The Definitive Guide To Vegan And Cruelty-Free Cosmetics [Beginner Friendly]
Hoping to learn more about the benefits of going 100% vegan and cruelty-free for your cosmetics range?
Need some clarity about the FDA regulations around these terms, possible changes to the US cruelty-free laws, and some guidance on key alternatives to animal-derived ingredients?
You’ve come to the right place! Our guide below outlines the most important information to know before creating your own 100% vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics line.
Why Your Cosmetics Line Should be 100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Going the vegan and cruelty-free route is not only important from an ethical point of view, but it’s also more necessary than ever for the success of your business. Market research by Fortune Business Insights estimates that the global vegan cosmetics market will grow from $18.03 billion in 2023 to $27.04 billion by 2030.
With so many other cosmetics brands offering high-quality vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics at competitive prices, your business needs to match these ethical standards to compete.
The Leaping Bunny, known for its strict cruelty-free certification standards, now features over 2,000 companies in its cruelty-free approved list.
Beauty consumers are turning their backs on brands that do not prioritize the welfare of animals. Results from a study of over 400 consumers commissioned by FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments) showed that demand for 100% vegan and cruelty-free products is rapidly rising:
84% of those surveyed would not buy a cosmetic product if they knew that one or more of its ingredients had been tested on animals
77% of those who participated gave ‘not tested on animals’ as a contributing factor that influences their decision to buy cosmetic products
Additionally, V Label’s 2023 survey of over 10,000 people found that 85% of consumers claim to use vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics on a regular basis.
Animal welfare is at the heart of consumer concerns, but it’s also a good idea to factor other ethical issues into your brand’s approach:
Minimizing your impact on the environment is particularly important
Prioritizing the health and safety of your cosmetics on human skin is an effective way to prove that your brand cares about the real impact of your products
At Genie Supply, we’re passionate about formulating sustainable, 100% clean, cruelty-free, and vegan cosmetics. Look for our ‘G+C’ ‘Green and Clean’ badge on our product pages.
This range is not only vegan and cruelty-free by default, but it also adheres to clean beauty standards that are even stricter than Credo’s already stringent clean standards. Learn more about Genie Supply’s approach to vegan, cruelty-free, and clean beauty here.
Additionally, 95% of our offerings are vegan by default (except those with beeswax, lanolin or carmine), and 100% are cruelty free, always.
Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Set To Become A Legal Requirement
In September 2023, a bipartisan delegation reintroduced the Humane Cosmetics Act to US Congress. This Act would bring the US law up to speed with recent changes to EU law - proposing the end of animal testing in the development of cosmetics and banning the sale of cosmetics developed using animal testing.
Neglecting the cruelty-free route now is simply delaying the inevitable - if the act passes you will need to reformulate your products in accordance with the new cruelty-free standards.
As outlined by Frame.org, some alternatives to animal testing include:
In vitro testing - using human or lab-cultured tissue and cells to test the safety of cosmetics
In silico - the use of mathematical models and computers to predict how the human body will react to certain products
Human testing - skin sensitivity testing and the analysis of tissue obtained directly from human patients
What Is The Difference Between Vegan And Cruelty-Free? Can I Label My Products Using These Terms?
First, it’s important to understand the difference between the terms ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’.
Cruelty-free refers to cosmetic products developed without any testing on animals, while vegan cosmetics are those that do not contain any animal-derived ingredients.
This distinction is important. Some ‘cruelty-free’ cosmetics are not vegan - meaning they are not tested on animals but do include animal-derived ingredients. Prioritizing both is key to capturing the most market share possible.
What claims can you make about vegan and cruelty-free products? The FDA makes clear that there are currently no legal definitions for ‘Cruelty-Free’ and “Not Tested on Animals" concerning cosmetic labeling.
That being said, you are legally required to be truthful and not misleading on your cosmetic labels and through your marketing promotions.
As noted by BeautyIndependent, brands have been caught up in reputation-damaging controversies in the past for claiming to be vegan despite one of their products containing ingredients like honey or beeswax.
Claims like ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘not tested on animals’ sometimes refer only to the finished product, while animal testing could have taken place at the ingredient level. Additionally, some companies will claim “we do not test on animals” while contracting a 3rd party to conduct the testing.
Because of misleading claims, consumers typically rely on 3rd parties to find out which products are actually vegan and cruelty-free or not.
That’s why your brand should seek certification from a 3rd party to signal your vegan and cruelty-free credentials to your customers.
3rd Party Cruelty-Free Or Vegan Certification
Consumers will look for 3rd party certifications from bodies like PETA or Leaping Bunny to verify that your cosmetics are truly cruelty-free.
The Leaping Bunny seal of approval requires full alignment with their strict standards. That includes no new animal testing at any stage in the product creation process - by the company itself, all laboratories involved, and all ingredients suppliers.
