30 Of The Best Vegan Beauty Products To Try

April 6, 2023

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Even though I’ve always been vegetarian, I switched to a strict plant-based diet 6-7 years ago. During that time, I’ve also become more conscious of the beauty products I use. What ingredients are used in the products, and how they’re tested? I very much care about looking and feeling my best. But I don’t want that to come at the cost of another’s suffering. I’m imperfect in this, but I try my best and strive to improve continuously.

I know that following a vegan lifestyle can at times be challenging and maybe isn’t for everyone. It requires checking to make sure that vegan makeup and beauty products are not using any animal-derived ingredients. As well as making sure they do not test on animals. Most products will list this on their labels if they fit these guidelines, making it very easy to know for sure. Just look for the cruelty-free Leaping Bunny logo and the certified vegan logo.

For anyone who is looking to either make a lifestyle switch or simply be more mindful of their purchases, buying vegan is easier than ever. More than that, you no longer have to settle for a slim selection of funky-smelling products at the health food store. Your choices aren’t limited to strict vegan beauty brands, either. Most of the large beauty brands now make a few products that fit into a vegan lifestyle. Here is a round-up of the best vegan beauty products that you can trust.

30 Of The Best Vegan Beauty Products

Hair Care

Shampoo And Conditioner

Pureology shampoos and conditioners - The Best Vegan Beauty Products — **Pureology**

I’ve always loved Pureology’s shampoos and conditioners. I know that they aren’t the most natural hair care line out there, but they check off a lot of boxes. They are free of sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oil, and a long list of other ingredients it’s probably best to avoid. In addition, it works amazingly at keeping color-treated hair protected, vibrant, and soft. This vegan brand also has a wide range of products for just about every hair care need.

Hair Mask

I use Amika’s Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask once a week as a deep conditioning treatment. It’s also ultra-rich, hydrating, and packed with vitamins and nutrients. Sea buckthorn and jojoba seed oils help restore and repair dry damaged hair. Your hair will be so soft, shiny, and manageable after one use.

Hair Oil

100% Pure Argan Oil, only without that icky argan oil smell. This oil is a multitasking moisturizer that’s also great for your skin and nails. But I love it for my hair the most. Although it’s a little on the pricey side, a little goes a long way, and a bottle will last a long time. In fact, I like to put a small amount on the ends of my hair throughout the week, between washes. It helps to keep my hair moisturized and prevent breakage.

Texture Spray

This dry texture spray is like a mild hair spray and dry shampoo in one. Only better. It also absorbs oil at your roots without leaving behind a white powdery residue. It builds volume and creates a sultry texture while adding UV protection. After I curl my hair, I finish with a blast of this to separate curls and add some lift.

Skin Care

Makeup Remover

Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm - The Best Vegan Beauty Products — **farmacy**

Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm from Farmacy is hands down my favorite cleansing balm and makeup remover. It melts away dirt, makeup, and sunscreen and then washes away with zero leftover film. It defiantly sits at the top of my list for best vegan eye makeup remover.

Face Mask

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask is a fragrance-free moisturizing face mask. Its key ingredients of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, will help reduce the appearance of fine lines by hydrating and plumping your skin. Niacinamide promotes an even-looking tone and texture. And it can do all of this while still being suitable for those with sensitive skin.

Deodorant

I’ve been using Native Deodorant for several years now. After years of trying different natural deodorants and being unhappy with them, I was really happy to find this one. It’s made without aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and talc. I’m happy to say I’ve found it works well for even the sweatiest of gym sessions.

Body Wash

Every time I take a shower, it’s like stepping into a spa with this shower gel that smells of sandalwood essential oil. This cleanser is free of sulfates and rich in vitamins. Its formula also includes luxe oils of marula, cacay, and meadowfoam to help nourish and soften skin. Nécessaire formulates to pH levels that support your skin’s barrier function for optimal skin health.

Sunscreen

Throughout all my beach vacations, I haven’t been sunburnt even once since I started using this Supergoop sunscreen. But that’s not the only reason I love it. It’s got a lightweight, non-greasy formula that quickly absorbs and doesn’t leave a white film. You won’t regret adding this sunscreen to your anti-aging arsenal.

Face Wash

YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE cleanser — **youth to the people**

This award-winning facial cleanser is packed with cold-pressed antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins. It’s great at removing makeup, unclogging pores, and brightening your skin. This antioxidant-rich formula is sulfate- and alcohol-free to cleanse skin without drying for optimal pH balance.

Body Oil

Undaria Algae Body Oil by Osea is a seaweed-infused botanical body oil suitable for all skin types. This antioxidant mineral-rich hydration softens the skin while diminishing the appearance of sagging skin and stretch marks. This non-greasy body oil quickly absorbs into your skin, leaving the uplifting scent of lime and sunny grapefruit with a sweet undertone of cypress.

Eye Cream

The Silk Peony Melting Eye Cream visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while antioxidants help protect against signs of future damage. I always apply this before doing my makeup. Undereye concealer goes on smoother and lasts longer.

Peel

10 minutes once a week with this peeling solution from The Ordinary is all it takes to see improvement in skin texture and clearer pores. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) offer deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and improve skin radiance. The Ordinary has been one of my favorite skincare lines since I discovered it five years ago. With products and formulas that actually deliver on their promise at a very low cost. Like this peel, for less than $8.00, it’s a product that I can always keep in my beauty arsenal.

Face Cream

The Dewey Skin Cream from Tatcha is a super-rich moisturizing cream that will leave your skin glowing and hydrated. It’s best suited for dryer skin and winter months. In the summertime, I switch to The Water Cream.

