If you are a vegan, you should be very mindful of the ingredients that make your beauty products. I have come to realize that many beauty companies make their products with non-vegan ingredients derived from animals or their by-products, such as collagen, beeswax, and lanolin, just to name a few.
Knowing these ingredients will truly make a difference in your choices as a vegan client. In this cruelty-free guide, I will discuss the 10 most common non-vegan ingredients found in beauty products.
1. Collagen
Collagen is a protein that beauty manufacturers use frequently. It is obtained from animal connective tissues like bones, skin, and cartilage. Because collagen boosts skin elasticity, it is used to make anti-aging skincare products.
For vegans, I would advise that they consider collagen alternatives sourced from plant-based sources. I’ve personally had great experiences with plant-based collagen alternatives, and they work well.
2. Lanolin
Lanolin is a fatty substance obtained from sheep’s wool. Because of its moisturizing properties, it is a common ingredient in skincare products like lotions and lip balms.
Thankfully, there are vegan-friendly alternatives, such as shea butter and cocoa butter, which offer similar benefits without any animal-derived ingredients.
3. Tallow
You might not know this, but tallow, commonly found in soaps and lip products, is actually rendered beef or mutton fat.
As a result, it’s not suitable for vegans. This was surprising to me as I’ve been exploring vegan-friendly alternatives in my beauty routine, and learning about these ingredients has been eye-opening.
4. Keratin
Then there’s keratin, a common component in many hair care products. I was shocked to learn that keratin is often derived from animal sources, such as horns, hooves, and feathers.
As a vegan, when you understand where these ingredients come from, you will be more mindful of the beauty products you use and their impact on animals and the environment.
5. Carmine
Let’s not forget carmine, also known as cochineal. Beauty manufacturers get this red pigment from crushed female cochineal insects, and it is widely used as a colorant in lipsticks, blushes, and other cosmetics.
As someone who cares about animal treatment, discovering this fact encourages me to seek out products that have synthetic or plant-based colorants instead of carmine.
6. Beeswax
Beeswax is an important ingredient in various beauty products, such as lip balms and lotions. Did you know honeybees produce beeswax, which has been used for centuries in beauty and skincare routines?
As I continued to dig deeper into the world of vegan beauty, I discovered some great alternatives to beeswax, such as candelilla wax, soy wax, and carnauba wax.
These vegan-friendly options offer similar benefits for skin and hair care, and this makes them great substitutes for beeswax.
7. Cosmetic Brushes
Many cosmetic brushes are made from animal hair, and this has been the trend in the beauty industry.
However, as people become aware of animal welfare, many are turning towards synthetic alternatives. Synthetic bristles for cosmetic brushes help to avoid animal exploitation and provide durable brushes that apply well.
8. Guanine
Another interesting ingredient commonly used in cosmetics is guanine. It is also known as pearl essence. It is gotten from fish scales and adds a shimmering effect to beauty products like eyeshadows, nail polishes, and highlighters.
Guanine has been a traditional choice for achieving even skin tone. Mineral-based or synthetic pearlescent pigments offer a similar effect without the use of animal-derived ingredients and this aligns with the principles of cruelty-free beauty.
9. Stearic Acid
Let us discuss about stearic acid, a not-so-vegan ingredient that might be included in your beauty products.
Did you know that stearic acid is often obtained from animal fats? It’s crazy how these ingredients are added to beauty products without the manufacturers indicating this.
10. Squalene
Check this out: squalene. It is usually found in skincare products, and is sourced from shark liver oil. That’s a bummer, especially if you’re a vegan and are making the right choice of leading a vegan life, and that includes your beauty products, too.
Wrapping up
But fear not. With the rising demand for vegan and cruelty-free options, many brands are producing more ethically sourced alternatives. I’ve personally noticed more and more brands promoting their products as vegan and cruelty-free, which is great.
When you go to shop for beauty products, read the labels carefully and look for cruelty-free certifications. If you have any questions about a beauty product, feel free to contact the brands and ask questions like where they source their ingredients, etc. Your choices as a consumer really do have a positive impact on animal welfare and the environment.
After enlightening you on non-vegan ingredients found in beauty products, we need to make good choices and support brands that align with our values. We need to make a difference, one beauty product at a time.
