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Veganism means swearing off eating animals and their by-products. It means eating a plant-based diet to curb animal exploitation. But, to go vegan is more than a diet as it is a lifestyle. 

Its lifestyle also extends to choosing your clothing, basic commodities, and skincare. If you’re transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, your diet is arguably what comes first. If you’re ready to take the next steps, consider going for vegan skincare brands. 

What is Vegan skincare?

Vegan skincare does not use ingredients derived from animals. It means ingredients like beeswax, honey, glycerin, squalane, and other animal byproducts are absent in any of their product formulations. Instead, these brands use plant-based ingredients or their vegan counterpart to create skincare products be it moisturizers, serums, and cleansers.  

Because you use natural skincare ingredients, you are bound to get more nutrients than from regular skincare brands. It also makes you less likely to develop an allergic reaction and improves your skin’s quality.  However, the downside is, vegan skincare products rarely contain preservatives, which shortens a product’s shelf life. 

Notable ingredients might use vegetable glycerin as a substitute for animal glycerin. It is sourced from palm and soybean oils. Other vegan skincare ingredients include aloe vera, willow bark, bakuchiol, shea butter, and coconut oil to name a few. Vegan ingredients are also loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, which makes them all the more nourishing to the skin. 

Is Vegan the same thing as cruelty-free?

When leafing through skincare products, you might come across the term “cruelty-free” aside from “vegan”. Now, cruelty-free products mean it is not tested on animals. And as vegans, animal testing is something we strongly don’t condone. 

But, the brand can still use animal-based ingredients even if they were ethically sourced. That said, a skincare product can be cruelty-free but not vegan. In this regard, all vegan products are cruelty-free but not all cruelty-free products are vegan. But even those who aren’t practicing a vegan lifestyle can still benefit from cruelty-free and vegan skincare products. 

7 Vegan skincare brands

We’ve selected vegan skincare brands that do not just strive for the bare minimum but truly nourish your skin in the process. Some brands may even be familiar to you. 

e.l.f. cosmetics

E.l.f. is an established skincare and cosmetics brand offering a variety of affordable but quality products. You’ll seriously get bang for your buck as lots of their products are even hailed as dupes for more expensive brands. Their products are the way to go if you want vegan choices for both skincare and makeup. In addition to being vegan and cruelty-free, their products are also free from parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. 

Biossance 

Beauty brands may not put their money where their mouth is, but Biossance takes its philosophy to heart by producing sustainable skincare products from sourcing the ingredients to its packaging. Known for their production of sugar-derived squalane oil, they’ve saved millions of sharks in the process. It is also one of their bestsellers to lock in your face’s moisture without the greasy feeling, great as a facial massage oil. 

Herbivore Botanicals

Herbivore Botanicals’ skincare products feel as luxurious as it looks. The secret is using only the finest quality natural ingredients, cold-pressed oils, and certified organic ingredients. And one of their bestsellers is the bakuchiol serum. It is a retinol alternative meant to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The perfect anti-aging ingredient! 

Pacifica Beauty

Pacifica harnesses the power of technology to bring skincare and makeup products that are good for you and the planet. If you have dry or troubled skin, their vegan ceramide cleanser and moisturizer duo is one you should not miss. It is ideal for maintaining your skin’s moisture barrier to lock in hydration. The National Eczema Association also gave it its stamp of approval. Not to mention, they have biodegradable wipes too! 

Youth to the People

With a name like Youth to the People, you’d expect a skincare brand marketed toward young adults. But YTTP aims to create products that bring youth to all – from mature to young and dry or oily skin types. Founders Joe and Greg also use pro-grade vegan, superfood ingredients like kale, green tea, and spinach to ensure their products are full of antioxidants to maximize their effects. 

Summer Fridays

Leading a busy life is no excuse to neglect your skincare. That is what Summer Fridays are all about. They create multitasking products suited for the modern lifestyle. Their products are as elegant as they are versatile. The Jet Lag Mask is one of their bestsellers and not only is it a face cream mask but it doubles as a moisturizer, eye cream, and hand cream. Perfect for those who like to keep their skincare routine minimal. 

Odacite 

Valerie Grandury’s cancer journey led her to establish Odacite, to find effective and pure ingredients. That is exactly what the brand is offering; certified organic ingredients without the toxins. Their skincare products also made way to one of the scrumptious combinations such as lavender and shea butter balm, cucumber, and apple creme, to name a few. Plus, the website offers a free video consultation if you need advice on skincare products, concerns, and more. 

This is not a complete list of all vegan skincare brands but we kept in mind the brand’s philosophies, ingredients, and whether they had a traceable supply chain. Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle entails not just caring about what you eat but also the products you use and what you put on your body. 

If you want to make the switch to veganism, we suggest taking it slow and starting a vegetarian diet.  Our blog has posts, recipes, and more about everything vegan. Don’t miss out on updates!

This post is a guest post.