The three-signal method
Before a product appears in one of our collections, we look for three separate signals that support its vegan status:
- The ingredient list. We read the current label for obvious animal-derived ingredients (gelatin, carmine, whey, honey, lanolin) and for source-dependent ones (glycerin, stearic acid, vitamin D3, natural flavors) that can be plant-derived or animal-derived depending on the supplier.
- The brand's own statement. A product-specific vegan claim on the official product page counts. Broad marketing language about a product line does not.
- Recognized certification. Marks like the Vegan Society trademark are checked for scope: certification can apply to one product, one line, or a whole brand, and the difference matters.
For clearly labeled, low-risk products, one strong signal can be enough. For gray areas — supplements, capsules, personal care, anything with source-dependent ingredients — we want the signals to agree before we recommend. You can apply the same method yourself with How to Tell If a Product Is Truly Vegan.
Vegan and cruelty-free are separate checks
Vegan is an ingredient question. Cruelty-free is an animal-testing-policy question. A shampoo can be certified cruelty-free and still contain honey or keratin; a vegan formula can come from a brand whose testing policy you would not support. So we check the two separately and never let one claim imply the other.
Personal care products get both checks every time. For cruelty-free support we look for recognized programs such as Leaping Bunny or a clear, current brand policy. If cruelty-free support is unclear, the product note says so rather than implying certainty.
What "Last reviewed" means
Product cards in our collections carry a "Last reviewed" date. That is the day we last confirmed the card's details against its sources: the official product page, the certification listing, and the label information available to us.
It is a freshness signal, not a guarantee. Formulas, scents, sizes, editions, and certifications change without notice. We re-review a card when a formula or package changes, when a certification claim changes, when a source page disappears or changes materially, and when a reader flags a problem. Between reviews, the current label in your hands always wins.
When evidence is weak, products stay out
If we cannot verify a product well enough — a retailer listing that does not identify the exact variant, a brand-level claim that does not cover the product in question, a certification with no clear scope — the product does not get a public card. A weak recommendation is worse than none, because it creates false confidence.
What our notes never include
- Amazon prices, star ratings, review counts, stock status, or retailer-hosted images. Retail data changes constantly and is not ours to republish.
- Health or treatment claims. Supplement guides are educational; they do not replace a clinician.
- Testing claims we have not earned. Our vetting is source-based — labels, brand statements, and certifications — and we say so rather than implying a lab we do not have.
Corrections
If we got something wrong — an ingredient call, a certification that changed, a product that no longer matches its card — email support@iwantvegan.com. We correct the page and add a note describing what changed. The full policy lives in our editorial policy.
Where the money comes from
Some product links are affiliate links, disclosed near the products they support. Commission potential never decides what gets recommended — the method on this page does. Details are in our affiliate disclosure.
For a longer walkthrough of this method with worked examples and the full source hierarchy, read the extended guide: How We Vet Vegan Products.