Being vegan has now become a major trend. “Veganism”, also called integral veganism in French, now has its own World Day (at the beginning of November each year). As part of our Acne Tips, we tell you a little more about this movement and in particular its place in cosmetics.
What is veganism?
It is first of all a belief, a commitment, which is based on the conviction of a form of equality between animals and human beings. Veganism combats speciesism, a belief which establishes a hierarchy between animal and human gender through a form of domination of the latter.
Consequently, vegan (also written vegan) excludes any form of animal exploitation or use of products of animal origin. Products originating from breeding, slaughtering, hunting and fishing are considered to be of animal origin.
In 1980, PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was founded. It is a non-profit association that defends animal rights. Their philosophy: “Animals do not belong to us […] we do not have the right to use them for our food, our clothing, our scientific experiments and our leisure activities”. It is, among others, she who created certain vegan labels, notably “Cruelty free and vegan”. To find out more, go to the French website of the Peta association.
The vegan lifestyle is often also characterized by the consumption of healthy products, respectful of the environment from a global point of view. They often favor raw products and ban industrial products that are harmful to health and the environment.
You will have understood, veganism is a complete movement which calls into question not just our diet but all our habits. It is intended to be respectful of animals, and it would also have positive impacts on the environment or on health. See as well I take care of my line by fighting against my acne et I continue to fight against my acne while losing weight.
Vegetarianism, veganism, veganism: what are the differences?
Vegetarianism is a dietary practice which consists of banishing all meat and animal flesh from one's diet. But vegetarians keep eggs, cow or goat's milk products, and honey in their diet. A healthy lifestyle and healthy diet allow you to stay in good health and protect your skin against acne problems and other imperfections.
The vegan, for his part, will completely exclude both animal flesh and any food product derived from animals.
Others will turn instead to flexitarianism (occasional consumers of meat) or pescetarianism (vegetarians continuing to consume fish).
Veganism goes much further, which is why it is also called integral veganism in French. Concretely, it will be characterized by a lifestyle and daily practices which consist of not using any products from animals or their exploitation, that is to say products of animal origin.
Our reflex is to immediately think about food. In fact, vegan excludes all meats, dairy products, eggs, molluscs, crustaceans, fish, honey, gelatin. But the vegan commitment goes far beyond the scope of one's plate, since it will take into account all of one's lifestyle habits.
Everything you need to know about veganism in terms of food.
Vegan clothing
Leather clothing, therefore made from the skin of cattle or reptiles, sheep's wool, fur, silk which comes from the exploitation of butterflies, down or feathers which come from the plumage of living birds, cashmere , etc. are prohibited. Instead, veganism favors plant fibers such as cotton, hemp, linen, artificial silk or synthetic materials such as polyester, elastane, acrylic.
Vegan leisure activities
Such as circuses, zoos, dolphinariums and water parks are prohibited. The same obviously applies to fishing or hunting: any activity that involves the breeding, training, exploitation or captivity of animals for entertainment purposes.
Vegan cleaning products
Most of the cleaning products we use are first tested on animals. Their toxicity is notably tested on rodents or rabbits by inhalation, injection or forced ingestion.
What is vegan cosmetics?
Many cosmetic products contain products of animal origin and/or which have been tested on animals. Veganism prohibits any cosmetic product which, in its production cycle, includes a phase of animal testing. See also our article on homemade anti-acne masks.
Focus on vegan cosmetics
For vegan cosmetics, it is the same principle. All products used must be animal-free and not tested on animals. Vegan cosmetics are distinguished from organic cosmetics, which allow animal materials, but which must respect the relevant organic charter: a minimum percentage of ingredients from organic farming must be contained in the product.
Finally, we call Slow Cosmetics cosmetics that aim to be responsible and respectful of the body, the environment and nature and which focus on the essentials. Find them benefits of tea for the skin and virtues of rice powder for healthy skin.
The products of animal origin most often used in vegan cosmetics
Products from bees: honey, often used for its restorative and moisturizing properties for the skin.
beeswax
It comes from the secretion of bees' wax droplets, which they use for their hive. Wax is often used for lip balms, body balms, hands and nails because it has protective properties. It makes preparations thicker and harder.