If your current cosmetics line does not meet these requirements for certification, it may be possible to comply by changing the supplier of your ingredients or withdrawing your range from markets where animal testing for cosmetics is still required (for eg. China).
Vegan certifications are also available. These include EVE Vegan, BEVEG, and ‘Certified Vegan’ by Vegan.org.
At Genie Supply, our Green & Clean bulk and private label range is formulated to adhere to strict vegan and cruelty-free standards. Where our pre-formulated products comply with certifying standards, we can sign the manufacturers’ side of the agreement for you.
Additionally, we can formulate new cosmetics through our custom formulating process to meet virtually any clean, vegan, and cruelty-free standards that you require.
Key Alternative Ingredients For Vegan & Cruelty-Free Brands
Generally, the market is already familiar with certain non-vegan ingredients like honey and beeswax. However, when we look beyond the most well-known non-vegan ingredients, it’s clear that consumers are not fully up to speed on the use of animal products in cosmetics.
V Label’s survey exposed this knowledge gap. None of the survey participants were able to identify all of the animal ingredients listed, and only 18% correctly identified guanine (fish scales), squalene (shark liver oil), or ambergris (whale vomit) as animal products.
As noted by PETA, many makeup enthusiasts are also unaware that red lipstick often contains carmine (crushed bugs).
This highlights the importance of educating your target market about vegan ingredients through social media marketing - for general awareness, and to contrast these (sometimes disgust-provoking) animal-based ingredients with your 100% vegan range.
But what are some vegan and cruelty-free alternatives to high–performing animal-derived cosmetic ingredients?
100% plant-based alternatives for certain ingredients have existed for thousands of years. For example, Neumann et al outline evidence of shea butter production for cosmetic purposes (commonly used in place of lanolin) dating back to the 14th century.
But new developments in the past 100 years have changed the vegan and cruelty-free skin care game completely.
First, let’s look at new synthetic alternatives to common animal-based ingredients.
Synthetic beeswax is a good example. EWG.org states that synthetic beeswax is specifically formulated using a “mixture of esters of even-numbered, straight-chain acids and alcohols containing 16-36 carbon atoms” to appear indistinguishable from true beeswax in both properties and composition.
At Genie Supply, we feature synthetic beeswax throughout our product range, including in our luxury ‘Lip Cocoon’ lip balm. Learn more about synthetic beeswax in our full blog post.
Beyond synthetic versions of common animal product ingredients, novel alternatives are also replacing animal-derived elements in cosmetic formulas.
A 2022 study names the microalgae ‘Neochloris oleoabundans’ as a potentially effective vegan, sustainable, and natural bioactive skin care ingredient, particularly thanks to its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory, soothing properties.
What About Animal Products?
It’s important to understand that some ingredients are suitable for cruelty-free formulas but are not vegan. Three of the most common such ingredients include:
Carmine (crushed insects)
Lanolin (extracted from sheep wool)
Beeswax
Likewise, some formulas are 100% vegan but are not cruelty-free as they are tested on animals.
Keep in mind that choosing to formulate products that are cruelty-free but not vegan (or vegan but not cruelty-free) will impact the claims that you can make about your products. Ensure all of the claims made on your product packaging and in your marketing promotions are 100% truthful.
Although PETA strongly recommends vegan products, they do include non-vegan cruelty-free products on their ‘cruelty-free’ website page to acknowledge that going cruelty-free is a step in the right direction. Likewise, not all Leaping Bunny companies are vegan.
Finding A Vegan & Cruelty-Free Beauty Lab
With demand for vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics rising, it’s easier than ever to find suppliers who use high-quality vegan ingredients to create your own cosmetics line.
We recommend searching for a manufacturer that prioritizes vegan and cruelty-free formulations across their pre-formulated and custom-made cosmetics processes to provide greater flexibility for your vegan business.
In sum, the key takeaways from this guide are as follows:
Prioritizing vegan and cruelty-free production is more important than ever as consumers increasingly hold these standards as prerequisites before trying your brand. Additionally, upcoming changes to the law place an even greater emphasis on formulating cruelty-free cosmetics from day one of your business
Although terms aren’t explicitly defined by the FDA, legally you must be 100% truthful on all cosmetics labels and in your marketing promotions. Approval from a well-respected certifying body is the best way to signal your vegan and cruelty-free credentials
Take the time to learn more about vegan and cruelty-free alternatives to common animal-derived ingredients and to educate your consumer base on this issue, too. Stay tuned to our blog to learn more about formulating cosmetics
Always vet any supplier on their vegan and cruelty-free production process before you sign any contract
At Genie Supply, we would love to create a 100% vegan and cruelty-free line for your brand. Alternatively, choose from our range of ‘G&C’ vegan and cruelty-free pre-formulated cosmetics. Ready to learn more? Don’t hesitate to email us: at customerservice@geniesupply.com or call: (812) 329 1105.
