Vegan Vs. Cruelty Free Products: What’s The Difference?
The difference between vegan and cruelty-free products is often misunderstood, and some people assume they are interchangeable. However, this is not the case, and the distinction is important, particularly if you are making purchasing decisions based on your ethical values or health concerns. Here’s a look at the exact meaning of each term.
What does a vegan label on a skin or haircare product mean?
A vegan label on a product, such as vegan SPF moisturisers, means that it does not contain any animal derived ingredients or by-products. This includes ingredients that are commonly found in non-vegan cosmetics and toiletries, such as beeswax and lanolin (a waxy substance derived from sheep’s fleeces that is often used in creams).
Non-vegan anti-ageing creams often contain collagen, which is a protein that occurs naturally in the body and is involved in the building and repair of skin cells. We naturally produce less of it as we get older, which can result in wrinkles, lines and sagging skin.
There is some evidence that creams, gels or face masks containing collagen as an active ingredient can help to combat these signs of ageing. The ingredient may be variously listed as marine collagen, collagen peptides, or hydrolyzed collagen, which are derived from animal proteins.
Some hair care products, particularly those described as ‘strengthening’, ‘repairing’, or ‘deep conditioning’, contain keratin, which can be derived from ground up animal hooves and horns. Finally, some makeup products such as blusher, eyeshadow and lipstick contain carmine, which is a red pigment derived from crushed beetles.
Vegan alternatives for many of these ingredients can be found, whether plant-based or synthetic. For example, there are vegan collagen products available, which do not contain actual collagen, but will usually contain amino-acids that are proven to boost collagen production within the body.
However, you should not automatically assume that a product labelled vegan is also cruelty-free.
The meaning of ‘cruelty-fee’ skin and haircare products
A product that is labelled as ‘cruelty-free’ means that it has not been tested on animals at any stage during the manufacturing process, from the raw ingredients to trial formulas and the final product that is delivered to stores or direct to consumers.
In other words, for a brand to be allowed to market a product as ‘cruelty-free’, it must not have been tested on animals at any stage in the supply chain. However, a product labelled ‘cruelty-free’ may contain ingredients that have derived from animals, such as lanolin or beeswax.
The label only refers to the practice of testing products on animals to check for adverse reactions.
Can products be vegan and cruelty-free?
The simple answer is yes. In fact, many countries, including the UK and EU member states, ban the testing of cosmetic products on animals, with certain tightly-regulated exceptions. Therefore if you are purchasing a vegan product from a UK supplier, there is a strong likelihood that it is also cruelty-free, with some exceptions such as certain sun creams
Look for verification, such as badges on the packaging or company website: Leaping Bunny or PETA’s Cruelty-Free, which guarantees no animal testing, and Vegan Society or Certified Vegan, which ensures no animal-derived ingredients.
Why choose vegan and cruelty free?
For some people, it’s an ethical choice: the testing of cosmetics on animals can be uncomfortable or painful or even life-limiting for them, and they obviously have no choice in the matter. There are usually alternative ways to safely test and develop new products, so in many cases the suffering is unnecessary.
Making vegan choices promotes ethical and sustainable farming practices and can lower the environmental impact of the product. Some people also choose vegan skin and hair care products because they are gentler on the skin, and more suitable for people with allergies and conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
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