Emu Oil is a cosmetic ingredient currently getting some air time thanks to a few big-name celebrity supporters.
Of my friends that had heard of it, most assumed Emu Oil was either "marketing spin" or just a brand name.
Bad news - it's not.
Emu Oil is extracted from the thick fat on the Emu's back. To remove the oil and the surrounding fat, the Emu has to be killed.
Although edible, Emu meat is considered pretty unappetising and tough - so Emus are really only being 'harvested' for cosmetic oil purposes.
Wasteful? Yes. Unnecessary and unethical? Most definitely.
What does Emu Oil do?
Emu Oil is a fatty oil, rich in Oleic acid (Omega 9). It's touted as a 'wonder' solution for dry, flakey skin and is reported to be good for reducing joint pain when applied topically.
Two weeks ago Cate Blanchett cited Emu Oil as the "secret" to her glowing complexion - cue mass Emu cull.
With so many equally good and cruelty-free alternatives out there (Olive Oil contains far higher levels of Oleic acid!) - it seems mind boggling that more people aren't speaking out against this ingredient.
A not dissimilar ingredient - animal-derived Squalene (extracted from shark liver) - hit the headlines last year when Selfridges took a stand and made its beauty halls a Squalene-free zone.
Hopefully more awareness of Emu Oil, and what extraction of it involves, will lead to a similar boycotting by the beauty industry. Watch this space.
For the time being.... Not. In. Our. Name.
