruelty-free, they can also be one or the other. For example, a product may contain beeswax (not vegan), but the company has stopped animal testing (cruelty-free). Or it could be vegan (no animal products), but the company still tests on animals (not cruelty-free).
If you’re committed to a vegan lifestyle, you’ll want to look for both vegan ingredients and cruelty-free manufacturing. But don’t worry—there are plenty of brands that proudly display their vegan credentials.
Recognizing Vegan Certification Logos
Many organizations offer certification for vegan products. Look for these logos to quickly spot vegan-friendly options:
- Certified Vegan (CV) logo by Vegan Action: This is a popular logo you’ll see in health food stores and online. The certification is administered by Vegan Action, a non-profit organization that oversees vegan certification for products, restaurants, and more.
- Leaping Bunny logo by Cruelty Free International: This logo indicates that the product and its ingredients have not been tested on animals. While the logo doesn’t certify that the product is vegan (it could contain animal ingredients), it does ensure that it’s cruelty-free.
- Choose Cruelty Free logo by Choose Cruelty Free: This Australian organization certifies both vegan products and cosmetics brands that are cruelty-free.
When shopping, look for these logos on the packaging, or check the brand’s website to see if they have earned vegan certification.
Decoding Ingredient Lists
Reading the ingredient list is crucial for understanding whether a product is vegan. Some common animal-derived ingredients include:
- Beeswax
- Lanolin (sheep’s wool)
- Collagen (often derived from animals, but there are plant-based sources)
- Gelatin (animal protein)
- Carmine (a red pigment made from the cochineal insect, which is usually crushed with animal byproducts)
- Eggs
- Milk and dairy products
- Honey
Some brands use synthetic versions of these ingredients that are vegan-friendly. For example, there are vegan beeswax alternatives made from plant-based sources like jojoba esters. Synthetic carmine can be derived from plants, and synthetic lanolin is made from chemicals rather than sheep’s wool. So don’t dismiss a product simply because it contains “wax” or “lanolin” if the ingredient list doesn’t specify the source.
As you learn to read ingredient lists, you’ll also start to recognize plant-based alternatives to animal-derived ingredients. For example, vitamin E can be derived from plants (making it vegan-friendly) or synthetic sources (also vegan). Silk powder, a vegan alternative to silk, is sometimes used in beauty products. And plant-based collagen is currently being researched and developed.
Navigating the Beauty Aisle
Now that you know what to look for, you can start shopping for vegan beauty products. Most major beauty brands now offer at least a few vegan options, so you may come across some unexpected finds. Look for these categories:
- Makeup: Most brands now have a vegan makeup line, including popular brands like L’Oreal, NYX, and Wet n Wild.
- Skincare: Brands like The Body Shop, Paula’s Choice, and Kiehl’s have vegan options (though not all products are vegan, so check the individual item).
- Haircare: Most natural haircare brands are vegan (like Bumble and bumble, Moroccanoil, and Biodrene), but check the specific product.
- Toothpaste: Many mainstream toothpaste brands have vegan options (like Tom’s of Maine and Colgate).
When shopping in stores, look for signs that indicate vegan products are stocked there. For example, Whole Foods has a dedicated section for vegan products, and many health food stores carry a variety of brands. You may also find vegan beauty products at specialty stores like Ulta and Sephora.
If you’re shopping online, you can use a variety of tools to help you find vegan products. Look for:
- Brand websites: Many brands have a page on their website listing their vegan products.
- Online retailers: Websites like iHerb and Vitacost have a filter to show only vegan products.
- Mobile apps: There are several mobile apps, like Barnivore (which helps you find vegan alcohol) and the PETA Beauty App, that can help you quickly find vegan options.
Verifying Vegan Claims
Sadly, not all brands are truthful about their product claims. This practice, known as greenwashing, can make it difficult to trust what you’re reading. Brands may:
- Use a vegan logo without certification
- Label a product as vegan when it contains non-vegan ingredients
- List vegan ingredients but fail to disclose non-vegan ones
To avoid falling for these tricks, take the following steps:
- Check the brand’s website: Look for a “vegan” or “ingredients” page to see if they list their vegan products. Pay close attention to the language they use. For example, a brand may only list ingredients that are “generally considered vegan,” which means they aren’t verifying the ingredients with a third-party certifier.
- Look for vegan certification logos: If a brand has earned vegan certification from a reputable organization, they’ll proudly display the logo. For example, Lush lists the vegan certification logos they’ve earned on their website.
- Contact the brand: If you’re still unsure, reach out to the brand’s customer service. Ask them if the product is vegan and if they can provide documentation to back up their claim. If they don’t have an answer, that’s a red flag.
Remember, just because a product isn’t vegan doesn’t mean it’s not good or ethical in other ways. But if you’re committed to a vegan lifestyle, it’s important to hold brands accountable for their claims and choose products that align with your values.
Embracing a Vegan Beauty Routine
Beyond the ethical considerations, going vegan in your beauty routine can have other benefits. For example, some synthetic ingredients are better for the environment than plant-based alternatives. And some vegan ingredients are derived from renewable sources, making them more sustainable than animal-derived ingredients.
Plus, there are many vegan beauty brands that are innovating and developing high-quality products. As a consumer, you have the power to support these brands and push the industry in a more ethical and sustainable direction.
Ready to make the switch? Start by replacing one or two products with vegan options. You can then gradually transition to a fully vegan beauty routine as you find new favorites. And don’t forget to take advantage of online resources and mobile apps to help you along the way.