Many of us these days are a lot more conscious about the food that we eat - in terms of for example; its source, organic certification, nutritional value or total sugar content.
This has then rolled on to the skincare and make-up products that we consume. When it comes particularly to the make-up we decide to purchase, a lot of people are starting to look more widely for products that are vegan friendly, cruelty-free, made with natural ingredients or considered to be part of the clean beauty movement.
The tricky thing though is that when we are standing in-store at a cosmetics aisle trying to figure out what product is going to suit our needs best - it's harder than expected to understand the nitty gritty about ingredient lists, claims on packaging, product manufacturing and industry certifications.
What is often misunderstood as well, is that if a brand says they're vegan friendly that doesn't automatically mean their products for example are made with 100% natural ingredients, or that they're cruelty-free.
To help you understand the most used terminology around cosmetics, we thought it could be a good idea to break open some common misconceptions, and to share these with you:
Question: What does it mean when a product is 'natural'?
Answer: The term 'natural' is used globally yet there isn't a universally agreed definition.
A common definition is the following: A natural product is made only with ingredients derived from nature and formulated without any synthetic (artificial) ingredients.
All Nude by Nature products are made with 100% natural ingredients and formulated without synthetic ingredients or preservatives often found in cosmetics such as Silicone, Siloxanes, Phthalates, Sulphates, PEGS, Triclosan, Phenoxyethanol or Parabens, and do not contain Carmine, Talc or Bismuth Oxychloride.
Question: How do we know if a product is really cruelty-free?
Answer: If a brand is cruelty-free, they should be accredited by an internationally-recognised cruelty-free program or organisation such as PETA, Leaping Bunny or Choose Cruelty Free.
Formally accredited brands must adhere to specific development and distribution criteria, and must also pass strict review and approval processes to prove their cruelty-free commitment and become acknowledged as genuine cruelty-free advocates.
Nude by Nature is proudly cruelty-free, PETA certified and accredited by Choose Cruelty Free.
Question: How do we know if a product is really vegan?
Answer: Unless the product is certified vegan, you’re relying on the brand to correctly declare if a product is considered vegan friendly or not.
A product labelled ‘vegan’ must not contain any animal products, animal by-products, or animal derivatives. One of the biggest misconceptions about vegan products is that it infers the product is also ‘natural’. Not all vegan products are natural or plant-based, these product attributes are vastly different from one another.
Nude by Nature deliver natural, cruelty-free make-up, and the brand has a broad selection of vegan friendly products in the range, plus an extensive range of cruelty-free professional make-up brushes.
Question: Are Nude by Nature products all vegan?
Answer: Many Nude by Nature products are considered vegan friendly. You can find the list of our vegan friendly products here. Some of our formulas contain ethically sourced beeswax or lanolin. No animals are harmed in the production of these ingredients.
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees which is known to possess soothing and softening properties, and helps the skin retain moisture. Lanolin is a natural wax found in sheep’s wool, which is known to smooth and moisturise by assisting replenishment of essential lipids to enhance skin's natural moisture retention.
Question: Are vegan products cruelty-free?
Answer: Not necessarily. A product that is vegan does not contain any animal ingredients or animal derived ingredients. This includes, but is not limited to: carmine, collagen, gelatine, and many others. The term “cruelty free” means no animals are harmed, exploited or tested on. This can be misleading as to many the term is associated with being vegan which isn’t always the case. A product can be cruelty-free without being vegan.
Question: Some labels simply say that the product is ‘chemical-free' - what does this mean?
Answer: The term ‘chemical free’ is often used by cosmetic and skincare brands to highlight that a product is free of synthetic (artificial) chemicals.
Question: What does ‘plant-based’ mean?
Answer: Plant-based refers to using botanical ingredients that originate from plants (roots, flowers, fruits, leaves or seeds).
Plant-based does not necessarily mean natural. While these products may contain a percentage of ingredients that are of plant origin, it’s possible the remaining ingredients are of synthetic origin. It’s always best to check the label.
With Nude by Nature, there’s no compromise. High performing natural formulas made with 100% natural ingredients and formulated without synthetic ingredients or preservatives. Every single ingredient within the Nude by Nature range has been carefully selected to deliver exceptional results, including some of nature’s most powerful ingredients possessing moisturising, anti-ageing and skin nourishing benefits to help perfect the complexion. The range features native Australian ingredients such as Kakadu Plum, known to have the world's richest source of natural Vitamin C, Lilly Pilly, and Cehami to provide antioxidant defence and benefit the skin.
We hope the above helps you understand more about the make-up you use daily, and definitely let us know if you have any questions regarding the above information.