Propolis, made from bark, buds of trees, shrubs, wax and saliva, is used to fill cracks in the walls of the hive. In cosmetics, it is used for its healing properties.
Milk
This is cow's, mare's and donkey's milk, used for its emollient and protective action on the skin. It is found in many moisturizing lotions.
Cochineal carmine
It is a red pigment used for lipsticks and blushes. It is carminic acid extracted from the body and eggs of the female cochineal, a small insect from South America. This pigment can be found under other names: cochineal red, natural red 4, E120.
Guanine
Coming from fish scales which are then chemically treated, guanine gives products a pearly appearance, it is also a white dye and an opacifier; it is thus used in eye shadow, blush, shampoos, varnishes.
Collagen
Animal or marine, it results from the fusion of cartilaginous materials such as bones, connective tissues and skin. They generally come from pig slaughterhouses or fish skins. Collagen is used as a protector, moisturizer and in particular for its well-known plumping properties. It is therefore often found in anti-aging creams, but also in lotions or even in certain glosses.
Keratin
The animal protein most often used in hair products and which aims to strengthen hair. It is found in the hair, skin, hooves and horns of animals.
Lanolin
It is a natural, emollient and protective fatty substance, derived from the sebum which protects sheep's wool. It therefore comes from the exploitation of wool, and used as a moisturizing ingredient: it is found in lotions, balms and creams. See our article on natural mattifying creams.
Squalane
Like lanolin, it is an emollient and moisturizing agent. Squalane comes from shark liver. It is found in moisturizing or anti-aging creams.
Regulations on veganism
Remember that since 2013, the sale of products tested on animals has been completely prohibited by European regulations. However, this did not apply to imported products. Since September 21, 2016, absolutely no products tested on animals can be sold in the European Union.
Furthermore, regulations differ depending on the country; this is the case of China for example, which requires testing on animals. Thus, if a brand wishes to export to China, it may be required to test some of these products on animals in order to be able to be marketed.
How to choose and recognize a vegan cosmetic treatment: the labels
Several labels exist and allow you to find your way among the products. Vegan labels take into account the composition of the finished product which must obviously be without flesh or finished animal by-product. Cruelty free labels mainly focus on tests carried out on the finished product or on one or more of the ingredients in the composition.
Here are several labels that exist in the cosmetics industry:
Cruelty free and vegan
Cruelty free and vegan: this is the label certified by the PETA association. He is the most demanding and the most vigilant. No original animal ingredients, no testing, no mistreatment, no establishment of the brand in one or more countries where animal testing is mandatory are authorized.
The vegan society logo
This is the international standard. All products labeled “Vegan Society” are formulated with plants and vegetables. It guarantees the absence of ingredients of animal origin as well as the total absence of testing on animals.
One voice vegan label
One Voice: Products labeled “One Voice” come from organic farming. They are not tested on animals. This label, unlike “Cruelty free and vegan”, does not exclude the brand in question from carrying out tests on some of its products with the aim of exporting. “One Voice” authorizes products from bees: honey, beeswax. Not all “One Voice” products are therefore necessarily vegan.
Leaping Bunny HCS label
Leaping Bunny, HCS: Human Cosmetic Standard. It certifies that the products are not tested on animals. For this label, it is important to dissociate the group from the brand; an HCS labeled brand cannot sell in a country where this type of test is authorized. On the other hand, the group to which he belongs can.
The commitment of LM Natura, vegan cosmetics
All LM Natura products are formulated with natural ingredients of natural origin. Among them, we can obviously cite Carapa procera oil, but also Aloe vera or Shea butter. Thus, our active ingredients are 100% natural and we use as few synthetic ingredients as possible.
Through our commitment to nature, the environment and the ecosystem, none of our formulas are tested on animals and contain no substances of animal origin.
To find out more about the Akno Natura range or acne, find our section Acne questions.
Our readers also consulted:
sources:
(1) Peta
(2) Vegan Society
(3) Leaping bunny
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