A questo punto iniziamo questo post affrontando subito la dura verità: le aziende certificate cruelty-free non sempre rimangono tali e possono perdere improvvisamente la certificazione diventando non-cruelty-free, spostandosi quindi in quella sconfinata area nera piena di beauty brands che vuoi proprio evitare.
Un pò troppo drammatico? Oggi ti spieghiamo cosa succede quando un brand perde improvvisamente una certificazione d'oro come il Leaping Bunny, esploriamo tutti i motivi per cui questo può accadere insieme e, soprattutto, parliamo di cosa fa il team Realness of Beauty quando ciò si verifica con uno dei brands della nostra selezione.
Pronta? Partiamo!
LO SCOPO DEI DURI STANDARDS CRUELTY-FREE
Uno dei motivi per cui dovresti sempre acquistare prodotti certificati solo da poche organizzazioni CF sta nei loro standard.
La certificazione Leaping Bunny è attualmente la più affidabile e rigorosa tra tutte, perchè tiene conto di tanti aspetti delicati e controversi delle diverse legislazioni internazionali richiedendo ai brands certificati, non solo di applicare una cut-off date, senza la quale i test sugli animali potrebbero letteralmente andare avanti all'infinito, ma anche di rinnovare la propria certificazione ogni anno, senza contare l'accettazione di controlli obbligatori a sorpresa.
Durante il processo di rinnovo della certificazione annuale, potrebbe accadere che un brand, precedentemente certificato, venga sorpreso a non essere più conforme.
COME MAI SUCCEDE?
I motivi per cui ciò accade possono essere molto diversi, ma una cosa deve essere chiara: lo standard cruelty-free non è qualcosa che un brand possiede a vita, non è legalmente vincolante e quindi deve essere verificato regolarmente.
Un po' più chiaro ora perché non puoi prendere per buono quello che ti dichiara un brand tramite mail quando vuoi chiedergli informazioni sul loro status CF? Ci auguriamo di sì🦩
Ecco alcuni dei motivi per cui un brand può perdere la certificazione:
1. Il brand decide di non rinnovare.
Qualsiasi sia il motivo, un brand può decidere di non impegnarsi ulteriormente a rispettare i rigorosi standard CF.
Spesso questo è il caso quando il brand in questione decide di passare a certificazioni meno affidabili e più facili da ottenere, che non implicano così tanto controllo o scrutinio sulla loro azienda. Altre volte, potrebbero aver semplicemente cambiato i loro piani aziendali, magari volendo entrare in un nuovo mercato notoriamente non cruelty-free, e altre volte il brand ritiene semplicemente che la certificazione non sia più necessaria, perchè magari sono stati certificati per molti anni e quindi già convinto/influenzato a sufficienza i consumatori a non mettere più in discussione il loro status cruelty-free.
2. Qualcosa va storto durante il processo di rinnovo
Probabilmente il più comune: il brand viene scoperto non essere più conforme. Per quanto possa sembrare triste, un'azienda può cambiare rapidamente i propri piani e non sempre per il meglio.
Che sia per nuovi fornitori precedentemente non dichiarati e risultati non conformi, un'improvvisa mancanza di documentazione giustificativa, un ingresso non autorizzato in un mercato pericoloso o una palese violazione dei rigorosi standard, come la cut-off date. In poche parole, qualcosa di non conforme salta fuori durante il processo di rinnovo della certificazione e il brand non soddisfa più gli standard.
COSA FA REALNESS OF BEAUTY
Parte della nostra rivoluzionaria beauty shopping experience consiste nell'assicurarci che i marchi che offriamo siano veramente cruelty-free, e ovviamente questo non può essere il caso se un brand non è più in possesso di una certificazione affidabile e rigorosa.
Controlliamo costantemente i brands che offriamo per assicurarci che rimangano certificati, ma se perdono improvvisamente il loro standard CF, è ovvio che dobbiamo dirgli addio. Questi brands verranno rimossi in modo permanente dalla nostra collezione e non torneranno a farne parte a meno che non dimostrino di essere nuovamente certificati.
In questi casi, spostiamo i prodotti rimanenti nel nostro Outlet etico, dove potrai acquistarli a prezzi WOW godendo comunque di prodotti vegan e al 100% cruelty-free. Questo perché tutti i prodotti offerti nell'outlet di un brand che potrebbe aver perso il suo standard CF sono stati acquistati da noi quando il brand era ancora certificato cruelty-free, quindi nessun test sugli animali verrà mai supportato anche indirettamente.
Assicurandoci che questi prodotti vengano però ancora utilizzati, facciamo in modo che nulla venga sprecato. Una cosa che odiamo tanto quanto la crudeltà sugli animali, lo spreco.
Chi ha bisogno di gettare via prodotti nuovi e inutilizzati? Non certo noi, né l'ambiente, né gli animali.
Allora, cosa aspetti? Vai e goditi pure il nostro Outlet! Affrettati ad acquistare i tuoi prodotti beauty etici scontati, finchè sono disponibili!
We have got you covered with some of the most beautiful holiday makeup looks of the web along with our picks to recreate them the vegan way🙌
The best time of the year to rock unordinary looks is about to begin, whether with glitter & sparkle or simply by slightly spicing up your everyday go-to look: get ready to get inspired with these stunning looks which we have picked for all your holiday events/occasions, to fill you with loads of ideas and plan your makeup ahead!
We all get invited to those parties: office colleagues, friends, relatives, the first Christmas vibes coming in as it slowly starts to feel like the holidays.
This is the perfect chance to experiment with your makeup a bit and create interesting looks to soak in the vibes and feel like it is no ordinary time - which it definitely isn't!
Natural looking base and eyes, matte eyeshadows but bold, bright lips to catch all the attention
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
London Copyright Profound Matte Lipstick in the shade Audacious
The classic red lips
Natural looking eyes and base but classic red, super chic lips, always a good one🌿
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
Lily Lolo Vegan Lipstick in the shade Stripped
The total matte look
From base to eyes and lips, an all matte look for those modern chic outfits you are planning on rocking✨
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Powder Foundation
All those lights and sparkle... The perfect inspiration to create just the best eye-catching looks✨ Whether on lips or eyes, get creative with glitter, glossy products to create extravagant looks! If you are intimidated or don't really feel like it's your style, a bit of sparkling eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eyes or a tiny bit of glittery eyeliner can just do the job!
The glamorous look
Glossy lips and matte eyeshadows, focus on lips and eyes with a whole lot of mascara and fake lashes - the perfect glamourous diva look to impress everyone the night before Christmas.
Source: Pinterest
Is there a more festive makeup look than one with colorful eyeshadows? We don't think so! Glossy, matte, sparkling.. the choice is endless! The key is to stick to one color and diffuse it well to create a bold look with soft edges, leaving the lips quite anonymous. Did you know you can actually turn a powder eyeshadow into a glossy one with a simple swipe of clear lip gloss?✨
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
London Copyright Magnetic Eyeshadow Palette Playhouse
Let the celebrations begin, along with a proper festive look! From sparkling eyes, to classic red lips, take a look at these fab makeup looks to get inspired and recreate them consciously!
The sparkling eyes
Sparkling, light-catching eyes to seduce & mesmerize: this look is probably the most Holiday-appropriate one you could ever create, with a nice matte base and simple, natural looking lips to balance it all. Play around with beautiful nuances of warm brown, deep terracotta, green & gold to create bold, breath-taking festive looks!
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
ILIA Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint- all shades
The Highlight Queen
Everything is kept natural looking, warm tones on eyes and cheeks, simple lips but stunning bold highlights to catch and reflect the light, the star of this look✨
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
Lily Lolo Illuminator in the shade Sunbeam
Probably the best occasion of the year to create the most extravagant looks of all times! From glitter to unusual lip colors, everything is legit on New Year's Eve and what's not stays in the past year!
The Glitter Eyeliner
This look is just a masterpiece: classic, radiant red lips and a super sophisticated, sparkling silver eyeliner paired with just a coat of mascara.
The base is kept neutral with touches of highlighter to bring light to major points.
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
London Copyright Magnetic Eyeshadow Palette The Opera - shade Ruthless
The Glossy Queen
Glow, glow and more glow please!✨ This look focuses on reflecting light as much as possible so base, eyes and lips are sparkling! The must-have to recreate it? Highlighter, glossy/cream eyeshadow and lip gloss!
Source: Pinterest
TURN IT VEGAN WITH:
100% Pure Gemmed Lip Gloss in the shade Peacock Ore
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Big news for the cruelty-free beauty world!
