The vegan cosmetics industry is set to reach $20.8 billion by 2025 as more and more people are not only turning to a vegan diet, but also a vegan lifestyle. The majority of vegans are motivated by doing as little harm as possible to animals, but the truth is that non-vegan cosmetics contain animal ingredients that can be doing more harm to your skin than good. It’s time for everyone to make the switch to vegan beauty products for the sake of your skin, if nothing else.
What’s wrong with beeswax?
Beeswax is an incredibly common ingredient in beauty products, especially when it comes to the world of natural products. Beeswax isn’t considered a vegan ingredient because it’s a byproduct of honeycomb, which is made by the bees. It’s commonly used as a natural emulsifier or thickener because it does a good job of binding water and oil elements of a product together for a smooth application. It’s also often used in balms because it’s a natural way of creating a barrier on the surface of the skin. This is because the skin cannot absorb beeswax, so it will sit on the skin and can lead to blocked pores and irritated, sensitive skin. It can also leave behind an oily residue and makes products feel quite heavy.
Lanolin and sensitive skin
Lanolin is in everything from shaving cream and manicure sets to eyeliner and lipstick. It comes from a sheep’s sebaceous gland and is used as a lubricant in products to give the skin a soft, smooth appearance. Other than not being vegan, the problem with lanolin is that is can cause sensitivity and allergic contact dermatitis, even in people who don’t usually get reactions.
It’s unclear why, but it could be due to the strong fungicides used on animals to get rid of parasites leaving residue in the lanolin or that a sheep’s skin is so similar to humans that the lanolin can deeply penetrate, increasing the risk of sensitivity. Lanolin also goes through quite a complex process before it’s used in beauty products, so anything along the way could be to blame. Overall, there are much better ingredients that can be used that don’t involve animals or the risk of a reaction.
Vegan products have less ingredients
In general, vegan beauty products contain less ingredients, less chemicals, and more water. Some chemicals will claim to have various benefits for the skin, such as anti-wrinkle properties, but they’re actually counteracting different chemicals that have caused the wrinkles in the first place. No one should be using chemicals on their skin and most vegan products will automatically avoid them, opting for a more natural approach. What skin does need to stay healthy is hydration and vitamins, which vegan products are usually packed with. The skin can absorb plant-based ingredients easier too, so you’ll find that vegan products work more effectively than non-vegan ones.
Along with these great reasons to switch to plant-based vegan products is the main reason that started it all in the first place. No animals were used to make the products and most vegan companies are against animal testing too. Not only should vegans be using vegan beauty products, but anyone who wants great skin should be too.
