Skincare Without Cruelty – What Do You Need to Know

As consumers have become more aware of social, health, and environmental consciousness, many skincare brands have started labeling their products as “all-natural, organic, cruelty-free, and organic.”

Unfortunately, no legal or standardized definition of cruelty-free or vegan skincare allows brands to use their discretion without qualification. Most people purchase skin care products labeled as vegan or cruelty-free.

However, these products contain harmful chemicals or animal-based ingredients. On the other hand, numerous resources, and regulatory authorities, including Leaping Bunny, have responded to labeling practices and made efforts to identify brands not complying with specific standards, guidelines, or protocols.

Therefore, consumers must purchase skincare products verified by Leaping Bunny to genuinely leverage 100% cruelty-free and vegan ingredients in skincare products. Today’s article will explain vegan/cruelty-free skincare products, allowing you to identify and purchase 100% plant-based products. Read on!

What is Vegan Skincare?

Finding the difference between cruelty-free and vegan skincare products is confusing and daunting. According to Hebe Botanica, a reputable vegan skincare brand, cruelty-free products do not always mean vegan.

So, vegan means skincare products do not contain animal or animal-derived ingredients. Simply put, no animal ingredients, animal-derived products, and animal by-products! Instead, everything comes from organic herbs or plants.

On the other hand, cruelty-free products are not tested on animals in laboratories. However, these products still include animal ingredients, such as honey, cow’s milk, and cochineal dyes, red pigments from crushed beetles.

How are Animals Used In Skincare?

Generally, skin care companies test products, such as scrubs, lotions, shampoos, soaps, and cosmetics, on animals in laboratories. These tests include eye and skin irritation tests that involve rubbing chemicals onto the rabbit’s or mouse’s shaved skin or dripping the ingredients into the eyes of pigs and other animals.

Some tests involve injecting chemicals/ingredients into animals’ skins or bodies and waiting for reactions. Sometimes, the testing team or scientists wait for weeks/months to look for the side effects or signs of health hazards caused by skincare ingredients.

Mice, rabbits, hares, pigs, and other animals that develop signs like congenital disabilities, skin problems, and cancer due to harsh chemical ingredients mean the company rejects the prototype and stops production.

Does Vegan Mean No Chemicals?

Vegan skincare products contain all-natural and organic ingredients, elements, or compounds. There is no involvement of animal-derived components or testing on mice, pigs, rabbits, etc.

Likewise, vegan skincare products do not contain fish collagen, honey, lanolin, cholesterol, gelatin, squalene, stearic acid, and beeswax. However, some skincare products qualify as vegan even though they contain synthetic ingredients.

Remember, vegan skincare products are automatically cruelty-free and do not support testing on animals. However, vegan products may contain toxic ingredients, such as aluminum, chromium, lead, and other metals.

These products may also include nanoparticles and synthetic dyes. The good news is that choosing Leaping Bunny-certified skincare products is safe because they are 100% organic and contain plant-based ingredients.

Are Vegan Skincare Products Natural?

As mentioned above, vegan skincare products are not necessarily 100% natural, just like natural/organic products are 100% vegan. Most companies develop vegan skincare products that don’t contain animal-derived ingredients or have undergone animal testing, but they still contain ingredients that meet the “natural/organic” standards.

For example, vegan products may contain synthetic ingredients derived from petrochemicals. So, these products may qualify as vegan or get cruelty-free certifications if there is no animal testing. Using such skin care products depends on your personal preferences, ethics, goals, and priorities.

In contrast, if you want to purchase and use 100% natural skincare products, you can trust Leaping-Bunny-certified brands like Hebe Botanica. Perform thorough research about the brand and look for online reviews on third-party sites before buying vegan products. Ask yourself the following questions to make an informed decision.  

• What certifications does the brand have?
• Does the company have Leaping Bunny certification?
• What does the brand stand for, and what are its values?
• Does the company have a clear vegan and cruelty-free policy?
• Where does the company source its ingredients?
• What methods does it use to test the ingredients?