Choose Cruelty-Free Australia will join Cruelty Free International adopting all Leaping Bunny standards.
The merge was announced via IG on @crueltyfreeintl on the 3rd of June, where Cruelty Free International stated the following:
"For over 25 years CCF has helped offer consumers in Australia the option to make ethical choices by approving brands committed to ending animal testing. This new partnership will bolster the growing interest of cruelty-free Australian consumers and enable Australian brands to gain our gold standard Leaping Bunny approval"
(Announcement of the merge on Cruelty Free International's IG account)
We wanted to gather as much information as possible on the topic and it is official: all companies currently approved by Choose Cruelty Free will be given the opportunity and support to transition to the strict Leaping Bunny standards.
Cruelty Free International has not mentioned how long the transition is going to take and if all companies currently certified by CCF will join the Leaping Bunny program, but a list of those on the process of gaining the Leaping Bunny approval can be found here.
We are super happy about this great news as this means the brands certified by Leaping Bunny - currently the only reliable cruelty-free certification in Europe - will be more and more and their strict standards will be applied even on brands in Australia!
We cannot wait to see which brands will successfully transition to Leaping Bunny! What about you?
Let us know in the comments!
Confused about all these certifications and what really happened here? Make sure to check our Guide to learn about the main differences among the standards of the most common cruelty-free certifications.
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Un vero e proprio must-have di ogni beauty kit. Che tu sia una minimalista che usa solo il correttore e, occasionalmente, qualche ombretto, o una vera amante del make up che non ha paura di sfoggiare rossetti audaci e non può vivere senza il suo fondotinta full coverage, il mascara è IL prodotto di cui nessuna donna può fare a meno - o no?
Cambia istantaneamente tutto il tuo viso, rende i tuoi occhi più grandi, il tuo sguardo piú acceso e sveglio - fa miracoli in pochi secondi e - perché mai dovresti rinunciare a questo pilastro del make up quando puoi averlo vegan, certificato cruelty-free e altrettanto efficace come qualsiasi alternativa non-cruelty-free che amavi?
Troviamo insieme il tuo prossimo mascara consapevole preferito! Ti guideremo e ti spiegheremo tutte le caratteristiche e i fattori speciali di ciascuno dei nostri mascara vegan e certificati Leaping bunny.
Ideale per: coloro che vogliono un vero trattamento che si prende cura delle ciglia mentre lo si indossa e un volume naturale.
Perfetto per: giorno e notte - usa la variante Dark Chocolate durante il giorno per risultati naturali e Black Tea per la sera. Super pigmentato, entrambe le versioni offrono un colore drammatico.
Waterproof: sì
Ingredienti chiave: olio di maracuja, vitamine per il condizionamento delle ciglia e pigmenti di tè, cacao e caffè.
Ingredienti principali: la Pro-vitamina B5 condizionante si unisce all'alga marina per ispessire le ciglia e aumentare il volume promuovendone la crescita sana.
Applicatore: forma classica e fitta, ovale e affusolata, super facile da usare. Setole dense leggermente oversized, perfette per arricciare le ciglia.
Ideale per: coloro che vogliono un semplice naturale, ma efficace e volumizzante mascara che è perfetto per ogni occasione.
Perfetto per: giorno e notte - è l'alternativa perfetta per chi vuole un look davvero naturale durante il giorno, ma un mascara versatile e facile da usare che può essere stratificato per ottenere look più drammatici la sera.
Waterproof: no
Ingredienti chiave: cera di girasole, di carnauba e di riso, tutte a base vegetale e con una tenuta potente. Senza profumo, parabeni e siliconi.
Ingredienti principali: estratto di rosa e olio di argan, nutrono e ammorbidiscono le tue ciglia mentre lo indossi.
Applicatore: ovale appuntito, denso e affusolato. Questo pennello separerà le tue ciglia e distribuirà perfettamente il prodotto dalle radici alle punte rendendole super dense.
Ideale per: chi non vuole scendere a compromessi in termini di volume, spessore e lunghezza. Questo mascara renderà le tue ciglia folte e lunghe in pochi secondi per risultati molto drammatici e intensi
Perfetto per: la notte, ma hey - se ami le tue ciglia wawawoom puoi usarlo quando vuoi!
Waterproof: no
Ingredienti chiave: fiordaliso, olio d'oliva e un mix di cere a base vegetale ad asciugatura rapida per tenere le ciglia al loro posto e renderle super forti e lunghe.
Ingredienti principali: estratti di rosa e di riso per nutrire le tue ciglia mentre lo indossi.
Applicatore: punta a forma di clessidra, setole aderenti e dense. Perfetto se hai ciglia sparse, questo fenomenale pennello le separa e le tiene arricciate per il massimo del volume
Qual è il tuo preferito? Facci sapere nei commenti quale di questi tre vegan besties è il tuo must-have!
Many products could have made it to this post, but these are simply the most loved and bought ones from you.
A new year, a new chapter? Well.. maybe not when it comes to beauty, especially when you find super good vegan and certified cruelty-free besties that you want to keep in your kit forever!
We are so happy that you have supported us this year and chose vegan & cruelty-free beauty ❤ Let´s make 2021 even better, together!
Lily Lolo Big Lash Mascara
Serum elixir rich in antioxidant oils and extracts. Its formula with Hibiscus and Hyaluronic Acid that condition, smooth fine lines and improve elasticity, restoring the appearance of skin
Ilia Daylite Vegan Highlighting Powder
Clean, talc-free finely milled powder with metallic finish.
It delivers an illuminating golden glow, its buttery soft textures blend easily and can create a subtle shimmer or a more dramatic highlight.
The Konjac Sponge Company Purifying Volcanic Scoria Facial Sponge
Deeply cleansing konjac sponge that rejuvenates tired skin.
The volcanic region of Jeju island in South Korea produces the most amazing mineral-rich, naturally antibacterial volcanic scoria.
Kahina Giving Beauty Face Cream
Anti-aging ingredients, argan oil and red wine grapes. A rich, restorative moisturizing face cream. With clinically proven concentrations of resveratrol and polyphenols derived from vitis vinifera.
Thank you for being you, a true beauty inside & out!
Your Realness of Beauty Team
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But hey! 2020 is finally coming to an end and even if you will not be able to celebrate or party as you would have normally done, you deserve to do it anyway for yourself! Was there ever a worse year than this one to be so excited to say goodbye to?
So let´s get deep into our best vegan & cruelty-free beauty picks to rock on New Year's Eve✨
Super pigmented vegan eyeshadow to sparkle all night long! This incredible creamy formula dries out like a powder with an amazing, sophisticated metallic finish - better than glitter, same effect.
Easy to apply with your fingers, one eye at a time, so you will be able to focus on what actually matters- celebrating with drinks.
Available in four flattering shades to suit everybody.
Get ready for glowing, sky-high cheekbones with this little beauty!
Is there anything better than your skin looking like skin with a glowy, radiant touch? We do not think so.
Our last pick had to be a complexion product which has become a cult one: this Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer is just everything you need to create a quick but perfect base for New Year´s Eve. Super easy to blend with fingers or brushes, once on your skin will glow immediately with no cakey-effect, so get ready to take a lot of pictures!
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Just think about all the berry, burgundy, deep red lipsticks, the brownie, taupe eyeshadows, that high coverage foundation that you can wear again- not that you are not supposed to use it during summer, but depending on where you are living it can be really challenging with super hot temperatures-.
We are just over the moon and have started to rock so many products already.
Today we are going to give you some inspirations and ideas to create stunning makeup looks for every occasion, from work days to nights out.
THE FALL LIPSTICK
Achieve the perfect base by using a high coverage foundation that still looks natural but covers all imperfections and redness. Fall is definitely the best season to start using these types of foundations again, as temperatures are just the best and won´t make your makeup melt.
Get the look by using:
⭐ ILIA - True Skin Serum Foundation
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We are literally melting down, and what should you do when you still want to look decent and put together at work but it's so freaking hot? You put long-lasting make-up on, and one that's melt-proof, for sure.
We have put together our beauty besties of this beautiful, yet challenging season. They are proven to stay in place even during the hottest hours, were tested on-the-go and have passed it!
Take a look at our winners, we are sure you will fall in love with them as much as we did, especially if you are currently living in a super hot country like ours.
While prepping your skin is always a must, it becomes ESSENTIAL when it's summer. Using a good primer will make sure your make-up stays in place, it will regulate any excess oil keeping it at bay and avoiding any shine.
Our favourite: 100% Pure Mattifying Face Primer, silicone-free, long-lasting and infused with skin-plumping seaweed collagen. You can walk even under the sun at 3 pm and your make-up will stay in place, guaranteed.
