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Just like makeup, personal hygiene products are commonly tested on animals and also contain some surprising animal products. Below we will take a look at some common products and great vegan alternatives. 

I first want to shout out VEGAN CUTS (not sponsored) for having an amazing box full of makeup and personal hygiene products. This is handy for new vegans who don't know where to start, or for old time vegans who want to try out some new brands and items.

Animal ingredients are very common in products while at the same time you will find many products without them as well. The image to the right shows the common animal ingredients to avoid, the ones in yellow can be plantbased or animal based- to be sure email the company or ask online and other vegans may have already emailed. Below i will go more into detail about what these animal ingredients are so you will understand the confusing names more.

MUSK-the glandular secretions from an animals back/rectal areas.

Glycerine/glycerides/ stearic acid/ palmitic acid/ Lauric acid/ Myristic acid/ Oleic acid (All Tallow) are different fatty acids. They are removed as Suet, hard fat from around kidneys and other organs. These fatty acids can be derived from plants but are most commonly slaughterhouse by products. 

COLLAGEN- a structural protein in the connective tissues of animals. (Bone, tendon or cartilage.)

AMBERGRIS- solid waxy flammable substance produced from the digestive system of sperm whales to protect the lining of their intestines from sharp objects. When first expelled it smells of fecal matter after it hardens and turns white to grey its smell is desirable for perfumes.

If you are having trouble grasping that all these little products came from an animal Christien Meindertsma actually spent 3 years tracking down all the products made from 1 pig, Pig 05049. It's amazing what is snuck into all these different products we use and how hidden it is. Thank goodness there is vegan alternatives.

Cochineal/ red5/ carmine comes from the cochineal bug/Beatle. The bug must be killed in order to collect the distinct red colour that is used as a pigment in many makeups and even food. 

LANOLIN- a wax secreted by wool bearing animals it is extracted from their wool.

No one wants to buy products tested on animals. Most of us have seen the pictures and it just rips our hearts apart. Many animals are repetitively tested on if they survive because it saves them money. If only they tested things on criminals who have actually done something wrong instead of the innocent. It's maddening that we are doing this to animals just for our own beauty... How ugly. For a product to be vegan it must contain no animal products and not be tested on animals. Below i will try to list all of the vegan brands i have discovered:

Shampoo& Conditioner: 
Common shampoo and conditioner contains animal ingredients and are tested on animals but don't fret there is so many vegan brands:

•100% Pure (A few varieties contain honey.)
•Acure Organics
•Avalon Organics
•Beauty Without Cruelty
•Blue Chamomile Shampoo, by Aubrey Organics. (Some of their other shampoos are also vegan.)
•Desert Essence Organics (Check ingredients—some varieties contain beeswax or honey.)
•Giovanni (All shampoos vegan except for their "Magnetic" line.)
•Jason
•Kiss My Face
•L'ORÉAL EverPure shampoo & conditioner
•LUSH Solid Shampoo (Most varieties.)
•Mineral Fusion
•Morrocco Method
•Nature's Gate
•Ion 

Hair Dye: 
The last thing anybody wants is for someone to have dyed for their hair colour. Vegan brands of hair dye include but not limited to:
• Paul Mitchell 
•Developlus
•Shea Moisture
•Kevin Murphy 
•Tints of Nature
• Arctic Fox
• ion
• Green Hare Mud
• Primary Syn
• Aveda
• Rusk
• Manic Panic
• Good Dye Young
• Henna (Lush does Henna Dye)
• Henna Color Lab
• Morrocco Method int'l

Hair Spray/ Gels:
Like other products hair spray and hair gels tend to be tested and animals and contain animal products. Some vegan alternatives:
•Aveda 
•Aubrey Organics
•Beauty Without Cruelty 
•Carina
•Giovanni
•Jason
•Pureology 
•ion

Body Washes/Exfoliants/ Face Masks/Hair Masks :
You already know the drill by now :) animal product free and not tested on animals= true cruelty free= vegan.
• Truself Organics
• The Body Shop (some products are vegan, be sure to check before purchasing)
• Organically Epic
• Eco Tan by Sonya (vegan tanner)
• lani 
• black out mask (face mask)
• frank (Exfoliant)
• hello hair (hair mask)
• owlbodyproducts (soap bars etc.)

