The exokiss journal · skincare · 5 min read
Vegan skincare: what "vegan" and "cruelty-free" mean on a label
By the exokiss team ·
In short
- Vegan skincare contains no animal-derived ingredients. Cruelty-free means the product was not tested on animals. They are two separate claims.
- A product can be cruelty-free and still contain beeswax or keratin, so check for both words.
- In the US neither term has a legal definition, so the ingredient list is your best proof.
- At exokiss, 54 of our 71 products are vegan and all 71 are cruelty-free. The 17 exceptions are named below, with the reason.
Vegan skincare is easy to shop for once you know what the label is promising. "Vegan" is about what is inside the bottle. "Cruelty-free" is about how it was tested. This guide explains both, lists the animal-derived ingredients worth knowing by name, and gives an exact count for our own range.
Vegan vs cruelty-free: two different promises
| Vegan | Cruelty-free | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is about | Ingredients | Testing |
| What it means | No animal products, by-products or derivatives in the formula | The product was not tested on animals |
| What it does not tell you | How the product was tested | Whether the formula contains beeswax, keratin or other animal-derived ingredients |
| How to check | Read the ingredient list; look for a third-party vegan logo | Read the brand's testing statement; look for a third-party logo |
The US Food and Drug Administration says companies can use "cruelty-free" freely "because there are no legal definitions for these terms". It also notes that a brand may apply the claim only to the finished product, while the raw materials were tested by suppliers or years ago. That is why third-party standards exist.
One example is the Vegan Trademark, run by The Vegan Society since 1990. Its standard covers both sides at once: no animal product, by-product or derivative in the product or its ingredients, and no animal testing of any sort by the company or on its behalf.
Animal-derived ingredients to know by name
Most animal-derived ingredients do not announce themselves. These are the ones The Vegan Society lists for cosmetics, with the label names to look for:
| Ingredient | Where it comes from | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| Beeswax (Cera Alba) | Bees | Some makeup, including our Peptide Foundation |
| Keratin | Animal hair, horns and feathers | Shampoo, conditioner, hair masks |
| Carmine (CI 75470) | Crushed cochineal insects | Lipstick, blush, red-toned makeup |
| Collagen | Cows' bones, skin and tissue | Face creams |
| Guanine | Fish scales | Shimmery eyeshadow and highlighter |
| Tallow | Fat from farmed animals | Soap, some foundations |
Two of these matter in our own range: keratin and beeswax. We say so on every product page where they appear.
Which exokiss products are vegan
We checked every product page for this article. Of the 71 products in the range, 54 are vegan and all 71 are cruelty-free. That covers our face serums, moisturizers, cleansers, body care, bath salts, candles, concealer, lipstick and mascara.
These 17 are cruelty-free but not vegan:
- Six hair products with keratin: Keratin Hair Mask (full size and sample), Keratin Hair Mist, Volume Shampoo, Volume Conditioner and Scalp Scrub. They contain hydrolyzed keratin from sheep wool.
- Scalp to Ends Gift Box: it includes the scrub, shampoo and mist above.
- Peptide Foundation, all 10 shades: the formula contains beeswax (Cera Alba).
If you want a fully vegan hair routine from us, the Rosemary Scalp Oil and the Scalp Serum are both vegan. Our lipsticks are vegan too, with no beeswax and no carmine. And the Ceramide Night Cream gets its richness from plant waxes rather than beeswax.
Three vegan picks: face, body and hair
Face. Our Vitamin C Serum is a creamy morning serum with 2% vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside) and 1% ferulic acid, for brighter, more even-looking skin. It is vegan, COSMOS Natural certified and 99% natural origin, with a pH of 6.5–6.8.
It is scented with mandarin and it contains sweet almond oil, so skip it if you avoid fragrance or have a nut allergy. See how to use a vitamin C serum.