You do not want to put too many products on: the less you will put on, the less you will have to deal with retouching your make-up during the day.
Skip foundation: let's be honest, who wants to bother with foundation when it's 40 degrees outside? Although there are many good waterproof foundations out there, it is simply easier and better for your skin to skip applying foundation. Your skin will be able to breath and will sweat less without being covered up.
Cover any imperfections with a good, lightweight concealer.
We love Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer enriched with stabilized vitamin C and mastic, a resin from a tree that grows on the Greek island of Chios, works to mattify and refine skin throughout the day.
Any base product will tend to crease or melt if you do not set them in place and whereas you could skip this in the winter, you can't in the summer.
We love London Copyright Immaculate Loose Setting Powder, silky-smooth, extremely fine milled and totally invisible, it blends seamlessly over makeup for a shine-free look that lasts all day.
The season doesn´t really matter- mascara is the step to follow. Instantly brightens up your eyes giving you such a fresh look.
Switch to a waterproof or long-lasting mascara for maximum hold. Wait a few minutes before applying a second coat, leaving the first one to dry out completely.
Is there anything better than that wow-effect you achieve with mascara when your face is naturally more tanned? Loving summer.
Our pick: 100% Pure Maracuja Mascara in Black Tea, infused with maracuja oil, lash conditioning vitamins, and pigments of tea, cocoa, and coffee.
Yes, you may already have that tanned goddess look if you were lucky enough to enjoy your summer, or you may still look as pale as a ghost since you did not have the chance to get a tan. Either way, a good bronzer is a savior!
It enhances your natural tan giving you that extra, finishing touch and can fake a good tan if you are stuck in the city working. You can swipe it up on your eyelids to give instant dimension and create a natural, super sexy summer eye look.
Going on with 100% Pure, we love the Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer in Cocoa Glow, laced with luminescent gems and minerals for subtle shimmer and a sun-kissed glow. Available in two shades to suit everybody.
Using versatile products is always a plus regardless of the season, but do you really want to spend ages putting on your make up when you know it is not gonna last long anyway? We better spend that extra time enjoying summer, looking fabulous as always with way less effort.
We love to use the Ilia Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment on our lips and cheeks, especially the shade Sing. It nourishes skin and dries down to a soft wash of color with a modern matte finish.
Avoiding powders can be a good idea in the summer, since they tend to melt down quicker, so try to opt for creamy, liquid products instead. Also, opting for a lip gloss instead of a lipstick is a very good idea, since lipstick can be hard to wear when it´s boiling hot outside whereas lip glosses will hydrate your skin while feeling super light.
Setting everything in place is essential to make your whole look long-lasting.
We love to spray on the Suki Concentrated Strenghtening Toner and spritz it throughout the day to refresh our make up. Keep it in the fridge for maximum refreshment!
It´s as simple as that! You only need five minutes to do your melt-proof make up, we have tested this look in the last few weeks of this super hot Italian summer and we can guarantee that they are just fab!
You will of course need to retouch some of them, as you would any other season especially if you are out all day, but their long-lasting formulas will save your life right now.
Do you have any tricks or recommendations on how to create a melt-proof make up look?
]]>At the beginning of July, China's State Council finalized new regulations regarding pre-market animal testing for all imported ordinary cosmetics. Starting from January 1st, 2021, China will end mandatory pre-market animal testing for beauty products not manufactured in China but sold there.
The new regulations will apply to all ordinary cosmetics, such as shampoo, blusher, perfume, that will no longer have to be pre-market tested.
Special cosmetics, such as sunscreens and deodorants, will still be required to be tested on animals.
China has always required products not manufactured in the country but distribuited there to undergo two types of testing:
1. PRE-MARKET tests, such as eye and skin irritation testing, has been mandatory on all kind of imported cosmetics and will be required until Jan 1st, 2021. This means that all beauty products manufactured in another country but sold in China must be re-tested on animals even if they have been already tested in the manufacturing country.
The end of this type of tests is surely a huge victory that will save the lives of so many laboratory animals.
2. POST-MARKET tests will remain mandatory on all types of cosmetics if a Chinese authority requires so. This basically means that every product sold in China can be pulled off the shelves and be re-tested on animals for further investigations on regular inspections by provincial authorities, especially if there have been reported consumers complains, reactions or safety problems.
This type of tests is required even for cosmetics manufactured in China, as long as they are sold there. Pre-market testing is not required for products manufactured and sold in China.
Keep in mind that if a brand manufactures in China BUT does not sell its products there, animal testing is not required, so this is why you can sometimes read that a product has been made in China but is certified cruelty-free.
Although this is without doubts a HUGE step ahead that will spare thousands of animals lives, there are a several factors that MUST be taken into consideration and that will certainly not make any brand distributing in China cruelty-free.
1. The new Chinese regulations only apply to ordinary cosmetics, so special ones, such as deodorants or sunscreens, will still be required to be pre-market tested.
2. Post-market testing will remain mandatory, so every beauty product distributed in China may be re-tested on animals at any point. It is clear that no brand distributing there can be considered cruelty-free.
Although still not enough to consider China a safe country for cruelty-free cosmetics, it is clear that they will sooner or later move to this direction.
If huge steps ahead like this can be achieved, is all thanks to people like you who believe in a better world with no animal cruelty. It is amazing what strong, powerful message our actions and purchasing preferences can give.
Keep on buying certified cruelty-free cosmetics only, keep on being the voice of those who cannot speak. And let's celebrate this big victory today, in the name of all those innocent furry friends whose lives will be spared!
]]>Earlier this morning, a girl in a facebook group asked if a shampoo from the well known multinational company Garnier was ok, since it said that it was "not tested on animals" and vegan.
We have already talked about what cruelty-free beauty is, what the most important standards are or which certifications to look for. If you haven´t read it yet, you can check our Guide to Vegan and Cruelty-free Cosmetics or our How to survive in the cruelty-free certifications world.
We know that the topic is very difficult, since there is so much contradictory information circulating, especially online, and so much one should know about. Nevertheless, it is essential to educate ourselves not to fall into the "traps" and support the right brands.
Answer: this label only means the finished product has not been tested on animals.
Since animal testing for cosmetic products has become illegal since 2013, and this goes for the finished product as well as its ingredients, this label does not mean anything.
When you see this label and the brand does not hold any additional cruelty-free certification, they are basically, tricking you, stating something that must be true since required by law already.
When seeing it this way, every cosmetic brand selling in Europe should be cruelty-free, but there are two key aspects which can make, even an European brand or those distributing in the EU, not cruelty-free:
1. Distributing in China
A brand may sell its products in Europe but then distribute them in China, selling it through shops, retailers and so on.
When this is the case, even finished products already tested in other countries need to be re-tested again since it is required by law. Keep in mind that China is a huge market and an incredibly profitable opportunity for many brands, so the majority of them is distributing there.
Even if this is a contradiction to the European Ban of 2013 (which states that even companies not manufacturing their products in Europe do not have to conduct animal testing if they want to sell in the EU) it is still possible and allowed for a brand to test when required by law in China.
An exception goes for selling online, so when a brand is selling its product directly to Chinese consumers. But even in this case, there is absolutely no guarantee that the products do not have to be re-tested again if required by the authorities. The situation is still very unsure and even selling online may be a risk.
Our advice is to stay away also from all those brands that distribute online, to avoid any possibilities of supporting animal testing. Remember that the decision to sell to China, even online, is always just money-driven for a brand and there is really just no point in supporting this when it is not necessary and can be a potential risk.
2. The European ban does not cover other industries
If you think that whatever cosmetic product sold in Europe is automatically cruelty-free, you are wrong.
Animal testing may have been banned on cosmetics but it is still required for other industries such as the pharmaceutical one, the food one, the manufacturing of household products and so on.
A cosmetic company may well purchase ingredients that have been tested for other industries, even recently, and use it as a new ingredient for their products, since the testing wasn´t made for the cosmetic industry but served other purposes.
Crazy right? Another contradiction. It happens more than what you think.
This is the reason why you need a reliable certification which impose a CUT-OFF DATE, which basically tells the brand to only use all those ingredients which have been tested up until a specific date (usually 2013) and avoid all those ones which were formulated afterwards.
This is currently the only reliable method in Europe to shop cruelty-free.
As we have mentioned in other posts, keep in mind that Europe is currently one of the most advanced continent when it comes to banning animal testing, and if even here there is still so much to consider and you can´t just buy from the first cosmetic brand you find, just think of how even more important it is to buy from only certified brands in your own country.
