World Vegan Day: Significance, history and how to get involved!

WORLD Vegan Day is an annual event commemorated around the world every November 1. The benefits of veganism for people and the natural environment are celebrated by advocating against the exploitation of animals and extending love and care to other species and the natural environment.

With World Vegan Day being one day away, let us look at how it came into being, what the significance of the day is, and how you can participate in making a difference.

World Vegan Day: History

World Vegan Day first occurred on November 1, 1994, as a way of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the UK Vegan Society. In 1994, the then chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, Louise Wallis, announced World Vegan Day, to be celebrated every year. She also coined the terms vegan and veganism. She further announced that the date coinciding with Halloween was done intentionally as it is the time of feasting and celebrations.

World Vegan Day: How to make environmentally friendly changes in your life

With an increasing number of people looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and live cleaner, more conscious lives, vegan skincare has become extremely popular amongst make-up and skincare users.

The rising popularity of vegan skincare has seen the demand for alternatives to animal-derived ingredients increase dramatically.

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What is vegan skincare?

Vegan skincare refers to products that do not contain any animal products, animal-derived products or animal by-products.

One of the most common mistakes people make is to confuse vegan skincare with cruelty-free skincare. The difference is that cruelty-free skincare is not tested on animals in any way at any stage of production. This includes the process of making the final product as well as during the manufacturing of each individual ingredient.

Vegan skincare takes the ‘live clean, harm none’ philosophy a step further than cruelty-free and includes a wide range of skincare products, including vegan cleansers and vegan masks, that do not contain any animal-derived or animal by-products.

If you are looking to avoid using non-vegan skincare products, here are a few common non-vegan ingredients used in skincare and beauty products:

Beeswax and honey

Beeswax and honey are staple ingredients in skincare products. But, vegan skincare steers clear of using any ingredient that is an animal by-product. For vegans, affecting the balance of life within the world’s bee colonies is too much of a risk to take, so it’s a no-go.

Lanolin

This ingredient is derived during the production of sheep’s wool and is used to create a sheen when applied to a surface – so its use in products like lip gloss and moisturisers has become increasingly common. In the vegan skincare industry, there are too many viable alternatives to warrant the use of this animal by-product in any beauty treatment.

Collagen

Collagen is derived from animal bones, skin and scales. Currently, it is used as an ingredient in products such as skin oils, but it is also ingested orally in powder form.

Here are some vegan-friendly alternatives for some of the above products:

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is used in a range of products from vegan make-up removers to vegan night creams. Coconut oil is an effective moisturiser that forms a protective layer on the skin’s surface, helping to prevent moisture loss and giving the skin a healthy glow.

Aloe vera

You’ll find aloe vera in vegan toners and vegan sun care. It’s fragrance- and colour-free, helping to soothe inflamed skin and maintain the skin’s delicate pH balance. It’s particularly effective in helping to treat scorched, sunburned skin.

Tea tree oil

As an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredient, tea tree oil is used in vegan face washes and other products that need to work hard to give your skin a deep cleanse without causing damage.

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How to tell if a personal-care product is vegan

Start by scanning the product’s label and packaging. Look for products that have the ‘Certified Vegan’ logo. If the product is simply labelled ‘vegan’ or ‘contains no animal ingredients’, do not take that as a guarantee – read the full ingredient list and find out for yourself. Make good use of vegan/cruelty-free product lists that are easily found online – it’s a lot easier to do research at home than trying to understand some of the unregulated terms used in packaging.

Vegan products in South Africa

Woolworths private label / WBeauty

WBeauty is on a mission to use only the finest quality ingredients, obtained in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way. WBeauty guarantees that neither their ingredients nor final products are tested on animals. Every product has been carefully selected – with the hope that we love using them as much as they love creating them.

Essence Cosmetics

Essence cosmetics is committed to bringing you ethical, clean and cruelty free products that give you the feel-good effect to step out in. Essence cosmetics is completely vegan, and the brand takes pride in protecting the environment and animals by not testing their products on animals.

Essence is pushing for cruelty-free beauty that does not comprise the quality of their products but enhances the make-up experience by giving you products that are good for your skin and encourage a healthier approach to beauty and cosmetics.

Just like everyone should prioritise their health, there should also be no compromise in using products that are good for your skin. That is why Essence cosmetics is giving away a hamper filled with your favourite vegan products to celebrate World Vegan Day.

Stand a chance to win by entering the competition and taking one step into your clean-beauty journey. The competition is open to all residents residing in South Africa.

The Body Shop

As part of their Enrich Not Exploit™ Commitment, The Body Shop has made it their mission to enrich their products, people and our planet. That means working fairly with farmers and suppliers and helping communities thrive through their Community Trade programmes. They are 100% vegetarian and are always and forever firmly against animal testing.

Oh So Heavenly

Oh So Heavenly is a local brand that has always been passionately against animal testing. They are a brand with a big heart and believe that to make every day heavenly, you want to know that the products you are buying are not only kind to you but are cruelty-free too.