Animal cruelty-free makeup brands have grown increasingly popular these days. In fact, the vegan cosmetic market is forecasted to surpass US$3 billion by the end of 2025.1 Beauty brands are already catching up with the growing concerns around health and safety, as well as the aversion of beauty enthusiasts towards animal-tested makeup brands.
While the terms “cruelty-free” and “vegan” may seem easy to comprehend, most people have actually used these words interchangeably. Are cruelty-free products vegan? Are all vegan products cruelty-free? Are cruelty-free products tested on humans? Are cruelty-free products actually cruelty-free?
To answer these ranging questions and clear the blurred lines between cruelty-free and vegan, let’s get to know more about their definitions and identify what makes them different from each other.
What does Cruelty-free mean?
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), “cruelty-free” means that product (be it cosmetics, skincare essentials, CBD-infused beauty products, and the like) was not tested on animals at any stage of the product development.
What does Vegan Cosmetics mean?
On the other hand, “vegan cosmetics” refers to products that do not include any animal-derived ingredients (such as beeswax, carmine, squalene, gelatin, placenta, and honey). Simply put, vegan beauty products highly emphasize the absence of animal ingredients in the product.
Cruelty-free vs Vegan Cosmetics: Which is Better?
If you look closely at the definitions of “cruelty-free” and “vegan cosmetics”, you can easily narrow down that these cruelty-free products highly focus on the process of manufacturing the product while vegan cosmetics are concentrated on what makes up the product.
Therefore, there is a possibility that cruelty-free beauty products may still contain animal ingredients or by-products that would need the death of an animal. Likewise, there’s also a possibility for vegan beauty products to be tested on animals even if it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
Is it possible for a product to be Cruelty-free and Vegan at the same time?
With the growing number of individuals who are making conscious efforts in supporting brands that are gearing towards sustainability, there are a number of manufacturers and brands right now that produce cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics and beauty products. Take for example the skin soft moisturizer and Vitamin C collagen booster serum developed by The Omnium Group. These products were never tested on animals and do not contain any animal products or ingredients. Hence, both cruelty-free and vegan.
How to Know if Products are Cruelty-free and Vegan?
Currently, there are three major trusted bodies that provide cruelty-free certifications to manufacturing companies. These are:
- Leaping Bunny (internationally recognized symbol)
- PETA
- Choose Cruelty-Free (recently joined Cruelty-Free International).
Since vegan originally started as a diet that excluded the consumption of animal ingredients and by-products, there are fewer associations that provide a stamp of approval for vegan cosmetics. The most common include Vegan.org and Vegan Society UK. To be certain, you may also double-check the list of ingredients and see if it has animal-derived ingredients.
Where to Find Products that are Cruelty-free and Vegan?
There is certainly a growing market for cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics and beauty products. If you are planning to start your own conscious brand, then there’s no better way than to partner with an established manufacturing company that takes to heart the quality and purpose of its products.
We at The Omnium Group take pride in our identity as the leading manufacturer and private label company that provides end-products that are unparalleled in quality and excellence. We have partnered with well-established companies and assisted many start-ups in coming up with their line of products from gummies, CBD products, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pain relief. We have FDA-registered facilities located in Hauppauge, New York, Apex, North Carolina, and Huntington Beach, California.
If you are looking for a manufacturer located in Riverside or San Bernardino Valley, California, then don’t hesitate to contact us now! This is the sign that you have been long looking for. It’s about time to start your journey towards a more conscious and sustainable product line. Let’s discuss how we can start creating your own cruelty-free and vegan beauty products today!
References:
1 Vegan Cosmetics Market. 020 Analysis and Review Vegan Cosmetics Market by Type – Facial Products, Eye Products, Lip Products, Nail Products for 2020 – 2030. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/vegan-cosmetics-market
2 Vegan Makeup Products from Cruelty-Free Brands. https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/cruelty-free-vegan-makeup/