Labels unwrapped - Veganuary edition

Veganuary is here, and whether you are looking into trying to go Vegan or just understanding more about what goes into the products you use we have got you covered. Transparency is a big part of The Natural Spa and we are going to start delving deeper into what ingredients labels actually mean.

INCI names (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) are systematic names internationally recognized to identify cosmetic ingredients. For example Olive oil is Olea Europaea.

The simplest way to identify that a product is SFV ( suitable for vegans ) is to look for the ‘suitable for vegans’ mark. Don’t forget the leaping bunny symbol does not mean SFV but it does mean cruelty free.

Check out the top products to look out for below when checking labels 

INCI: Cera Alba
Common Name:Bees Wax
Derived from: Bees
Commonly used in: Lip Balms, Creams, Salves
Vegan Alternatives :Carnauba Wax, Sunflower Wax, Candelilla Wax

INCI: Keratin
Derived from: Animal Hair and Horns
Commonly used in: Hair Products and Treatments
Vegan Alternatives :Almond Oil, Soya Protein

INCI: Stearic Acid
Derived from: Animal Stomach
Commonly used in: Skin Care
Vegan Alternatives :Stearic Acid can be made vegan, check for the suitable for vegans symbol 

INCI: Lanolin
Derived from: Sheeps Wool
Commonly used in: Lip Balms and treatments
Vegan Alternatives :Shea butter, Coconut oil, Almond Oil

INCI:Shellac
Derived from: Female Lac Bug Shell
Commonly used in: Shellac Nails
Vegan Alternatives :No direct replacement, try a vegan nail polish brand like BarryM