#cf 101

Vegan cosmetics are no longer a niche alternative. They're gradually becoming accessible and mainstream.

It's easy to mistake vegan products as automatically cruelty-free since they don't contain animal ingredients and byproducts. But this isn't always true.

Brands that sell vegan products may still source their ingredients from suppliers that test on animals or pay for third-party companies to animal-test their products on their behalf. Most importantly, they can be selling to areas where post-market animal testing is required by law, like mainland China.

TL;DR: Vegan products aren't automatically cruelty-free especially if they're from a brand that tests on animals during any stage of the production.

Are all cruelty-free products vegan, then?

No, they're not. Some cruelty-free cosmetics may contain animal byproducts like milk, honey, beeswax, carmine, and snail mucin. It's up to you to do your due diligence and read the ingredients list if you prefer cruelty-free products that are also vegan.

It should also be noted that there have been developments in vegan alternatives to ingredients that are originally derived from animals. Recent ones include glycerin, squalane/squalene, and retinol. So, once again, check the ingredients list or the brand's website to confirm whether these are plant-derived.

Unlinked sources:

Kelly Gooch

Youtube | Instagram 

I stumbled upon Kelly Gooch's YouTube channel when I was looking for blush recommendations. Then, I watched one of her declutter videos and was intrigued by her reason for getting rid of or passing on some of the products: they were no longer cruelty-free.

Kelly Gooch's series of cruelty-free videos provided a digestible introduction to beginners like me and made the journey less daunting. Her warm and approachable character was welcoming, almost like listening to a friend who's passionate about makeup products they love. I highly recommend her to anyone interested in learning about cruelty-free beauty. She's the best starting point.

Kackie Reviews Beauty

Youtube | Instagram

Before discovering that animal testing still exists, I was actually exposed to an even bigger, more overwhelming whirlwind of another lifestyle. Diving into that subculture of the beauty community felt restrictive and scary. It made me think that I have to follow all these rules and almost pressured me to throw out my current makeup collection just to fully integrate this "healthier" change into my life.

I didn't push through with that, and I found the goal of this belief to be selfish more than for the environment or other social cause. My feelings were verified when I watched Kackie Reviews Beauty's thoughts on "clean" beauty. 

Kackie is my favorite beauty YouTuber. She's the first person on the platform I've watched who I don't feel like I'm being sold products to. She has a "sister knows best vibe" that's personable, you just have to listen and nod to what she's saying. I love that she's very specific about the products she chooses where it has to pass these 3 questions: (1) Is it cruelty-free? (2) Is it going to look nice on her face? (3) Will her face love it?

I highly recommend Kackie to anyone who's looking to advance their cruelty-free journey. She also looks into ingredients, sustainability, and other aspects of mindful consumerism. She regularly does a recap of product releases, as well, which is helpful to anyone doing anti-hauls or no-buys.

Local Influencers?

While there are many other cruelty-free influencers on various platforms, the lifestyle isn't as mainstream as I wished it should be. Hopefully, more influencers will adopt this principle seriously as opposed to treating it as a trend. We need more beautiful faces and voices who support and put their money on brands that are deserving.