A brand itself, does not know if animal testing is occurring at any stages of the supply chain, which by the way, often involves many third parties causing information to get lost. It is not a brand that usually conducts animal testing, is their suppliers of raw materials that do!
Please keep that in mind, as every brand will of course tell you that they are cruelty-free!
This may be true in some ways, since they just do not know it and aren´t often able to say it with certainty, especially if they are not manufacturing their products themselves. But even in this case, chances are they purchase extra ingredients from third parties again, as it is very rare that a brand manufactures ALL ingredients itself.
So as you can see, many companies are just playing with you knowing the majority of people is unaware of the truth. And this always comes to their advantage.
We hope this post was helpful, let us know in the comments if you have any further questions or if anything is unsure.
We are aware that this is such a difficult topic, so we are always here to help you!
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Before turning vegan, seven years ago, I used to buy the best, trendiest beauty products on the market, without even thinking about the possibility that they could have been tested on animals or were not vegan.
I had my trusty kit, used to use the same cleanser, the same moisturizer, the same toner, they were also working great for me so it was very difficult to change all of them at once.
Nevertheless, there is nothing I do regret in switching to vegan and cruelty-free beauty, knowing what happens behind the scenes, it is natural that one wants to make more ethical choices.
Today I want to give you some recommendations on how to transition to vegan and cruelty-free beauty, based on my personal experience and the mistakes I made. I really hope this advices are going to be helpful and that they will make your transition as painless as possible. Remember to always have patience and that even the small change can make a difference, so do not be too hard on yourself if you realize that you have probably purchased something that turns out not to be vegan or it is not really cruelty-free.
So here are some tips of mine once you have decided to switch.
My advice is to try and donate as much as possible or just...use them all up! I have seen many people throwing away so many products at once and honestly, at first, this was my idea as well. While I completely understand that once you have decided to switch to more ethical options you don´t want to use them and the thought alone can be so disturbing, the truth is, there is nothing you can change anymore, since you have already purchased them and unconsciously given the money to those nasty brands.
So my advice is, you want to make sure that they are, at least, going to be used all up, maybe by someone else. This is what I did when I switched, I had a pretty large kit at that time and the products were all not cruelty-free or non-vegan, so I donated them to friends and family members.
You are going to soon realize that finding vegan and cruelty-free alternatives for make up, skincare, body care and hair care, is really challenging. My advice is to have a clear idea of what cruelty-free really means and what vegan beauty is (so truly understanding what ingredients are non-vegan, where they come from, how they are made and so on).
We have written a full guide to Vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics that will hopefully help you and give you some useful information. I recommend you also take a look at our List of non-vegan ingredients which is very helpful to identify the most common animal-derived ingredients in cosmetics.
There are many books, blogs, organizations, groups that can help you understand what is hidden behind the beauty industry, what animal testing is, what it involves, the pain and the suffering animals go through and what you can do not to support this. Knowledge is power, so the more you will know, the easier it will be for you to identify the right products and support the right brands.
Remember that you want to look for a trustworthy, reliable certification and not just a label, such as "not tested on animals" as this really means nothing. You can check our article on How to survive in the Cruelty-free certifications world, which will help you compare the most common cruelty-free certifications. Also, you want to look for a Vegan label to make sure the product you will be purchasing doesn´t contain any animal-derived ingredients.
This way you will get familiar with the cruelty-free companies and over time you will be able to know immediately which brands to support and which ones to avoid.
This is so useful when buying from new brands and companies you do not know much about. Having it on your phone, you will be able to see if the brand is on the list or not and quickly decide on what to purchase.
Some things, such as wax strips, deodorants, nail polish etc.. can be really challenging to find, so my tip is to either changing your habits or buying multi-use products which can do the job. I am not saying you should stop using deodorant- for goodness sake- but you can start shaving your body instead of waxing- which is what I did - or if you used a shaving cream to shave your legs and it is hard for you to find a specific alternative for that, then simply use a cruelty-free oil, a shower gel or a cruelty-free hair conditioner instead. It is actually all about changing your mindset first.
Although nowdays it is way easier to find alternatives to pretty much all products than it was seven years ago when I turned vegan, some categories are still lacking on options. It will get better over time, as way more brands are turning cruelty-free and launching more vegan options, but sometimes you just have to go with what you have and accept the fact that we need to have patience, as there is still so much to do and fight for.
Knowing where to find information and/or products is always a win!
As I have mentioned earlier, it is really all about changing and doing it the best way you can. Nobody is perfect, so doing something with good intention is better than doing nothing.
Keep going on supporting certified cruelty-free brands, together we can change what is still so wrong in the beauty industry giving a clear message!
We will be there to help you! Let us know in the comments what you think and if you are currently struggling in transitioning or in finding a good alternative to specific products.
Write us to get support and advices, it is essential to create a community that takes care of one another: only this way we can get stronger and truly make an impact!
xx Much Love
Floriana
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The best cruelty-free skincare products for sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin is probably one of the most difficult to manage. It can easily get irritated and inflamed showing redness all over or just in specific areas, tends to react to specific ingredients and it can be very difficult to understand which ones cause the inflammation.
Exactly as an allergy or a food intolerance, the reasons why our skin reacts to certain substances, sometimes even non-aggressive, natural ones, are kind of unknown and the reaction may be triggered by anything.
Paying attention to the products that cause you irritations or instant redness is the key to try at least identify the possible ingredients that may be giving your skin a hard time.
Having said that, it is a truly personal concern and each sensitive skin differs from others, as the triggers vary from person to person. In worst cases even buying products specifically formulated for sensitive skin may be causing you some issues, as this type of skin may react to absolutely anything.
Nevertheless, a good skincare regimen for sensitive skin is specifically formulated with soothing, calming ingredients, avoiding those common ones which are known to be aggressive or potentially cause reactions.
A good cleanser for sensitive skin should contain ingredients that calm and restore it while eliminating dirt and pollution without pulling.
Aloe vera, chamomile, witch-hazel are some of the most common, potent ingredients that sooth and restablish skin. The best formulas are milky or oily ones, as a foaming cleanser could tend to strip skin more causing irritation.
Our pick: Nakin Natural Anti-Ageing Advanced Cleansing Milk with olive oil, sunflower oil and seaweed extract. Gently cleanses removing make up and impurities while assisting cell renewal. Non-greasy, non-stripping formula.
A toner is probably one of the most important skincare steps for sensitive skin, together with a good serum and moisturizer.
After gently cleansing the pores, skin will be ready to absorb the following treatments. A toner will assist the cleansing process and being the first used right after a cleanser, it wil deliver essential actives to improve it.
When we are talking about sensitive skin, you want to look for a toner that replenishes moisture, calms redness and tones while minimizing pores.
We have chosen Kahina Giving Beauty Toning Mist with aloe vera, rose water and willow bark extract, the perfect toner for sensitive skin. Contains soothing, calming ingredients that will instantly calm any redness or irritation, as well as nourishing ingredients, such as argan and rice seed extract that will make sure your skin is hydrated and radiant.
Potent soothing, calming, restoring ingredients: this is everything you want to look for in a good serum for sensitive skin. Being one of the key skincare step in every routine, the serum will make sure to calm all inflammations and deliver essential actives to cure skin from within and prevent future redness from showing.
It re-establishes skin´s balance and nourishes it delivering hydration.
We think the best cruelty-free and vegan serum for sensitive skin is the Kahina Giving Beauty Restorative Serum with argan oil, lavender, prickly pear oil and pomegranate seed extracts. It delivers antioxidants while gently reducing inflammation and repairing tissue damage.
Hydration and care should never miss in any skincare regimen and a face oil will make sure to deliver a good dose of moisture while targeting other major concerns. In case of sensitive skin, this is of course soothing irritation, stop ongoing reactions and prevent future ones.
We had to include the Nakin Natural Anti-Ageing Revitalising Face Oil with baobab, argan and peach kernel oil to revitalise, sooth and renew. Your skin will be left calm, radiant and hydrated.
And here we come to the top product of a good vegan skincare regimen for sensitive skin! A moisturizer can do wonders and dramatically improve your skin, reduce its sensitivity while acting as a barrier against potential inflammation triggers, pollution, bacteria and dirt.
Used mornings and nights, the moisturizer will change the appearance of your skin in just a couple of weeks, calming all possible redness and irritations and strenghtening skin to prevent future inflammations.
Try Nakin Natural Anti-Ageing Dew Face Cream, with pomegranate, baobab and argan oil, to build strenght and protect from stress while smoothing away signs of ageing.
