Established in 2019, HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA is a beauty brand that has made a significant impact in the cosmetics industry in a short time. Rooted in the powerful message of self-acceptance and individuality, the brand was created by pop icon Lady Gaga, known for her striking and unique sense of style. HAUS LABS provides a myriad of beauty products, ranging from vibrant lip glosses to dramatic eye shadows, all of which embody the brand’s ethos of celebrating uniqueness and diversity.
HAUS LABS has been marketed as a ‘clean’ brand, with an emphasis on being cruelty-free and vegan. These claims have been pivotal in shaping the brand’s image and influencing consumer’s purchase decisions. Given the rising awareness and demand for ethical and sustainable beauty products, these assertions certainly resonate with many consumers.
However, in the fast-paced and evolving world of beauty, terms like ‘clean’, ‘cruelty-free’ and ‘vegan’ are often used loosely. This has led to a growing skepticism among consumers, prompting us to delve into a detailed exploration of HAUS LABS’ claims.
The Meaning of a ‘Clean’ Beauty Brand
In the beauty industry, a ‘clean’ brand typically refers to one that avoids harmful or toxic ingredients, is ethically produced, and prioritizes sustainability. The notion of ‘clean beauty’ is built on transparency regarding the sourcing, manufacturing, and the overall environmental impact of the products. It’s a pledge to the consumer that what they’re purchasing is not only good for them but also for the planet.
However, the term ‘clean’ is not regulated or defined by any official beauty authority or organization. This leads to a wide interpretation, allowing brands to use it quite liberally. Therefore, while ‘clean’ sounds appealing and conscious, without proper evaluation and understanding, it might just be a marketing gimmick.
To truly comprehend whether a brand is ‘clean’, it is essential to scrutinize its cruelty-free and vegan claims, its ingredient list, and the transparency around its production processes. We’ll use these parameters to evaluate HAUS LABS.
HAUS LABS: Cruelty-Free Claims Under Scrutiny
HAUS LABS prominently advertises itself as a cruelty-free brand, implying that none of its products or ingredients are tested on animals. This claim is supported by the brand’s certification from Leaping Bunny, a globally recognized cruelty-free certification organization.
However, while the Leaping Bunny certification is reassuring, it is also crucial to note that the brand’s definition of ‘cruelty-free’ extends only to the final product and not necessarily to the individual ingredients. In other words, even though the final product hasn’t been tested on animals, some of the ingredients might have been.
Also, while HAUS LABS does not sell in mainland China, where animal testing is often required by law, it does not address if their suppliers test on animals. As such, while the brand’s cruelty-free claims hold some weight, they aren’t entirely foolproof.
The Reality of Vegan Cosmetics in the Industry
A vegan cosmetic implies that neither the product nor its ingredients involve any form of animal-derived substances. In reality, however, defining a product as ‘vegan’ can be complex. This is because determining the source of certain ingredients can be challenging – for instance, some ingredients used in cosmetics can be derived either from plants or animals.
HAUS LABS claims to be a vegan brand, meaning that its products are free from any animal-derived ingredients. But there’s a catch. The term ‘vegan’ isn’t regulated within the beauty industry, which means brands can stretch the boundaries of the term.
While HAUS LABS does not explicitly share the sources of its ingredients, the lack of a vegan certification from a recognized body raises questions about the credibility of its vegan claims.
The Ingredients: A Deeper Look into HAUS LABS
A careful review of the ingredient list helps determine the credibility of a brand’s clean claims. For instance, HAUS LABS lists ingredients such as Isododecane and Polyethylene – both synthetic compounds that can be potentially harmful – in its products like the RIP Lip Liner and the Liquid Eye-Lie-Ner.
While these ingredients are not inherently toxic, their synthetic nature and potential for irritation are in conflict with the brand’s ‘clean’ claim. In addition, the brand uses ingredients like Red 7 and Iron Oxides which, though not harmful, can’t be labeled as ‘clean’ due to their synthetic origin.
Thus, while HAUS LABS products may not contain toxic or harmful ingredients per se, they are not entirely ‘clean’ based on the standard definition of the term.
Comparing HAUS LABS to Other Clean Beauty Brands
Comparing HAUS LABS with other recognized clean beauty brands can help put its claims into perspective. For instance, brands like Ilia Beauty, RMS Beauty, and Herbivore Botanicals are known for their commitment to clean beauty. They not only avoid synthetic and potentially harmful ingredients but also emphasize sustainability and ethical sourcing.
On the other hand, HAUS LABS, while avoiding harmful ingredients, does include synthetic compounds in its products. In addition, while the brand claims to be cruelty-free and vegan, the lack of transparency around its ingredient sourcing and the absence of a recognized vegan certification casts a shadow on these claims.
Therefore, when compared to other clean beauty brands, HAUS LABS falls short in terms of ingredient transparency and the breadth of its cruelty-free and vegan claims.
The Final Verdict: Is HAUS LABS Truly Clean and Vegan?
After thoroughly investigating HAUS LABS’ claims, it’s evident that the brand’s definition of ‘clean’ differs from the standard. While the products are not harmful, the use of synthetic ingredients contradicts the common understanding of ‘clean’ beauty.
Moreover, while the brand is certified cruelty-free, it doesn’t fully address the issue of animal testing at the ingredient level. Similarly, the brand’s vegan claims are questionable due to the absence of a recognized vegan certification.
Therefore, while HAUS LABS may be a step in the right direction towards conscious beauty, it doesn’t completely fulfill the clean, cruelty-free, and vegan standards as commonly understood.
Consumer’s Role in Supporting Ethical Beauty Brands
Consumers play a pivotal role in shaping the beauty industry. By choosing to support ethical and truly clean brands, consumers can push the industry towards more transparency and accountability.
This requires consumers to question brands, scrutinize their claims, and demand transparency around ingredient sourcing and production processes. It’s about not just accepting the buzzwords, but also understanding what they truly mean.
As conscious consumers, we can ensure that brands like HAUS LABS evolve and hold themselves to the highest standards of clean, cruelty-free, and vegan beauty.
