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Skin Kind: 15 Vegan Skincare Brands

If you’re going vegan, make sure that your beauty cabinet matches your fridge for animal product-free content.

Veganuary is not just about adding more plant-based foods to your menu. It’s also about re-examining what’s inside your beauty cabinet too (and your wardrobe, but that’s a whole other post).

Given a bad rap for their efficacy in the past, it has taken a while for vegan skincare’s results to catch up with its ethics. But with the vegan cosmetics industry predicted to be worth $24 billion by 2028, the new-gen of vegan skincare brands are now marrying the latest biotech science with 100 per cent vegan formulas for impressive skin-results.

What makes a skincare product vegan?


Vegan products must, by definition, contain no direct animal products nor any derivatives (lanolin, beeswax etc). They shouldn’t be confused with the cruelty-free ‘leaping bunny’ mark, which does ensure the product hasn’t been tested on animals but doesn’t mean it doesn’t include animal-derived ingredients. Instead, look for certification from PETA or The Vegan Society to ensure your skincare buy is 100 per cent vegan-approved.

To confuse things further for consumers, brands may offer a number of vegan products but not be 100 per cent vegan throughout their range, so it’s worth checking individual products to make sure.

Nor do vegan credentials necessarily mean it’s been formulated using sustainably-sourced, natural or organic ingredients either. If these factors are important to you, then ensure you investigate the ingredients list further.

To help you navigate the burgeoning vegan skincare market, we have shortlisted fifteen of our favourite vegan skincare brands and cherrypicked products from each for you to try.
Green People

Green People

Tinted SPF15 Moisturiser, £40

Isle of Paradise

Isle of Paradise

Self-tanning Face Mist, £17

Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe

Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum, £38

Pai

Pai

The Impossible Glow Bronzing Drops, £19

Herbivore

Herbivore

Phoenix Rosehip and Sea Buckthorn Deep Renewal Facial Oil, £80

Coraline Skincare

Coraline Skincare

You Must Be Sisters Facial Oil, £35

Caudalie

Caudalie

Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum, £50

Aesop

Aesop

Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Masque, £43

Votary

Votary

Cleansing Oil With Rose Geranium And Apricot, £55

Biossance

Biossance

Squalane And Peptide Eye Gel, £43

Antipodes

Antipodes

Credo Probiotic Ferment Revitalise Serum, £32

The Body Shop

The Body Shop

Mango Body Butter, £7

Upcircle

Upcircle

Lip Balm With Hemp Seed Oil and Shea Butter, £12

REN

REN

Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream, £42

Gaia

Gaia

Awakening Body Oil, £33

Lydia Mansi

Lifestyle Editor

Lydia is an all-round lifestyle guru, tireless champion of women in business and our resident expert on beauty.

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