Most mainstream skin care and cosmetic products are not suitable for vegans because they contain animal-derived ingredients or have been subject to animal testing. There are vegan options for all types of cosmetics. It can be difficult to check products for animal-derived ingredients. Products won't always have their ingredients listed on the packaging.
It is easy to find vegetarian skin care products online, at specialty shops, chemists and health food stores. You should look for products that explicitly state they are free of animal-derived ingredients. You can also find a cruelty-free logo to show that the products have no animal ingredients or been tested on animals.
It's not enough to ensure that vegan products are free of animal-derived ingredients. Many skin care products have been tested on animals. Campaigning led to the end of animal testing in cosmetic products in many countries, including Australia and the UK.
However, animal testing for cosmetic products is still allowed in many countries, including the USA, where many skin care products and cosmetics still contain animal testing. Although animal testing for cosmetics is prohibited in Australia, most cosmetic and skin-care products sold here were tested on animals from overseas.
This includes cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste and deodorants as well as sunscreen. Although many major brands claim they don't test their products on animals they actually pay external companies to do the testing.
