A vegan lifestyle encompasses many aspects of everyday life. With vegans, for example, the renunciation usually does not stop with animal foods, but also includes the selection of cosmetics. What you should know about vegan cosmetics and how to recognize them?

Vegan products are free from ingredients of animal origin. But where are animal ingredients actually hidden? Groceries such as meat, cheese or milk are easy to identify, but it becomes more difficult with other products. This applies to cosmetics, for example. Because the vegan lifestyle does not stop with nutrition, but also includes other areas of daily life. Read here how you can recognize vegan cosmetics and how animal-free, vegan and natural cosmetics differ.

What is vegan cosmetics?

Cosmetics labeled as vegan do not contain any ingredients that are produced by or from animals. One ingredient that is commonly found in cosmetic products but is not vegan is honey. However, you should note that there are also vegan cosmetics that do not contain any animal ingredients, but are nevertheless tested on animals.

The vegan flower, which is the vegan label of the Vegan Society and prohibits the use of all animal-derived ingredients, is also helpful for identification. Animal testing is also prohibited in the development and manufacture of products. The label is a good guide to identifying vegan cosmetics that contain neither ingredients of animal origin nor those that have been tested on animals. You can find more explanations of the relevant seals of quality, which also identify cosmetics that are not tested on animals, in this stern article.

Are vegan cosmetics not tested on animals?

No, the attribute vegan does not mean that the ingredients have not been tested on animals. It’s paradoxical, because the vegan lifestyle should avoid animal suffering, but vegan cosmetics can also be tested on animals. Therefore, find out exactly whether the cosmetics brand of your choice tests on animals or not. The easiest way to do this is with the help of the “Peta animal testing-free list”. The animal rights organization Peta only includes cosmetics manufacturers with clear guidelines against animal testing on this list. Therefore, the list only includes companies whose company policy clearly takes a stance against animal testing and thus help to avoid animal suffering and eliminate it completely in the future. The companies listed do not test on animals and guarantee that neither do their suppliers or third parties. A listing will also only take place if the companies submit extensive written questionnaires and binding declarations.

Find vegan cosmetics

For example, the following three brands that offer vegan cosmetics are on the positive list and therefore do not test on animals.

Vegan cosmetics from “Santaverde”

“Santaverde” has been producing natural cosmetics for 30 years. Ecological and social responsibility as well as sustainable thinking and acting make up the corporate philosophy. “Santaverde” relies on aloe vera for product development. The rich sap of the plant is supplemented with plant oils and extracts. The cosmetics should support the natural process of skin regeneration. A product that is mostly used daily is aloe vera face care. In this way you provide your skin with sufficient moisture throughout the day.

Vegan cosmetics from “Colibri Cosmetics”

The cosmetics company “Colibri cosmetics” produces vegan products for skin care and even manufactures them in Germany. The basis for products from “Colibri cosmetics” are vegan raw materials from nature, they are supplemented by effective, synthetic active ingredients from the laboratory, so that substances of animal origin are completely dispensed with. Moisturizing and a good product to start with is a hyaluron serum that you can use daily.

Vegane Kosmetik von “Lamazuna”

The company “Lamazuna” not only pays attention to vegan and animal-free manufacturing methods in the production of its products, but also produces waste-free natural cosmetics. The range therefore includes many solid care products that do not require plastic packaging. Including this solid shampoo coconut-vanilla. Natural and high-quality ingredients from organic farming are also in focus. “Lamazuna” was the first French company to be certified with the PETA rabbit and is on the positive list.

Are natural cosmetics vegan?

The term natural cosmetics is not protected and can therefore be used freely by manufacturers. Only natural cosmetics that are certified with a seal meet certain standards (you can read more about natural cosmetics seals in this stern article). The guidelines vary depending on the seal, so that permitted ingredients or animal testing are regulated differently. In principle, natural cosmetics are not automatically vegan, because the term primarily means that oils, fats, waxes as well as fragrances and colorings are only made from vegetable and mineral substances. Paraffins, silicones and synthetic fragrances and dyes are not permitted in natural cosmetics. It is best to look for the vegan flower, so you can see at a glance whether the natural cosmetics of your choice are also vegan.

Sources: Consumer Center, Peta

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