Thanks to the internet and social media, global circulation and acceptance of ethics and information are possible. People are curious to know about better and sustainable ways of living, and what are options available at the best possible cost. It’s not much, but it is a definitive step ahead towards making better and more ethical choices for our planet and its sustenance.
From emerging veganism to the demand for more and more vegan and cruelty free products, the world is changing, and it’s the people who are bringing about the movement. The ripple is also felt in the beauty industry as there is an emergence of clean brands creating paraben free and cruelty free vegan products.
Whether it is vegan skincare or vegan products in the makeup industry, there is a slow and steady change coming.
An ethical market of beauty products is emerging. The customer of today is aware and wants to know what’s going in the product that they are purchasing. So here we are, with a handy guide to paraben-free and vegan skincare and makeup, so that you know what goes into making your favourite long-lasting lipstick or eyeliner, or even that favourite cleanser.
But first, let’s start with knowing why parabens are harmful, and how vegan and cruelty-free are different.
Parabens: Why are they harmful?
You must have heard the term paraben frequently in beauty circles and often on the ingredient list of your favourite products. What exactly is it and why the clean beauty movement finally started to push it back? Let’s find out.
Paraben has been in use since the 1920s. Suffice to say that it has been in existence pretty much since the time makeup started making a branded and commercial appearance. These were the times when women wanted something more than natural alternatives for their kajal and lip tints, and so, a preservative was needed to bottle the formulation and make sure it lasts a long time. Paraben was the answer to that.
However, with time, the harmful effects of paraben came to light. One of the biggest concerns was its effects on fertility. Parabens are known to affect birth outcomes, harm reproductive organs, among other things. Not only this but parabens were also linked to cancer. It could also cause skin irritation with regular and prolonged usage, which was possible as parabens formed a part of nearly all everyday use products. All of it was enough for various makeup and beauty brands to think of paraben-free alternatives.
Paraben as a problem was identified and steps were taken towards finding substitutes. But the battle was not over yet. We also had issues of animal derivatives and experiments to deal with, which gave birth to a need for vegan products and cruelty-free products.
Cruelty free vs vegan products: Same or different?
Many people confuse between the two terms, while the reality is, vegan and cruelty-free are two different terms. While these may overlap when it comes to their ethical repercussions, the reality is vegan products may not always be cruelty-free and vice versa.
Vegan products are those that do not use animal derivatives or animal-based ingredients in their formulation. That being said, there is no guarantee that these products are cruelty free. We’ll tell you why as we explain cruelty-free products.
Cruelty free products are those that are not tested on animals. Again, there is no guarantee that cruelty free products will not have animal derivatives. The only certain factor is that these are not tested on animals.
More often than not, the brands that are vegan are cruelty free as well, and vice versa, owing to the ethical vision they have in mind. However, you should know your labels well so that you can make an informed choice while purchasing.
While we are on the subject of understanding terms that are involved in clean beauty, there are a few more — the labels of natural, organic, etc. While they may seem similar, they are different.
Clean beauty — Natural, Organic, Plant-based; what’s the difference
There are multiple labels on the products out there. While it is easier to figure out vegan, cruelty free, and paraben free, the real trouble starts when you have to pick out which ones are natural, which ones are organic and which ones are plant-based. The reason you need to know the difference is, not all the brands that claim to be clean are actually free of toxicity. Knowing these labels would help you differentiate well and study the ingredients well.
Let’s start with natural products. These are the ones with the most amount of chemicals, in the clean category. That means they are not exactly clean and the ingredients are usually listed in the order of maximum to minimum. Learn to differentiate between scientific names for natural ingredients and actual toxic ingredients in the form of preservatives. That being said, it is not necessary that all-natural products are toxic with bare minimum traits to qualify for being clean.
Moving on, organic brands are the ones that have organically framed ingredients. The percentage of organic material differs from state to state.
Now we come to the plant-based or synthetic brands that are actually clean and made up of 100% natural elements and compounds. That means there is no man-made ingredient or preservative or toxic ingredient present.
Ingredients are important. And not just for skin care but also for your makeup. It is the 21st century and anything that goes on your skin needs to be clean. Pick a brand that has a complete list of ingredients and balances out science and nature to create clean products that are long-lasting and also high on natural components.
For instance, Kiro Beauty uses natural ingredients like jojoba oil, apricot oil, vitamin E, marula oil, rosehip oil, etc and uses scientific techniques to ensure the presence of natural ingredients does not compromise the longevity of the product or its intensity.
Know all these terms and labels and then make an informed choice. This choice should span across all the products that touch your skin, whether it is a gentle cleanser that you use twice every day or cruelty free makeup.
Infusing vegan organic skincare and makeup products in your routine
There is nothing different about a CTM routine here. Just that the products you use are organic and vegan or any other label that you choose. Take care to choose natural beauty products that can truly amp up your clean beauty routine. Cruelty free skin care that is also free of animal derivatives and is created using zero toxic products are good for your skin and have better and more potent ingredients that target concerns and clear up your skin of any imperfections. They also protect your skin against the radicals that it fights on a daily basis.
Follow the steps that you’d normally do. Consider these as a part of clean beauty tips as well.
Step 1: Cleanse your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser.
Step 2: Soothe the pores using a toner.
Step 3: Apply a concern-based serum that penetrates deep layers.
Step 4: Seal it with a moisturiser.
Step 5: Apply sunscreen.
Step 6: Once a week, scrub your face after cleansing it.
Step 7: After the scrub, apply a mask.
It’s a daily and weekly ritual using clean beauty products, coupled with the products of clean and cruelty free makeup brands so that you do not get any toxicity on your skin. Take a look at both skincare and makeup, if you want a completely clean skin ritual.
Clean beauty is the future
This is not just a fad of today. Clean beauty is the very thing on which our future depends — the future of skincare and makeup. Clean beauty is something that has replaced the likes of mica, lead and parabens that were otherwise going on our skin in the form of our makeup.
With brands such as Kiro Beauty that use clean and natural ingredients to create vegan creamy matte Liquid lipsticks that last long and cruelty free eyeliner pens with an intense colour payoff, there is finally a synergy between science and nature, without any toxicity. That is the essence and the future of makeup and beauty that we are looking forward to.
