What is Vegan Skincare?
Veganism is not just about the vegan diet, as it’s a lifestyle that impacts all aspects of your life. Vegan skincare has been gaining a lot of traction lately. But exactly what is vegan skincare?
The global skincare market is projected to be worth $180 billion by 2024. According to a National Consumer Survey, an average American spends $322 on skincare in a year. So it goes without saying that skincare is an important part of our lives.
However, the skincare industry has also been blamed for animal cruelty and environmental damage for many years. The awareness of consumers and shifting trends in beauty gave rise to vegan skincare products.
What is Vegan Skincare?
Vegan skincare comprises products and methods that don’t utilize animal-derived products and contain only natural, plant-based ingredients.
You probably don’t know, but many ingredients common in skincare products are actually derived from animal sources. For example, beeswax, squalane, keratin, and collagen, come from both animal and plant sources.
Vegan skincare is basically based on the same veganism principles as the diet. In other words, animal products should be avoided to save animals from cruelty. Also, such ingredients can pose threats to health. Lastly, the healthiest ingredients come from plants.
The vegan skincare range basically includes everything you need for a skincare routine for both men and women. From cleansers to face masks, today, you can find any category of skincare product that is 100 percent vegan.
What Should You Look for on Vegan Skincare Labels?
Not all vegan skincare companies label their products as vegan or use vegan certifications from vegan organizations. That doesn’t mean anything that isn’t exclusively labeled vegan contains animal-based ingredients. However, it helps to have those labels and certifications when buying such skincare products.
PETA certifies skincare and beauty products as ‘vegan’ or ‘cruelty-free.’ The Vegan Society is also an international vegan body that puts a vegan stamp on beauty and skincare products to assure their genuineness.
Many brands choose to label their products as plant-based or organic. You can confirm by looking at the ingredients and running a quick search on the brand.
What Are the Benefits of Vegan Skincare?
MarketGlass predicts that the vegan beauty industry will be worth $21.4 billion by the year 2027. Clearly, vegan skin care is on the rise, with ordinary people, celebrities, and influencers adopting it readily. It’s not merely a fad, as there are proven benefits of going for vegan products for your skin and body.
Here are some of the benefits of vegan skincare:
No Animal Cruelty
Animals haven’t just been used for the ingredients that go into cosmetic and skincare products, but they have also been heavily used for testing purposes. For a long time, there were no regulations on this until vegan organizations and vegans took a stand and boycotted such products and companies.
The big advantage of going for vegan skincare is that you do not contribute to the ill-treatment of animals at the hands of the cosmetic industry. While you may not be able to put a stop to it completely, you can at least ensure that your money doesn’t support such companies.
Good for Skin
This might be a little sad, but vegan skincare is more popular for being gentle on the skin than it is for saving animals. Since vegan products come from plant-based ingredients, they are far gentler on the skin and don’t cause any long-term ramifications.
While different products suit different skin types, once you find the right vegan skincare products, you’ll find them to work more efficiently with no side effects.
Plant-based skin products are particularly great for sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts and damage.
No Chemicals
Although not all chemicals come from animals, so they can end up in vegan skin care products, that’s usually not the case. Companies that emphasize animal-free beauty also reject the use of harsh chemicals.
All-natural and organic may just sound like buzzwords, but when authentic, these chemical-free, natural products can make a world of difference. Toxic chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and oxybenzone can cause ramifications in the long run.
Environment-Friendly
It doesn’t hurt that vegan products are generally environment-friendly as well. Since quality vegan skincare products come from organic plant-based ingredients, they have a much lower carbon footprint in their complete lifecycle.
Many vegan skincare brands also make the packaging recyclable to reduce the carbon footprint of their products.
What Are the Best Vegan Skincare Brands?
We know that vegan skincare is great but to be honest, there’s a lot of confusion even with the labels. If you’re not very skincare-savvy and understand common ingredients, it may help to simply go for brands that are certified vegan.
Here are the best vegan skincare brands you can shop from without confusion:
Biosance
Biosance is a 100 percent vegan company. It has pioneered a sustainable fermentation technique to obtain plant-based squalane, which serves as the holy grail in many of its products.
So if you’re looking to get the benefits of squalane, try out their Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil or the famous Squalane + Omega Repair Cream.
BullDog for Men
All the guys looking for organic and vegan skin care products look no further than BullDog. Made with natural ingredients, these no non-sense products work on men’s tough skin and don’t cost a fortune either.
Try out their Grooming Kit with moisturizer, face scrub, and face wash!
Youth to the People
Youth to the People is a California-based, family-owned skincare brand that is really just about reaping the benefits of superfoods. The veggies and fruits you eat as food are used for products for your skin. Sound good?
The company makes a complete range of skincare products from basics like their Kale + Green Tea Superfood Cleanser to the fancy spa-like Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask.
True Botanicals
If you’re looking for powerful, organic serums, True Botanicals is a viable option. The brand produces many different serums and formulas using natural ingredients that address different skincare needs. It’s more for those looking for a bit more detailed skincare routine.
For instance, the True Botanicals Chebula Active Immunity Serum increases the immunity of skin from age-related damage.
Wrap Up
Vegan skin care has taken the industry by storm and for all the right reasons. If plant-based ingredients are so good for your internal health, you can only imagine how good they must be for your skin.
Your skincare routine doesn’t even have to be very elaborate, as just a few right products with natural plant-based ingredients can do wonders!
