You Don’t Eat Animals — So Why Shower With Them?

You Don’t Eat Animals — So Why Shower With Them?

The Hidden Truth About Soaps, Shampoos, and Animal-Derived Ingredients

For many of us living a plant-based lifestyle, avoiding animal products in our food is second nature. But what about our bathrooms? It might surprise you to learn that many popular soaps, shampoos, and personal care products are far from vegan — and not just because of animal testing.

What’s Hiding in Your Shampoo?
Big-name brands like Head & Shoulders, Pantene, L'Oréal, Wella, and Dove often use ingredients derived from animals. These aren’t always easy to spot on a label, and most consumers don’t realize what's really in the bottle. Some of the most common animal-derived ingredients include:

  • Keratin – Typically derived from hooves, feathers, and horns of animals, used to strengthen hair.

  • Tallow – Rendered animal fat, often found in soap bars.

  • Glycerin – Can be plant-based, but in many conventional products, it’s sourced from animal fats.

  • Lanolin – An oil extracted from sheep’s wool, found in conditioners and moisturizers.

  • Collagen & Elastin – Usually extracted from animal tissue to add elasticity to skin and hair products.

These ingredients are included for texture, moisturizing effects, and shelf stability — but they come at a cost to animals and often the environment, too.

What Makes a Product Truly Vegan?
A vegan product must contain no animal-derived ingredients and must not be tested on animals. Unfortunately, many companies use misleading terms like “natural” or “cruelty-free” without actually meeting the vegan standard.

Enter Vegan America’s Hair & Body Section
We believe your personal care routine should reflect your values. That’s why we launched a dedicated Hair & Body category on the Vegan America Marketplace — packed with 100% vegan shampoos, soaps, conditioners, and body washes. These products are free from animal ingredients and animal testing, so you can shower with peace of mind.

Our curated collection includes brands committed to transparency, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. Whether you're new to the vegan lifestyle or just learning about what’s in your shampoo, we make it easy to shop with confidence.

Discover the Top 10 Vegan Face Soaps Online in India | The Bubbles Bath Co.

Ready to upgrade your shower routine?
Explore our growing range of vegan personal care products today:
🌱 vegan-america.com

Have a favorite vegan brand we should feature? Let us know at info@vegan-america.com.

#VeganShower #CrueltyFreeBeauty #VeganSkincare #PlantBasedLiving #VeganAmerica

Back to blog