Here at Flora & Fauna, we don't believe that animals and their by-products need to be used in our makeup, skincare, food, or fashion — it’s our core belief so we take it very seriously! Here are eleven not-so-obvious non-vegan ingredients that you won’t find at Flora & Fauna, and why we refuse to use them.
Here’s Why F&F Is 100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free!
We believe that endorsing and selling cruelty-free products undoubtedly sparks positive change in our society. It offers consumers a better choice; a choice that inevitably saves animals from being enslaved, tortured and needlessly killed. So, what does it mean to be 100% vegan and cruelty-free?
100% Vegan: None of our products contain animals or animal by-products. This includes some of the obvious ones, like leather, fur, dairy milk, honey, whey, casein, lactose, and fish-derived omega 3’s, but also the not-so-obvious ones too.
100% Cruelty-Free: We don't believe anything needs to be tested on animals, so we don't stock products that are tested on animals, sold physically in countries that test on animals or have a parent company that tests on animals.
Gelatine, Collagen & Lanolin
Gelatine: A translucent, flavourless, jelly-like protein used to thicken up lollies, puddings, ice cream, yoghurt, and even haircare and skincare products. Gelatine is obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water, typically from cows and pigs.
Collagen: An abundant building-block protein found in our bodies, which is typically consumed as a nutritional supplement, or used in skincare and haircare products. Collagen supplements are made from the connective tissue, bones and other parts of cows, pigs, chicken and fish.
Lanolin: A waxy, oily, moisturising substance used in skincare products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Lanolin is secreted by wool-bearing animals (like sheep) to condition their wool.
Beeswax, Royal Jelly & Propolis
Beeswax: A smooth, waxy substance secreted by honeybees, which is used to add thickness and creaminess to lip balms, cosmetics and skincare products. To mass-produce, honeybees are often mishandled, mistreated or killed.
Royal Jelly: A milk-like substance used in supplements, cosmetics and skincare products to supposedly enhance collagen production. Royal Jelly is secreted by bees to feed to bee larvae. We don’t believe our products should contain the primary source of food for young bees.
Propolis: A sticky compound created by bees, which is used for its medicinal properties. Propolis is used by bees to build their beehives, and it may cause severe allergic reactions when consumed by humans.
Squalene, Guanine & Retinol
Squalene: A fatty, moisturising oil widely used in skincare, cosmetics, sunscreens and lotions for its hydrating properties. Squalene is derived from shark livers — around 2.7 million sharks are captured and killed for their livers each year. Instead of supporting this cruel industry, we use olive-derived Squalane, which is lighter, more stable, and 100% cruelty-free.
Guanine: A crystalline, shimmering material that’s used in nail polishes, lipsticks and mascaras to add a pearlescent shine. Guanine crystals are extracted from the scales of iridescent fish, so it’s not vegan or cruelty-free.
Retinol: A potent source of Vitamin A used in anti-ageing skincare products. Retinol, or retinoids, can be derived from animal sources like fish, eggs, cows, and even chicken liver.
Carmine & Shellac
Carmine: A common red dye used in many foods, beverages, clothing and cosmetics. In makeup products like lipstick, blush, eye shadow and nail polish, Carmine is used to add a vibrant red/pink/orange colour. Carmine is made by drying, crushing, and then boiling the bodies of cochineal beetles. Around 70,000 insects must be killed to produce just one pound of this red dye. You can find out more about Carmine in our blog.
Shellac: A shiny resin secreted by female Lac Bugs, which is typically dissolved and used for Shellac nail polish, furniture finishes, and as shiny glaze for sweet items like jelly beans. Shellac is secreted by female Lac Bugs to provide a protective shell for their larvae, and many of the bugs are injured or killed in the process to retrieve the resin.
Were you surprised by the origin of some of these ingredients? It’s pretty awful to know that these commonly used ingredients are derived from cows, sheep, insects, marine species, and more. You can rest assured knowing that every single purchase you make with Flora & Fauna is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
We check over each and every product — including the brand itself and their parent company (if they have one) — to ensure that no animals were harmed, or will be harmed, in the process of making that product. Check out the blogs below for more information!
