As vegans, we try hard to eliminate all animal products from our diets, but there is also cruelty lurking in the items we put onto our skin, nails and hair, in our best-loved cosmetics and beauty products. ‘Cruelty-free’ refers solely to products free from animal testing, but they might still contain animal products. There’s also a lot of uncertainty associated with the phrase ‘derived from natural sources’, which many think refers only to plant-based origins, however these ingredients might have been derived from vegetable, or animal sources. The scientific jargon on ingredients lists is often daunting, so we’ve highlighted the ones to look out for, making it easier for you to know what to avoid the next time you restock your beauty bag.
The Nasties