The vegan cosmetic market is now on the rise. It is projected to reach up to US $21.4 billion by 2027 according to a report by Report Linker. It seems that more and more people are now putting importance on environmental wellness. Consumers are now buying products that are in line with their values. But what really is vegan vs regular make-up? What is the difference?
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When a person is vegan, it means that the person excludes all meat and meat products from his or her diet. A vegan diet only includes plant and plant products like fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and legumes. In the same way, vegan cosmetics also excludes the use of animal and animal by-products.
Ingredients
There are thousands of cosmetics out there. Each of them uses different combinations of ingredients. Some are natural while others are chemicals. Although research indicates that the amount of harmful chemicals used in cosmetics is too small to be even considered as harmful, prolonged exposure may lead to adverse health effects including death because they accumulate on the skin. Thus, it is better to be wary of chemicals that are harmful that are contained in the ingredients. Learn to read product labels. Here are some ingredients to watch out for:
- Parabens
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
- Polyethylene glycols or PEG compounds
- Formaldehyde
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
This is not the case for vegan make-up since ingredients are mainly natural or even organic at times. Do take note however that vegan does not not necessarily mean organic. It simply means it is animal-free. In addition, although vegan cosmetics do not guarantee any adverse effect, it is still generally safer because natural plants and minerals are their ingredients. And since plants are rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, you reap the benefits of younger looking skin in vegan products.
Cruelty To Animals
Before any cosmetic goes out to the market, scientists have to conduct several testings on animals. Guinea pigs, rats, mice and even rabbits are generally used by cosmetic companies in product testing. These experiments can result in blindness, organ damage, internal bleeding, distress, pain and even death to the animals. According to some estimates, about 100,000 to 200,000 animals suffered and died each year because of this.
Although vegan cosmetics are animal-free, it does not necessarily mean it is cruelty-free. Cruelty-free means no animal was used to test the products.
Make-ups can be vegan but can still use animals for testing. In the same way, it is possible for regular make-ups to be cruelty-free.
Price
Contrary to popular belief, vegan cosmetics are not more expensive than regular cosmetics. In fact, in analysis done by Cruelty Free Only; it shows that vegan cosmetics are actually cheaper compared to its regular counterparts.
So, are you ready to make the shift?
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