Spatz”, “Mäuschen”, “Hare”, “Bear” – after “Schatz”, pet names are the most popular in Germany, according to the University of Augsburg. Our real love for animals also knows no bounds. That is why more and more women want cosmetics without animal ingredients.
“We consume much more consciously these days,” says Christine Esch, campaign manager at the animal rights organization PETA. Anyone who buys something also wants to do something good at the same time, e.g. B. support social projects, fair trade or environmental protection. But please, sexy, stylish and with pleasure. It is logical that animal-friendly feel-good products are also very popular. “Be Veggie!” is the motto, regardless of whether you have an appetite for the gelatin-free “Yoghurt Gums” from Katjes or a veggie burger at McDonald’s, or whether you only want vegan creams and body lotions in the bathroom. “This means we can do something animal-friendly without having to do without,” explains Christine Esch.
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When is beauty vegan?
Eating a schnitzel or steak from time to time – most consumers don’t see a contradiction in that, however. Although the proportion of vegetarians in Germany has risen to 11 percent, it is still low. In contrast, the number of those who deliberately eat little meat shot up to 51 percent, according to the opinion research institute Emnid.
Care that does not contain animal substances is in line with the spirit of the times. However, anyone who thinks that it is automatically natural cosmetics is wrong: vegan initially only means that there are no active ingredients of animal origin in it. However, organic manufacturers often use milk, honey or beeswax – with the argument that these active ingredients come from living animals.
Nevertheless, the intersection between natural cosmetics and vegan beauty is very large. “179 of our 250 products contain no animal ingredients,” says Sabine Kästner, spokeswoman at Lavera. But many conventional cosmetics manufacturers also offer vegan care – and also try to help the animals: Lush z. B. held a campaign week in June 2010, during which customers could write to their mayor to urge the city to have a “meatless Friday”.
Animal hide and seek
What surprises many customers: Finding cosmetics without animal ingredients often proves to be unexpectedly difficult. Of course, it is easy to avoid prominently advertised luxury ingredients such as salmon, caviar or royal jelly. Not so with the excipients, whose animal origin many do not even know. Or did you know that keratin for shampoos and conditioners is made from ground up hooves, feathers and horns? “Natural Strawberry Flavor” often comes from chicken feet, and bar soaps are usually based on beef tallow.
These active ingredients do not harm the skin . But just our new ethical consciousness. As a rule, no animal has to die in order to obtain these substances because they are slaughterhouse waste – but that’s not a nice thought either. And these substances are not absolutely necessary in the products because the manufacturers have enough substitutes at their disposal.
exchange for plants
Fruit, vegetables and algae support the body’s metabolism – and the “metabolism” in production when it comes to replacing animal substances. For example, alginate from seaweed and apple pectin (used to make jam) are great gelling agents, giving creams a texture similar to bone gelatin. Olive oil is an alternative to beef tallow because it reacts with caustic soda to form soap. Beetroot replaces the red dye carmine found in scale insects in make-up. Citric acid can be used instead of lactic acid, which is supposed to protect the acid mantle when showering. Plant-based substitutes are also available for collagen and elastin, which are obtained from tendons: soybean extract with its 39 percent protein content.
Synthetic for ethics
There is also a second possibility of doing without animal beauty ingredients: “Some conventional manufacturers switch to synthetic ingredients,” says Christine Esch from the animal rights organization PETA. That explains e.g. B. why vegan nail polish is offered relatively often, but hardly any organic nail polish. It consists to a large extent of chemicals – but is actually vegan.
Synthetic for ethics
Animal-friendly perfumes are often given that certain erotic touch by adding synthetic ambergris, musk or civet notes – so that you don’t have to use sperm whale, musk deer or civet secretions. In the case of active ingredients, this sometimes even has advantages: synthetic peptides have an effect, e.g. B. more effective than those from milk because natural peptides are often too large to penetrate the skin . In addition, artificial peptides can be combined in the laboratory in such a way that they mutually reinforce each other’s effects.
“Nevertheless, you have to be aware that many synthetic ingredients were tested on animals before they were launched on the market,” says PETA expert Christine Esch. If you want to rule that out, you should only buy cosmetics with a corresponding seal.
Animal experiments – the current status
Animal testing – the current status
Wish and reality: 70 percent of women want cosmetics without animal cruelty
Animal testing of cosmetics has long been banned, many think. But that only applies to ready-made creams, lipsticks and shampoos. Three tests are still carried out with new raw materials. This practice should be allowed by 2013. However, the EU is already open to extending the deadline because no alternatives have yet been approved for the procedures. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist! The problem: In order to be legally recognized, the alternative methods must lead to the same result as the animal experiment. And that’s exactly the problem. “Tests on cell cultures are e.g. B. much more objective, because rabbits or mice are not machines, but often react individually. As a result, tests without animals sometimes lead to different results,” explains Dr. Corina Gericke from the Doctors Against Animal Experiments association. “So, absurdly, many of these modern systems are not recognized simply because they are better.” But even if the ban on animal testing for beauty ingredients does come into force in 2013, it will not automatically mean the end of the suffering. “Almost 90 percent of the ingredients used in cosmetics are also used in other areas such as e.g. B. detergents are used,” says Dr. Corina Gericke. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals. because they’re better.” But even if the ban on animal testing for beauty ingredients does come into force in 2013, it won’t automatically mean the end of the suffering. “Almost 90 percent of the ingredients used in cosmetics are also used in other areas such as e.g. B. detergents are used,” says Dr. Corina Gericke. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals. because they’re better.” But even if the ban on animal testing for beauty ingredients does come into force in 2013, it won’t automatically mean the end of the suffering. “Almost 90 percent of the ingredients used in cosmetics are also used in other areas such as e.g. B. detergents are used,” says Dr. Corina Gericke. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals. does not automatically mean the end of suffering. “Almost 90 percent of the ingredients used in cosmetics are also used in other areas such as e.g. B. detergents are used,” says Dr. Corina Gericke. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals. does not automatically mean the end of suffering. “Almost 90 percent of the ingredients used in cosmetics are also used in other areas such as e.g. B. detergents are used,” says Dr. Corina Gericke. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals. “Newly developed substances against wrinkles or cellulite can continue to be tested on animals for this reason.” There is a simple solution to immediately stop all animal testing for cosmetics: if new products were only made from the 8,000 ingredients that have already been tested. But you can already do without care that has been tested on animals.
Is a vegetarian diet better for the skin?
Is a vegetarian diet better for the skin?
With a little know-how, you can slow down the formation of wrinkles
Carrots instead of Mortadella! This is the anti-aging recipe of the German Vegetarian Union (Vebu). A study at the Berlin Charité has shown that people who mainly eat fruit and vegetables develop wrinkles much later. They owe this rejuvenating effect primarily to the higher content of antioxidants in the skin. “Vegetarians in particular are optimally supplied with vitamins that protect against aging free radicals – and in exactly the right dosage,” explains Dr. Markus Keller, nutritionist at Vebu. However, it is important to have enough iron sources such as B. to incorporate millet into the menu. And sometimes eat milk and eggs, since both provide the “nerve” vitamin B12, which is not found in plants. Those who eat strictly vegan can switch to soy milk enriched with vitamin B12.
