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As a society, we are moving forward hugely in our consumption and production habits. There has been a wealth of news and documentaries highlighting the dangers and ethical issues that revolve around production of certain products that we consume, from food to clothes, and cleaning and cosmetic products.
When shopping for health and skin products you will find that most companies will provide a trademark badge to show whether their products are vegan and ethically free of cruelty. Many of these skin products are high end brands with high production value.
Huge names such as Stella McCartney have launched vegan skincare ranges, but whilst seemingly some names do have vegan products, there can be debate about whether they are actually a cruelty free and vegan brand.
We always take an evidence-based approach and aim to provide you with actionable knowledge and tips to help you on your journey to optimal health; in this article we’ll take a closer look at vegan cosmetics to decipher what makes ethically sound skincare and help you make informed choices.
What constitutes a vegan product or brand?
When we are looking for products that are labelled vegan, we need to focus on the ingredient list and production. Many brands have vegan products that have no animal derived products used in the production, however their testing methods make the product non-vegan. If at any stage in the production there has been testing on animals, this results in the product no longer being vegan.
This also includes production in other markets, which is where the topic can be confusing and further debate is needed. There are brands that operate in the UK that do not test on animals but they distribute to markets such as China, where until only recently for any cosmetic product to be sold, it had to be tested on animals before it is was sent to market.
With this in mind, there are many voices who advocate that this makes the product non-vegan as a whole as the brand or company producing it is allowing their product to be tested in a non-cruelty free environment. Whilst laws in China have now changed, it is only a recent development so it is worth doing research into this side of skincare as this is a contributing factor in purchasing a vegan or cruelty free product.
The benefits of natural vegan skincare
High end skincare is often expensive but the reasoning behind that in the majority of cases is the ingredient list. High quality ingredients and processes are what constitute a really worthy skincare product which people are usually happy to pay for. But with vegan skincare, a lot of ingredients and production methods can’t be used, so what are the benefits of using them?
From our research, we have found that for the most part, vegan skincare is packed full of nutrient rich ingredients. A plethora of vitamins and natural sources are used to build a truly effective vegan skincare product.
There is also a lack of high chemical ingredients, as they are often used in non-vegan products. Chemicals, whilst effective when used in skincare, can be bad for your skin and health over prolonged periods of time. Natural methods are an excellent way to reduce your exposure to harsh chemicals and vegan products are an excellent source of care.
Another great reason why vegan skincare can be preferable is that they are mostly designed for all skin types due to their preferred use of natural products over harsh chemicals. This means if you are prone to sensitivity, or your skin type changes due to a variety of factors, you should be able to source products that you can still use in your daily skincare routine.
Finally, one of the best reasons to opt for vegan products is the reduced impact these products have in environmental terms – and on our animal friends that will not be subjected to unnecessary and cruel testing.
From using a non-harsh non-chemical product, when we wash away the day from cleansing or washing our products off we aren’t polluting the water system. Many products that are non-vegan still contain elements that can go down the drain and enter the water system, which can cause environmental damage to creatures that live in our rivers, streams and seas. This also causes damage and negative effects to the birds and mammals that survive on these water sources.
Evidently, we are becoming increasingly conscious and responsible when it comes to animal testing for cosmetic products as there are a number of main brands including Superdrug and Lush that opt for cruelty-free production of skincare and body products. It has become relatively easy to find vegan products on the high street without an exorbitant price tag, or an animal being subjected to unnecessary harm.
Takeaway
Overall, whether you are vegan or just have environmental consciousness in the front of your mind, it’s never been easier to source vegan products for your skincare.
At Amchara, we have a team of Personalised Health practitioners who can advise you on different ways to maintain your body to the standard you want and that includes your skin.
Often our skin issues can be attributed to our internal intake of nutrients so we can offer tailored nutritional plans and advice on natural superfoods that can be ingested to make a vast difference to your life, health and wellbeing.
We also have a wealth of health treatments too to provide you with high quality detoxing that can have long lasting effects on your skin with minimal impact on the environment.
Come to our nurturing environment at Amchara, where our experienced Personalised Health practitioners can work with you to explore positive lifestyle choices to help you achieve your health goals, with a tailored approach taking into account your individual circumstances.
We know that sharing knowledge and experiences can be an important part of achieving optimal health, we’d love to know if you have benefited from switching to vegan skincare.