Body. Our Urea Body Cream uses 5% hydroxyethyl urea and 2% panthenol in a rich, non-greasy cream for rough, dry patches. It is vegan, with a pH of 5.1–5.3 and a cucumber, lemon and green-thyme scent. More in what urea cream does for rough, dry skin.
Hair. Our Scalp Serum is a weekly lactic-acid step used on a dry scalp for 3–5 minutes before you wash, so the scalp feels fresh and roots look fuller. It is vegan, fragrance-free, 100% natural origin and has eight ingredients. Use it once or twice a week, no more.
What "vegan" does not mean
- Not the same as organic or natural. A vegan formula can be fully synthetic. A certified organic one can contain beeswax: the COSMOS standard allows ingredients "produced by animals" as long as they are not part of the animal and do not involve its death.
- Not the same as fragrance-free. Many vegan products are scented, including most of ours. Check the scent line on each page.
- Not a promise about results or safety. In the FDA's words on plant ingredients, "An ingredient's source does not determine its safety." Patch test anything new.
How to check a label in 30 seconds
- Look for both words. "Vegan" and "cruelty-free" answer different questions.
- Scan the ingredient list for Cera Alba, keratin, carmine or CI 75470, collagen, guanine and tallow.
- Check each product, not just the brand. A brand can be mostly vegan with a few exceptions, as we are.
- Read the product FAQ. A clear brand will tell you where an ingredient comes from. Ours states that the keratin is from sheep wool.
Building a routine? Our skincare routine steps guide shows the order to use everything in.
If the certificate matters to you as much as the vegan label, see our certified organic skincare products.
Want the list rather than the labels? Our full-size vegan face, body, scalp and bath products are in vegan skincare products.
Frequently asked questions
Is vegan skincare the same as cruelty-free?
No. Vegan means the formula has no animal-derived ingredients. Cruelty-free means it was not tested on animals. A product can be one without the other.
Are vegan products good for skin?
Vegan tells you where ingredients come from, not how a formula performs. Judge a product by its ingredients, its texture and how your skin feels with it.
What skincare brand is vegan?
Check product by product, not brand by brand. At exokiss, 54 of 71 products are vegan and each page says whether it is.
Is keratin vegan?
Usually not. Keratin is a protein that comes from animal hair, horns and feathers. The hydrolyzed keratin in our hair mask, mist, shampoo, conditioner and scalp scrub comes from sheep wool.
Is beeswax vegan?
No. Beeswax, listed as Cera Alba, is made by bees. Our Peptide Foundation contains it. Our Ceramide Night Cream and lipsticks do not.
Can certified organic skincare be vegan?
It can, but the organic seal does not promise it. Check for the word vegan as well. Our seven COSMOS Organic formulas are all vegan.
Sources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Cruelty Free"/"Not Tested on Animals" (cosmetics labeling claims).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Organic" Cosmetics.
The Vegan Society. Vegan Trademark Standards.
The Vegan Society. Cruelty-Free vs Vegan: Why the Vegan Trademark is the gold standard in beauty, 2025.
COSMOS-standard AISBL. COSMOS-standard: Cosmetics Organic and Natural Standard, version 4.0, 2023.
Product details are taken from the exokiss product pages. This article is general information, not medical advice.
not sure yet?
try it first
2 mL samples of our best-sellers are $5 each, and one is free with orders of $65 or more. Free US shipping from $35.
keep reading
All articles-
skincare · 4 min read
How to use face oil: when, how much and in what orderHow to use face oil: how many drops, when it goes on, whether it comes before or after moisturizer, and which skin types it suits.
-
skincare · 4 min read
How to use face mist: five ways, and when to skip itHow to use face mist: after cleansing, under a face oil, over makeup or at midday. The right distance, how often, and what a mist cannot...
-
skincare · 4 min read
What does hyaluronic acid do for your skin?What does hyaluronic acid do? It holds water, so skin feels hydrated and looks plumper. How to use it, what to pair it with, and where...
