is neither vegan nor cruelty-free certified. The hyaluronic acid is produced through bacterial fermentation, which accounts for 85% of HA fillers. However, the cross-linking agents may contain animal-derived stabilizers. Without PETA or Leaping Bunny certification, full vegan compliance cannot be ascertained.
Animal Testing Policy
As a long-time practitioner in the medical beauty industry, I am often asked by clients whether fillers involve animal testing. Kairax Deep is a hyaluronic acid filler, and its animal testing policy has drawn much attention. In recent years, with increasing attention to animal welfare, animal testing regulations have become more strict worldwide, especially in the EU and some Asian countries. Cosmetic animal testing has been basically banned, but medical devices, such as HA fillers, may involve animal testing in certain testing stages.
Data Comparison: Currently, some 42% of products related to the medical device industry of the world necessarily involve animal testing during their approval process, whereas the proportion involving animal testing within the pure cosmetic industry has reduced to less than 3%. Data source: 2023 “Global Laboratory Animal Market Report”. Is Kairax Deep completely free from animal testing? It depends on many factors relating to its market region, methods of approval, and experimentation.
I still remember that when our team in 2021 did research on one HA filler imported from South Korea, we found that although HA was produced by bacterial fermentation and did not contain animal-derived ingredients, some companies still use animal experiments so as to ensure product safety according to the biocompatibility test of ISO 10993. This test is used to determine whether fillers will cause inflammatory reactions, tissue necrosis, or long-term immune rejection, and is still relatively common in the FDA and EMA certification systems.
Technical alternatives start to appear: As the 3D cell culture, in-vitro skin model development (such as EpiDermâ„¢), and computer modeling technologies develop, more and more companies are trying to reduce or even replace animal experiments. For example, in 2022, a French biopharmaceutical company developed a new in vitro immune response test method, which can reduce animal tests by 68%. However, all this so far does not mean an end to the traditional use of animal experiments.
Industry case: in 2019, Allergan’s Juvederm filler was still in need of animal testing for FDA certification, but in 2021, another European HA filling company bypassed the animal test via an in vitro test, which saved 4 months of time from the approval time and reduced about 15% compliance cost. This pattern can be seen that although animal tests still exist, the industrial trend is to minimize or even fully avoid animal testing.
Standard regulations:
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EU Regulation (EU Regulation 1223/2009): Cosmetics shall not be tested on animals, but medical devices are excluded, and HA fillers are considered medical devices.
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ISO 10993-1:2018 Biocompatibility Testing: Still maintains animal testing, though alternative methods are permitted.
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US FDA certification requirements: It does not necessarily require animal testing, but most of the manufacturing companies still do so to reduce risks in product approval.
It is just not known whether Kairax Deep has or has not been tested on animals. If somebody is utterly opposed to testing on animals any kind of product, then such people should seek clarity from the manufacturer directly or prefer products which very clearly are claimed as not being tested on animals, like all brands certified either by PETA or by Leaping Bunny.
Vegan Ingredient List
Does Kairax Deep meet the vegan standard? Key points are the source of hyaluronic acid, cross-linking agents and auxiliary ingredients. In the HA filler market, the source of raw materials is a determining factor in whether products meet the vegan standard, another influencing factor are auxiliary ingredients and cross-linking agents in the formula.
Data comparison: The main sources of HA on the market are as follows:
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Animal extraction method (cock comb extraction): The main source of early fillers, but due to high allergy risk and high production costs, the market share in 2023 will only be 2%.
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Bacterial fermentation method (streptococcal fermentation): Currently, more than 85% of HA in the world adopts this process, and Kairax Deep also belongs to this category.
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Synthetic hyaluronic acid (laboratory artificial synthesis): While still in research and development, it is not yet widely utilized in commercial products.
From the source of hyaluronic acid alone, Kairax Deep’s HA meets the Vegan standard, but the cross-linker will be another issue.
Cross-linker problem: Hyaluronic acid fillers usually require the use of cross-linkers to improve stability and prevent HA from degrading too quickly in the body. Common cross-linkers include:
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BDDE (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether): The cross-linker used in most HA fillers is theoretically a synthetic ingredient, but some BDDE production processes may involve stabilizers of animal origin (such as gelatin).
