For the purposes of health and sustainability, much of the world is taking an initiative towards plant-based products. In the world of food, someone who eats completely plant-based can often be considered vegan.
While there are a wide variety of personal reasons as to why a person might eat vegan, many people seek out a vegan lifestyle in an effort to stop animal cruelty.
That’s exactly what a lot of skincare brands are trying to accomplish with plant-based ingredients.
What are cruelty-based ingredients?
A cruelty-based ingredient includes animal ingredients or is harmful to the animal in the process of making and testing the ingredient.
One primary example of this is squalene.
Squalene is sourced from the liver of sharks. It is an oily substance that is frequently used in creams, serums, and moisturizers.
In order to source squalene, an individual must capture and kill an endangered species.
There is no question about the cruelty of this practice.
The oil from the liver is considered extra special because it comes from deep-sea sharks who have the extra oil to assist with staying light and buoyant while swimming deep in the ocean.
Many people hope to benefit from skin care products, and never realize that a beautiful, endangered animal was destroyed to make the product that they are using.
Where can you find squalene?
Squalene is a popular ingredient in many everyday items.
You might notice the ingredients listed in your lip balm, your sunscreen, your face cream, your moisturizers, your foundation, or your tanning mousse.
You might also notice squalene spelled with an A, squalane. This is the same thing, however, it just denotes that the squalene has gone through a process called hydrogenation by which the ingredient is stabilized and ready for cosmetic usage.
What is plant-based squalane?
Since the plant-based ingredient does not need to go through hydrogenation, it will always be named and advertised with the A rather than the E – squalane.
Frequently derived from olives, rice bran, sugarcane, and wheat germ, plant-based squalane is a great alternative for getting the hydration boost you need without harming any animals in the process.
How to get started
If you are unsure of how to look for this difference, start with the Fièra Cosmetics Luxury Neck Cream.
You’ll notice the ingredients in the Fièra Luxury Neck Cream include: shea butter, willow bark extract, glycerin, green tea extract, Vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, glycolic acid, and plant-based squalane!
This anti-aging moisturizer promotes healing and hydration with all-natural ingredients. The neck cream will help tighten the skin on your neck and help banish fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother, beautiful finish.
As a whole, Fièra Cosmetics also prioritizes all-natural practices. This includes being cruelty-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and paraben-free. To learn more about Fièra Cosmetics and the products available, click here.