Do you know that Retinol is an animal based form of Vitamin A?
Vegan Skincare products to use
Vegan skincare
Vegan is one of the terms you probably have heard a lot.
It is all over YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, commercials, and billboards. Veganism at its core means you avoid all animal products, most people know this as no meat, fish, honey, dairy, eggs, leather, or fur.
But not everyone knows that it also includes the clothing items you wear. Furthermore, it also includes the stuff you clean your home with, and even your skin care, and cosmetics.
So when it comes to skincare, how is vegan different then from cruelty-free? The two words are used interchangeably all the time by vegans and non-vegans alike. But like vegan and plant-based they do mean different things.
VEGAN means that a product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients, but sadly the item and also the ingredients can still be tested on animals, and still can claim to be vegan. I hope this will change in the future, but as of right now that is the way it is.
CRUELTY-FREE means that the ingredients and the items have not been tested on animals.
But the ingredients can still come from animals, which means it is possible for a cruelty-free product to contain non-vegan ingredients, which makes them still cruel in my eyes but that is a whole other topic.
In my opinion, the best choice is to buy items that are both vegan, cruelty-free, and fair trade on the items.
It is harder to find, but not impossible, and it is well worth it.
A few things to keep in mind when looking for items that are truly cruelty-free and vegan:
A company can claim whatever it wants on its label. So try to look for approval from known and respected organizations like The Vegan Society, PETA, or Leaping Bunny in order to know that what their claim is. Not just a bunch of lies they claim to get people to purchase it. Not every company can afford these approvals. So also check with them to find out if they sell to China or source items from companies that do animal testing.
If it sells to China, it is not cruelty-free and not vegan. China has laws that require animal testing, even if the company itself does not do animal testing, China does. The company knows these laws and thereby selling in China is something they do by choice and agrees to test on animals.
Vegan and cruelty-free does not always mean that an ingredient list is clean, safe, green, or all natural. If that matters to you then you still need to read the ingredient list carefully. This way you are aware of what you are putting on your body and in your house.
It is also possible for products to be vegan, and cruelty-free without being certified. So read your labels to find out.
Also, consider the human toll.
The cruelty-free label or the vegan label does not extend to the human labor that goes into the ingredients and making of the items. For example, palm oil is a common ingredient in body wash and lotions and yet is known for its use of child labor, deforestation, and damage to the people that live where palm oil is sourced, so if possible, look for companies with fair-trade certification.
I know It is a lot to think about, but in the end, you will be able to say your skincare and makeup does no harm to any person or animal, and to me, that is well worth it.
What types of products to avoid in your skin care
As Vegan, you want to avoid:
- Beeswax: It is an animal by-product, just like honey
- Lanolin: an oil like a residue that they make from lamb’s wool
- Retinol: Is an animal based form of Vitamin A.
- Lactic Acid: Is found in animal tissue and can be derived from milk
- Honey: It is an animal by-product
Poison, Chemicals and Preservatives you should avoid:
- Parabens (ethyl, butyl, methyl, propyl): Are preservative that stops the growth of bacteria in tons of products. They are known to produce estrogen-mimicking properties that are known to increased risk of cancers like breast cancer, namely in women.
- Phthalates (dibutyl, diethyl, dimethyl): Is a group of chemicals that are known as Endocrine Disruptors, and are linked to breast cancer and reproductive birth defects
- Triclosan: Is an antimicrobial chemical it is an Endocrine Disruptor for the thyroid and reproductive hormones. It is also a skin irritant. and has been shown to contribute to making bacteria antibiotic resistant.
- Toluene (benzene, phenylmethane, methylbenzene): is a petrochemical derived from petroleum or coal/tar sources. The vapors can cause developmental damage in a fetus. It also weakens your immune system.
- Formaldehyde: Is a preservative deemed carcinogenic by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). It can affect the Immune system.
Skincare What I recommend
I wanted to include a list of items I use and love to help you get started and to show how amazing no harm items really are.
1. Citrus Grove Ultra Healing Body Butter
I love this body butter! While it is a bit thinner than other body butter on the market I’m ok with that, I have very dry hands and elbows from working in my garden all the time and this fixes it like it never happened. I can’t live without it.
It does also come in peppermint, and unscented, but I love the Citrus myself.
2. Ora’s Amazing Herbal Natural Body Powder
I live in Florida where things can be hot and humid, and this powder saves me from a lot of discomforts in the summer.
3. Alaffia Skin Renewal Face Cream
Being 36 it is important to have a great night time face moisturizer and this is mine.
4. Alaffia Everyday Coconut Body Wash
While Alaffia has a lot of really good scents, the coconut is my favorite I love that tropical smell.
5. Om Botanical Lavender Facial Lotion
This is my go-to daily facial moisturizer with sun protection, it smells great and my skin loves it.
6. Alaffia Coconut Reishi Facial Cleanser
Have sensitive skin, and this cleanser has never dried out my skin or caused me any issue.
7. Alaffia Everyday Coconut Face Scrub
I love almost everything by Alaffia and this scrub is why. It was the first item from them that I tried and is what made me fall in love with the company.