Finding beauty products that are cruelty free, vegan, and palm oil free can be tricky. Websites such as PETA and Animals Australia list companies that test on animals, but I still want to know whether the product is vegan, grey water safe, made from recycled materials, palm oil free, and affordable.
Below is a list of brands available in Australia that my friends and I used to switch out old products once we’d finished using them. It was difficult to find ones that meet all the desired criteria. However the good news is that companies are working towards this gap in the market, so it will only get easier.
Unfortunately, most companies do not report how ethically their products are sourced. Although it is good to hear that Lush and The Body Shop are tracing the source of their ingredients and collaborating with farmers to ensure fair trade where possible.
| Brand | Products | Cruelty free | Vegan | Palm oil free | Where to buy? |
| A’kin | Skin care Hair care | All products | All products | All products | Chemist Warehouse Priceline |
| Australis | Make up | All products | Specific products view the range here | Uses certified sustainable palm oil | Chemist Warehouse Priceline Kmart Big W |
| E.L.F | Make up Skin care Beauty tools | All products | All products | No available information | Kmart Certain chemists Store locator here |
| Lush | Skin care Hair care Fragrances Bath & shower | All products | Most products check labels | Uses certified sustainable palm oil | Lush stores Find a store here |
| Napoleon Perdis | Make up Skin care | All products | Selected products unclear which ones | No available information | Napoleon stores, find a store here Myer David Jones |
| Organic Care (by Natures Organics) | Hair care Hand/body wash | All products | All Organic Care products | Uses certified sustainable palm oil | Coles Woolworths |
| Sukin | Skin care Hair care | All products | All products | Uses uncertified palm oil | Chemist Warehouse Priceline |
| Thank You | Skin care Baby products | All products | Selected range view the list here | Uses certified sustainable palm oil | Chemist Warehouse Priceline Coles Woolworths Baby bunting Big W |
| The Body Shop | Make up Skin care Hair care Fragrance | All products | Selected products, check labels | Uses certified sustainable palm oil | The Body Shop stores |
Of course, the next step towards environmental sustainability would be using waste/plastic free products. Making small steps to encourage companies to act in more ethical and environmentally friendly way is a powerful place to start.
Effect the Change.
Small actions, big changes
Alex Mealey
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