When makeup was invented, from the glorious baths of the queens to the kohls that seduced the kings, the common folk was merely mesmerised that there was a way to accentuate natural beauty. As time progressed, the products were branded and bottled to last longer than a few hours, not just on the face, but in the packaging as well. As a result, preservatives were added. As the potency of the products increased, the toxicity increased as well.\
One of the most popular preservatives was paraben, used for its accessibility and affordability. But science progressed and one fine day makeup lovers were in for a rude awakening; paraben was not as innocent as it was carved out to be, it was a gruesome injustice to your health and was destroying you, cell by cell.
Paraben was purported to be a highly toxic ingredient, enough to cause breast cancer and other horrifying ailments. Thus, arose the need for paraben free products. Soon, as the wave of sustainability started blanketing over our dying planet, two more characteristic warriors joined the force; vegan products and cruelty-free products.
In this blog, we are going to tell you how you can transform not only your own makeup routine but take a responsible step towards a greener planet by simply using clean and vegan products.
What is paraben and why is it harmful?
Parabens are artificial preservatives. These are mostly used in beauty, care and makeup products and have been around since the 1920s. The need for preservatives arose to prolong the shelf life of makeup and other products, majorly to prevent the development of mould and bacteria. Paraben was the most effective and feasible option, back then. However, with time, as science figured out how harmful it was to health, a need emerged for paraben free products.
The major concern that paraben usage has prompted is its effect on reproductive organs and functions. As per various studies, paraben absorption in the skin and body can lead to irreversible damage, often affecting fertility and birth outcomes in the process. Further, parabens can also cause cancer. In the mildest of forms, parabens can cause skin irritation and allergies, but even they are not desirable or mild.
Overall, it was surmised that parabens are no longer desired in cosmetics or any other product, no matter how efficient a preservative it is.
What are vegan products?
The world is becoming increasingly aware. Climate change is real. Everything is reaching its extremities. This is the time to strike a balance and take a step back, not just for our health but for the planet to survive. Thus, while using paraben-free products is a good option, it is also necessary for us to look at vegan options that do not require animal slaughter for their ingredients.
One has to note that vegan products are different from cruelty free products. While the aim of both is the same, to not indulge in any cruelty towards animals, there is a subtle difference. Vegan products are those that do not contain any animal ingredients. On the other hand, cruelty free makeup is one that is not created by testing on animals. Vegan brands are not necessarily cruelty free and vice versa. A true clean brand, however, will be both.
Investing in cruelty free cosmetics and vegan products is not just good for the environment but for your health too. Here are some of the benefits.
– Vegan and cruelty free products lead to better skin as the vitamin B and E in the skin regenerates, making it softer and more radiant in appearance
– Vegan products have more natural ingredients such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, vitamin C, etc that are more potent due to the lack of toxicity and thus work better on the skin
– If you want healthier hair, opt for vegan products as they help extracts such as banana, tea tree, etc work better. The impurities are cleaned faster, and hair is healthy from scalp to tip
– Cruelty free cosmetics are devoid of harmful ingredients and are usually paraben free. This means you are safe from many issues, including serious ones such as cancer
– Vegan products do not have some of the most toxic counterparts of animal ingredient-based products, like gelatin, cholesterol, beeswax, etc
– A toxicity free and clean product will also push you towards a more minimalistic and focused skin care and makeup routine
Overall, going green with cruelty free cosmetics or paraben free and vegan products will help you and the planet both.
How to choose clean beauty products?
We know, it is a lot to take in. But, once you start looking at the right place, you would know that you are making the right choice. Going clean and green is good for your skin and system. You use makeup and other haircare and skincare products daily. Surely, you would not want your body to absorb so much toxin on a daily basis!
The solution? Go for cruelty free cosmetics and paraben free and vegan products. How do find out whether the products are vegan, cruelty free and paraben-free? We’ll tell you.
– Check the ingredients and avoid any form of paraben and alcohol. Ensure that there is a complete ingredient list and not a suspiciously short one mentioning only the ‘extracts’
– Be aware of the laws of your country when it comes to which ingredients have been banned. Many brands escape under the label of ‘herbal’ and ‘natural’ while they use parabens and just make use of the loopholes
– See if there are no SLS or fragrance. Coconut-derived surfactants are a good substitute for SLS, while essential oils can replace the artificial fragrance
– Check the labels. If the brand is vegan and cruelty free, it has to mention the same with the relevant certification and labels.
Talking of labels, when you talk of clean and green beauty, it is also important to know what each label means so you can make an informed choice.
You can find suitable products according to your skin type that met above mentioned guidelines in a genuine beauty online store.
What are the different clean beauty labels?
Not everything natural is good, vegan and cruelty free. It is quite vague. To go for clean beauty, it is important you know the labels well.
Clean: This is an all-encompassing label that is concerned with both human and environmental health. A clean beauty product is toxicity-free and sustainable, and also vegan and cruelty-free.
Green: A product that is labelled green means one that is not harmful to the environment. But it does not mean it is clean and toxicity-free and may still contain ingredients harmful for humans.
Organic: Products labelled organic are the ones that are mostly free of toxic ingredients and use plant-based derivatives. They are the best cosmetic choice but may not necessarily be clean.
Non toxic: Products labelled ‘Non-toxic’ are free of toxic ingredients. While they are clean for human use, they may not necessarily be sustainable or good for the environment,
We have already discussed the difference between vegan and cruelty free.
Considering all this in mind, a clean beauty product that balances everything and takes care of both human and environmental needs is the best option.
How to pick clean and cruelty free makeup?
We literally use makeup daily. So is the case with skincare. A pandemic may have brought going out to a halt, but remote working and virtual meet-ups have so far erased the distance to some extent. This means, you still need to put your best foot forward.
Pick clean beauty products, such as the ones at Kiro Beauty, where care meets colour by striking a perfect balance between science and nature. The two need to be mutually exclusive. Science is required to prolong nature, but in a way that it is not toxic, neither to the person applying something as innocent as lipstick or an eyeliner nor to the environment. It should be a holistic affair, enhancing the beauty of the planet and person at the same time.
The best part about Kiro Beauty is that the ingredients are listed and displayed for all to see, so are the labels. The vegan products and cruelty-free cosmetics ensure that every purchase is guilt-free. Paraben-free formulation ensures that the indulgence in satin smooth lipsticks and velvety eyeliners is toxicity-free. Ingredients such as jojoba oil, vitamin E, apricot oil, rosehip oil, etc find their way into the makeup. That means with every swatch, you are taking care of your skin as much as adding colour to it.
Choose clean beauty with Kiro, for a gorgeous today and an ethereal tomorrow.
