Cruelty-free
Brendan Camp, a Manhattan dermatologist, emphasizes the importance of using vegan-friendly ingredients and not conducting animal tests as key criteria to receive a cruelty-free seal for green beauty brands. To do so, look out for products bearing the Leaping Bunny logo or search third-party databases to identify vegan or cruelty free options.
Cruelty-free and vegan skincare often has an eco-friendly ethos beyond simply avoiding animal testing. True Skincare, which earned an investment from Deborah Meaden on Dragons’ Den in 2021, uses waterless formulations which preserve precious plant extracts and actives while meeting strict environmental standards outlined by The Vegan Society and COSMOS certification.
Cruelty-free and vegan skincare has become more prevalent than ever, with shoppers increasingly accepting cruelty-free as an industry standard. Therefore, more skincare companies have begun opting to become cruelty-free to stay competitive and appeal to an ethical audience.
Natural
As vegans abstain from animal products in both their diet and skincare regime, many vegan skin care products tend to have fewer ingredients and contain natural plant-based ones that may be gentler on sensitive skin, reports TODAY Style. Furthermore, any reputable cosmetic company will perform stability tests before the product goes on the market and provide a period after opening date so consumers know exactly how long their product will remain effective, according to cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos.
Vegan beauty products tend to steer clear of traditional ingredients such as carmine (derived from beetles), silk, collagen, beeswax and keratin; artificial preservatives; synthetic chemicals that could potentially irritate skin. Furthermore, many of them are organic or gluten-free (grown without pesticides or GMOs).
