As the beauty industry continues to embrace eco-friendly labels, it's now easier than ever to go vegan with your skincare and adopt a new sustainable skincare routine. And with expert brands such as UpCircle and Beauty Kitchen paving the way for the future of sustainable beauty, now is the time to enjoy the benefits of cruelty free makeup and cruelty free skincare.
What Is Vegan Skincare?
Veganism is a way of adopting a conscious, cruelty free lifestyle that aims to replenish the world around us rather than take away from it. Although veganism is known mainly as a diet choice, it can also cross paths with other industries, such as beauty and fashion, with high-street names also increasingly waving the eco-friendly flag.
Vegan skincare includes makeup products and skincare products that do not come from animals or test on animals. Vegan products tend to be derived from sustainable sources and are more likely to be waste-free, chemical-free and most importantly animal-free.
Many vegan products also use natural ingredients, which can be helpful if you have sensitive skin or acne-prone skin, and are looking for a skincare range that is gentle and free of harsh chemical ingredients.
As major cosmetic companies continue to catch up, our favourite cruelty free beauty labels continue to evolve and make 100% vegan products that all consumers can use no matter what their skin type.
If you love all things skincare and enjoy trying out new products, it can be disappointing to discover a brand uses animal-derived ingredients. Below we cover what to look out for to ensure your beauty products are not only vegan and cruelty free, but give you great-looking skin too.
Why Is Cruelty Free Skincare So Important?
Nearly 100 million animals are killed every year for testing purposes, just so top beauty brands can create a new product. So, making the switch to cruelty free skincare is a great way to make a stand against animal testing.
Even better, plant-based products are often less toxic for your skin (as well as the planet), and use formulas that are often derived from sustainable sources, rather than toxic parabens and waste-inducing chemicals that filter into the ocean daily.
Choosing smaller cruelty free brands not only makes a positive impact on your part, but also the beauty industry as a whole. Giving your business to eco-friendly brands (instead of the big beauty companies) reduces unsustainable manufacturing, animal testing and brand success. Just imagine how much of an impact we could make if we simply swapped to a sustainable dupe of our favourite moisturiser.
How To Check If Your Favourite Skincare Brand Is Cruelty Free
Whether you want to buy a new set of vegan cruelty free products or simply want to find out how eco-friendly your current products are, we’re here to help.
One of the easiest ways to recognise if a product is vegan or cruelty free is to check the labels.
Vegan Society
Vegan products often feature a Vegan Society label. You can find this on products across the UK to certify they are 100% free from animal testing and animal-based contents. The Vegan Society label is a great marker to look out for when choosing your next makeup or skincare products.
Leaping Bunny
Brands that are against animal testing also display the 'Leaping Bunny' label on their products. This shows they are cruelty free and part of the Coalition For Consumer Information On Cosmetics (CCIC), a company that certifies a product is 100% cruelty free and against animal testing.
Here at Bower Collective we also have our own icons on our products. Look out for the following:
Ingredients To Watch Out For
Finding vegan products has never been easier, but if you’re shopping with small unestablished brands or are just browsing in the beauty aisles, here are some main non-cruelty free ingredients you will need to know about.
- Collagen: Found in many skincare products, such as moisturisers and serums, collagen uses gelatin, which is derived from beef and fish
- Beeswax: Found in lip balms and lip treatments, beeswax may not be derived directly from animals, however, its honeycomb source is directly removed from beehives, interfering with important eco-systems
- Silk Powder: Used in a number of skincare products, face soaps and masks, silk powder contains the fibre the silkworms use to create their cocoons
These ingredients are just a few from a very long list, which also includes hyaluronic acid and squalane (although both these have vegan alternatives). To become the ultimate master of vegan beauty, it’s important to get familiar with ingredients so they don’t find a way to sneak into your next cruelty free purchase.
Ready To Purchase Your Next Cruelty Free Product?
For keen vegans and eco-warriors, Bower Collective is a great hub for expert cruelty free and sustainable skincare brands. You'll discover hundreds of cruelty free products including many up-and-coming skincare brands.