Why Should My Skincare be Vegan?

If there seems to be more buzz around products that are vegan and cruelty free, that’s because there is. And if you’re confused by them you’re hardly alone. Let’s break it down.

Cruelty-free is defined as a product that was developed without animal testing. Vegan means there are no animal-derived ingredients in the product itself.  

Vegan diets are easy to understand. But are there similar benefits to having vegan skincare? The answer for anyone with any type of skin sensitivity, is a resounding YES!

For a product to be vegan, it cannot include ingredients derived from an animal or animal byproduct. So traditional (and common) ingredients like beeswax, honey, collagen, lanolin and keratin are substituted by synthetic or plant-based ingredients which offer similar benefits.

And why is that important? When a product relies on vegan ingredients, that means it’s likely to be natural and less likely to cause irritation or other issues often associated with chemicals and animal ingredients. Because they rely more on plants for active ingredients, vegan products are usually rich in vitamins filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, all of which are the ultimate way to hydrate, protect and nourish your skin. Additionally, since vegan products typically contain fewer ingredients, it can be easier to understand exactly what you’re putting on your skin.

Just because a product is vegan, however, that doesn't mean it’s cruelty-free. Cruelty-free products are products that are not tested on animals, but could still contain animal products and by-products. And cruelty-free products can be ethically sourced but still contain animal by-products like beeswax, lanolin and carmine.  It's important to read the back of a label for certified standards.

Finally and importantly, choosing cruelty-free and vegan products is not only good for your skin, but better for our environment. The process of processing animals for ingredients (and food!) is hard on the environment: animal agriculture is a significant cause of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Clark's Botanicals is proud to be certified as both vegan and cruelty-free, in our products and our ingredients.