How do you define vegan skincare/cosmetics

[TVS]

Hi dear vegans,

I would like to know how you define vegan cosmetics.

I am doing research for my site on the actual definition of vegan skincare/cosmetics.

What is shocking is that different stakeholders define the term "vegan" differently when it comes to cosmetics. Some stakeholders claim vegan skincare can be tested on animals as the term only refers to ingredients... To me as a vegan that is ludicrous...

So, how do you define vegan skincare?

Ideally, if you answer you can note where you are from since I think that affects the perception a little bit too.

Thank you so much

 

[Lou]

yes its true,
the generally accepted definition of vegan skincare (also cosmetics and household products) are products that don't contain any animal products.

Cruelty Free goes above and beyond vegan. No animal testing.

I don't think all vegan products are cruelty free. but I think most vegans want their products to be both.

More than ever, compassionate companies are choosing to make their products without testing on animals. And we love them for it! For people looking to cut all animal-derived items out of their life, vegan cosmetics are the way to go. Cruelty-free means that the product was developed without any tests on animals, while vegan means that the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients.​

Vegan Makeup Products From Cruelty-Free Brands | PETA

Many companies clearly label their vegan makeup products. Check this list to know what to look for from some of your favorite brands!

www.peta.org

While both “vegan” and “cruelty-free” are positive steps forward in the beauty industry, they are not synonymous.​

The Complete Vegan & Cruelty-Free Skincare Guide | Vegancuts

Everything you need to know about vegan skincare, cruelty-free beauty brands and discovering new skincare routines.

vegancuts.com

 

[TVS]

PETA has recently started to shift the language they use and drop the term "cruelty-free" since clearly, it is cruel to use ingredients that are from animals.

Vegan as a term in any other industry clearly refers to products that do not cause animal harm or exploit animals. It's beyond me why people seem to accept using the term to refer to something that causes massive harm to animals in animal testing.

I think brands that use vegan label to refer only to ingredients are participating in green-washing.

 

[TVS]

Im willing to go so far as to say that NO vegan would want to buy "vegan" products that have been tested on animals

 

[Lou]

PETA has recently started to shift the language they use and drop the term "cruelty-free" since clearly, it is cruel to use ingredients that are from animals.

I have not seen that.
PETA clearly distinguishes between "Vegan" and cruelty free. (1)

They do seem to be leaining more on the "Beauty without Bunnies program which requires products to be both Vegan and Cruelty free (2)

Im willing to go so far as to say that NO vegan would want to buy "vegan" products that have been tested on animals

Maybe it's safe to assume that. Seems like even many non-vegans want cruelty free products - even if they are not vegan.

1 - Why does PETA include companies in the cruelty-free company section that utilize animal-derived ingredients or byproducts? | PETA
2 - PETA's 'Global Beauty Without Bunnies' Program | PETA.

 

[TVS]

Actually in the beauty without bunnies program the labels used to be "cruelty-free" and "cruelty-free and vegan". They have since changed the language to "animal-test free" & "animal-test free and vegan". Source "Previously the certifications were called cruelty-free and cruelty-free and vegan. In 2020 to make it clearer to consumers PETA renamed the labels to animal test-free and animal test-free & vegan."

Also, the actual beauty without bunnies page has changed the language to state

"But how do you know which companies and brands don’t test on animals and which ones are cruelty-free (animal test–free and vegan)?"

"Global animal test–free and vegan recognizes companies and brands that meet the same requirements and whose entire product line is free of animal-derived ingredients. These companies are truly cruelty-free."

So they are definitely improving the definitions

 

[Lou]

Learned bout this just before the VF Forum was down. I even wrote something on it and included some links, but I guess they didn't go through. And now I'm not sure where I was planning on posting it. I guess here is as good as any.

I saw an ad on YouTube ( just before the late night monologue) but now I can't find it either. It was about a new line that Maybelline is promoting that they are calling Green.

It doesn't use animal products. Does that make it vegan? I can't remember what our answer to that question was. Maybelline is using the word vegan in some of their promotions. They are also calling it Plant Powered. the line is not absolutely cruelty free. (Cosmetics that are exported to China must be tested on animals and Maybelline may be following those guidelines). I guess we might have to wait for more on that.

All-new Green Edition : High-performance Makeup.

Introducing the Green Edition collection, our first high-performance makeup line developed with a conscious mindset at its core.

www.maybelline.ca

Maybelline’s New “Green Edition” Line Is Free From Animal Products. But Is It Vegan?

Maybelline New York announces a new Conscious Together sustainability initiative, under which it just launched its Green Edition makeup line made without animal-derived ingredients.

vegnews.com

Is Maybelline Cruelty-Free & Vegan in 2024? THE TRUTH

Is Maybelline cruelty-free? Read our research and find out the answer inside.

www.crueltyfreekitty.com

 

[AndyAlexander]

The most definite and obvious definition is no animal products. The deeper meaning would be to abstain from cosmetics manufactured by companies you know have not denounced animal testing and you are not promised as a customer their products and ingredients are not still tested on animals. It’s a bit muddy even to me, tbh, cause if go very particular you can find companies claiming that, but paying other companies to do that for them and so on. Just draw a line at some practicable line and whenever you gain more knowledge and experience move it as necessary to satisfy your principals. P.S. Not that I use a lot of cosmetics, but the ones I use I have to make myself due to the place I’m in and I make my own cosmetics from ingredient and I supply them from wholesalers, who I ask, but I can learn only so much. That is probably not practical and necessary for most people, so I’d suggest you being a annoyingly nosy and boringly inquisitive piece of curious customer whenever you have the time and of course share whenever you learn something.

 

[Graeme M]

A very interesting thread. I sort of assumed that a "vegan" product label would also mean cruelty-free (ie not tested on animals), because the definition pretty clearly says to avoid cruelty when possible. Same thing for an animal-rights form of veganism.

How many "vegan" and "cruelty free" logos/certifications are there, and is there any kind of neutral assessment process for these to be awarded? I founbd this quite a while back but never read the whole thing.

Leaping Bunny vs. PETA Cruelty-Free Certification - What's the Difference?

What makes Leaping Bunny and PETA's cruelty-free certification and standards differ from one another? And which one can we trust?

ethicalelephant.com

 

[Lou]

^ Good stuff.
Not being a big consumer of cosmetics I don't worry about this too much.
My main things is soap, toothpaste, shampoo, and shaving cream.
And after some research I pretty much just buy the same stuff over and over again. Hopefully my original research holds up.

Also I wonder how long before a lot of this is moot. Isn't the EU a cruelty free zone?