Vegan skincare: What’s the hype?

January can feel all-consuming and instantly overwhelming as we scramble to put goals in place and undo the excess of the festive season. From cutting out sugar, to alcohol and meat, everyone has their own changes they want to make, and, whilst a complete lifestyle overhaul can be daunting, the switch to vegan skincare couldn’t be simpler. But in the world of vegan ranges, claims of clean beauty and cruelty-free promises, what makes STELLA skincare different and how can it benefit you? Read on to find out.

What does vegan skincare mean?

To be certified vegan – as STELLA skincare is – a product needs to be independently certified by an organisation such as The Vegan Society. Our products are individually assessed to ensure there is no animal ingredients, including animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey, collagen, lanolin or keratin. How is this different to the clean beauty trend then? Clean beauty isn’t regulated, so what it implies can inevitably vary. More often than not it focuses on the approach that the products are good for the planet and people, usually – but not always – favouring natural ingredients over synthetic. However clean doesn’t necessarily mean vegan, so the inclusion of honey, beeswax or animal-harming colouring can often find its way into your cosmetic bag without you realising.

What's the difference between vegan and cruelty-free?

Vegan products have no animal or animal-derived ingredients in them, whereas cruelty free means the product was developed without any animal testing taking place. So, a product can be 100% vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients BUT it could still be tested on animals. This means it is NOT cruelty-free. In line with Stella McCartney values, at STELLA skincare, we believe that beauty products should be both vegan AND cruelty-free, and that ethos extends beyond our formulas to our packaging too. We never use materials like animal-derived glue, dyes or animal skins like leather. Whichever product you choose from our new range – from serums and cleansers to moisturiser, you can always be confident that they are both vegan and cruelty-free.

What other vegan choices can I make?

Simple switches to what you eat are a great place to begin. For example, did you know it takes over 100 litres of water to produce just one litre of cows’ milk? Whereas, according to a study by Oxford University**, soy and oat milk both more use more than ¾’s less. Almond milk – another great dairy substitute – also has the benefit of being a tree-grown source, so its leave actually locks in extra co2 emissions.

It’s easier than ever before to seek out a vegan wardrobe too. Having sold over 1 million of the iconic vegan Falabella bag, Stella McCartney have helped prevent the deaths of over 400,000 cows as well as the destruction of vital ecosystems like Amazon.

*The Vegan Society, Vegan beauty Takeover 2021.
**Oxford University, Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers, 2018, Joseph Poore, Thomas Nemecek.