Vegan
The term vegan refers to a product that does not contain animal-derived ingredients or ingredients sourced from animals: in cosmetics, we are talking about ingredients such as lanolin, collagen, elastin, keratin, beeswax, fish oils, milk, honey, and snail slime. Vegan products are often chosen by people who generally follow a vegan lifestyle, for example for ethical or religious reasons. It is important to note that, according to European regulations, testing cosmetic products on animals is prohibited in the European Union, regardless of whether they are vegan or not – we recommend that you also read the "Cruelty Free" claim in this regard.
Some key considerations
We also want to note that many non-vegan brands already use chemically synthesized alternatives instead of animal-derived ingredients, which are considered safer because a natural derivative can contain impurities such as heavy metals absorbed from the soil, unlike a synthetic molecule. At the same time, however, many brands use names like animal ingredient plant-based alternative (such as "the plant-based alternative to collagen") to commercially capitalize on the beneficial properties of animal-derived substances, sometimes without delivering the same benefits.