Adding extra steps to your skincare routine is always a good idea, but especially when treating sensitive skin.
As redness or inflammations may come even during the day triggered by external factors, it is a good habit to do extra treatments once or twice a week.
The one treatment which can be kind of tricky for sensitive skin is peeling, as it may just strip it and be too aggressive. Eliminating dead skin cells is key for every skin type, but you should look for an extra gentle peeling when exfoliating sensitive skin and always do when it´s wet to minimize damages.
The best thing is to use a beauty tool such as a Konjac Facial Sponge with Chamomile and Pink Clay to gently exfoliate while cleansing skin. This will not also potentiate the effects of your cleanser but used once or twice a week, it will make sure you remove all dead skin layers in the most gentle way possible.
We recommend you use a good nourishing, soothing mask twice a week for best results. 100% Pure Green Tea Water Bomb Mask is perfect to sooth and hydrate, with aloe vera gel and cucumber extracts.
This kit will help your skin renew itself and keep redness and inflammations at bay. However, good results may take some time to be achieved, as the first priority is to sooth irritations and block further reactions by eliminating the possible triggers and while you can certainly achieve this pretty quickly by using the right products, it may take some time to treat skin´s sensitivity.
This type of skin needs constant care and extra attention. Be patient and don´t be too hard on yourself! Your efforts will pay back!
Let us know in the comments if you suffer from sensitive skin and how it tipically looks like. What do you do to treat it?
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Today we are going to cover oily skin, a skin type which is often so mistreated but needs care more than any other. Tips, tricks and recommendations on how to treat oily skin and our best products to target its main concerns.
Oily skin affects people of all ages, from teenagers to adults. It is characterized by an excessive oil production which is usually visible on forehead, chin and nose. It usually gets worse during the day, looking all shiny and greasy. Make up struggles to stay on long, pores tend to be more visible, bacteria build up because of the excess oil causing breakouts and imperfections.
But hey! The good news is, oily skin prevents wrinkles and lines from forming, since that excessive oil production maintains skin elasticity and keeps it stretchier than other skin types. So there is always a bright side.
Most people think that the first aim when treating oily skin is to use astringent products to remove as much oil as possible. While this is certainly understandable, since nobody likes to have a shiny face, it is actually the worst possible thing to do when treating oily skin and may have an even worse impact.
Depriving oily skin from its moisture and using too aggressive products can cause it to produce even more oil resulting in more breakouts and imperfections, since it will naturally try to re-establish its balance. This way you will enter a loop that will make your skin and yourself suffer. And nobodz wants that, right?
While removing excess oil is the key to get a shine-free look, oily skin needs to be deeply treated and targeted with specific, non-aggressive products that still provide it with moisture while gently balancing it out. Oily skin can, in fact, get dehydrated and suffer from lack of water reserves, and this may be as well the cause of breakouts and imperfections.
Let´s take a look at the main skincare steps and what you should consider when buying vegan and cruelty-free products for oily skin.
The perfect vegan cleanser for oily skin should be effective, in order to remove all excess oil, but very gentle at the same time, not depriving the skin from its natural moisture and without pulling it.
You want to look for purifying, cleansing actives as well as soothing ingredients to calm any inflammations of breakouts and/or acne.
Our pick: Suki Purifying Foaming Cleanser, vegan, cruelty-free, antioxidants rich, non-stripping and hydrating. It accelerates collagen turnover, restores radiance and minimizes pores, while removing dirt and impurities. It also contains shea butter and lavender to nourish and sooth skin, bingo!
Since oily skin may need a little bit of an extra help, especially on the cleansing process, to remove oil, bacteria, dirt, pollution, that may have been all mixed up and is often stubborn to be washed away, it is a good idea to use an extra tool to increase the purifying power of your cleanser.
We have included the Konjac Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal in this kit, because it simply is the ultimate tool to take a skincare routine for oily skins to the next level. Deeply cleanses and kills stubborn acne-causing bacteria while providing antioxidants, oh yes.
Essential step when treating oily skin, a toner will balance its ph and fill the pores with specific purifying, anti inflammatory ingredients. It is important to choose the right one to detoxify and hydrate.
A toner will also make sure to assist the cleansing process, which is one of the key step to do right for oily skin.
Try Nakin Natural Anti-Ageing Purifying Face Toner with Witch Hazel and Aloe to sooth and restore oily skin, while Vitamin E and Seaweed will balance it out.
A serum is a skincare product that should never miss in any skincare regime. The benefits of using a good serum, specifically formulated to address your skin needs, are endless and if you do not normally use one, we recommend you give it a try! You will see what amazing results you can get from just addind this category to your routine and how much your skin will improve.
A serum for oily skin will likewise do wonders! Fully packed with balancing, purifying, moisturizing, calming actives, it will make sure to cure oily skin from the inside by deeply penetrating into the pores. A good serum for this skin type also contains specific ingredients which help restore skin´s balance by normalizing oil production.
Our best pick for you is the Suki Purifying Face Serum, vegan, cruelty-free and full of active ingredients to prevent clogged pores and blemishes. Packed with white willow, apple enzymes and retinol liposomer, this serum will re-balance oily skin while correcting any imperfection, bringing it to its original radiance.
Yes girl, you have read it right! If you got oily skin you will also need a good, light face oil to nourish your skin while purifying and balancing it out. As mentioned earlier, oily skin needs moisture and hydration exactly like all other skin types, but it needs a specific way for this moisture to be delivered, a totally different one than for dry skin, for example.
Depending on the ingredients contained in the face oil, it will sooth irritations and help fight bacteria. You want to look for a gentle one which will not be too greasy or concentrated. Lighweight products are everything when it comes to oily skin, especially when looking for a face oil.
Suki Balancing Facial Oil is everything you want to look for: chamomile, echinacea, lavender and rose to sooth skin, fights bacteria, nourishes, hydrates and is super light! The perfect addition to your routine.
Light, powerful, purifying, hydrating. This is all you need in a moisturizer for oily skin, which is usually water-based for best skin´s affinity.
As the serum, this is an essential step which nobody can and should skip. Protecting skin with a moisturizer is a must to create a barrier against pollution, bacteria, external stress and nourishing it.
Our best pick for oily skin? Nakin Natural Anti-Ageing Matte Formula Face Cream, vegan, cruelty-free, mattifying, minimizes pores and shine, with baobab and jojoba oil to hydrate, pomegranate and hyluronic acid to plump. Can be used mornings and nights and will help regulate the oil production of your skin.
Specific treatments such as a face mask or a peeling can be so beneficial for oily skin and do not need to be done every day.
When it comes to face masks, the choice are really endless, as you may use whatever mask you would like (even an hydrating one) as it would just be an extra help for whatever concern you like to cover. However, there are top face masks and peeling specifically formulated for oily skin which will boost the re-balancing process and deeply detoxify skin.
Some of our favourites:
Suki Transformative Purifying Mask, a 3-in-1 purifying, inflammation soothing, blemish reducing cleanser/mask which uses white willow and kaolin to purify skin. Best used once or twice a week, especially on your T-zone to reduce shine and oil production and deeply cleansing skin eliminating dirt and pollution. It is also the perfect spot treatment which you can leave on overnight or during the day thanks to its translucent finish.
Eliminating dead skin cells is always a win, but especially when it comes to oily skin! Removing dirt and bacteria is essential to prevent clogged pores and blemishes. Helping skin renew itself is critical to find its balance.
Finding a good vegan, cruelty-free peeling which is gentle enough to make sure you are scrubbing all impurities away without stripping skin, can be challenging. Try Suki Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser with lemongrass, natural sugar and chamomile, it gently removes impurities while soothing skin.
Following these steps will dramatically improve your skincare routine: this is the perfect kit for oily skin. Remember to embrace your skin no matter what, even if it may seem hard some days being a mess of breakouts and irritations. Stress and frustration reflects on your skin and may just make everything worse. Use a light foundation and a high coverage concealer to target any imperfections that might be bothering you, but do not forget to let your skin breath as much as possible, to avoid clogging pores!
Let us know what you think of this guide in the comments and what are your tricks and tips to treat oily, blemish-prone skin.
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We are starting a series of posts to cover all skin types and give you our tips, tricks and vegan, cruelty-free kit recommendations for each skin type.
Let´s start with DRY SKIN.
The best skincare regime for dry skin
Dry skin is a very common skin type which usually affects specific areas of the face, such as cheeks and forehead. Most people would in fact have areas of their face with dry skin and others with normal/oily/sensitive skin.
Skin types are just a general guideline and people rarely fall into just one, but they can be helpful to address at least the main concerns of your skin.
