Cruelty Free Skincare: What Makes Soap Vegan?

As the new year approaches, many of us are thinking about our New Year resolutions and how we can make positive changes in our lives. For some, that means focusing on healthier eating habits, and for others, it’s about adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. One great way to start the year with a conscious mindset is by participating in Veganuary – a movement encouraging people to try veganism throughout January.

But Veganuary isn’t just about changing your diet – it’s also a great time to reconsider the products you use every day, including your skincare. Did you know that many soaps and personal care products contain animal-derived ingredients, often hidden in plain sight, which are harmful to animals and the environment?

In this blog, we’ll uncover the main five ingredients you might not realise are in your soap and explore vegan alternatives that are kinder to both your skin and the planet.

1. Beeswax

Beeswax is a common ingredient found in soap bars. However, it’s an insect-derived product, and the way it’s harvested often involves harm to bees. While beeswax itself isn’t directly harmful to your skin, it’s not an ethical choice because it comes from bees, who are crucial to the health of our environment and are farmed in unethical ways. By choosing vegan soap bars, you can avoid supporting these practices and still get the moisturising benefits from plant-based oils which hydrate and protect your skin naturally.

2. Tallow (Cow Fat)

Tallow, which comes from rendered cow fat, is often used in soaps to provide a moisturising lather. But did you know that it’s a by-product of the meat industry? The use of tallow in soap contributes to the suffering of animals, and it's environmentally damaging because it’s tied to industrial farming. Fortunately, plant-based oils like coconut oil provide all the moisturising and lathering benefits that tallow offers, without causing harm to cows.

3. Gelatine

Believe it or not, Gelatine is still in many soaps, and it’s made by boiling animal bones and tissues. This by-product is used to help create a smooth texture in soaps, but it’s far from vegan-friendly. Gelatine is linked to the meat and leather industries, and its production is a direct result of animal cruelty. Instead of gelatine, switch to plant-based ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil to achieve the same smooth, creamy lather that’s gentle on your skin and is better for your skin and the animals

4. Goat’s Milk

You’ve probably seen soaps with “goat’s milk” prominently listed as an ingredient, claiming to be a moisturising miracle. The truth is that goat’s milk is an animal-derived product, and its production involves separating goats from their young, which causes unnecessary stress and harm. If you want a vegan alternative that’s equally effective, plant-based milks, like almond milk or coconut milk, are fantastic substitutes that provide moisture without any animal cruelty.

5. Lanolin (Sheep’s Wool Grease)

Lanolin is a wax extracted from sheep’s wool and is often used in soaps to lock in moisture. While it may sound harmless, the process of collecting lanolin is tied to the wool industry, which is known for its poor treatment of sheep. By opting for vegan skincare, you can avoid lanolin and still enjoy deep hydration with shea butter, which is plant-derived and incredibly rich in fatty acids, leaving your skin feeling soft and nourished.

Why Choose Vegan Skincare?

At Friendly Soap, we’ve been a vegan company since we started 17 years ago. We’ve always believed that skincare should never come at the cost of harming animals or the planet. 

Here’s why choosing vegan skincare is the way forward

1. 100% Plant-Based Ingredients

Our soaps are made with only the finest natural, plant-based ingredients like coconut oil, rapeseed oil, essential oils, aloe vera, and shea butter. These ingredients are carefully chosen for their nourishing and skin-loving properties, without any harmful chemicals or animal by-products.

2. Cruelty-Free 

We never test on animals, and we’re proudly certified by Cruelty-Free International and The Vegan Society. When you choose any of our products, you can rest assured that they’re completely vegan and cruelty-free.

4. Sustainable Packaging

We’re committed to reducing plastic waste, which is why all our soaps come in plastic-free, recycled, and recyclable packaging. By choosing Friendly Soap, you’re helping reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics, which are harmful to wildlife and the environment.

5. Supporting Ethical and Sustainable Practices

By choosing vegan skincare, you’re supporting brands that prioritise ethical ingredients and sustainable practices. Vegan skincare products are typically made with ingredients that have a lower environmental impact compared to animal-derived substances, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable planet. 

Make the Switch This Veganuary

If you’re committing to a more sustainable, ethical lifestyle this Veganuary, why not take it a step further and switch to vegan skincare too? The good news is that with Friendly Soap, it’s easy to make the change to a natural skincare routine that’s not only kind to your skin but also kind to animals and the planet.