Why Formulate with Vegan Ingredients?

Formulating vegan products requires companies to avoid animal-derived ingredients and laboratory testing on animals. No harm to animals and 100% use of natural ingredients means the skincare product is vegan + cruelty-free.

So, this is where Hebe Botanica, a reputable brand, comes into play, selling 100% natural and cruelty-free skincare products that improve your skin’s health, promote veganism, and ensure eco-friendliness.

Non-Vegan Ingredients and Vegan Alternatives

Formulating vegan products is as simple as choosing the ingredient source. Choosing vegetable-based glycerin over other sources/versions is a classic example of veganism in skincare products. Another example is replacing lanolin with emollient and beeswax with carnauba wax.

If changing an existing non-vegan skincare formula to a vegan, companies must alter the percentage of substitute ingredients/compounds used to achieve a similar result. So, here are vegan alternatives to non-vegan compounds/elements in skincare products.

Alternatives to Beeswax

Beeswax comes in different forms, such as purified white and natural yellow. It is a staple ingredient in different skincare and cosmetic products, including lotions, scrubs, salves, and balms.

Beeswax acts as a lipid thickener and functions as an occlusive, forming a solid protective layer on the skin. Beeswax in skincare products also prevents moisture loss and balances sebum oils. Here are a few alternatives to beeswax used in vegan skincare products.

Candelilla Wax: Vegan skincare companies source candelilla wax from the coating of the wax slipper plant. Scientists boil the plant to extract the wax. It floats on the water, allowing scientists and researchers to extract and process it.

Candelilla wax is an excellent humectant and moisturizer for all skin types, including dry and sensitive skin. It also has soothing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, preventing microbial and inflammatory skin diseases. Because Candelilla wax is non-comedogenic, it does not clog pores, making it safe for oily skin.

Carnauba Wax: Researchers extract Carnauba wax from the leaves of Brazilian palm trees. It is one of the hardest waxes extracted from vegetables and has a yellowish-brown appearance.

Carnauba wax has softening, thickening, emollient, and emulsifying properties, making it a solid hypoallergenic additive to skincare products, including face creams, lotions, and scrubs. It also has excellent resistance against the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Berry Wax: It is another alternative to beeswax used in skincare products. Scientists produce berry wax from berries’ fruit peel that grows on the rhus plants. Besides, berry wax is a common ingredient in vegan balms and creams, producing a soft and silky feel on the skin.

Berry wax in skincare products softens and smoothens the skin, balances sebum oils, and moisturizes the lips. It also protects the skin against external pathogens and environmental allergens by creating an invisible protective layer.

Alternatives to Milk and Yogurt

Milk and other dairy products, such as buttermilk and yogurt, are common ingredients in skincare and cosmetic products. These ingredients act as emollients, humectants, and exfoliants. However, these are non-vegan skincare products sourced from animals like cows, sheep, etc. Here are alternatives to milk and yogurt in vegan products.

Coconut Milk: It is a rich source of fat content, producing excellent moisturizing effects on dry skin. It also seals or locks in moisture and keeps the skin hydrated. Compared to cow’s milk, skin cells readily absorb coconut milk, maintaining your skin’s elasticity.

Fruit-based AHAs: Alpha-hydroxy-acids extracted from fruits contain natural glycolic acids that exfoliate the skin and remove dead cells. These AHAs derived from citrus fruits and sugar cane strengthens intracellular processes to produce new and healthy skin cells. AHAs also have pore-cleansing properties, reducing unevenness in the face and neck.

Alternatives to Carmine

Carmine is a soluble pigment and has a bright red oily appearance. Scientists extract carmine from cochineal bugs’ shells, and companies use this as a staple ingredient in various products, including red lipsticks.

Red iron oxide is a natural and vegan alternative to carmine. It has an earthy dark appearance, but scientists use white titanium oxide to adjust the hue and make it lighter and more pinkish. Red iron oxide also protects skin tissues from visible and blue light.

