Vegan Beauty

Consumers’ overwhelming interest in green products is leading to a surge of natural beauty product introductions. Additionally, natural, cruelty-free and/or vegan products are crossing over into mass market channels.

There is reason for women to seek out more natural personal care and cosmetic items. Green People estimated some women could be absorbing as much as 5 pounds of chemicals through cosmetics and toiletries each year. And, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, some of the most common toxic ingredients found in cosmetics include mercury and petrochemicals. Most cosmetics use a bevy of other chemicals that are known carcinogens, in addition to being destructive to the reproductive system, skin and normal hormone functions.

There are now a substantial number of “green,” vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics on the market, including foundations, eye shadows, blushes and skin treatments; however, the development of a green, vegan and cruelty-free mascara brings a host of formulation hurdles that may not be expected.

Mascara is used to thicken, lengthen and darken the lashes. It is perhaps the most commonly used cosmetic product but also one that is the most laden with toxic ingredients. Furthermore, almost all mascaras include some animal-derived ingredients, such as beeswax.

Some of the most commonly used, non-green ingredients in mascara include coal tar derivatives, which are linked to various cancers; phthalates, a group of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects; and parabens, chemical preservatives that are potentially linked with breast cancer incidence. These ingredients are used specifically to add volume and length to the lashes, to maintain freshness and prevent inordinate microbial contamination, and to help mask the offensive smells of all the chemical ingredients.

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