The beauty industry and its consumers are changing rapidly. One of the biggest changes over the past few years has been this shift in conscious beauty and thinking deeply about the ingredients that go into our products and are put on our face, in our hair, and into our bodies.
Enter vegan beauty—the future (we hope!) of beauty products everywhere. Vegan beauty is important on so many levels, and exercising conscious beauty and using clean beauty products really is the ultimate goal. But what is vegan beauty? Why does vegan beauty really matter? Let’s find out!
What Does It Mean to Be Vegan
To understand the basics of vegan beauty, it is important to understand what it means to be vegan. So, what is vegan? Being vegan means having the absence of animal products and by-products, including meat, seafood, dairy, and eggs. But what does that have to do with makeup, skincare, and bath and body products?
Unfortunately, there are animal-derived ingredients and by-products in everyday beauty products. From crushed up bugs and animal fat to ground-up horns and claws, these are commonly found in products you will find everywhere.
Don’t—we’ve got good news. As more and more people are discovering the truth of the beauty industry, many cosmetic and beauty product companies are refusing to source or manufacture products containing animal ingredients.
Vegan Beauty Is a By-product of a Beautiful Way of Living
We aren’t asking you to become a vegan, but maybe if you had all the facts, it would make scrutinizing the beauty industry even easier. Veganism is a powerful way to align yourself with animal rights, supporting the planet, protecting yourself and your morals. Going vegan in any part of your life is the single best action you can take. So, why do people choose veganism?
- Expresses compassion for every being
- Puts your health first
- Helps save the environment
- Conserves natural resources
- Reduces risk of foodborne illness
- Diversified palate
- Immune system boost
Why Does This Matter?
A large portion of the beauty industry is now advocating for you by making vegan beauty front and center. Companies like VoCe are dedicated to providing you with products that allow you to live your lifestyle in love with your choice of products—what they are, what they are made with, and what they stand for.
These companies are creating safe, quality, vegan products without cruelty—which is attracting consumers from all over.
If you are new to vegan beauty, we are helping you get acquainted with vegan beauty basics so that you can make more ethical choices that put animals, the planet, and you first. Customers today are way more informed and empowered than they ever were to take their beauty regimen into their own hands. Customers are demanding transparency and more education surrounding the beauty industry and their products.
So, even if a customer is not vegan, they may choose a vegan product over a non-vegan product because it gives them a sense of safety, ethics, and quality of sourced ingredients. Shopping with companies like VoCe that are conscious and uphold sourcing standards for their ingredients is just as important as purchasing a product labeled “vegan” or “cruelty-free.”
Vegan Beauty Basics You Should Know
We want you to be comfortable when you choose to trust the products VoCe has to offer. So, we’ve gathered some basic vegan beauty knowledge to get you started. Consider this a crash course in understanding what it means and why it is important for your health.
Vegan products do not contain animal ingredients, animal by-products, or any other animal-derived ingredients. This also usually includes the use of honey or beeswax.
We’re proud of those companies who are starting to come out with vegan products—it gives us hope that eventually, they will become a vegan brand just like VoCe.
Vegan and Cruelty-Free
These two labels that you have undoubtedly seen in the store, online, or at your beauty salon are two completely different ideas. Many people automatically assume a product that is vegan was not tested on animals. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. So, if you are looking for products that are both vegan friendly and cruelty-free, then you need to ensure both of those labels are on there and that the company openly talks about this.
At VoCe, we are proud that our products are both vegan friendly and cruelty-free. We are not about that testing on animal lifestyle!
Commonly Used Animal Ingredients
Have you ever wondered just how many animal or animal by-products are making their way into our health and beauty products? While there is a huge list of ingredients out there, these are the most commonly used animal ingredients in products today:
- Carmine
- Lanolin
- Keratin
- Collagen
- Elastin
- Animal-derived glycerin and stearic acid
- Tallow
- Pearl
- Silk
- Milk-derivatives
- Snail slime
Animal ingredients can be from either living animals, dead animals, or as a by-product from the meat and dairy industry.
Vegan vs. Vegetarian Products
Have you ever noticed vegetarian products on the market? While many companies seem to go vegan or bust, there are some companies out there producing vegetarian products as well. The main difference: vegetarian products may use ingredients that were made by an animal, such as honey, beeswax, egg whites, etc.
Vegan Brand vs. Vegan Product
Vegan cosmetics can refer to the entire brand or to specific products from a brand. Vegan brands refuse to use any animal ingredients in any of their products. While some companies offer vegan-friendly products, among other products that may not be vegan.
How to Spot a Vegan Brand or Product
Now that we have you really considering the implications and importance of choosing vegan products, how do you go about finding them? To search and buy truly vegan products, you need to know what you are looking for.
- Read the ingredients list and avoid any of the animal ingredients we previously listed or check this extensive list of animal ingredients.
- Check the brand’s FAQ on their website or ask the company directly.
Why Vegan Beauty Matters
For far too long, we have used harmful ingredients and animal products in the name of beauty. Brands like VoCe are pushing for a beauty and cosmetic world that can move forward without animals dying for the sake of lipstick or shampoo.
While vegan cosmetics may not always be better, they are trying to make the world a better place. It is the brands that become the problem when they misuse their Vegan label and greenwash the public into buying their products. The fact is—you can buy authentic vegan beauty products almost anywhere now, and we are here for it!
Regardless of where you are shopping, you need to be smart about the products you are choosing. Take time and research and get to know the brands that you are buying from. Know how the products are being made, what they are being made with, and where the ingredients are coming from. Are they globally sourcing their ingredients like VoCe so that their products get the best of the best?
In Summary
At VoCe, you can love you for you without using ingredients that make you sick to your stomach when you find out what they are. Our products do their job well and leave you with beautiful tresses and an even brighter outlook. Products such as our Hydrate Wash shampoo or our Purple Wash will make your choice to go with vegan beauty well worth it.
Customers feel good when they use VoCe because we poured time and love into making them the best they could be. Vegan beauty is here to stay and will continue to grow stronger as consumers continue to fight for better lifestyles and products.
Sources:
https://ethicalelephant.com/vegan-beauty-cosmetics-explained/
