What is the Difference Between ‘Cruelty Free’ and Vegan or Vegetarian?
When you are looking at cosmetics, you might see a number of claims made about how the products are ‘cruelty free’, ‘made without cruelty’ or any variety of similar claims. What does this actually mean, and is it the same as saying the cosmetics are vegan?
What is ‘Cruelty Free’?
Cruelty-Free is a term used in the cosmetics industry to show that a product has not been tested on animals. Businesses who use this term should also make sure that their suppliers and third parties involved do not use animal testing either. It does not mean that the product does not include animal derived ingredients. It is also not a regulated term – meaning it is largely up to brands themselves to determine what they mean by it.
What does vegan mean in the cosmetics industry?
Vegan is a sometimes misunderstood term. Because many people only think of veganism as a diet, they focus on the presence of animal products in food items. However, most vegans try to avoid using or consuming any animal product – including in their cosmetics.
Veganism in food versus the cosmetics industry
Veganism was initially a diet alone, and that is still the primary focus of most vegans. However, veganism is also a lifestyle that is determined not to use animal derived products in any context. This might include food, clothing, household products and cosmetics.
Vegan cosmetics are those that are committed not to use any elements of animal derived products at any point in the process of production or testing. This includes checking that no animals have been used at any point in the supply chain.
What is the difference between Cruelty Free & Vegan?
Cruelty Free is a term that refers to a variety of promises, which are not as regulated as the terms vegan or vegetarian. It often means not tested on animals. Vegan, in particular, means no animal derived ingredients were used at any part of the production and supply journey.
How to find vegan friendly cosmetics
Vegan friendly cosmetics are easily available in shops across the country. Determining which products are right for you could require you to memorise the types of ingredients that might not suit your ethics. Alternatively, you could look for the Vegetarian Society’s Vegan Approved trademark.
Our certification marks are intensively checked, both for ingredients and processes, to ensure that the products are suitable for people following a vegan lifestyle.
The Vegetarian Society Certification Scheme
The Vegetarian Society Approved trademarks are symbols you will see on thousands of products in shops all over the UK, EU, USA and many other countries.
There are three Vegetarian Society Approved trademarks – one for vegetarian products, one for vegan products and one for plant-based products. The vegetarian trademark has been in use since 1969, and the vegan trademark was registered in 2017, followed by the plant-based trademark in 2024.
How do the trademarks work?
1. Connect with our Team
The brand starts by speaking with our experts to discuss their product.
2. Ingredient & Process Assurance
We carefully review the ingredients and production processes to ensure they meet vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based standards.
3. Verified Plant-Based Integrity
The brand receives a globally recognised trademark that signals their commitment to vegetarian, vegan and plant-based standards.
4. Consumer Confidence
Shoppers can trust these trademarked products, helping them choose your brand with confidence.
Can you trust Vegetarian Society certification marks?
Our trademarks are trusted by consumers worldwide to prove the cosmetics they buy are free from animal ingredients. Our comprehensive certification and checking procedure means you can trust your cosmetics to match your ethics.
Which animal products might be in cosmetics?
Cera Alba (Beeswax)
Beeswax is often used as an emulsifier – to help mix oils into water. It is often used in creams and skin products – as well as lipstick and mascara. This is often referred to in ingredient lists as Cera Alba, rather than Beeswax.
Casein
Casein, made from milk (usually cow’s milk), is used in a variety of skin and hair care products.
Carmine & Cochineal
Carmine (and Cochineal) are bright red dyes, formed from crushing insects. They are used in any forms of cosmetics that have a red, purple or pink colour – including eyeshadow, lipstick, nail polish and more.
Collagen
Collagen is extracted from animal skin – as it is found in your skin. It is commonly used in skin creams and anti-aging products, although it is now considered of questionable efficacy.
Elastin
Losing Elastin appears to be one of the causes of skin ageing. For this reason, it is often used in skin and anti ageing creams, like Collagen. It is usually extracted from the aorta and vertebrae of cattle.
Gelatin
Gelatin is sometimes used in skin care products. It is extracted from bones and offal through boiling.
Guanine
Guanine is a pearlescent substance, used decoratively in a variety of make up, shampoo and nail polish products. This is made from ground up fish scales. It can also be referred to as Pearl Essence, Extract or Powder.
Keratin
Keratin comes from the nails, horns, hair, feathers and hooves of animals. It is often used in hair care products like shampoo to strengthen the hair.
Shellac
Shellac is made from the resinous secretion of insects. It takes a vast number of insects to produce shellac – perhaps 300,000 to make just one kilogram. Shellac is used in lots of cosmetics, including: hairspray, lipstick, mascara, shampoo and nail polish.
Which cosmetic products are suitable for vegans?
Lush Hand and Body Cream: Pink Peppermint Foot Lotion
Get your feet back in mint condition. Reviving peppermint oil, tagetes oil and arnica infusion combine, and feel so good you’ll never neglect your toes again.
MUA MUA PRO/BASE MATTE FINISH FOUNDATION
Achieve a flawless look with MUA PRO/BASE MATTE FINISH FOUNDATION. This full coverage, long wear foundation has a matte finish that controls shine all day. Enriched with vitamin E, free of parabens and contains 39.7% water, it’s the perfect choice for a smooth and long-lasting complexion that doesn’t dry out the skin.
Ideal for those seeking natural relief, this warming salve is made with 100% organic ingredients, including stimulating organic ginger and rosemary. When massaged into the skin, it provides a comforting and soothing sensation, helping to ease and relax tired muscles.
Bath House Bamboo & Jasmine Hair & Body Wash
A gentle hair & body wash to cleanse and soothe, enriched with carefully chosen natural extracts and plant oils to leave skin and hair feeling conditioned and refreshed.
Choosing the right cosmetics products for your lifestyle
Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, or just trying to reduce animal suffering in your purchases, choosing cruelty free is not always enough to guarantee that your cosmetics haven’t caused animals to suffer.
Certification marks from the Vegetarian Society, like those that the products above proudly bear, guarantee that a detailed and thorough checking process has gone on. This means you can trust a vegan certified product to be vegan – but you can’t always trust a ‘Cruelty Free’ product to be the same.
Learn more about our certification marks here.
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