Veganism is a popular trend whereby followers avoid eating animal-based foods and buying certain products. This has given rise to the concepts of vegan skin (artificial skin) and vegan cosmetics. But how can a cosmetic be vegan, or non-vegan? This question is answered in this article.
The popularity of vegan and natural cosmetics has skyrocketed in recent years as more and more consumers seek environmentally conscious and ethical beauty products. Consumers are now looking not only at the efficacy of the product but also its origin and ingredients. Vegan cosmetics do not contain any ingredients of animal origin and are generally not tested on animals, making them the perfect choice for those who support animal welfare movements.
Natural cosmetics are also becoming increasingly popular as consumers seek to avoid synthetic chemicals and artificial additives. Such products contain naturally derived ingredients that are not only effective but also kind to the skin.
The popularity of vegan and natural cosmetics is a result of the growing demand for sustainability, ethical considerations and healthy lifestyles.
What does the vegan label mean? Can a shower gel be non-vegan? What ingredients of animal origin can go into products? Does the vegan label have any meaning or is it just a trendy advertising concept?
The world of vegan cosmetics
The cosmetics industry produces mainly vegan products, except products containing specific animal ingredients, such as honey or goat milk cosmetics. There are very few cases today where a product cannot be said to be free of animal ingredients. In the old days, the inclusion of non-vegan substances was even more common, but nowadays it is very rare.
It is important to know that even if a cosmetic product contains ingredients of animal origin, it does not necessarily mean that animals have been sacrificed on the altar of the cosmetics industry. Typically, it is the raw material processing stage of the food industry that provides such ingredients.
In addition, there are cases where it is difficult or impossible to replace 100% of animal ingredients with non-animal ingredients with the same effect. Here are two examples:
The first is chitosan glycolate, which is used preferentially. This is a glycolic acid solution of chitosan extracted from the chitinous shell of crabs. The substance is extracted from the shells of crabs that would otherwise be edible, and relatively small quantities are needed to make the products.
The other is collagen extracted from cowhide, one of the most effective substances to have appeared in the industry in the last 30 years. Hard to beat in terms of water retention and hydration, its popularity has declined with the advent of the vegan trend.
A few words about animal testing
Testing finished cosmetic products using animals has been banned in the EU since 2004. So, anything made in the EU - shower gel, cream, shampoo, any product - has not been tested on animals. One reason for this is animal welfare, and another is a perfectly logical argument that it is much easier to test on humans, it is much easier, clearer, and better to measure the results, so it is easier to decide whether a product works or not.
In the same way, since 2009, raw materials cannot be tested on animals and since 2013, it has been forbidden to market products outside the EU that have been developed using animal testing.
Whether or not a cosmetic is vegan, the most important thing is that it is made with professional workmanship and quality materials. This is where C&C Laboratory can help.
Private label contract manufacturing and development with C&C Laboratory
C&C Laboratory provides a wide range of contract manufacturing services for cosmetic products, from development to finished product manufacture. Our company manages the entire production process, considering the specific needs of our partners. Our clients can choose from existing formulations or can also produce custom formulations. If required and agreed upon by the customer, C&C Laboratory can refine and finetune the existing formulations to make the products even more effective.
Our company pays particular attention to quality: our GMP quality audited system ensures that all products meet the highest standards, including production for international markets. Our wide range of products includes body care, facial care and other cosmetic products.
In contract manufacturing, our company coordinates every step of the process, from product design to packaging, with the flexibility to adapt to our partners' needs.