My 10 Cruelty-Free [ + Vegan ] Everyday Toiletries
Whether you’re vegan or not, you’re a conscious buyer who makes informed choices about the products you buy and how they are made. With more compelling evidence about the unnecessary tests carried out with animals, you’re making sure you’re getting products that don’t harm you, others nor the environment.
With so many brands in the market and not enough time to research each one for your specific needs, you’re wondering where to start. And if this is your first year as a vegan, you have enough to think about in regards to your nutrition that you don’t want to overwhelm yourself thinking about the many other areas of the vegan lifestyle.
My 10 cruelty-free [ + vegan ] everyday toiletries list will save you time and will help you buy more ethically-sourced everyday products which are both cruelty-free and vegan. From the time you wake up in the morning till the evening when you remove your make up and start getting ready for bed, your daily beauty routine is covered in this week’s blog post.
And if you’re like me, you might be also wondering what the difference is between cruelty free and vegan. Aren’t they the same? That’s what I thought, but I was wrong. I explain this below.
What is the difference between cruelty-free products and vegan products?
Not all vegan products are cruelty-free. Why? Some vegan products have been tested on animals. And although these don’t contain any animal ingredients, their manufacturing process might have included testing some of its components on animals.
Cruelty-free means that there was no animal testing before the product made it to the market. Its manufacturing process has been audited and no animals were harmed in the process. However - and here’s where it becomes tricky - some cruelty-free products may contain animal ingredients or byproducts.
Since this is confusing, the consensus amongst the conscious buyers, bloggers and organizations that advocate for the treatment of all animals species is to buy products that are both vegan and cruelty-free certified.
These are the logos to look for. One is by PETA and the other one is by Leaping Bunny (Cruelty-Free International).
To make the search easy for you, here is a list of Cruelty-Free International approved vegan products.
What everyday beauty products usually contain ingredients derived from animals?
Shampoos - Those types containing keratin which can come from different animal parts like hair, hooves, horns and This ingredient can be derived from hooves, animal hair, horns, and fish scales. Other shampoos also include lanolin, which comes from the skin glands of sheep. Read more on this topic here.
Conditioners - Many that have biotin to promote hair growth and hair strength use this vitamin which in its animal form comes from milk and whey. Read more on this topic here.
Toothpaste - Glycerin is the ingredient used in many toothpaste brands which can come from animal fat (cows, goats). This is often times the ones manufacturers use as it is cheaper than the one found in plants. Read more on this topic here.
Perfume - Secretions from different kinds of animals have been identified in known perfumes. Some of the animal products that hide under the name of “fragrance” come from civets, musks, whales, otters, deer. Read more on this topic here.
Here you have it, My 10 cruelty-free [ + vegan ] everyday toiletries
Product: Shampoo
Brand: Alaffia
Why I like it: This brand is vegan, doesn’t test on animals, uses biodegradable ingredients, it’s free from parabens (see chart above) and it also gives back to the community where it sources its unrefined shea butter (Togo, West Africa). I have been using their lavender shampoo for years and recently tried their passion fruit as well. Both work great on my long dyed hair. I have been using Alaffia shampoos since 2016.
CSR: Alaffia Committments
Learn more at alaffia.com
2. Product: Hair Mask
Brand: EcoLove
Why I like it: EcoLove is made with organic ingredients like almond and argan oil, blueberry extract, grapes and lavender oil. It is of course vegan and cruelty-free. I like it because it keeps my hair healthy and soft. I use this product instead of conditioner. My hair smells clean and sweet every time I use it. This hair mask has been part of my shower routine for three years now.
CSR: EcoLove Our Story
Learn more at ecolove.international
3. Product: Deodorant
Brand: Schmidt’s
Why I like it: Aside from loving all things lavender, this deodorant does not contain aluminum (recently suggested it cause breast cancer and alzheimer’s) nor artificial fragrances. And although its texture took a bit to getting used to, I like this deodorant because it helps me stay fresh during my daily workouts and it is Leaping Bunny and vegan certified. I started using this deodorant a year ago and haven’t tried any other since.
