Discover the powerful vegan and naturally derived ingredients that make up our cruelty-free skincare products.

Every year, more than 115 million animals are subjected to scientific studies that endanger their physical and mental well-being… and some of these studies involve the cosmetics industry¹. Cognizant of this mistreatment, several governments and organizations have adopted measures to limit animal-testing and promote the creation of cruelty-free skincare products.

What does “cruelty-free skincare” mean?

Cruelty-free skincare means that neither the manufactured product nor the raw materials that were used to formulate it have been tested on animals before being available on the market. PETA stipulates that for a company to be designated as cruelty-free, it must ban all animal testing, including within its supply chain².

Unfortunately, in the United States it remains permissible to test cosmetic products on animals before the products are marketed. Ingredients tend to be tested individually, mainly for skin and eye irritation, as well as safety issues. Only 10 states (California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Virginia) have banned the practice, and no federal text on the matter has been published. However, a ban has been in place in European Union countries since 2009³!

What exactly are these tests? All cosmetic products are tested during the developmental stage once the formula is close to being approved, and before final design. Typically, ingredients are individually tested on animals. These tests mainly focus on skin and eye irritation, and safety tests. Keep in mind: If an ingredient is irritating to a human being, it may be just as irritating – or to a heightened / lesser degree – to a rabbit or rat.

Animal testing in Canada has been banned for cosmetic products since June 22, 2023⁴. The measure applies to all companies in the cosmetics industry; therefore, these companies are no longer authorized to use the cruelty-free label on their packaging as a marketing tactic. That’s why you’ll never see that label on our products that are sold in Canada, even if those products are manufactured with the utmost respect for all animal species.

Why opt for cruelty-free skincare?

According to a Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) report, nearly 3.7 million animals – mainly mice, fish and birds – were used in scientific experiments in 2021. Of this total, 57% were studied for fundamental research purposes such as migratory movements in birds⁵. The ban on testing animals for cosmetic reasons will therefore increase the proportion of tests carried out for essential reasons.

Even though Canada has officially prohibited animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of cosmetics that rely on new animal testing data, these practices still exist in several other regions in the world. There are several excellent reasons to switch to cruelty-free skincare.

1. For animal safety

Obviously, the first reason to choose cruelty-free products is to support animal rights! Establishing laws that prohibit these experiments means we can denounce animal abuse and support organizations that are fighting the good fight.

Also, animal testing’s reliability is not necessarily a fait accompli: Humans and animals have significant biological differences and unequal living conditions which can dramatically influence toxicity test results⁶. Need proof? Consider this: In the pharmaceutical field, 94% of the drugs that pass animal testing fail in human clinical trials⁷.

2. For the health of our planet

A good first step can often lead to even better initiatives! Legislating brands to produce cruelty-free skincare encourages them to rethink their production methods, focusing on more environmentally friendly practices.

As an example, in addition to being cruelty-free, Oceanly™ skincare is naturally derived, 100% vegan and clean according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The products are also completely plastic-free thanks to their FSC-certified and biodegradable cardboard packaging.

3. For your well-being

It only makes sense that when a brand cares about animal safety and the well-being of our planet, it’s more than likely that it cares about your well-being too! But if you want to be certain, look for the EWG VERIFIED™ logo on the packaging of your cruelty-free skincare. The seal certifies that the product is totally free of ingredients of concern, as per the EWG.

4. For being able to do things differently

There’s a vast array of cruelty-free skincare products available. Some brands even go a step further, offering skincare and makeup products formulated with high-performance ingredients that are also… vegan! Talk about a revolution for the animal kingdom!

For instance, in this skincare line, glycogen – a substance usually extracted from shellfish that hydrates skin and promotes cell growth – has been replaced by phytoglycogen, its plant-based equivalent. Derived from non-GMO corn, phytoglycogen has unrivaled moisturizing properties and even helps reduce aging signs.

What’s the difference between cruelty-free skincare and vegan skincare?

A beauty product can be cruelty-free without being vegan and vice versa. And it can also be both! Allow us to explain:

Cruelty-free / Not vegan
The product was not tested on animals. However, it contains ingredients derived from animals like beeswax or carmine.

Vegan / Not cruelty-free
The product does not contain any ingredients derived from animals. However, it has been tested on animals.

Not cruelty-free / Not vegan
The product has been tested on animals. It also contains ingredients derived from animals.

Vegan / Cruelty-free
The product does not contain ingredients derived from animals. It also has not been tested on animals.

Would you like to incorporate vegan and cruelty-free skincare into your routine? Then why not take this quiz to find which cleansers, serums, creams and much more are specifically designed for your skin type.

Vegan and cruelty-free skincare products have several benefits: For animals… for our planet… and for human beings. Learn more about the products’ origins, their benefits and their growing in popularity in Canada and in the US by consulting the following articles:

• Vegan skincare is good for you
• The rise of vegan skincare in Canada
• The rise of vegan skincare in the US

Sources:

1. https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/animal-cruelty-statistics/#:~:text=Animal%20testing%20is%20a%20cruel,in%20the%20name%20of%20science
2. https://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/why-does-peta-include-companies-in-the-cruelty-free-company-section-that-utilize-animal-derived-ingredients-or-byproducts/
3. https://crueltyfreeinternational.org/leaping-bunny/prohibitions-cosmetics-testing-eu-and-elsewhere
4. https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/fr/44-1/projet-loi/C-47/sanction-royal
5. https://ccac.ca/Documents/AUD/Rapport_du_CCPA_sur_les_donnees_sur_les_animaux_pour_2021.pdf
6. https://www.petafrance.com/vivre-vegan/faq-sur-lexperimentation-animale-pour-les-cosmetiques/
7. https://animal-testing.procon.org/