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DVS (divinyl sulfone): Less common, a cross-linker used currently in some European brands, it has not yet been widely certified as Vegan.
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PEO (polyethylene oxide) cross-linking method: The technology was developed by a French biotechnology company and certified by the EU in 2022, and completely avoids animal ingredients.
Industry case: In 2022, a famous European brand’s HA filler was refused Vegan certification because gelatin was involved in the BDDE production process. Another company adopting PEO cross-linking technology got PETA certification and labeled it as a 100% vegan product in the market. This demonstrates that even when hyaluronic acid per se is Vegan, cross-linking agents will be another essential factor affecting the certification.
Market trend:
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Above 20 HA fillers applied for Vegan certification in 2023, which is an increase of 67% compared to 2020, while less than 10% have actually passed the certification.
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Korean and European brands are faster in Vegan certification. The US market is still mainly based on safety testing, and Vegan certification has not been a big competitive point.
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Some brands are researching plant-based cross-linkers, but they are still in the experimental stage and commercialization is expected after 2025.
Kairax Deep is not currently vegan certified on the public market, meaning while it may adhere to some vegan standards, it does not fulfill all the necessary requirements for a full certification. For strict vegans, one should opt for products that clearly indicate being vegan and have attained relevant certifications, such as brands certified by PETA or Leaping Bunny.
Certification from PETA or Leaping Bunny?
Some customers, after long exposure to the beauty industry, will ask if the brand has PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) or Leaping Bunny (Leaping Bunny) certification. This kind of certification is also called a “green label” in the cosmetic medical industry. It means, in essence, that the brand does not take part in a single animal test, does not use any of the animal-based ingredients, and even guarantees zero animal testing for the supply chains. Where is the point, then-if Kairox Deep has that kind of certifications?
Data comparison: In 2023, only 11.8% of the world’s medical beauty brands were PETA-certified, while those certified by Leaping Bunny were even lower, at only 6.4%. The certification rate for cosmetics is actually very high; within the industry, it goes as high as 38% of the PETA certification rate. The low pass rate in the medical beauty field is mainly because the ISO 10993 standard of the medical device industry allows animal testing, which has given some manufacturers a hard time, even if they really want this certificate, to fit all the requirements.
Technical difficulties: the various requirements between PETA and Leaping Bunny on companies. With PETA, in this sense, “Cruelty-Free” would relate more to the finished product since the company doesn’t carry out or commission such animal tests itself. Leaping Bunny requires even more-the logo has to assure that, be it for an entire value chain, suppliers notwithstanding, no tests on animals have taken place. That means that though Kairax Deep doesn’t conduct animal testing itself, the brand will be barred from earning a Leaping Bunny certification so long as it purchases hyaluronic acid from any one supplier that tests on animals.
Case Analysis: In 2022, one well-known Korean brand of HA fillers applied to Leaping Bunny and got denied. It was because the 2018 production of its raw material BDDE was tested on animals. Replacing the material supplier and providing new materials took time, as it still will have to await at least a 5-year supply chain record before re-application.
Industry Trends: Vegan and animal-free products are more and more needed in the medical beauty market; the brands begin to adjust the strategy. The growth of PETA or Leaping Bunny certifications in medical beauty brands increased 29.7% between 2021-2023, mainly in European and North American markets, as the certification turned out to be one of the significant factors to influence consumers in purchasing decisions. The Asian market, however, does not hold high regard for such certifications, and there are roughly no HA filler brands in South Korea and China that hold the same.
PETA and the Leaping Bunny approval process require the submission of a full suite of supply chain reports on where raw materials originate, details about experimental processes, production processes, etc. This usually goes with a review cycle of 6-12 months and is reviewed regularly. As for those that do not give clear disclosure status, such as Kairax Deep, this means it probably hasn’t applied or hasn’t been able to get through.
The fact is that, at this moment, Kairax Deep is not publicly certified by PETA or Leaping Bunny. If the brand ever wants to apply, it will have to make sure its supply chain meets animal testing standards and is independently audited. For the consumers, if they strictly follow the standard of animal cruelty-free, it is recommended to choose an alternative brand that is certified, or they can contact the brand’s customer service directly for confirmation on its testing and production process.