Body Scrub

The Brown Sugar Body Polish from Fresh is a body care product that smells like a dessert. This non-drying exfoliator uses sugar crystals, which are a natural humectant. It gently removes dead skin cells while preventing moisture loss. With Evening Primrose, Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, and Jojoba Oils, your skin will be left smooth, hydrated, and nourished.

Body Lotion

I use this Ultra Repair Cream every morning after I shower. It’s a super thick, creamy, fast-absorbing, rich moisturizer that provides instant and long-term hydration for dry, itchy, distressed skin and eczema.

Nails

Polish

Olive & June vegan nail polishes are formulated without Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl tosylamide, and Xylene. That’s a lot of words I can’t pronounce, but I know they aren’t good for you.

Cuticle Oil

Argan and pomegranate seed oils provide essential fatty acids for deep hydration that will keep your cuticles looking healthy. Rosemary and rose geranium essential oils help stimulate nail growth. And hemp and tamanu oil contain powerful healing, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. I like to keep this nail and cuticle oil in my car, so I can always remember to use it.

Makeup tools

Hair Brush

This hairbrush from Dae is made entirely of vegan materials and can be used on every hair type and texture. The vegan boar-like bristles gently massage your scalp, stimulating natural hair growth while smoothing hair. You can also use it on wet hair as a detangler.

Makeup Brushes

Sigma Beauty’s makeup brushes feature synthetic bristles that were designed and tested to mimic natural animal hair. Because they are nonporous, they don’t absorb the product, making them more hygienic than natural bristle brushes.

Makeup

Blush

Nars blush in Orgasm long ago reached cult status. This soft buildable shade provides a natural-looking flush that’s lovely on just about any skin tone.

Bronzer

My everyday bronzer in Laguna radiant finish. This bronzing powder creates a beautiful all-over warmth that gives an all-day natural-looking glow.

Eyeshadow Palette

I love Charlotte Tilbury’s eyeshadow palettes and colors for creating gorgeous ultra-feminine looks. They’re easy to blend with little fallout. And if you start with a primer, you’ll have all-day wear with no creasing.

Lipstick

This hydrating and nourishing lip balm is from Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez, one of the new vegan makeup brands on the market. The creamy formula comes in eight buildable shades, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to get your hands on one since they sell out so often.

Tinted Moisturizer

Another personal favorite from Nars. This is my everyday tinted moisturizer. It’s lightweight, hydrates, and smooths skin while brightening with vitamin C and protecting with SPF 30.

Primer

This oil-free primer extends the wear of your foundation and so much more. It creates a smooth, even canvas for makeup, and conceals redness, minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. It also provides some sun protection with broad-spectrum SPF 15.

Concealer

This Radiant Creamy Concealer is a multipurpose concealer that brightens, corrects, and perfects for up to 16 hours. It has a creamy medium-to-buildable coverage and a natural, radiant finish.

Powder

Lock-It Setting Powder is a weightless, translucent, loose powder to set and perfect makeup for a flawless finish that won’t budge or crease. All KVD products are vegan and of very high quality.

Eyeliner

This waterproof eyeliner pencil glides on ultra-creamy and delivers intense, long-lasting color that won‘t budge. It comes in dozens of shades so that you can create any eye look.

Mascara

This creamy mascara thickens and lengthens lashes creating a natural look. It’s also buildable to easily achieve longer, more dramatic lashes.

Vegan Beauty Product Ingredients

You may be surprised by how many animal-based ingredients are in your beauty products. However, when it comes to skincare and makeup, vegan ingredients can be just as effective as non-vegan ones. Here is a list of some of the most common animal-derived ingredients to look out for and their vegan alternatives.

Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body and the most abundant protein found in the animal kingdom. It’s found in hair, skin, bones, tendons, and nails. Collagen is typically derived from the hides and connective tissue of cows, pigs, or fish and added to anti-aging skincare products.

Use instead: Plant-based collagen or microalgae.

Lanolin

Lanolin oil is a waxy substance derived from sheep. In beauty products, lanolin gives lipsticks a heavy gloss and high shine.

Use instead: Oils high in vitamin E, like jojoba oil or camellia oil.

Beeswax

Beeswax is used to increase the thickness of solid products. It gives them structure and keeps them solid. Beeswax can be found in many creams, balms, lipsticks, and foundations.

Use instead: Soy, candelilla, or carnauba wax.

Squalene

Squalene is used to prevent moisture loss and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The squalene found in most skincare products is sourced from a shark’s liver.

Use instead: Squalane is sourced from plants and acts the same way, providing the same benefits.

Gelatin

Gelatin is a fatty protein taken from cows’ and pigs’ skin, tissue, and bones. It’s added to creams, body lotions, shampoos, masks, and sunscreens as a thickening agent.

Use instead: Agar or carrageenan are derived from seaweed and have the same thickening properties.

Guanine

Guanine is a crystalline compound taken from fish scales. It’s added to makeup to create a pearlescent, shimmering luster to eye shadows, nail polish, and highlighters.

Use instead: Ethically sourced mica, a naturally occurring mineral dust.

New Vegan Makeup Brands

Seeing so many new vegan and cruelty-free makeup and skincare brands on the market is exciting. The more people spend their money on cruelty-free beauty products, the more brands will notice and change their ingredients. Here are some of the new vegan makeup and cruelty-free brands that you should take note of and try. They all have amazing products!

These are the best vegan beauty products I love! I hope you found this useful, and if so, you might also enjoy My RoundUp Of The Best Vegan Makeup Products To Try.

Xx Monti