We take you through the most asked vegan skincare questions, including:
Does the term vegan also mean a product is cruelty free and vice versa?
No. Completely plant-based beauty products can still be tested on animals if they've been produced outside of the EU or are sold in countries which demand animal testing.
It's best to look for products that are made under EU/UK cosmetic regulations (which all Blomma Beauty brands are) and/or have independent cruelty free accreditation too.
Are vegan beauty products always natural?
No. Vegan products can be made with only synthetic ingredients, only natural ingredients or, a mix of the two. At Blomma Beauty you will only find vegan products made with naturally derived ingredients. We believe that products using entirely natural or organic materials are not only better for your skin, but better for the planet's biodiversity and health.
What are some alternatives to honey and beeswax in skincare?
Beeswax and honey have been used for centuries to take care of our skin. Both have a whole host of properties that help nourish, protect and heal, but if you're vegan you may want alternatives in your skincare products.
Candelilla and carnuba waxes are the main alternatives to beeswax in terms of both texture and the properties they possess. There are also some essential oils that can provide similar benefits to beeswax but they don't have the harder, balm-like texture.
For honey, it's more difficult to get a direct swap in your vegan beauty products. Our blog on Vegan Skincare: alternatives to beeswax and honey gives you more information on this.
What ingredients in skincare should I avoid that aren't vegan?
There are some obvious animal-derived ingredients in skincare formulations e.g. beeswax, honey or yoghurt powder, but there are some which aren't so obvious.
Be on the look out for pigment names in make-up like carmine (crushed insects), shellac (crushed insects) in your nail products, collagen (animal protein) and tallow (animal fat) in your skincare, or keratin (animal hair, hooves and horns) in your haircare. These can all contain animal derivatives.
Our Vegan Beauty Shopping Guide gives a more detailed (but not exhaustive) list of ingredients to avoid in vegan beauty products.
What should I look for on beauty product labels to ensure they're vegan?
Like most beauty terms, 'vegan' isn't regulated, so vegan certified products can give you a little bit more peace of mind that an independent, non-biased company has checked and verified your products as vegan. The main UK certifiers are The Vegan Society and PETA.
For more details on what each of these certifications cover, check out our Certified Vegan Beauty blog
Shop Vegan Certified Beauty