Green Your Beauty Routine: 5 Reasons to Switch to Vegan Makeup

First thing’s first, let’s define what cruelty-free or vegan cosmetics really mean. The brief definition of cruelty-free, according to PETA, is that the product and its ingredients did not undergo testing on animals.

However, it’s easy to get ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’ mixed up because these two terms frequently appear together in product marketing – yet cruelty-free and vegan do not mean the same thing. Vegan items do not contain any animal materials or byproducts such as beeswax or lanolin. And cruelty-free means that the product wasn’t tested on any sentient beings. That being stated, a product can be both cruelty-free and vegan, or either cruelty-free or only vegan.

How Can You Tell If Something Is Vegan or Cruelty-Free?

Don’t worry; if a makeup or skincare product is cruelty-free or vegan such as a pigmented eye shadow or long-lasting and smudge-proof vegan mascaras, the brand will most likely state so on the box or marketing. If not, extra information about the product or brand may usually be found on its website or social media platforms. If all else fails, examine the ingredient list and apply your best judgment.

Some prominent non-cruelty-free materials used by manufacturers include (but are not limited to) beeswax, lanolin, shellac, keratin, carmine, guanine, and squalene. If you find any of these in the ingredients list, the product is not vegan or cruelty-free since the substances are sourced from animals.

The Advantages of Vegan and Cruelty-Free Products

There are many reasons to switch to using exclusively vegan and cruelty-free products this year, which I’ve highlighted below. However, I recommend gradually phasing out your current non-vegan or cruelty-free items, as producing more garbage by tossing them out is not supporting our Planet. When your existing items run out, you can replace them with vegan or cruelty-free equivalents, which can be a very interesting process and a brand-new journey to discovering products that are good for you!

Usually Made With Cleaner (And Organic) Ingredients

Cruelty-free and vegan make-up is often cleaner and has a shorter list of ingredients that you don’t even know their meaning than the typical beauty products. Many cruelty-free businesses are also vegan and organic, with a focus on using non-toxic, clean ingredients in their products that are better for your overall health. You can avoid putting suspect or plain disgusting materials on your body. For example, shellac, which is present in several nail paints, mascaras, and hairsprays, is generated from the secretion of the female lac insect. Vegan products are probably better for your health. Plant-derived compounds are often gentler on the skin, and your body will process natural ingredients more easily.

Constantly Growing Market of Products

Many excellent brands are already cruelty-free while others are yet to catch up on this wonderful trend! So the expectations are that many of your favourite cosmetic brands are likely to switch to cruelty-free and/or vegan, so you won’t even need to make a change or miss the things you replace. In the meantime, why not use this opportunity to explore different brands that offer anything you may need such as vegan mascaras, available online?

Equally as Effective as Any Other Products

No evidence suggests otherwise, so you can be confident that your vegan skincare, beauty, body, and hair care products will be just as effective, if not more so, than their non-vegan counterparts! And that is so because of the many naturally-derived and most of the time purely organic ingredients that will have a direct effect on your skin and hair. So no worries when you make your list of anti-ageing skincare routines, you will find what you need in the vegan section.

No Animal Cruelty or Testing Methods

Animal testing and ingredients obtained from animals are harsh and needless, particularly in beauty and skincare products. There are numerous plant-based alternatives for your new lipstick and vegan mascara, so there is no reason for manufacturers to continue utilising these substances in this day and age when it’s possible to do so without them.

Ethically Responsible

With our money, we can all make a difference. If we support cruelty-free brands and exclusively buy from cruelty-free brands, we may influence a significant shift in the market, reducing the demand for animal-tested products. Furthermore, many smaller businesses are cruelty-free and vegan, allowing you to shop locally and support lesser-known brands! You’ll probably sleep easier at night knowing that you’re utilising beauty products made without substances or procedures that are harmful to other animals. And by being friendlier to the species that afflict the world, we are being kinder to the Earth.

Now that you’re aware of the advantages of utilising vegan and cruelty-free beauty products, take your time easing into making better choices for the animals and your body! Isn’t it all about establishing a more humane and sustainable way of life at the end of the day?