Ethical Makeup
With the cosmetics industry being one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK and worldwide, it is no wonder that more and more people are becoming interested in the processes employed by the industry and the way ingredients are sourced. When it comes to ethical makeup, there are numerous factors to consider, with animal free formulas being one of the most sensitive issues.
What Makes Makeup Ethical?
When rating cosmetics companies according to their ethical score, some of the most important criteria considered include whether or not the ingredients are organic, testing on animals, political donations, ethical accreditation from the Ethical Company Organization, responsible marketing, and fair-trade sourcing of ingredients.
The term ethical cosmetics often refers to the testing of makeup and toiletry products on animals. This practice has long been banned in UK, and as of 2013, a huge step forward has been taken by the European Union when cosmetics with ingredients that have been tested on animals have been banned across the continent.
In UK and Europe, customers have other important ethical choices to make as well when purchasing cosmetics. Even though companies are complying with the cosmetics testing on animals in UK and Europe, they sometimes may be selling products in another market that have been tested on animals. To be sure the makeup you purchase is ethical, it is important to do some research about the company producing them.
Choosing Sustainable Cosmetics
Even though it is not that obvious, packaging has been a controversial issue in the cosmetics industry and many companies are switching from bulky hedging tool like options or no packaging at all. For example, some companies offer handmade cosmetics with little or no packaging at all. Others prefer to deliver their products in sustainable bamboo packaging.
Other things to look for when shopping for ethical makeup include parabens, harsh-chemicals, and synthetic preservatives. Ethical makeup companies do not use petroleum products in their cosmetics, nor ingredients such as phthalates and sodium laureth sulfate.
Vegan Ethical Cosmetics
Cosmetics that are labeled “vegan” are one of the best ways to go if you are interested to only use ethical cosmetics. When you see cosmetics with this label , not only you are guaranteed that animal testing is eliminated, but also it is guaranteed that manufacturers have not used any animal by products in the manufacture process. Moreover, these cosmetics do not have any additives or chemicals such as parabens and manufactured fragrances. In most cases, only organic ingredients are used for vegan cosmetics.
To avoid animal products, have a look at the ingredients the packaging and avoid products that include ingredients such as elastin, tallow, propolis, lanolin, elastin, hyaluronic acid, lard, and milk products.
With the list of sustainable options in makeup growing, it is important only to trust brands that use organic ingredients and are certified by various organizations such as USDA or EcoCert. Numerous ethical companies are working hard these days at becoming cruelty free, so consider supporting them if you think they are heading in the right direction.
