Crazy to believe but most likely you are putting animal products on your face without even knowing... There are ingredients commonly found in make up and skincare that are coming from either crushed insects, boiled animal carcasses or.... anal glands secretion.. yes you read it right..
Want to check these 6 ingredients to see if they are in your products? See below..
1. Carmine
it's usually found in lipstick, blush and also food, this substance is obtained crushing and boiling insects called cochineal beetle. It can also be hidden under the names natural red 4, E120 and CI 75470, crimson lake. Beetroot powder can be a vegan alternative in some cases.
2. Squalene
Often used for its anti-aging properties, it’s harvested from the livers of sharks. It is now commonly used in lip balms, tanning oils, creams and moisturizers. Some brands do use vegan squalane (spelled with an a), which is made from plant-based ingredients.
3. Tallow
Tallow is beef fat and it's often found in cosmetics including soaps (under the name sodium tallowate) as it hardens the bar very well and it's also a very cheap ingredient like palm oil. The carcasses of animals are boiled until a fatty substance is produced, added to cosmetics and apply to one’s face... Better alternatives but pricier can be cocoa butter or shea butter.
4. Collagen
Used in lots of anti-aging products, collagen is a protein derived from animal tissue, bone, skin, or ligaments – often from cows. Plant-based alternatives include soya protein and almond oil.
5. Elastin
Often used in some anti-aging products, elastin is also a protein extracted from the muscles and ligaments of animals. Vegan alternatives can be hyaluronic acid.
6. Castoreum
Found in some perfumes and some food, castoreum is a secretion that comes from the anal glands of beavers used for scent. It can be found in some strawberry and raspberry flavoured items but also in some very expensive products like perfumes or whiskey...
Does Beauty necessarily need to involve cruelty if there are simpler and better alternatives for our animals and planet? What's your take on this?
Carol x
