Unlike the chemical-laden beauty products that many mainstream makeup and skincare companies use, Vegan skin care uses natural plant ingredients to help you achieve healthy skin. Plant-based products are gentle on your skin and good for the environment too!
The best way to tell if a product is vegan is to check its ingredients list. Look for a certified vegan logo and watch out for ingredients like beeswax, lanolin, collagen, carmine, and gelatin.
No Animal Ingredients
Many traditional beauty products use ingredients derived from animal parts, like honey, beeswax, lanolin (wool grease), keratin, collagen, carmine, stearic acid and squalene. These ingredients are often found in moisturizers, cleansers, scrubs and soaps. Vegan-friendly skincare eliminates these ingredients in favor of plant-derived alternatives that work just as well for your skin.
Brands such as Skyn ICELAND use Icelandic waters, glacial minerals and botanicals to create a collection of natural skincare essentials that soothe and heal. They also offer acne control, anti-aging and sensitive skin options that address your specific skincare needs.
If you’re looking for a product that is both vegan and cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Program, which lists companies that are 100 percent certified to be both. These companies are not only vegan, but they also make sure their product testing is ethical and their employees are treated fairly.
No Animal Testing
It’s a good idea to always check the ingredients of skincare products, regardless of whether they’re vegan or not. This can help you avoid any hidden animal ingredients and will also let you know if the product was tested on animals.
Thankfully, the beauty industry is increasingly ditching animal testing, with many big names and smaller brands introducing cruelty-free products. Look for the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny logo, which means that the company’s products have been vetted and certified to be free of any animal-derived ingredients or byproducts.
One of the most significant advances in vegan skin care is plant-based collagen and elastin. Traditionally, these substances were made from the fibrous proteins in animal bones, skin, and ligaments. But now, companies such as Pacifica have developed a cruelty-free option that uses yeast and bacteria instead. This makes it easier than ever to make the switch to vegan skin care! The best part is that it’s not only better for you but also for animals.
No Animal Cruelty
Typically made from natural and organic ingredients, vegan skincare products are gentler on your skin. They also contain fewer ingredients that can cause itching, irritation or other problems. And because they exclude animal products—like honey, beeswax, lanolin (wool grease), squalene (shark liver oil), carmine (crushed-up beetles) and gelatin (cow or pig bones, tendons or ligaments)—vegan products reduce the strain on the planet’s limited resources.
Many vegan and cruelty-free products are also gluten-free, paraben-free and fragrance-free. Look for the Leaping Bunny logo and other trustworthy symbols to ensure your product is free of these potentially irritating ingredients. Shop cruelty-free brands like Wet n Wild and e.l.f for budget-friendly options, as well as luxury brands like skyn ICELAND that harnesses glacial waters and botanicals to heal your skin with a firming night treatment or cleanser. And a plant-based brand like Sparitual that offers clean formulations for specific skin-care concerns such as aging, acne control and sensitive skin.
Eco-Friendly
Veganism extends beyond what’s on your plate and can also encompass your skincare routine. Vegan products exclude ingredients that come from animals or animal by-products (like honey, beeswax, collagen and rennet) and instead use naturally nourishing plants to keep your skin happy.
Plants are the best source of natural vitamins and antioxidants, making them a great addition to your daily skin care routine. They’re much less likely to cause irritation than chemicals and can help to soothe sensitive skin. Plus, they’re eco-friendly which makes them a win for the planet.
When choosing a vegan skincare product, it’s important to check for the words “vegan” and “cruelty-free”. A product can be labeled vegan but still contain some animal ingredients or by-products so look for the Leaping Bunny logo, an internationally recognised symbol that identifies products that have not been tested on animals.