Vegan cosmetics are natural or cruelty-free? Some facts and misconceptions about vegan beauty you need to know
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of all animal products, especially in food, as well as an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals – a vegan lifestyle is rooted in not just a concern for health, but also a concern for the environment and ethics broadly. The number of vegans worldwide has increased significantly over the past decade, for example, the number of vegans in the UK quadrupled between 2014 and 2019, according to the Vegan Society [1].
On vegan beauty products, the global is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2022 to 2030 to be worth $26.2n by 2030, as per Grand View Research[2].
What are “Vegan” cosmetics?
Quite simply, veganism means the absence of animal ingredients. Accordingly, vegan cosmetics are made without any traces of animal origin – traditional materials such as honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, elastin, etc. must thus be excluded.
What are common misconceptions about vegan cosmetics?
#1: Is Vegan natural or organic?
No. Even though vegan cosmetics are mostly plant-based, they can also contain synthetic ingredients – the only condition is that the ingredients not originate from animals.
#2: Is Vegan Cruelty-free?
No. Cruelty-free means the products have not been tested on animals, but vegan only implies that the product doesn’t include any animal-derived ingredients. Vegan products could have been tested on animals.
#3: Is Vegan Allergic-free?
No. There is no guarantee that a vegan product is free from allergens. It cannot be emphasized enough – each product carries with it a risk of allergic reactions, some mild and some severe.
As a rule of thumb, always check the list of ingredients, or consult with your physician, before switching to new cosmetic product routines. At JAN, we have vegan products and can tailor-make vegan products for you. Talk to us for more information.
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