Many cosmetic companies still use animal byproducts in their products and the public is largely unaware. Unlike food manufacturers, cosmetic companies can label these ingredients by their scientific names. Even a conscious consumer who is trying to avoid animal products may slip up and purchase these, as it is not clear where they are derived from.
Many cosmetics are made with ingredients sourced from animals,
including guanine, which comes from the scales of fish. Image credit
Flawless Lashes by Loreta.
Vegetarianism and veganism are on the rise globally, and there are many
reasons why people are choosing this lifestyle. Many choose this simply
because of their love of animals, others for health reasons or to reduce
their impact on the environment and decrease their carbon footprint.
Whatever the reason, food manufacturers are now forced to be more
transparent with what is in their products, with mandatory ingredient lists
and the useful “suitable for vegetarians/vegans” labeling. Many people are
now taking up the Veganuary challenge and businesses are bowing to demand
and providing those avoiding animal products with a larger selection of
plant-based food items each year.
But choosing a plant-based lifestyle doesn’t just stop at what we eat. Many
of us are not aware of the animal products used in some of our favorite
cosmetics, which we may use daily. A recent study by Flawless Lashes by
Loreta shockingly revealed that 36% of vegetarians are completely unaware
that animal products are used by the makeup industry.
Many consumers don’t realize that the makeup aisle is full of animal
products. Image credit Clean Wal-Mart, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Many cosmetic companies still use animal byproducts in their products and
the public is largely unaware. Unlike food manufacturers, cosmetic companies
can label these ingredients by their scientific names. Even a conscious
consumer who is trying to avoid animal products may slip up and purchase
these, as it is not clear where they are derived from.
It is incredibly important for consumers that we are made aware of these
products and where they come from. Below is a list of the most frequently
used animal-sourced ingredients, what they are made from and where we may
find them.
Lactoferrin: Found in shampoo and conditioners, this is an iron-binding
protein taken from milk. Other dairy-based products found in cosmetics
include lactose and hydrolyzed milk protein.
Estrogen: It is unlikely you have not heard of this before, but were you
aware this is used in a large number of perfumes? This is obtained from the
urine of pregnant horses.
Collagen: Any consumer concerned about wrinkles will have certainly seen
this ingredient actively advertised. Collagen is an anti-aging ingredient
used in facial creams and can also be found in hair care products. This is
made from animal tendons, bones, ligaments and skin.
Carbamide: Also known as urea and found in deodorant, facial cleansers and
lotions, this is sourced from animal urine.
Keratin: This is something we all have heard of, as in recent years keratin
has become a selling point of many hair and nail products. Keratin is made
from the hair and hooves of various farmed animals.
Cera alba: This is found in lip balms, lipsticks, soaps and moisturizers. It
prevents oils and other liquids from separating. You may know this as
beeswax, its more common name.
Tallow: Also known as oleic acid, oleyl sterate, and oleyl oleate, this is
derived from animal fat, most often from farmed animals. Tallow is found in
a wide range of cosmetics including nail polish, soap, foundation and eye
makeup.
Guanine: Have you ever wondered how your favorite highlighter or eyeshadow
gets its shimmering effect? This is made by scraping dead fish scales.
Lanolin: This is taken from the wool and fat of sheep and is often seen in
lip balms, sticks and glosses. There is a plant-based alternative of the
same name, but manufacturers do not always disclose which one they are
using, so be careful when choosing.
Shellac: If you have ever had a manicure, you’ve likely heard of shellac.
What you may not be aware of is how it gets its strength and shine. This
ingredient comes from the shell of lac bugs.
Shellac, a common ingredient used in manicures, comes from lac bugs.
Image credit Flawless Lashes by Loreta.
Carmine: Also listed as natural red 4, E120 and C.I 75470, this is used
to achieve a vibrant red in blush, lipstick and nail polish and is made from
crushing thousands of tiny bugs called cochineals.
Gelatin: Found in creamy cosmetics and nail polishes, this is made from
boiled skin, tendons, ligaments and bones of animals such as cows and pigs.
It is also listed as gel, hide gel, isinglass, kosher and halal gelatin.
Squalene: Used in eye makeup and lipsticks, this ingredient is extracted
from the liver of sharks.
Ambergis: This is used to set the fragrance in perfumes and is made from the
waxy oil that lines the stomach of whales.
When in doubt, look for The Vegan Society logo, not to be confused with the
leaping rabbit cruelty-free logo. Although cruelty-free is a brilliant
movement for animal rights, it does not mean the products are free from
animal by-products, just that they are not tested on animals.
The world is under increasing pressure to reduce our carbon footprint. The
food and fashion industry have been thrown into the spotlight and asked to
reduce their use of fossil fuels and water in manufacturing processes, but
the cosmetic industry seems to have escaped the same scrutiny.
To produce just one pound of beef, studies have shown it requires 2,400
gallons of water. The raising of livestock is a massive contributor to
climate change and surely the first industry to cut this should be one based
purely on vanity.
Although we are now seeing more and more celebrity-endorsed vegan makeup
brands, these are also coming with a celebrity price tag. On average, vegan
makeup costs 23% more than its animal-based alternatives. Considering
plant-based alternatives to the ingredients listed above are commonly less
expensive, why should vegans and vegetarians have to pay extra to maintain
their ethics? More pressure needs to be put on the cosmetics industry to
make the switch to plant-based products and price their merchandise in line
with what they are using and not what celebrity is endorsing it.