Dry skin usually tends to pull and feels rough. It immediately shows signs of dehydration after being washed and can get flaky in worst cases. A consequence of dehydration can also be dullness, so your skin may look pale and without energy.
The main goal of a good skincare regimen for dry skin is, of course, restablish essential hydration and deeply nourish the skin to improve its water reserves and its ability to retain moisture.
A complete, targeted skincare regimen is everything when it comes to dry skin. Without a good moisturizer, a special cleanser, a serum and an oil, dry skin can rarely find its balance and improve.
We have gathered the best vegan and cruelty-free skincare products to create a specific kit for dry skin. We are going to explain the purpose and goals of each category and explain the key feature of each product we have chosen.
CLEANSER
Is there a true difference among cleansers and are there really specific ones when it comes to dry skin? The answer is yes. Many people think a cleanser is the last product they should invest their money on, since it is just going to cleanse your skin and will be rinsed off with water any way.
Truth is, a cleanser may contain specific nourishing, hydrating ingredients which can be super beneficial for dry skin, or may contain instead aggressive, purifying ingredients which will make everything worse.
You want to avoid all those ingredients which are specifically formulated to absorb oil or deeply cleanses skin depriving it of its moisture (like a traditional soap bar, for instance).
Our pick: Kahina Giving Beauty Oil Cleanser. Vegan, cruelty-free, super hydrating and rich in antioxidants, with sunflower, argan and carrot seed oil. Contains Calendula and Blue Tansy to reduce redness and inflammations, so it also covers sensitive areas, as well as anti-bacterial Turmeric.
TONER
Toning your skin is an essential step to help restore its ph and prepare skin for the next treatments. The perfect toner for dry skin also contains ingredients to hydrate and restore the skin.
Our pick for dry skin is the Cruelty-free SUKI Concentrated Strenghtening Toner, with nourishing Olive Leaves, Shiitake, Comfrey and Seaweed rich in antioxidants. Use it during the day to revive skin and maintain hydration.
SERUM
A deeply nourishing serum will boost your skincare routine and is probably a MUST step to treat dry skin. Serums contain target ingredients which can massively improve your skin addressing specific needs. The perfect serum for dry skin contains oil and antioxidants to lock moisture in and repair tissue damage.
Try the vegan Kahina Giving Beauty Restorative Serum with Carrot seed and pomegranate seed oils, Argan oil and vitamin C to brighten skin.
FACE OIL
We don´t think there is any need to explain why you should use a face oil if you have dry skin. Restoring essential hydration is the goal of your skincare routine, and what´s best than a face oil to do that? It will make sure your skin is layered with potent nourishing ingredients and prevent any flaking or irritation. You can use it on its own or mix it with the moisturizer.
Suki Nourishing Facial Oil is enriched with jojoba and sunflower seeds oil to lock in moisture and promote elasticity. Evening Primrose, Grapeseed and Carrot will make sure your skin is packed with a high dose of antioxidants too.
MOISTURIZER
The rescue skincare product of any skin type, but especially dry ones. Every skin needs moisture and a dry one needs high doses of hydration to make sure skin water reserves improve and are kept well balanced.
The perfect vegan moisturizer for dry skin has a rich consistency and is full of oils, butters and vitamins.
Our pick: Nakin Natural Anti-Ageing Active Dew Face Cream, with Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter and Baobab Seed Oil.
TREATMENTS
If caring for your skin on an every day basis is certainly the key to achieve good results and see a quick improvement, there are many special treatments which can be done a couple of times a week that can just be the finishing touch to a perfect regimen. A treatment such as a face mask or a peeling can boost your skin and give that extra care it needs.
Here are our favourite vegan treatments for dry skin:
Kahina Giving Beauty Moisture Mask, a luxus but needed! A rich treatment to improve skin´s water reserves with argain oil, sunflower seed oil, shea butter, aloe vera, prickly peer seed oil and mushroom extract. Vitamins, antioxidants, hydration and anti-ageing properties all in one!
SUKI Resurfacing Enzyme Peel will eliminate dead skin cells and dry patches, gently exfoliating your skin to help renew cells. Best if used once or twice a week after cleansing skin, it will open pores and let the next treatments penetrate better into the skin.
We hope this guide was helpful and that you will try some of our recommendations. Let us know what you think in the comments!
Still unsure about what you should pick for your skin? Contact us or leave us a comment, we are always there to help you!
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While buying a foundation in store is possibly the best thing you can do, as you get to try it on before you purchase it, there are a few tricks and guidelines to help you buy the best pick even online.
Here is our guide.
The first thing you should look for is the right formulation. A foundation is a beauty product which, exactly as a moisturizer, a serum or a toner, contains specific ingredients which do or don´t suit your skin type.
Even if no one really falls into one category and skin types are just a general guideline which does not always tell much, it is still helpful to know what is the main characteristic of your skin, how it looks like and what issues/concerns you may have.
Try to pay attention to how your skin feels and looks like during the day: does it get oily? Does it look dry? Are there any areas which tend to get red or sensitive? Is it itchy? Does it pull on some areas? What kind of reactions do you usually get from skincare products?
Looking at your current skincare regime, if you have found a good one for you, will tell you a lot about it already.
You want to make sure the foundation you are going to choose does not contain specific ingredients that may be too aggressive for your skin but does instead contain good ones which will be beneficial.
Nowdays you can find so many different foundations specifically formulated for sensitive skin, dry skin, acne-prone skin and so on.
There are so many different types of foundation on the market, one can get so overwhelmed. Which one should you pick? Which one suits your skin best?
Here is our list of the most common foundation types and their features.
Liquid
This type of foundation can be good for all skin types, especially dry or sensitive ones. They can be water-based or oil-based and act respectively to suit combination/oily skins as well as dry/normal skin types. The coverage can vary depending on which one you choose, they can be lightweight or full coverage, liquid foundations are usually very buildable and allow you to achieve the desired look. They are best applied with a Foundation Brush or a Makeup Blender.
Cream and serum foundations belong to the liquid category and they can have a richer (cream) or a lightweight (serum) consistency. Serum ones are perfect for natural looks, as they tend to be light and breathable.
ILIA, True Skin Serum Foundation (56€)
Powder
Powder foundations are best for combination/oily skin, as they tend to absorb excess oil for a shine-free look. They are not the best for mature skin, as the powders may sit on any lines or wrinkles making them visible. They can be loose or pressed (this last one perfect for touch-ups on-the-go) and are best applied with a specific brush.
100% PURE Fruit Pigmented Powder Foundation (49€)
Stick
These foundations usually have a creamy, thick consistency which can suit all skin types but it is best for normal to dry ones. They can be easily blended with a brush or a makeup blender and are perfect to cover imperfections.
Tinted Moisturizer
This is a skincare and makeup product in one. Tinted moisturizer tend to be lighter than a normal foundation, let your skin breath more while acting as a skincare treatment to nourish, replenish, brighten, purify your skin. Perfect base for summer or for anyone looking for a sheer, very natural look. Best if applied with fingers or a brush.
100% PURE Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer (50€)
BB Cream and CC Cream
A BB Cream is a "Beauty Balm" or "Blemish Balm". They are lightweight, often creamy, and act as a moisturizer providing just a bit of color. They are perfect for all skin types but especially oily/acne-prone ones.
A CC Cream is a color corrector which is perfect for dry and mature skin types as they usually contain hydrating, nourishing and anti-ageing ingredients. Same as BB creams, they are lighter that a proper foundation and provide just a touch of color to even out complexion.
Another aspect to consider is the kind of result you are looking for and your preferences in terms of coverage. This does not really depend on your skin type (although we understand that problematic skin types or acne-prone ones may tend to prefer full coverage foundations), but really the type of look you want to achieve. Lightweight formulas are perfect for natural looking results and full coverage ones tend to be more visible but will cover all your imperfections.
And here comes the tricky part: how do you find your shade?
Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this question but just some advices on how you can narrow down the options. Most people can have more than one shade, which tend to vary during the year anyway, depending on whether you have a tan or not.
Look at your skin under natural light
The first thing you should do is looking at your skin under natural light. Go outside and look at your arms, your neck, decollete and face. Often times we have slightly different shades on our neck than on our face, so the key is to choose a foundation which will even this out. Look at your arms to try understand which is your undertone. There is the "Vein Trick" which could help you out, although sometimes it can be difficult to tell:
- if your veins are looking more on the greeny side, then your undertone is probably a warm one, so yellow/gold/olive.
