November 1st marks the beginning of World Vegan Month where vegans around the globe celebrate their cruelty-free lifestyles.

Oxygenetix is proud to celebrate alongside PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and their Beauty Without Bunnies Program. Founded in 2009, Oxygenetix has always chosen plant-based, natural ingredients to create groundbreaking formulas.

So, what does it mean to be vegan exactly?

Vegans abstain from eating meat and food made from animals, as well as from consuming animal products. This includes purchasing clothing, skincare, and makeup that are made without animal byproducts. 

Choosing to be vegan is a lifestyle decision more and more make every year. According to Vegan News Press, "those following plant-based diets increased from just 290,000 people 15 years ago to more than 9.7 million people today." That is a 300% increase in the US alone.

The Argument for Vegan Cosmetics

With the steady uprise of veganism, cosmetic companies have followed suit, finding plant-based alternatives for animal ingredients of the past. This has paved the way for more sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly options for consumers.

Do you know what ingredients are in your cosmetics? You may be surprised how often animals are incorporated in the making and formulation of products you use each day.

See lanolin on your lotion's ingredient list? Lanolin is derived from sheep wool wax and is commonly used in moisturizers and lotions to keep your skin soft. Your Keratin shampoo may contain the nails, horns, and hooves of animals. And what makes your lipstick so red? If your lipstick contains carmine or carminic acid, you can thank the cochineal insects for that color.

Conscious consumers are more aware of ingredients in the products they buy than ever before. Not only does the thought of animals in cosmetics sound gross (hence the code names to hide the unfortunate truth), it is not considered a sustainable practice by vegan activists.

With increasing deforestation in the Amazon for cattle, and unsustainable agricultural practices destroying landscapes, there is much evidence to support the need for alternatives.

Just because a cosmetic brand is vegan, doesn't necessarily mean animals weren't used in the making or testing of the products.

Whether you identify as vegan or not, there is an ethical argument that can be made in favor of cruelty-free products.

To be considered cruelty-free, by PETA, a company must, "sign a statement of assurance verifying that they do not conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future.”

Find a cosmetic company that's vegan and cruelty-free? That's gold right there.

Oxygenetix Vegan & Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

Oxygenetix is certified vegan and cruelty-free by PETA. For 11 years and counting, Oxygenetix has chosen to use all-natural ingredients derived from plants, not animals.

Oxygenetix is proud to be part of the 'Beauty Without Bunnies' movement and we do all of our testings on consenting humans in medical or clinical setting. 

Being cruelty-free is so important to us because we don't see a need for the abuse of animals in our industry, or any other industry for that matter.

Let decision makers know you want to see an end to animal testing in the US by visiting: https://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/. 

To show your support for a vegan lifestyle this month use the hashtags #WorldVeganMonth and #WorldVeganDay.