From soaps and lotions to face washes and creams, vegan skincare products are represented in nearly every category of beauty supplies. Some vegan products are labeled and marketed as vegan products. Others are automatically considered vegan products because they contain no animal-derived ingredients and were not tested on animals. Despite these specifications, some vegans may prefer using beauty supplies that have in some way been certified vegan over those that have no certification. Consumers can find vegan skincare items everywhere from large commercial chain stores to individual and independent manufacturers and retailers.
People can find vegan skincare products for both their faces and their bodies. Basic kinds of products, like soaps and lotions, are available. Other, more specialized vegan beauty supplies exist, too, such as those for wrinkle repair, resurfacing, and exfoliation. Some vegan skincare items are designed for certain skin needs. For example, it is possible to find vegan products for dry skin, sensitive skin, and acne-prone skin.
Similar to other aspects of the vegan lifestyle, vegan skincare products are animal-friendly products. This means they do not include any animal-related ingredients and they are not tested on animals. Often, this extends to the manufacturers of the individual ingredients. For example, if a company purchases its ingredients from other manufacturers, those manufacturers must also refrain from animal testing. If any ingredient has been tested on animals, the product as a whole is not considered vegan.
Still, sometimes the line between vegan and vegetarian is blurred. For example, some people insist a product contain absolutely no ingredients derived from animals or other living creatures for the product to be vegan. Others are more lenient, claiming that ingredients such as milk and honey are allowable as long as no animals or insects were harmed or killed during harvesting. In the end, this distinction depends on the consumer and her own preferences, lifestyle, and belief system.
Consumers can purchase vegan skincare items from a number of retailers. Companies of various sizes manufacture vegan beauty supplies, and sell them directly to consumers or through distributors. Some individuals make their own vegan beauty supplies for personal and profitable purposes. Many animal welfare organizations compile lists of companies that manufacture and sell vegan skincare lines, and some even host online shops that link to vegan suppliers via the organization’s website. Some watchdog organizations even provide certifications or special labels for vegan products to officially state those products met the organization’s vegan regulations.