Organic Makeup, Vegan And Cruelty Free: What's The Difference?

Orange may be the new black but green is the colour to be. Makeup has changed a lot in the last few decades and the choices you make don't have to hurt the planet anymore. There's a sea of natural products on makeup shelves in the market claiming to be 'organic' and 'cruelty-free'. But before taking pride in being closer to Mother Earth because you buy a certain brand of makeup, it would be nice to know whether it's really that natural, right? If you're still confused by the labels, we're putting them to rest by decoding what they really mean.

1. Organic

Organic is a label that's commonly seen, especially on traditionally made beauty items. But what does it mean really? To put it simply, when a product contains a minimum of 95% organic ingredients, it can receive certification under USDA standards. Under the organic category, there is also the 'Made with Organic __' label which is for products that contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. Organic makeup brands include Ruby's Organics and SkinYoga.

2. Cruelty-free

Ever seen a tiny rabbit on the label of your makeup? That means that it's certified by the Leaping Bunny program. This trademark means that none of the ingredients which are used to make the product were tested in animals in any way. This label comments on the nature of testing the products, not the ingredients of the products itself. Ethically conscious, yes but it doesn't mean it's naturally made in any way. Cruelty-free makeup brands include The Body Shop and NYX Cosmetics.

3. Vegan

When a beauty product is marked as vegan, it means the same thing a vegan diet does. This label infers that the product does not contain any animal or its byproducts in it. However, this doesn't mean it is free from chemicals of any kind or isn't tested on animals. Vegan makeup brands include The Nature's Co. and Plum Goodness.

So if you're an ethical beauty user who is particular about what they put on their face, don't trust labels blindly. It's good to note that vegan and cruelty-free aren't terms that can be used interchangeably. So carefully study the ingredient list and make sure products are certified by organisations like PETA, The Vegan Society etc.