Don’t both matter? Yes!
In recent years sales of vegan cosmetics have shot up; veganism is extending beyond just our diet and fashion choices. At Reckless Cosmetics, we are proud to say that all of our products are both Vegan and Cruelty-free. But, what does this actually mean?
The terms Vegan and Cruelty-Free are often (incorrectly) used interchangeably. So, let us clear things up for you…
What makes a product Vegan?
Vegan beauty products contain no animal ingredients. It’s common to find animal-derived components like Honey, Beeswax, Lanolin (wool wax) or Shellac (a resin from the female lac bug) in toiletries and make-up, but vegan products will exclude all of these. Vegans will instead look for alternatives most common in cosmetics such as Candelilla wax, Rice Bran wax or Sunflower wax. At Reckless, we chose to use Sunflower wax.
Veganism has grown in popularity in recent years. To put things into perspective, veganism is now twice as popular as it was just five years ago, and it doesn't show any sign of slowing down. Vegan-related searches were up 47% in 2020, and 2021 will surpass this statistic.
Like some of you, we understand how hard it can be to fully commit to practising a lifestyle that promotes eco-friendly and sustainability. We are doing our part to help preserve the earth for future generations by any little action. This means that by switching to vegan makeup, we are not only helping ourselves but also others.
Look out for the Vegetarian Society Approved trademark to ensure the products you are purchasing are vegan approved. This licence is not issued on a self-certification basis. To receive an approved trademark accreditation involves independent ingredient and production method checking by experts from the Vegetarian Society.
By displaying the vegetarian and vegan trademarks, you can be sure that the brand and its products are trustworthy.
What makes a product Cruelty-free?
A cruelty-free product means that neither the product nor the ingredients or components have been tested on animals. This can be a bit of a minefield, as many companies don’t test the final product but may test some of the ingredients on animals. However, in some countries, it is completely illegal to test on animals. Therefore, at Reckless, we are entirely free from harming animals, and all of our products are entirely cruelty-free!
Like you, we want animal suffering to end, this is why we chose to manufacture in the EU where animal testing was banned.
So, why are they so often confused?
It seems pretty straightforward, but the confusion comes when we consider that a vegan product isn’t necessarily cruelty-free and vice versa.
Vegan products can actually be tested on animals since the ‘Vegan’ label is solely to do with whether the ingredients constrain animal products. And some Cruelty-free products may contain animal-derived ingredients (such as honey or beeswax).
Labels can be mind-boggling, and the sheer amount of information we’re faced with when we go shopping can be overwhelming.
What can you do?
By learning what goes into your favourite cosmetics products, you can help end animal abuse and make a difference in the world at large. To be 100% certain that no animals were harmed in making your cosmetics look for both vegan and cruelty-free products.
Tell us…. Is this important to you? Who do you know who should read this blog?
Pssst… while you’re here, why not check out our Vegan & CF products.
(Approved by the Vegetarian Society)