- if your veins are more on the blue side, then your undertone is probably a cool one
Keep in mind that this is just a general guide, which will not apply to everybody: some people have neutral undertones so they can actually be ok with warm as well as cool shades.
When you apply foundation to test the shade out, always go under your chin and apply it on the first part of your neck. This way you will be able to tell if it truly matches.
ASK FOR HELP
When you have tried several foundations out and understood which is your undertone and the shade which usually suits you best, you will be able to shop online with confidence. If in doubts, ask the staff to help you!
Realness of Beauty is always ready to assist you and aswer all your questions related to finding the best foundation for you!
Now you know the most important aspects to consider when buying a foundation and this should help you with your next vegan purchase.
Let us know in the comments if you have special tricks you use when it comes to finding the perfect shade.
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We hear it a lot and unfortunately also from vegans: "if it says that is vegan then it is also cruelty-free".
Girl, we do not want to be the ones who destroy your beliefs, but you should be aware that the word "vegan" and the word "cruelty-free" mean two different things, especially when talking beauty.
While the V label on a cosmetic product may tell you whether it contains any animal-derived ingredients or not, the truth is, that label is telling you nothing about its cruelty-free status. Why? Because we are talking about two different things each one involving different aspects that need to be considered to be certified.
The most famous Vegan labels that you can find on cosmetics do not go deep into the cruelty-free topic to make sure that the brand and all its suppliers do not conduct any animal testing. These labels simply research and make sure no animal-derived ingredient is contained in that product, which is yes essential in order to stop animal cruelty in all its forms, but is not enough, as a cruelty-free certification is just as important.
There is currently no certification/logo/label that is able to certify the cruelty-free status as well as the vegan one at the same time. You want to make sure you are looking for two labels, one that states it is cruelty-free and one that states it is vegan.
While cruelty-free certifications are beginning to show up more on packagings (among these unfortunately also fake ones or unreliable ones. Check out our latest article How to Survive in the Cruelty-free Certifications World to discover more about it), the Vegan label is less common to find, at least in the beauty industry, and most of the time you need to ask the manufacturer to make sure it does not include animal-derived ingredients.
Being able to spot non- vegan ingredients just by looking at the INCI/ingredients list of a product, is very difficult, if not impossible sometimes. Some ingredients may be animal-derived as well as plant derived, so there is no easy way to know.
WHICH INGREDIENTS ARE TYPICALLY NOT VEGAN?
Here is a table of the most common animal-derived ingredients you can find in cosmetics:
INGREDIENT | INCI NAME | SOURCE |
---|---|---|
Stearic Acid | STEARIC ACID | May be animal- derived or plant derived. When from animals it comes from their fat |
Collagen | COLLAGEN, SOLUBLE COLLAGEN, HYDROLIZED COLLAGEN |
Derived from animals hairs, bones, ligaments, nails and skin. Vegan options are available but not so common. |
Lactose | LACTOSE | Derived from Milk |
Lanolin | LANOLIN | Wax like substance derived from sheep´s wool |
Tallow | SODIUM TALLOWATE | Derived from fatty tissue of sheep or cattle |
Silk Proteins | HYDROLIZED SILK, SERICIN, FIBROIN | Derived from the cocoons of the silk worms |
Honey | HONEY, MEL | Animal-derived |
Milk | LAC, CAPRAE LAC, LACTIS LIPIDA, LACTIS PROTEINUM |
Animal-derived |
Elastin | ELASTIN, HYDROLIZED ELASTIN | Derived from bovine neck ligaments and aortas. |
Beeswax | CERA ALBA | Animal-derived |
Carmine | NATURAL RED 4, E 120, CI 75 470, CRIMSON LAKE, COCHINEAL, CARMINE |
Obtained by crushing the female cochineal insects to isolate carminic acid contained in their shells |
Placenta | PLACENTAL PROTEIN, PLACENTAL EXTRACT, HYDROLIZED PLACENTAL PROTEIN |
Derived from animals placenta- most of the time from sheep |
Squalane | SQUALANE | Can be animal-derived or plant derived. When from animals is derived from shark livers |
Hayluronic Acid | HYALURONIC ACID | Can be animal-derived or from plant. When from animals is obtained from joints and eyeballs of cows/horses or combs of chickens |
Keratin | HYDROLIZED KERATIN, KERATIN | Usually animal derived, there are but some vegan alternatives derived from amino acids from plants. When animal-derived it comes from their nails, horn and hair. |
Glycerin | GLYCERIN | Can be animal-derived (usually tallow) as well as from plants. |
THE VEGAN LOGOS
We have gathered the most common vegan labels you can find in cosmetics to help you recognize them quickly. They are very useful when trying to understand whether a cosmetic product contains any of the above mentioned ingredients.
You can choose whatever symbols you like, as long as it is stated that the product is VEGAN. Often times, you will only find the word VEGAN on a product, since the above mentioned logos involve paying money to get certified. This is also an acceptable solution as long as the manufacturer states with certainty that the ingredients are not animal-derived.
As mentioned before, none of the above logos tell you that the product is also cruelty-free, so make sure to look for a reliable one on the packaging.
We really hope this article was helpful in clarifying the difference betwenn vegan and cruelty-free in cosmetics and gave you useful information about the most common non-vegan ingredients. Let us know what you think in the comments!
]]>We get asked a lot, whether a vegan label on a cosmetic product automatically means it is also cruelty-free. While this can make some kind of sense when thinking about the values and principles behind a vegan lifestyle, the sad answer to that is simply NO. A product may in fact be vegan, meaning it does not contain any animal-derived ingredients, but a V label on it does not say anything about its cruelty-free status.
There are a lot of aspects which must be considered in order to call a brand cruelty-free and just a few reliable certifications which take them into account. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Cruelty-free and Vegan Cosmetics to know more about the topic.
We have created a table of the most common symbols and labels you can find on the market, their meanings and their differences, hoping this will make your purchases easier.
It is essential to buy from and support only those certifications which truly exclude animal-cruelty in all its forms with a strict policy.
CRUELTY-FREE LOGOS, MEANING, DIFFERENCES
LABEL | ORGANIZATION | COUNTRY | CRUELTY-FREE POLICY | CUT-OFF DATE POLICY | DURATION |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PETA |
USA |
-No animal testing on finished
|
- None
|
-Forever, does not |
CRUELTY-FREE |
EUROPE, |
-Strict policy. No animal testing on finished
|
- Required |
- Must be reaccredited every |
|
CHOOSE |
AUSTRALIA |
-No animal testing on finished product as well as
|
- Retroactive Five Years Policy. Companies |
- Must be reaccredited (no |
SO, WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU PICK?
As you can see from the table, the standars of each certifications are different: since we are serious about what we do and understand the consequences that buying products with unreliable or superficial certifications may have, we intentionally do not support any PETA certified brand, since their standards are not strict and even useless in Europe. The only certification we offer is the Leaping Bunny program, Naturewatch, ICEA and a few more, the only reliable ones in Europe.
NATUREWATCH FOUNDATION
The Naturewatch Foundation based in the UK provides a written list of all local cruelty-free brands. Although they do not use any of the logos above and their one is not that famous, they do follow a very strict policy in certifying companies. They use a fixed cut-off date, cover the China issue, do not accept a brand that test when required by law, make sure the brand and all their suppliers do not conduct animal testing on finished product as well as on the ingredients and do not accept brands owned by non cruelty-free parent company.
The Compassionate Shopping Guide by the Naturewatch has always been printed and needs to be requested though their website. Their 15th Edition will be also available online.
WHAT ABOUT ALL OTHER BUNNIES SYMBOLS OR THE LABEL "NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS"?
Even if there are so many organizations with independent logos which aim to fight animal cruelty and do good their way, we recommend you only purchase products with logos from internationally recognized organizations. Any other bunny symbol you may encounter, or even the label "Not tested on animals" doesn´t really tell you anything about their cruelty-free status and you want to make sure that the policy they follow is a strict one.
Keep in mind that "Not Tested on Animals" only means that the finished product has not been tested: oh but thank you! It is already illegal to test the finished product as well as its ingredients in Europe, so what does that mean? Absolutely nothing.
ALWAYS CHECK IF A BRAND IS TRULY ON THE LIST
With more people demanding for cruelty-free cosmetics, company now realize how important it is to get a reliable certification. But darling, we live in a brutal world and some companies may use a trustworthy logo on their products without even being certified (yes, dishonesty but hey... it happens and we should all keep that in mind). You want to make sure you reasearch the brand and see if is on the database of the organization they claim to be certified by.
SO, DOES THAT MEAN YOU HAVE TO GO CRAZY BEFORE BUYING A COSMETIC PRODUCT?
