Vegan cosmetics: What makes skincare vegan and why isn't all natural cosmetics automatically vegan?
Not every natural product is actually free from animal-derived ingredients. Yet there are many good reasons to consciously switch to vegan skincare – for the animals and your skin.
Why vegan cosmetics?
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No animal suffering: Many conventional cosmetics contain ingredients such as beeswax, lanolin (from sheep's wool), or carmine (derived from cochineal insects). However, no animal should have to suffer for our skincare.
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Plant-based: Candelilla, berry, and myrica waxes instead of beeswax
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Well tolerated: Vegan ingredients are often lighter, more breathable, and better suited for sensitive skin.
Why are cosmetics often not vegan?
Even natural cosmetics can contain animal-derived raw materials – here are a few examples:
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Beeswax: Popular for lip care, but there is no difference in terms of protection and care compared to plant-based waxes.
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Lanolin (wool wax): Frequently found in creams, but can cause allergic reactions.
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Carmine: A red dye from cochineal insects, still found in some lipsticks and blushes.
This shows: Just because something is natural doesn't mean it is automatically vegan.
Vegan alternatives – gentle & effective
At Queen of Green, we consistently use plant-based ingredients and completely avoid animal-derived raw materials. Instead of beeswax, we use, for example:
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Candelilla wax: protects the skin with a breathable layer and helps lock in moisture for a long time. You can find this wax in all our “Queens”.
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Berry wax: makes textures creamy and soft and ensures that skincare products can be applied gently. We use it, for example, in our lip care.
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Myrica wax: nourishes the skin and gives cosmetics a pleasant firmness without feeling heavy.
How can you recognize vegan cosmetics? 🔎
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Look for clear seals (“vegan”, “PETA approved”, “Leaping Bunny”).
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Read the INCI list – if you come across unfamiliar terms, it is worth doing a quick check.
Our promise 🫶
All Queen of Green products are:
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100% vegan
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natural & plastic-free
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handmade in Vienna – with love and without compromise
This means you can be sure: No animal had to suffer for your Queen of Green skincare.
You can find more information about animal testing here: Cosmetics and animal testing: The legal situation – Queen Of Green
Conclusion
Vegan cosmetics are not about missing out, but are a real benefit – for your skin and for the animals.
With plant-based alternatives such as candelilla wax, jojoba oil, and almond oil, you get the same (or better) results – without any animal suffering.