Cruelty-Free and Vegan Self-Care Products for Men
Samuel E. Phillips
Today’s market provides a nearly infinite amount of self-care products. For men looking for brands that do not use sulfates, parabens, or silicones, the options seem almost endless. However, some of the most challenging items to find are those that are cruelty-free for animals and vegan.
With the increased use of social media, men’s products are reaching a newer generation of young men. Given the accessibility of these platforms, and the movement towards being more in tune with our planet and the footprint we leave, the popularity of cruelty-free and vegan products are on the rise. With the spreading of facts, awareness, and responsibility, men have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the planet by making minor changes to their daily routines.
As people begin altering their lifestyles to become more animal and environmentally conscious, they often start by changing what they put into and on their bodies. Several companies have come forward with new products that are not only cruelty-free but also vegan.
Veganism and cruelty-free can be hard to understand in the world of men’s products. The term vegan is often thought of in terms of food consumption. However a vegan lifestyle is just as relevant in the skincare industry. Veganism is the choice of abstaining from the use or consumption of animal products and byproducts. Cruelty-free labels refer to the process in which animals are not harmed or killed in the making of a product. Making the shift towards cruelty free products is crucial in helping end the abuse of animals.
Buying vegan and cruelty free is one way we can be conscious and respectful of the world and animals we cohabitate with. According to The Humane Society of the United States, 500,000 animals suffer and die every year due to cosmetic testing alone. These products include shampoos, conditioners, body washes, deodorants, colognes, and other body care products.
To better identify cruelty-free and vegan mens self-care products, it is crucial to scan over the packaging of the item and look for the labels that are associated with these two categories. The cruelty-free label can be easily identified with a picture of a rabbit and the words “cruelty-free.” This label is the official PETA certification logo that ensures standardized procedures were utilized during the making of the product. The vegan label is denoted with a capital “V” and some form of art around it. Despite the exact design of the logo, all vegan and cruelty-free products will have these identifiers written somewhere on their packaging. Unfortunately, if these labels are not on the packaging, it is safe to assume that these products are not vegan, nor cruelty-free.
Deodorant is one of the products that most men apply each day. Schmidt’s and Native have both produced all-natural, cruelty-free deodorant products. Maui has distributed a vegan shampoo, which boasts of helping grow healthier and stronger hair. Paul Mitchell has a strong stance on animal-cruelty, and claims that they never have, nor ever will, test their products on animals.
Within the past few years, a handful of companies have opened up with regards to shaving and beard maintenance. Most disposable razors do contain animal byproducts, but a good old-fashioned straight blade is vegan, although there is a learning curve when utilizing this device. An online informational resource called Vegan offers a list of beard creams, gels, and brushes to satisfy all of your shaving needs. Traditional beard brushes use boar and horsehair because of their ability to redistribute the oil in a beard. Mountaineer Brand offers a cruelty-free and vegan alternative that uses cactus bristles instead. As a natural resource, this too has been proven to redistribute oil in a comparable fashion.
Cologne is among the most expensive products of the mens self-care market. The Body Shop, a well-known skin nourishment company, offers cruelty-free and vegan colognes for men. One of their scents, Arber Eau De Toilette, is comparable to traditional colognes as it has a clean, sophisticated outdoorsy smell.
The first step towards making the world a safer home for animals is deciding to switch to animal-friendly products. Although rarely advertised at the barbershop, we suggest doing your research to find a more humane product that will protect animals and improve your body. Please check out some of the links below to explore the different types of cruelty-free and vegan mens self-care products that are on the market today.
Sources: Cruelty-Free Kitty, Ethical Elephant, The Humane Society of the United States, Mountaineer Brand, Vegan
