All hail vegan skincare!

Vegan skincare is a fast growing market. The desire to source products that come guilt-free in the knowledge that no animals has suffered in the production is increasing.

One blogger, You Are What You Eat, gives her opinion on why vegan skincare is not just a way, it is the only way. She also has some sage advice when on the look-out for vegan products on the high street.

“In my journey towards a more animal-friendly lifestyle, I have made a commitment to buying beauty products and cosmetics that are vegan and cruelty-free.  It took some research to find out that many cosmetics contain animal-derived products (ones that would probably give you nightmares when you realized what you were actually slathering all over your face…), which is why the vegan designation is important.  A full list of animal products used in food and cosmetics is available via PETA.

“Companies that use animals as chemical test subjects obviously cause much undue suffering to our fuzzy friends, and as a vegan, I didn’t want to use my money to tacitly support such practices.  PETA’s Animal Testing 101 page does a great job of explaining exactly what animals are subjected to in the beauty and cosmetic industry.  It’s graphic, but it really puts into focus the kind of suffering animals are forced to endure for the sake our our beauty regimens– you will undoubtedly find yourself asking, “Is my lipstick really worth all this??”

“You can be sure your products are not tested on animals my looking for the “leaping bunny” logo or PETA’s “heart bunny” logo.  Be wary products that say things like “Finished Product Not Tested on Animals” or “This Product Not Tested on Animals,” especially if the product is made by a big company (Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Proctor & Gamble, etc.)  This wording almost certainly means that the base ingredients used to make the finished product were, in fact, tested on animals.  Don’t be fooled by these clever marketing tricks.”