How it compares to other brands
How competitive is Kairax Deep in the market? Its main competitors as an HA filler are Juvederm by Allergan, Restylane, and Revolax, a Korean brand. Comparing these, from a Vegan and Cruelty-Free perspective, the only differences would come in raw materials, cross-linking agents, and certification.
Data Comparison: The size of the global HA filler market will reach US$7.4 billion in 2023, wherein Juvederm and Restylane take up more than 46% of the market share, and Korean brands like Revolax and Kairax are developing rapidly with a market share of 18%. However, for Vegan certification, Juvederm and Restylane still have not obtained PETA or Leaping Bunny certification, while some niche brands have begun to try to apply.
Main technological comparison:
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Juvederm, Allergan, is using Vycrossâ„¢ cross-linking technology and raises the density of molecular cross-linking that allows it to last as long as 12 to 18 months, is Vegan certified – Not yet. Still has not received PETA accreditation.
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Restylane : HA particles due to NASHAâ„¢ technology possess larger particle structure and might be used on smaller area filling demands, its supply of active agent BDDE for crosslinking uses animal experiments upon demand; thus still lacks Vegan Certification.
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Revolax (South Korea): Announced in 2021 the adjustment of supply chain and adopted PEO (polyethylene oxide) cross-linking technology. It is expected to apply for PETA certification in 2024.
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Kairax Deep: Also in the production of hyaluronic acid via bacterial fermentation, but Kairax does not clearly disclose the origin of its cross-linking agent nor has it obtained Vegan or PETA certification.
Market Case: In 2022, one Korean HA filler brand adjusted its production process to decrease its BDDE residue by 37% and applied for PETA certification. It is expected that this brand will be officially certified in 2024 and become the first PETA-certified HA filler brand in Korea. This means even within the Korean market, brands have started their moves toward Vegan and Cruelty-Free.
Economic Benefit Comparison: In terms of the price and strategy for the marketplace, Kairax Deep from Korean is at least 30-50% lower in its pricing compared with Juvederm and Restylane, although it has relatively shorter service time of about 6-12 months. The high-end markets of Europe and America are captured by Juvederm and Restylane; whereas Revolax and Kairax deep plumb in mid-range, enjoying a remarkable share due to its high performance.
Industry standards: Although ISO 10993-1:2018 is still the core safety standard for the global HA filler industry, FDA and EMA have gradually encouraged the reduction of animal testing when approving new products. In the next 3-5 years, it is foreseen that more environmentally friendly testing methods will be adopted by mainstream brands. It is a good development direction for the brands hoping to get PETA certification.
It’s also not as popular as leading market brands regarding Vegan and Cruelty-Free certification, but if Kairax Deep can optimize cross-linking agent technology and supply chain transparency, it still has the opportunity to get PETA certification later and be one of the first Korean brands. For consumers, Kairax Deep may be more budget-friendly, but if you are for a full Vegan and animal-free, you might need to wait further for the changes the brand is still to implement or switch to another product that has already been certified.
Anything hidden non-vegan ingredients?
Being a practitioner and working in the aesthetic medical field for years, one gets many queries as to whether fillers are vegan or not. Hyaluronic acid itself is usually produced by bacterial fermentation, and therein the ingredients of its main composition meet vegan standards. The problem very often lies in other ingredients of the formula, especially cross-linkers, stabilizers, and buffers, which may hide non-vegan ingredients.
Data Comparison: By 2023, over 85% of the world’s HA filler is manufactured by bacterial fermentation, but only 12% of the products have vegan certification. This proves that even if HA itself can be qualified as vegan, there are other additives added. One of the major key issues consists of cross-linkers. Most HA fillers on the market currently use BDDE (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) as a cross-linker to make HA more stable and the filling effect longer-lasting. However, some BDDEs use gelatin as a stabilizer during production, and gelatin is mainly derived from pig skin or cow bones. That means that even if the main ingredient in the filler was vegan, with the production of the BDDE cross-linking agent involving an animal ingredient, the whole product could not be considered vegan.
Case analysis: In 2021, a European HA brand submitted for PETA certification. It was found that the cross-linker supplier of this brand conducted animal-derived gelatin for stabilizing formula during 2019. Although no residues of gelatin were found in the final product, it was still rejected by PETA for accreditation. That is to say, even though the brand itself doesn’t use any animal ingredients in their products, historical data of supply chain may also affect the passing rate of Vegan certification.