Alternatives to Glycerin

Oil saponification of animal fats is a process that produces glycerin. It is a reliable humectant and an excellent solvent for glycerites and botanical extracts. Although most glycerin used in skincare products is vegetable-derived, we recommend purchasing a Leaping-Bunny certified product to ensure it has 100% pure and vegetable-based glycerin.

You can use a vegan moisturizer with plant-based glycerin, jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, or avocado oil if you have dry skin. These are excellent alternatives to animal-based glycerin.

Alternatives to Squalane

Squalane is a lipid ingredient in skincare products. It is a luxury emollient extracted from shark livers. The good news is that vegan skincare products contain plant-based squalane extracted from sugar cane and olive oil.

Alternatives to Keratin

Keratin is a structural protein that plays a crucial role in forming hair and nails. Not only does it function as an effective humectant, but it also has conditioning ingredients, improving hair health and growth.

Scientists derive keratin from ground hooves, feathers, horns, quills, and hairs of different animals. Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins are alternatives to animal-derived keratin. For example, hydrolyzed wheat protein and corn protein in vegan skincare products improve skin firmness, retain moisture, and increase luminosity.

In addition, these ingredients also prevent your skin from drying out and reduce the risk of wrinkles and fine lines. Hydrolyzed wheat proteins nourish and repair hairs, provide shine, and maintain hydration.

Is Vegan Skincare Better?

Vegan skincare products are cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable than commercial products with animal-derived ingredients. Similarly, vegan skincare products are suitable for all skin types, including dry and sensitive skin. Here are a few reasons vegan skincare is better than commercial products.

No Toxins

Most cruelty-free brands do not have animal-based products. However, they still contain harmful ingredients that can take a massive toll on your skin. Therefore, always choose Leaping Bunny-certified products because they are free from chemicals, such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, formaldehyde, and alcohol.

Improves Skin Quality

Vegan skincare products, such as lotions, scrubs, creams, and soaps, are a rich source of plant-based vitamins that regenerate skin cells and keep the epidermis vibrant, youthful, and rejuvenated. Vegan skincare is also suitable for sensitive skin because it helps with problems like skin inflammation, allergies, acne breakouts, eczema, psoriasis, etc.

Suitable for All Skin Types

Skin types, including normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin, require different products with safe ingredients. Vegan skincare contains natural ingredients, making it suitable for all skin types.

For example, it does not contain mineral oils, fragrances, alcohol, and animal-based ingredients that can irritate the skin and increase the risk of diseases. That’s why creating a vegan skincare routine with Leaping-Bunny-approved products is essential to improving your skin’s health, whether you have dry, oil, sensitive, or normal skin.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

Plant-based ingredients are eco-friendly and sustainable. Vegan products also have packaging made from recyclable and reusable materials, allowing companies to reduce their carbon footprint and make the planet a more sustainable place to live. Therefore, vegan skincare is more likely to dominate the skincare industry as more and more people become environmentally conscious.

More Affordable Skincare

Because vegan skincare products are made with plant-based and renewable ingredients, they have a smaller carbon footprint. So, companies spend less on developing vegan products, and as a result, they are more affordable than commercially produced skincare products. Likewise, there is no need to spend thousands of dollars on animal testing as vegan products usually use cheaper, plant-based ingredients.

Is Hebe Botanica Vegan?

Hebe Botanica is a reputable vegan skincare company offering a wide range of products with 100% natural and plant-based ingredients. The company has a team of qualified researchers who make substantial efforts to produce suitable for all skin types.

Each ingredient in Hebe Botanica products is safe, reliable, and effective. It is a Leaping-Bunny-certified company, meaning it does not harm animals. Instead, the company promotes animal welfare by encouraging consumers to rely on plant-based products to improve their skin health.

Final Words

Plant-based skincare products, also known as vegan skincare, enrich your skin with healthy ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that moisturize, repair, rejuvenate, and hydrate the skin.

Hebe Botanica offers Leaping-Bunny-certified products with 100% natural ingredients to improve your skin’s overall wellbeing and keep it young, radiant, and less prone to environmental allergens. Contact us today for more information!