The Difference Between Cruelty-Free and Vegan
How cruel is the beauty industry?
You would think that by now there would be little to no more companies experimenting with animals to test their products. According to Cruelty Free International there are still 115 million animals being used worldwide. Many self-care articles such as lotions, perfumes, makeup, hair products, etc. are still being tested on animals. And there are still some countries that do not allow the offer of certain products if they have not been tested on animals first.
What’s the difference between cruelty-free and vegan?
Often these terms are used together, but they mean different things. If a product claims to be cruelty-free it doesn’t mean it’s also vegan.
There are some products and brands that are vegan, which means no animal components are part of their formulas. Nevertheless, vegan products may be tested in animals, in which case the product is vegan but not cruelty-free.
A product is vegan when there are no animal-derived ingredients on its formulation.
Cruelty-free means something has been made without animal testing. With cruelty-free terms and even certifications, there tends to be conflicting information. There is no standardized explanation of what cruelty-free means. Some companies test on animals, but have a couple of brands that do not, in order to classify them as cruelty-free. Other companies do not test their products on animals, but they allow certain countries to sell their products even if the country itself has to test on animals before releasing the products for sale.
Types of cruelty-free products:
- The company doesn’t test on animals during any part of the production.
- They do not allow third parties to test their products on animals.
- They don’t allow their suppliers to test on animals.
Even certifications for cruelty-free products will mean a slightly different thing depending on what the organization believes fits with their standards.
Things are improving but there’s still a lot that needs to be done to end it. With this in mind, we believe that education is the first step towards ending animal abuse in the cosmetics’ industry.
Which one is the best option?
This is a personal decision and it should be based on values and principles, not on public pressure. There are some companies that decide to produce vegan and cruelty-free products and there are some who will only pick one of the two, or none. Where do you feel comfortable and where do you set your bar?
There is a big discrepancy between cruelty-free definitions. Analyze which description of cruelty-free best fits with your values and look for companies that you agree with.
How to make sure companies are being honest about their claims?
If you are concerned about supporting brands and companies that match your beliefs then we recommend digging up some information through International Organizations and also through bloggers and activists that have done their part of the homework and can give a better explanation.
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With this information in mind, we are committed to work and develop products that harm no living thing, including our planet, Earth. The Hair Routine products are and will always be fully vegan and cruelty-free. If you have any questions regarding this information or would like to send feedback to our founders, please do not hesitate to contact us. 