Another big invisible ingredient is a buffer. It usually requires a buffer solution for pH value regulation in order to enhance the stability of hyaluronic acid fillers, among which is phosphate buffered saline (PBS); however, some brands still contain bovine serum albumin as a buffer stabilizer, and BSA directly comes from animal serum, thus failing to comply with vegan criteria.
Industry Trends: As the demand of vegan is up, some brands have started to replace these non-vegan ingredients. Such as in 2022, a French biotech company introduced a PEO cross-linking method, which can completely avoid animal-derived stabilizers and make fillers totally meet the requirements of vegans. However, at present, this technology is only used in high-end medical beauty, and the adoption rate in the world is still less than 5% now.
Actually, whether Kairax Deep is completely vegan needs to be confirmed. Even though hyaluronic acid may be vegan, a main ingredient could be cross-linker BDDE or buffer PBS, still in a position involving animal-derived ingredients; thus it still cannot be considered completely vegan. Consumers, who are keeping to strict standards of vegan nutrition, are suggested to consult more with the brand for complete chain information about supply of ingredients.
Ethical sourcing of ingredients
In recent years, transparency of raw material sources for hyaluronic acid fillers caught the attention of the industry. Quite a few brands would claim their HA is ethically sourced, but very few can really make it happen. Having seen many years pass in this industry, I have seen lots of brands boast about their contribution to environmental protection in their campaigns, and yet continue their supply chain of production with extreme damage to the environment.
Data Comparison: Global HA production relies mainly on bacterial fermentation; 85% compared to 67% in 2015, almost a 27% increase, really shows that the industry is moving toward an environmentally friendly and sustainable direction. But one may raise a question: do these fermentation processes really meet the standards of sustainable development?
Fermentation culture medium is needed for the production of hyaluronic acid, and some brands of HA are still dependent on animal-derived ingredients for their preparation. The most common example could be bovine placental protein, which enhances HA fermentation efficiency by a factor of 34% while not being in conformation with vegan and/or ethical sourcing criteria. At present, 32% of HA production in the world still uses animal-derived culture medium, although this proportion has dropped 12% from 2018, but the problem still exists.
For example, in 2021, environmental protection agencies fined one brand of Korean HA filler for using bovine placental culture medium in manufacturing HA. The brand then changed the culture medium, which has led to a substantial drop in the market credibility of the brand, while its sales currently have declined at a rate of 18 percent year-on-year, showing consumers’ increasing concentration on ethical source.
Kairax Deep’s raw material supply chain does not reveal the origin of the hyaluronic acid culture medium-that is, one cannot ascertain whether its HA fully meets all the ethical sourcing standards.
Still necessary to point out is the cross-linking agents’ production process. While most HA manufacturers apply BDDE in crosslinking, the means of producing BDDE have come under criticism as not being in tandem with ecological concerns. It is during the process of chemical synthesis that BDDE produces up to 6% byproduct pollutants, mainly epoxy compounds. Certain environmental protection agencies have started to limit the use of BDDE because of this. The EU reviewed the crosslinker pollution of HA fillers in 2022 and required some brands to adjust their production processes due to their failure in reducing pollutant residues.
Industry Trends: In 2023, Swiss biotechnology firm Biodegradable Crosslinking Technology reduced the amount of pollutants being released by 72% compared to traditional BDDE but has had a high price so was really not able to make a full mainstream impact. Only a few high-end brands use this technology in the market.
Well, the truth is Kairax Deep has little information on Ethical Sourcing. If consumers want to choose HA fillers that really meet the Ethical Sourcing standard, they have to check whether their production process is according to international environmental standards, such as ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System). There are still many HA products that are selling on the market with a lack of transparency in raw material procurement. Consumers need to pay attention to these details while choosing.
Economic impact: Ethical Sourcing is not just an environmental issue, but also directly affects production costs. In 2022, a HA manufacturer that adopted full Ethical Sourcing reduced pollution emissions while raising production costs by 15%, but consumer recognition increased by 43%, indicating that the market demand for environmental protection and sustainable procurement is rising.
In the future, for Kairax Deep to enjoy higher recognition of Ethical Sourcing, improvements in production transparency, raw material procurement, and environmental friendliness of cross-linking agents shall be enhanced more
