The Cruelty Free Skincare We Love So Much

by Wendy Kim on May 18, 2018

‘Vegan’ and ‘Cruelty-free’. These are the two words that are not too hard to find on the shelves of beauty and cosmetic stores lately. Yes, these words sound very pleasing and positive, so we become curious enough to get hands on those products and we also see some of our favorite youtubers testing them out and at then end become a full time ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’ brand supporter. So what makes 'vegan' and 'cruelty-free' so attractive? And how much do you know about it? It will only do good if you have a clear idea of what you are falling in love with.

What is 'Cruelty-Free'?

To put it simple, ‘Cruelty-Free’ means that it is 'Not Tested on Animals'. 'Cruelty-free' brands are comprised with products and its ingredients that has not been tested on animals in any way. A brand can only refer themselves as a ‘cruelty-free’ brand if they have verified that neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world. It derives from the idea that there should be no harm and killing of animals for whatever purposes and that animals are equally important.

What is 'Vegan'?

But now, let’s not confuse ‘cruelty-free’ with ‘vegan’ products. Brands often get a lot of questions asking whether a product is ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘vegan’. But the right question to ask if you are against any animal testing and animal-derived ingredients is “Is the product both ‘cruelty-free’ and ‘vegan’?To break it down, Vegan skincare is depicted by the ingredients that are used in the formulation of the product. When it comes to Veganism, it’s important to remember it is different from being a Vegetarian as this is a lifestyle and not just a diet. Which is why it is an amazing leap in the beauty industry to have brands switching their cosmetics to being vegan friendly with vegan skincare and vegan makeup.But remember! Not all cruelty-free products are vegan and not all vegan products are cruelty-free. However, generally, vegan skicnare brands tend to also be cruelty-free as well.

List of some ingredients a vegan skincare product should not include

*according to PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

- Beeswax. Honeycomb: Wax obtained from melting honeycomb with boiling water, straining it, and cooling it.- Amino Acids: The building blocks of protein in all animals and plants. Found in cosmetics, vitamins, supplements, shampoo, etc.- Collagen: Fibrous protein in vertebrates. Usually derived from animal tissues. Can't affect the skin's own collagen. (Alternatives: soy protein, almond oil and etc)- Glycerin: A byproduct of soap manufacture (normally uses animal fat). Can be found in cosmetics, foods, mouthwashes, chewing gum, toothpastes, soaps, ointments and etc. (Alternatives: vegetable glycerin)- Keratin: Protein from the ground-up horns, hooves, feathers, quills, and hair of various animals. Can be found in hair rinses, shampoos, permanent wave solutions and etc. (Alternatives: almond oil, soy protein and etc).- Propolis: Tree sap gathered by bees and used as a sealant in beehives. Can be found in toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, supplements, etc. (Alternatives: tree sap, synthetics).- Vitamin A (Retinol / Carotene): Can come from fish liver oil (eg. shark liver oil), egg yolk and etc. (Alternatives: carrots, other vegetables)- Biotin: In every living cell and in larger amounts in milk and yeast. Used as texturizer in cosmetics, shampoos, and creams.- And more via: PETA websiteYou might be surprised at what ingredients are animal by products and are considered non-vegan. If you are vegan or plan to become vegan, then it is very important that you are aware of what cosmetics and vegan skincare products are available on the market.Aside from ingredients, animal testing is still very common in the beauty industry. However, in recent years, there has been a surplus in brands switching to becoming cruelty-free brands. This means there is absolutely no animal testing in the production of the products, instead the products are tested on humans, not rabbits, mice, monkeys, etc.

The "Cruelty-Free" skincare brand we love!

Wishing to not disregard animal rights, our household brand 'Klairs' is being more and more percieved as a true 'cruelty-free' brand and not only that we aim to acheive becoming a true 'vegan' brand in the near future. Thanks to our animal loving customers and staffs, we are becoming more conscious about 'veganism' and is aiming to exclude any animal derived ingredients. As a 100% 'cruelty-free' brand, 'Klairs' offer a wide range of 'vegan' products as well.Some other brands that offer 'cruelty-free' products on Wishtrend: #By Wishtrend, #Jungle Botanics, #I'm From, #COSRX, #Skin&Lab, #ChicayChico