We did and we know what this means. Why do you think we have created Realness of Beauty then? For you! To make your beauty shopping an enjoyable experience as it should be. We think vegans are way too often perceived as they are missing on something. Let´s show that you can be compassionate and still get the best beauty products without having to compromise on quality or performance.
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Like all cosmetic products, facial masks can also contain animal-derived ingredients (tallow, lanolin, honey and much more). Now, besides being pretty gross, who wants to support animal cruelty in all its forms? Don´t think you want either.
WHAT DO FACIAL MASKS DO?
Depending on which one you choose, they can improve the texture of your skin, brighten the overall complexion, decrease signs of ageing, purify and detox.
Most people think of face masks as if they were something you only do at a Spa, the idea of having to wait 10-20 minutes while looking like an alien is not that attractive, plus they think they have to find the time to do it which is likely to never happen.
The truth is, face masks can do miracles for your skin and they should be a step of your skincare routine.
There are no rules when it comes to how many times you should use one, as it depends on what kind of mask you choose and the type of skin you have. Hydrating masks can be used everyday, purifying ones two-three times a week, but really, you should just listen to your skin and feel what it needs the most without too many restrictions. Also, you do not need to have a mask on for 20 minutes if you do not have the time for it, applying a brightening one in the morning while brushing your teeth, even for 5 minutes, will improve the appearance of your skin already and truly make a difference.
TYPES, BENEFITS AND CRUELTY-FREE RECOMMENDATIONS
We have put together a list of most types of masks that you can find on the market, the best cruelty-free and vegan options and their key benefits:
- Hydrating masks : perfect to increase the water quantity of your skin, hydrating masks are a rescue treatment for all skin types, especially dry ones. They often contain oils and butters to help smooth the skin while deeply nourishing it.
Our favourite, KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY MOISTURE MASK with argan oil, shea butter, prickly pear seed oil and red wine grape extract. Perfect for sensitive skin!
- Purifying Masks : they clean, exfoliate and detox our skin, remove dirt, pollution, grime, treat spots and eliminate impurities. An ally for combination/oily skin but not only. Everyone could use a purifying mask, although sensitive skin types should pay extra attention to the ingredients.
Our pick: SUKI TRANSFORMATIVE PURIFYING MASK, with kaolin, zinc oxide and willow bark extract.
- Energizing Masks: this type of mask is what you want to look for if your skin is dull and needs a boost of energy. They contain skin stimulating ingredients, such as caffeine, vitamin B3, copper, glycolic acid. Perfect to be applied in the morning while getting ready for the day, if signs of fatigue or lack of sleep is showing off.
Try 100% PURE CAFFEINE SHEET MASK for an instant brightening effect
- Antioxidants Masks : containing powerful ingredients such as Vitamin C, A, E, flavonoids, green tea. This type of masks limit free radicals production, decrease the appearance of wrinkles, prevent sunburn and help the skin repair ítself. Best pick for mature skin, they can be used by all skin types.
We must mention to you KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY ANTIOXIDANT FACE MASK, rich in argan oil, pomegranate and acai- yes, vitamins please!
- Exfoliating Masks: they slough off dulling dead skin cells by gently exfoliating the skin. They often have brightening ingredients which leave the skin looking rejuvinated and healthy. Suitable for all skin types, with exception of sensitive ones, although there are a lot of good exfoliating masks containing calming, soothing ingredients.
Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that there are many different types of masks based on their formulation, such as sheet ones (can be all above-mentioned types), peel-off ones (exfoliating), gel ones, sleeping ones (often hydrating),clay and charcoal masks (purifying). You should find the version which suits you best depending on your skin needs. This means: have fun trying them all out!
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The word Cruelty-free is used a lot when talking beauty.
It is easy to see brands using it to let you think they do not test on animals, to convince you to purchase their products. The word is, in fact, often misused, causing people to think it is as easy as trusting what a brand say.
As a result there is so much confusion about the topic and we feel the urge to inform you about what you should know when purchasing cosmetics and what cruelty-free and vegan beauty really means.
We often see brands, which we know are not cruelty-free, stating they do not perfom any animal testing. We often see brands stating they are cruelty-free without holding any kind of certification. We often see brands holding some type of certification which is not trustworthy.
We have written this detailed guide to clarify essential aspects and key elements of this delicate topic to let you know about what it is happening behind the scenes of the beauty industry.
This guide takes into account what the European legislation about animal testing states and does not cover in such details other continents legislations.
LET´S GO DEEPER INTO IT: CURRENT EUROPEAN LEGISLATION AND THE BAN ON ANIMAL TESTING
Europe is currently one of the best continent when it comes to banning animal testing, yet also here there is a lot to consider.
In Europe, it is illegal to test on animals the finished product as well as its ingredients since 2013. The ban on animal testing on the single ingredients had already been put into force since 2009 for all companies manufacturing their products in Europe.
Since 2013 also companies not manufacturing in Europe, wishing to sell their cosmetic products in the European market must not conduct any animal testing (on ingredients as well as on the finished product) starting from the 11th March 2013.
This was a huge step ahead. Unfortunately, the legislation only covers the cosmetic industry and does not include other industries, such as the pharmaceutical one, manufacturing of household products, food industry (testing of food additives) and many more. For these industries animal testing is still allowed and this big exception may cause ingredients tested on animals in other industries to still end up on beauty products.
THE CHINA ISSUE
Another aspect to consider is selling to China, where animal testing is required by law for all imported cosmetics not manufactured in the country, even on the finished product. A company may sell its products in Europe without testing on animals but does it when selling to China. Even if this sounds like a paradox, it happens all the time.
There are some exceptions when it comes to online selling directly to Chinese consumers, but even in this case there is no big guarantee that it will never be required to re-test the products if required by the authorities. Our advice? Stay away from it, unless certified by a trustworthy organization which knows Chinese regulations very well.
DARLING, LOOK FOR THE RIGHT CERTIFICATION!
It is easy to see that the reality is way more complicated than just a company stating that it is cruelty-free. Also, since the manufacturing of a cosmetic product often involves several parties with suppliers of suppliers mostly distributed all over the world, it is hard for a company to tell whether or not animal testing is occurring at some stages of the supply chain.
As you can see, a company which does not have a certification and states its products are cruelty-free is not being entirely honest with you. We do not believe that such companies do bad or aim to support animal cruelty, but you should be aware that just having good intentions is not enough.
But be careful: not all certifications have the same evaluating standards and if a certification does not impose companies to have a fixed cut-off date, it is not a reliable one, since companies must make sure they will not use any new ingredient tested after 2013 for their products. This will avoid the chances of an ingredient ending up in cosmetics, which might have been tested on animals in other industries.
Also, reliable certifications make sure all the required documentation is provided by companies and strictly research, evaluate and monitor them carrying out audits.
The only organizations with strict policies in Europe are the Leaping Bunny Program, Naturewatch Foundation, ICEA and a few more.
This is why Realness of Beauty only offers brands which are certified by these organizations.
VEGAN
You might already know what this means in cosmetics: no animal-derived ingredients are contained in that specific product.
It is crazy to think that so many ingredients commonly used in cosmetics are derived from animals and are not easy to be recognized in the ingredient list. From snail slime, to collagen, animal-derived stearic acid, lanolin, elastin, sodium tallowate and much more.
The only way to be sure you are purchasing a vegan product is looking for the Vegan label or asking the manufacturer when this is not present.
Shopping vegan and cruelty-free can be a daunting experience and we know it very well. This is why Realness of Beauty was born and we are now there to make your life easier, turning vegan & cruelty free beauty into a cool, enjoyable experience accessible to anyone.
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We all have the power to change what is wrong in the world, without having to do big things. By simply changing our habits we will be able to achieve amazing goals, reducing suffering and pain in the animal world while giving a clear message.
Switching to vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics can be challenging for beauty lovers. It can be hard and frustrating to find good alternatives, since you need to pay attention to the brands, their certifications, the ingredient lists etc...
This is why Realness of Beauty was born, with a clear purpose in our minds: making Vegan & certified Cruelty-free beauty an easy, enjoyable shopping experience, accessible to everyone.
We only pick the vegan options of beauty brands with trustworthy certifications. This is just the start. Our selection will grow with more brands and products as we go on, to give you the best vegan & cruelty-free shopping experience.
You will be able to discover, try new products and share your thoughts on them.
We hope you will join the Realness of Beauty Community. We will always be there for you with beauty advices, news and inspirations.
Now... what are you waiting for? Go enjoy it!
Much Love
xx
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