The Village Council

Your answers straight from the village experts

+ - What makes cosmetics cruelty free?

Cosmetics that are cruelty free have not been tested on animals - this includes no animal testing of ingredients, the formulations, or the finished products. Additionally the beauty brands must pledge not to do so in the future. All of the NOVICA Beauty brands, products and their ingredients are always cruelty free. Also, all beauty products on NOVICA are vegan, so made without any animal ingredients.

+ - Why should I care about non-toxic beauty?

The average woman uses over 160 chemicals in her daily personal care and beauty routine (per the Environmental Working Group) and up to 70% of what we put on our skin can get absorbed by our body. By using clean beauty, skincare and personal care products, women can follow a healthier lifestyle by avoiding chemicals that may cause health problems such as parabens, formaldehyde and mercury. Beauty products are not closely regulated by the FDA, so its up to the individual to research the ingredients in each product and find brands and companies that are dedicated to non-toxic and clean beauty. Other governments, like in Europe and Canada, have banned many more ingredients as well as provided warnings.

+ - What are the chemicals I should avoid in beauty products?

We recommend starting by avoiding 12 harmful chemicals known as the Dirty Dozen: sodium lauryl sulfate; triclosan; BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole); coal tar dyes, DEA or Diethanolamine; dibutyl phthalates or DBP; formaldehyde; polyethylene glycols or PEG compounds; petrolatum aka petroleum jelly; siloxanes; parabens; and parfum or synthetic fragrances. Additionally, it is important to use products with ingredients that are low on the Environment Working Groups Cosmetic Database rating and free of animal ingredients or byproducts.

+ - Does the U.S. government regulate beauty products?

While the FDA does oversee the chemicals in beauty products, to date they have only banned a handful of ingredients. Other governments, like in Europe and Canada, have banned many more ingredients as well as provided warnings. For this reason, its up to the individual to research the ingredients in each product and find trusted brands and companies that are dedicated to clean beauty. NOVICA Beauty brands have been vetted to ensure they contain non-toxic ingredients.

+ - Why should I care about vegan beauty?

Mainstream beauty products include animal byproducts listed with names that people may not recognize, and there are equally or more effective pure vegan alternatives. Todays beauty consumer is more aware of wanting to use clean beauty products that do not contain hidden animal byproducts made by exploiting animals. The top five animal byproducts in mainstream beauty include crushed beetles called carmine (red coloring); animal urine called urea; crushed hooves or bones called Keratin; animal skin or tendons called gelatin or animal collagen; and sheep oil glands called lanolin. All beauty products on NOVICA are cruelty free, and not tested on animals.

+ - What is the difference between vegan and cruelty free beauty?

Vegan beauty products are defined by having no animal ingredients nor animal byproducts and being made in a way that does not exploit animals nor have any cruelty towards animals. Cruelty free products mean that the ingredients as well as the finished product have not been tested on animals.

+ - Are all NOVICA Beauty products gluten free?

Most of the NOVICA Beauty products are gluten free, however we ask that gluten sensitive customers double check all ingredients before using.

+ - How is Love Goodly related to NOVICA?

Love Goodly joined the NOVICA family in early 2020. The two companies have many commonalities that made this union a perfect match. Both companies were created with powerful socially conscious missions that promote a healthier lifestyle while helping to preserve the planet. Both companies are strongly tied to the concept of love. Both companies were cofounded by women entrepreneurs. And both companies believe in the importance of giving back. Love Goodly's mission is to help people switch to clean and cruelty free beauty, skincare and personal care products, so they can discover a healthier lifestyle for themselves and the planet. NOVICA's mission is to spread happiness from connecting consumers to artisans with a core value of love. By supporting this connection, NOVICA impacts and empowers the artisans, their families and communities. Through the purchasing choices we make, we can change the world. That's why providing clean beauty products is a perfect addition to round out the suite of offerings from the Impact Marketplace. We'd love to help people reduce toxins in their personal care with clean beauty. And through vegan beauty products we can reduce animal exploitation and help improve our environment. Every person that switches to non-toxic beauty products is an important step in the right direction. We hope that you can help bring others on board to adopt a safer, healthier lifestyle that helps animals and the planet too.

+ - Are all NOVICA Beauty products clean / natural / non-toxic?

NOVICA Beauty products have been vetted to ensure they are safe for use. The banned ingredients include the top 12 harmful chemicals known as the Dirty Dozen: sodium lauryl sulfate; triclosan; BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole); coal tar dyes, DEA or Diethanolamine; dibutyl phthalates or DBP; formaldehyde; polyethylene glycols or PEG compounds; petrolatum aka petroleum jelly; siloxanes; parabens; and parfum or synthetic fragrances. Additionally, we research every ingredient to ensure they are low on the Environment Working Groups Cosmetic Database and free of animal ingredients or byproducts. The brands we carry contain safe and effective plant-based ingredients. Any scented products will not have synthetic perfume or parfum and instead be scented with natural essential oils.