Dietary Vegan?

[JivaMoksa]

Do you think it's okay to call myself vegan if I still use non-vegan products that aren't food, like mascara? Or is it unacceptable by your terms? I'm trying to eliminate my use of leather, wool, animal hair (in make-up brushes, for instance) and silk, but it's those less obvious products that I'm talking about.

When I'm older I'm planning on cutting out more of these non-vegan products, but while I'm still in my teen years I think it would be too dramatic a change. This is a huge change for me, and my budget/lack of specialty stores in my area would not accomodate me changing everything at this time in my life.

I don't to be overwhelmed by reading labels and ingredient lists, and I don't want to be a hypocrite. Is there anything wrong with taking things slowly?

[Jinga]

There is nothing wrong with taking things slowly. It can be overwhelming if you try to change too much at once. Whether or not you have made the commitment to be vegan is really only something you can answer.

If you are eating no animal products other than traces found in processed foods, but are still buying plenty of non-food non-vegan products, I'd consider you to be a "strict vegetarian".

If you are eating no animal products other than traces found in processed foods, and are actively seeking vegan replacements of all realistic means of non-food non-vegan products, I'd consider you to be "vegan". It's not realistic to replace everything you own with vegan products overnight and finding new products takes time and research. It's a process and I believe a person can be considered vegan even near the beginning of this process, if they have truly made the commitment.

[Earthly Delight]

Personally I call myself vegan but still have non-vegan products in the home. I am, however, making a huge effort not to buy any NEW non-vegan products, and think that's where the line is. (I hope) no one expects me to throw away my clothes and find a few hundered dollars somewhere to buy new ones, but part of being vegan is reading the labels and going for animal-friendly products. Nowaday that's easy as breathing--so many labels of all quality are against animal testing: Body shop, lush, Urban Decay, Clarins, Bare Escentuals (three of the best brand names out there ANYWAY), Clinique, Stilla, Revlon... oh goodness the list is long. Its as simple as giving the product a quick skim: companies will very proudly advertise if they don't test. Here's a list from peta of animal-friendly companies though, so you can see if some of your brand names are in the clear.

http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf

If you just eat vegan diet you can call yourself "strict vegetarian" or "i eat vegan food" is pretty accurate. If you really are making the effort to live a completely animal-friendly lifestyle, then I'd say you're vegan, even if in transition.

[Lucious]

If you choose not to eat animal products because it isn't ethical, then you should not support other products such as leather, wool, ivory, etc.

I agree that sometimes there are no other options, especially if you have to take a medication, or if you must wash your hands in a public bathroom, but for the most part, do the best you can.

No one can be 100% vegan, we will always unintentionally use an animal product, or something tested on animals whether we like it or not. But by supporting companies that are cruelty-free we tell are telling companies that this is the way of the future.

[JivaMoksa]

...but part of being vegan is reading the labels and going for animal-friendly products...

Well, I am making an effort to eliminate my non-vegan product consumption. I definitely try not to buy things that contain animal products, but if it's something practical that I need, that's where I draw the line.

I thought I read somewhere that a certain bathroom product (I think it was deoderant, I'm not certain) wasn't vegan. That's an instance where I would look for a vegan option, but if I couldn't find any in the store, then I would buy a non-vegan one anyway. But I recently gave away a leather purse that I don't use anymore, and bought a purse that had a 100% non-animal tag on it, because a purse made from the skin of an animal isn't at all necessary. However, like I mentioned in my first post, I know that mascara isn't vegan, and that's basically one of the only exceptions that I make because I haven't stepped foot out of the house without mascara in years. But with some research I might be able to find a vegan mascara, and I will certainly try.

My point is, I would choose vegan products over non-vegan ones any day, but if there was no other option available to me, I really haven't a choice.

[*AHIMSA*]

We always have a choice unless its a matter of life or death (medications etc.).

[Bells]

However, like I mentioned in my first post, I know that mascara isn't vegan, and that's basically one of the only exceptions that I make because I haven't stepped foot out of the house without mascara in years. But with some research I might be able to find a vegan mascara, and I will certainly try.

Vegan mascara.

One (http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1330).
Two (http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=24).
Three (http://www.apothena.com/pd_suncoat.cfm).

I know there are others, but that's what a quick google search came up with.

[Punk_in_Drublic]

but if it's something practical that I need, that's where I draw the line.


I personally wouldn't call mascara a necessity.

[vigilant20]

Since you qualified it with Dietary, I think it very specifically defines what you are doing.

[JivaMoksa]

I personally wouldn't call mascara a necessity.

Heavens no, I wouldn't call it a necessity either. I'm just using a non-vegan one until I find a vegan one. I think that I found one online last night, but I wasn't sure if paraffin was vegan or not, so I'm looking for one that I'm sure about.

I checked my bathroom products like shampoo and conditioner last night and found out that they actually contain glycerin, so I'm going shopping tonight and I'm hoping to find some vegan products. If anyone knows of any good vegan brands, I would love for you to share :)

[IamJen]

Jiva..glycerin can be plant-derived, and often is. If you know which brand it is, someone here may know if it's vegan friendly. Whole Foods makes a vegan shampoo and conditioner that are pretty good (and cheap). Trader Joe has several vegan varieties as well. I used the purple bottled one and like it, but my s.o. has been working on my to avoid items with parabens in them, and he's finally won me over. :)

Saying you're a dietary vegan wouldn't be a problem at all. In a restaurant or eating situation, I would just say "vegan". Making changes little by little is the way most of us who identify as vegan arrived here.


We always have a choice unless its a matter of life or death (medications etc.).
Well, even then you'd have a choice, right? I mean, you could choose to die rather than use an animal product.

Sarcasm aside, having a "choice" doesn't always mean that it's practical to choose the most animal-friendly option. As someone who's lived a vegan lifestyle for a few years now, I still occasionally choose to consume something non-vegan. Like:

-The hummus I bought and only discovered after opening (and thus was unable to return it) to contain honey.

-Allergy medicine that kept me able to breathe while I was at IS's folks last Christmas. (they had a cat)

-Washing my hands in a public bathroom with likely non-vegan soap

I'm sure there are other situations as well, but I don't consider myself to be non-vegan because of these non-vegan choices. Even the Vegan Society says, "Today, the Society remains as determined as ever to promote vegan lifestyles - that is, ways of living that seek to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose."

[*AHIMSA*]

Well, even then you'd have a choice, right? I mean, you could choose to die rather than use an animal product.
Tell that to the Jehovah's Witnesses who have the choice taken from them, when they have court orders forcing them to accept blood transfusions or organs against their wishes for themselves or their children!

[JivaMoksa]

Jiva..glycerin can be plant-derived, and often is. If you know which brand it is, someone here may know if it's vegan friendly.

Redken. It cost me $40 for the shampoo and conditioner though, so if it turns out to be non-vegan I might use it up before getting a new one. If nobody here knows about that brand, I could always email the company, right?


Tell that to the Jehovah's Witnesses who have the choice taken from them, when they have court orders forcing them to accept blood transfusions or organs against their wishes for themselves or their children!

But those transfusions and organs are human-to-human, aren't they? How come they don't accept them?

There was a case a while ago where there were sextuplets I think, and they needed blood transfusions. The parents were Jehovah's Witness and they wouldn't allow it. Don't you think there's a certain limit that you would go to... why would you deny your own children medical treatments that could save their lives?

[*AHIMSA*]

why would you deny your own children medical treatments that could save their lives?
Why, because of God, naturally!


Seriously, it's part of their religion.