Vegan? Not Exactly. Cruelty-Free? Absolutely.

When was the last time you bought something without looking at the label? It’s been a while, and I applaud you! Even though we are looking at these labels, are we really reading? Within the past decade, the terms “vegan” and “cruelty-free” grew as a serious trend for both producers and consumers. You see these words slapped on a variety of products, and are commonly used as an “argument” for why a certain product is amazing and why you should buy it. These words are often interchangeable, but mean very different things. Let’s clear it up.

Cruelty-free means that the ingredients, components and final product were manufactured without any animal testing. Cruelty-free specifically refers to the testing process, which means that it is possible for a cruelty-free product to include non-vegan ingredients, such as Lanolin or beeswax. Companies apply this label to their products or brand to communicate that they do not play a role in testing products on animals. For those that still test products on animals, we simply ask you, “why?” Let's be honest, animals are the kings and queens of eu natural beauty. They are not going to be the ones rocking a red lip year-round or worrying about the perfect highlighter shade, so why should they be our test dummies?!  

Vegan cosmetics means that the products do not contain any animal products or animal-derived ingredients like milk, honey and keratin. So, if you buy cruelty-free cosmetics, it does not mean that there are no animal-derived ingredients. Similarly, if you buy Vegan products, it doesn’t mean that they are cruelty-free.

• Companies can claim anything on their product labels. When you are reading product labels, look for certifications by accountable organizations such as PETA, Leaping Bunny, The Vegan Society, or Environmental Working Group. However, keep in mind that these organizations require money for certification and not every small brand can afford that. Here at SCB, we will highlight brands, other than ourselves, who are cruelty-free. However, we emphasize the importance of research!
•  Vegan and/or cruelty-free products do not always mean that product ingredients are “green” or “organic.” It is always important to read through the ingredient lists to know exactly what products contain! 
• In a perfect world, cruelty-free products would extend to the human labor that goes into manufacturing a product. We challenge you to research and support brands that pride themselves in transparent labor standards and practices.  
• Be a part of the change! Support legislations that require transparency and responsibility in brands. You can do this by supporting the Humane Cosmetics Act and making it a topic of conversation in your next gossip sesh. Spread the word!! 
• The FDA has not updated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act since March 2018. A lot has, and will continue to change since then, including ingredients used in beauty products.

• List of brands that are cruelty-free. At Sacred Child Beauty, our products are 100% cruelty-free. We do not perform any type or form of animal testing, nor do we use any form of animal ingredients. Check out our FAQ’s tab for more answers to your questions, or shoot us an insta DM!
• List of brands that are vegan 
• List of brands that are both cruelty-free and vegan 
  

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/aug/28/animal-fat-blusher-vegan-makeup-rise-avoid-meat-dairy-wool-leather-animal-cruelty-products?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://blog.publicgoods.com/what-does-cruelty-free-actually-mean/

https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/cruelty-free-vegan-makeup/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328936362_Consumers%27_Awareness_of_the_Term_Sustainable_Consumption

https://www.translatemedia.com/us/blog-usa/vegan-products-became-beautys-hot-new-trend/

https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/cruelty-freenot-tested-animals

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegan