Are vegan cosmetics good for your skin?

What are vegan cosmetics?

Vegan cosmetics are popular worldwide and are becoming more and more popular in Japan as well.
But what exactly are vegan cosmetics?

Vegan means a person who follows a strict vegetarian diet and does not eat any animal products, including eggs and dairy products.

In addition to food, they also avoid clothing and interior items made from animal-derived materials such as fur and leather. In other words, they live a lifestyle in which they thoroughly avoid anything that comes from animals.

Vegan cosmetics incorporate this idea into cosmetics, which means cosmetics that are made without using any animal-derived ingredients.

Cosmetics contain the following animal-derived ingredients. Vegan cosmetics do not contain these ingredients.

• Lanolin (derived from sheep's wool)
• Collagen (derived from fish, beef, pork, etc.)
• Elastin (derived from pork and fish)
• Milk protein, milk extract, etc. (derived from milk)
• Honey
• Beeswax (derived from beehives)
• Propolis (a substance made by honeybees)
• Carmine (derived from insects)
• Gelatin (derived from animal bones and skin)
• Keratin (from sheep's wool)
• Lactose (milk sugar: derived from mammalian milk)

In addition, the following ingredients are derived from both animals and plants. Of these, no animal-derived ingredients are used.

• Hyaluronic acid (derived from bird combs and cultured bacteria)
• Squalane (available from shark and plant sources)
• Glycerin (animal and vegetable origin)
• Lecithin (derived from eggs and soybeans)

However, we sometimes come across products that contain these ingredients but are sold as vegan cosmetics, so it's important to check the ingredients carefully.

Are vegan cosmetics 100% natural?

Vegan cosmetics are not necessarily made only from natural ingredients.
This is because, as long as it is not derived from animals, it can be called vegan, and so synthetic ingredients may be included, some of which may contain microplastics .

Microplastics are man-made and do not come from animals, so even if a product is labeled as vegan, the manufacturer is not lying.

Even if a product is 100% synthetic, it is still vegan. Remember that the condition is that it is not derived from animals.

Are vegan cosmetics good for your skin?

As mentioned above, the standard for vegan cosmetics is that they are not derived from animals. This does not necessarily mean that they contain ingredients that are gentle on the skin. It is also unclear whether they are formulated to be hypoallergenic so that they can be used safely on sensitive skin.

It may also contain ingredients that are highly allergenic .

In other words, there are no clear standards for vegan cosmetics other than not using ingredients derived from animals.

When choosing vegan cosmetics

It is important to clarify the standards that you value.

Vegan cosmetics are the best choice for those who want to avoid animal sacrifice, but if you want to be kind to the planet, you need to choose vegan cosmetics that are free of microplastics.

Also, if you are looking for cosmetics that are gentle on the skin, you should choose vegan cosmetics that do not contain harsh ingredients.

Just because a product is vegan doesn't mean it will have all of these benefits. You should be clear about the criteria you want to use and choose the right product without being misled by other people's opinions.