While most beauty brands have cultivated a sense of accountability and transparency with regard to what goes into their products, assertions have been made about lotions, creams, and eyeshadows containing the most bizarre ingredients — many are which are sourced from animals in ways that aren’t so ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’. This is your check-point — one where you cross-check the composition of your ingredients, and dispose of the ones that contain any of the following ingredients. Go on.
You Might Want To Check Your Product’s Ingredient List
Cochineal Beetles Are Crushed To Make Your Eyeshadow ‘Pop’
Cleopatra is believed to have crushed Cochineal beetles and ants to create ruby-red lipsticks for herself — and while ants have been spared from the process now (apparently), your pink-ish eyeshadow might have traces of the Mexico-native beetles deep-seated in them. These creatures release a red dye upon being crushed — a pigment that is, then, used to colour your palettes. If your palettes have ‘carmine‘ listed at the back, it’s an indication that the shades are powered by beetles. You might want to consider switching to vegan and cruelty-free products ASAP. Just FYI — the beetle is responsible for adding colour to a lot of your foods.
Sperm Whales Have Been Hunted To Add Fragrances To Perfumes
Most of us are suckers for a perfume that smells musky. This scent is courtesy of an ingredient called ‘ambergris‘ — which, by the way, is sourced from sperm whales (more like their vomit). Ambergris is whale throw-up, and it certainly doesn’t smell pleasant upon procurement. Many liken it to the smell of feces but claim that the odor evolves into something sweet-smelling over time. While most of our fragrances are now composed of synthetic, man-made ingredients because of how convenient they are to acquire, some do feature this ingredient in their formulas even now. Though the practice of hunting whales for oil, meat, and ambergris was widespread in the past, it’s not as rampant anymore; but do steer clear of products containing the ingredient.
Your Favourite Body Care Products Could Be Courtesy Of Shark Liver Oil
SLO is obtained from the liver of sharks, and it contains ingredients like squalene and squalane (which is a derivative of squalene) that are said to increase the absorption and spreadability of lotions and oils, moisturise the skin effectively, soothe inflammation and more. They’re added to lip balms, sunscreens, oils, foundations, and more. About three to six million sharks are killed every year in the process. Many companies still continue using shark-derived compounds in their products. Try looking for products containing plant-derived squalane instead.
Lanolin Is Derived From Sheep Destined For Slaughter
Lanolin is used in many products — from treating itchiness to moisturising the skin, the ingredient has many uses for the body. But the ingredient is derived from sheep — from their fur. While many believe that lanolin is a by-product of ‘wool’ farming, the reality is that these animals are almost always slaughtered for their meat in the end. They also sustain wounds from the process of extracting the fur from their bodies. You don’t want to slather a cream onto your face knowing that it’s derived from such situations.
Guanine Is Found In The Scales Of Slaughtered Fish
When fish aren’t being served to you in platters, their scales are scraped right off them post-slaughter to add to lipsticks, lip glosses, and nail polishes in the form of an ingredient called ‘Guanine‘. This ingredient is responsible for adding a shimmer to your products. Guanine has been rechristened ‘pearl essence’ by many brands. Look out.
Tallow Is Derived From Roadkill, Zoos, & More
Tallow is derived not just from roadkill but slaughterhouses, zoos, labs, and shelters. The process consists of boiling each carcass in order to to create fatty by-products that can be added to your lipsticks, foundations, shampoos, moisturisers, and more. While animals aren’t killed for this use, it’s absolutely repulsive. Switch to tallow-free products.
Bizarre: Baby Foreskin Is Donated & Used In Anti-Ageing Facials & Creams
Yeah. A baby’s foreskin contains a protein called epidermal growth factor (EGF) that many high-end spas incorporate in their anti-aging facials. The foreskin is donated following circumcision — after which cells are extracted from the foreskin, and injected into your skin with the promise of firming and tightening the face. Sandra Bullock has spoken about opting for the procedure in the past, and Oprah has endorsed a cream containing foreskin-related compounds.
Time to change our ways. Switch to vegan, cruelty-free products ASAP.
Featured Image: Pexels
