Vegan cosmetics - what does vegan mean in cosmetic products?

The word vegan describes a lifestyle that completely avoids animal products and products, including food, clothing, drinks, household products, cosmetics and much more.

Natural cosmetics or organic cosmetics refer to cosmetic products that consist of natural and ecological ingredients and contain ingredients that are kind to the environment and health. However, since the term natural cosmetics is not legally protected in Germany, theoretically anyone can use this term for their products, even if the products contain artificial additives, for example. For this reason, there are certifications that help you distinguish cosmetic products that advertise natural ingredients, even though they also contain additives, from genuine natural cosmetic products.

In this article we will explain what vegan means for cosmetic products and what the differences are.

What does vegan natural cosmetics mean?

If you want to buy a vegan natural cosmetic product, there are certainly a few things you should look out for, such as whether the product is made from natural ingredients, whether no animal products are used and whether it is free from any animal testing. First of all, it is important to know that natural cosmetics does not automatically mean that all products are vegan. Natural cosmetics can consist of plant-based products, but can also contain products from dead or living animals. Natural cosmetics simply means that all products are made from natural and organic ingredients.

Even vegan natural cosmetics does not necessarily mean that the product is 100% vegan, because a vegan product can still be tested on animals, for example. Of course, that doesn't really fit with our understanding of veganism. Companies can also make statements like: "Our company does not test on animals," but that does not rule out the possibility that the manufacturer may have commissioned another company to carry out animal testing.

As an end consumer, you should therefore always make sure that a product has certain seals, which means that the company must strictly follow the guidelines of this seal and you can be sure that your product only contains the ingredients it promises and is vegan and free from animal testing throughout its entire production process.

At Hej Organic you can be sure that all products are 100% certified vegan, not just the end product, but the entire manufacturing process. Only sustainable ingredients are used that make your skin glow and emphasize your natural beauty.

Plant-based ingredients contained in our vegan products:

• Prickly pear seed oil makes your skin look younger and helps to regenerate cells

• Prickly pear blossom water is rich in essential fatty acids, nourishes and protects your skin

• Grapefruit extract ensures clear skin

• Argan oil makes your skin supple and smooth, moisturizes it and counteracts small wrinkles

• Spirulina acts as a natural anti-aging agent and slows down skin aging

• Titan arum gives you a radiant complexion

• Hyaluronic acid soothes your skin and binds moisture

• Oat distillate soothes the skin and is rich in vitamins, vegetable proteins and essential fatty acids

• Chamomile extract is intensively moisturizing, very gentle to your skin and has an antibacterial effect

• Hemp oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is very gentle on your skin

Why is certification through a seal so important?

To find out what really lies behind a product, you should look for certain certifications and seals. You will always find these on the packaging of your product. A seal gives you the assurance that the product does what it promises and that a company adheres to the guidelines of the respective seal. However, permitted ingredients and animal testing are regulated separately by each seal, so you should always pay close attention to which seal your product has and find out what the requirements for certification are.

You will find the following certifications on our products:

• Vegan Flower of the British Society: This seal assures you that a product is free of animal ingredients and that these have never been tested on animals, even on behalf of the manufacturer. Any company that produces vegan-friendly products can apply for this seal. The vegan flower assures you of the credibility of the brand and gives you the assurance that all active ingredients, oils and liquids are of plant origin.

• NATRUE seal: The NATRUE label sets a high standard to define the naturalness of cosmetic products and helps you to easily recognize genuine natural and organic cosmetics. Products certified by NATRUE consist of natural ingredients and use, for example, essential oils as fragrances as well as natural emulsifiers and surfactants. You can also be sure that they are free of paraffin, silicone, petroleum and artificial colors.

• Organic seal: This seal assures you that the majority of the ingredients come from controlled organic farming. These include active ingredients, oils and much more. You can see exactly what these are by looking at the ingredients list of the respective products.

• PETA Cruelty – Free & vegan: PETA is the world's largest animal rights organization, dedicated to helping every animal have a better life and educating the public about issues such as animal cruelty. Companies that produce exclusively vegan cosmetics and that have a clear stance against animal testing in their company policy are supported by the PETA logo. The PETA Cruelty-free & vegan seal guarantees that neither the company nor suppliers or third parties test on animals.

What criteria do the common seals for certified natural cosmetics take into account?

Each seal determines for itself which criteria must be met for certification. Therefore, many companies have several certifications for their products in order to cover everything and give consumers security. However, there are some criteria that must be met for all common seals relating to natural cosmetics:

• No synthetic colors, fragrances or preservatives are used (e.g. parabens)

• It does not contain any petroleum-based ingredients (e.g. paraffins)

• No silicones are used

• All ingredients are of natural origin or nature-identical

• The production of the products should be as environmentally friendly and resource-saving as possible

• The packaging should also be as environmentally friendly and recyclable as possible

• The products should contain a proportion of ingredients that come from organic farming