Summary: Many people wonder why they are recommended natural skin care products rather than using the cheap proprietary preparations available in most stores. The answer is in the ingredients, and if have any concerns about what you are rubbing into your skin, then you should make yourself familiar with these chemical names that appear on your labels.

Mainstream skincare & cosmetic products are generally not suitable for vegans as they contain animal-derived ingredients or have involved animal testing. But vegan alternatives are available covering all types of cosmetics and make-up.

Checking products for animal-derived ingredients can be tricky, as products won't necessarily have their ingredients list displayed on the packaging. And if they do, they may be difficult to decipher. Many companies avoid using the word "animal" on their ingredient labels in order to avoid putting off consumers. Animal-derived ingredients are commonly used because they are generally cheaper than vegetable-derived ingredients and Natural skincare product Australia.

Common animal-derived ingredients include carmine (crushed insects), collagen & elastin (protein derived from animal tissue & ligaments), keratin (from animal horns, hooves, feathers, quills & hair), stearic acid (a fatty acid found in animal & vegetable fat), and tallow (animal fat).

It's generally pretty easy to find vegan cosmetic products online or at health food stores, chemists, and specialty stores. Look for products that specifically state that they are free from animal-derived ingredients. A cruelty-free logo can also show that the products are both free from animal ingredients and free from animal testing.

Choosing vegan products isn't just about ensuring they are free from animal-derived ingredients. Many skin care products have also been tested on animals. As a result of campaigning, animal testing for cosmetic products has been phased out in many countries including Australia and the UK. However, there are still many countries where animal testing is still permitted, such as the US, and many cosmetics and skin care products still involve animal testing.

While animal testing of cosmetics is not allowed in Australia, the majority of cosmetic and skin care products sold here have been tested on animals overseas. This includes make-up, body products, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorants, sunscreen, etc. Many major brands claim that they do not test their products on animals, but in reality, they have simply paid external companies overseas to do the testing for them.

Some tests that are carried out on animals for skin care products include:

Eye Irritancy tests

In this case, a substance is applied to a rabbit's eye to see if irritation or damage occurs. During the test, rabbits are given no pain relief and are held in stocks to prevent them from touching their eyes. The test often lasts for several days, evidently causing them great pain and suffering. (Rabbits are used because they have very poor tear ducts in their eyes, so they cannot wash away the substance.)

Skin irritancy test

This involves shaving off the fur of an animal and applying a potentially irritating substance to its skin. The skin is then observed for signs of irritation e.g. swelling, reddening, bleeding, cracking, or ulceration.

Toxicity tests, such as the LD-50 (Lethal Dose 50%)

Substances are fed to the animals, which are then observed for signs of poisoning e.g. tremors, bleeding, vomiting or loss of balance. The test may last for several days, again causing great suffering. The animals that do not die during the experiment are killed at the end, for autopsy.

Animal testing for cosmetic purposes is unnecessary. The law requires that cosmetic product ingredients be safety tested but this does not need to involve animal testing. Cruelty-free alternatives such as testing on reconstructed human skin, using computer modeling, and enlisting human volunteers are often more reliable than using a different species (with a different biology) to test products intended for humans. Cosmetic companies can also utilize the over 8,000 cosmetic ingredients that have already been established as safe.

Let us take a look at some of the most popular ingredients Best Natural Morning Routine Skincare Australia that show up in both vegan and organic skin care products:

• One popular natural ingredient that is showing up more and more in moisturizers and creams is natural oil. This special and somewhat rare ingredient is derived from natural products and it does wonders for the look of your skin when added to creams and moisturizers.
• The extract of the plants is extremely rich in vitamins, like A, F, and E. These vitamins help your skin stay hydrated and they also help your skin stay more elastic and flexible. The oil has been used for generations as a skin restorer in many places outside of the Western world. It has fantastic regenerative properties and when combined with other amazing skin restorers like aloe, it can help in healing.
• Finally, the oil can also act as a natural sunscreen to help keep the harmful rays of the sun away from your skin. As anyone who is serious about skincare knows, your skin and sun are naturally born enemies.
• Another popular organic and vegan skincare choice is actually something that we all know has regenerative healing powers: the apple! That is right, apple extract has been a common ingredient in skin care products for generations because of its amazing ability to keep skin looking young, tight, and silky smooth. Not to mention it smells pretty nice too!

But do you know why apple extract is so good for your skin? It is those alpha hydroxy acids that we hear so much about! The average apple is full of these helpful acids and when it is reduced to an extract, it becomes a concentrated source of these skin builders. Apple extract also helps to keep the skin very moisturized, and in turn, young looking. There is a reason why your doctors always tell you to use moisturizers, nothing helps keep your skin looking better, and moisturizers with apple extract are that much better!