Eye Lashes+ Glue: 
A lot of people don't double think what their fake lashes are made of, sadly sometimes they are made of mink. Eye lash glue is commonly tested on animals as well and can contain animal products.
• e.l.f. (Makes vegan fake eyelashes)
• true glue (vegan lash glue)
• House of Lashes
• Winks by Georgie Beauty + lash glue
• Duo (lash glue)

Teeth Whitening: 
I found it very difficult to find if getting teeth professional whitened is vegan but many at home whitening kits are not. Many are tested on animals so here is some vegan options:

• Dr.Brite
• Keekooil
• White Glo
• Smile Sciences Teeth Whitening

• my magic mud

Nails: 
There is so many vegan nail polish opinions today, there is no excuse to buy nail polish tested on animals.

• E.L.F.
• wet and wild
• Barry M
• China Glaze

• Misa

• Mineral Fusion
• no miss
• piggy paint
• soulstice spa

• floss gloss

• pacifica
• zoya
• obsessive compulsive cosmetics
• a.dorn

• beauty without cruelty

• ella&mila
• cult
• dazzle dry
• furless

• spa ritual

• pure anada
• 100% pure
• la couleur couture
• piCture pOlish

• julep

• priti NY
• trust fund beauty
• ciate
• LVX

• ncLA

• aila cosmetics
• RGB cosmetics
• Lauren B beauty
• wHer

• deborah lippmann

Toothpaste: 
Your regular toothpastes such as crest and Colgate test on animals and also tend to contain Glycerin (can be plantbased but normally not). On top of that regular toothpastes contain a lot of chemicals that are not so healthy, many vegan brands also happen to be more natural.

•JASON
•Tom's of Maine
•Desert Essence
•Nature's Gate
•Kiss My Face
•Auromere
•Vitacare
•Eco-Dent
•Radius
•Hello Products

Razors: 
Gillette maker of Venus razor is probably the most popular razor company and owned by Proctor & Gamble. P&G also owns Olay, Cover Girl and Herbal Essence and they are notorious for animal testing. Some vegan alternatives include:

•Personna razors

•Preserve (products are also made using recycled materials making them Eco-friendly)

Shaving Creams: 

•Dr. Bronner's Organic Shaving Gel

• Earth Science 145 Smooth Start Shaveu Cream

• Herban Cowboy Dusk Premium Shave Cream

• LUSH dirty shaving cream

Menstruational Products: For the Ladies ;)  
If you haven't seen the amazing video by Bitesize Vegan you might not realize that Tampons are not vegan. Tampons/ Disposable Pads are not environmentally friendly nor are the healthy for you. Animals are also tested on...

Menstruational cups are almost un heard of but they are making a rise... scrolling through comments of posts/videos of girls complaining about pads/tampons/periods are people promoting the use of menstruational cups. They are not as scary as they seem, trust me. YouTube has many helpful videos, I suggest just typing in "menstruational cup" and you will find lots of videos. BUT if you are not comfortable using a menstruational cup there is also reusable pads. (Click on images to learn more).

MAKEUP:

The vegan activist has an amazing video i have linked below (Just click on the image).

•Kat Von D

•Jeffery Star

•Cover|FX

•e.l.f.

•100% pure

•NYX

•nars

•obsessive compulsive cosmetics

•a.dorn

•Urban Decay

•Mineral fusion

•gosh

•barry m

•hard candy

•annabelle

•anastasia

•tarte

•vapour

•sugar pill

•lime crime

•beauty without cruelty

•makeup geek

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