CSR: Schmidt’s Our Story
Learn more at Schmidts.com
4. Product: Mouthwash
Brand: TheraBreath
Why I like it: When I used it for the first time and realized that TheraBreath didn’t taste sweet or artificial at all, it felt as if I had been driving on the wrong side of the road for a long time. This mouthwash feels super fresh and natural. I like it because it uses peppermint and castor oil, it is cruelty-free, gluten-free (for those with allergies) and vegan. It does not have any artificial color either. Developed by a dentist. This mouthwash has been a part of our toiletries for the past two years and we’re not looking back.
CSR: TheraBreath About
Learn more at Therabreath.com
5. Product: Organic wipes
Brand: Dr. Butler’s
Why I like it: These aloe and chamomile-infused bamboo organic wipes help you freshen up anytime of the day. They help remove make up as well. They also contain rosemary essential oil and have never been tested on animals nor do they contain any animal by-products. I also like this product because they use environmentally-friendly bamboo that is certified organic. It was developed by a physician. I have been using this for almost two years and am now a customer for life.
CSR: Dr. Butlers About
Learn more at DoctorButlers.com
6. Product: Dry shampoo
Brand: Handmade Heroes
Why I like it: This dry shampoo comes in the form of powder (not aerosol). The ingredients it uses are all natural like rice powder, cacao powder, lavender and mint essential oil. It’s talc-free (talc has been linked to ovarian cancer) and it leaves a fresh lavender scent on your scalp. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to wash her hair more than three or four times a week, then this product is for you. It’s cruelty-free, not tested on animals and of course, vegan. I have been using this for almost four years and always keep it in stock.
CSR: Handmade Heroes FAQ
Learn more at Handmade-Heroes.com
7. Product: Body lotion
Brand: Shea Moisture
Why I like it: When it comes to keeping my skin hydrated, I have tried a ton of products. All smelled and felt pleasant on my skin, but I was worried about the chemicals found in each of them. Concerned about what I was putting on my body, I found this brand that is not only made with fair trade ingredients but it also has natural moisturizing agents like coconut oil and coconut milk that leave a beautiful scent. Other reasons I love this product is because it uses organic shea butter and green tea leaf extract. It is cruelty-free, vegan and my skin feels and smells amazing without absorbing any harmful chemicals. I also like this brand because it supports women entrepreneurs in Ghana. I have been using this body lotion for less than a year and I’m done exploring more. This is it!
CSR: Shea Moisture Community Commerce
Learn more at SheaMoisture.com
8. Product: Toothpaste
Brand: Hello products
Why I like it: Although I just recently came across this toothpaste, I think I’m going to keep using it for the long term. The reasons why I like Hello Toothpaste is because it does not have any artificial sweeteners or dyes, it uses tea tree and coconut oil and farm grown mint. It tastes good also! It is Leaping Bunny certified and it has never been tested on animals. Of course it is vegan too and this one gets extra brownie points for using recyclable paper in its packaging.
CSR: Hello Products About
Learn more at Hello-Products.com
9. Product: Eye make up remover
Brand: Viva Naturals
Why I like it: About four years ago I switched from Clinique’s Take the Day Off make up remover to an all natural one-ingredient product. First it was jojoba oil and now it’s almond oil. I have also used this product on my skin and to make my own body lotion. This sweet almond oil is the most gentle way to remove eye makeup. I like this product because it’s odorless, unrefined and never tested on animals. It contains only one ingredient: almond oil.
Learn more at VivaNaturals.com
10. Product: Eye cream
Brand: Cozi Skincare
Why I like it: This brand blew my mind the first time I tried it. Based in San Francisco, Cozi Skincare’s products are an elixir for the skin. Imagine giving your skin pumpkin, blueberries, açaí berries, cherries, bananas, etc. in a topical form. The periodic facials I get are filled with the nutrients of those fruits and vegetables and my skin is as happy as my nose. Without any added fragrances, Cozi Skincare is certified vegan and it uses other natural ingredients like green tea and white tea extracts as well as other organic botanical ingredients.
CSR: Cozi Skincare About
Learn more at CoziSkincare.com
There you have it, My 10 cruelty-free [ + vegan ] everyday toiletries. These products can be ordered online and if you’re in the US, you can find them in Target and in specialty shops like Mom’s Organic Market and Whole Foods.
I hope you find this information useful. If you have other products that you love and would like to recommend, please leave your comments below.
Thank you for being here.
Namaste.
Diana