Your skin deserves the best.
Well formulated skincare products will keep your largest organ healthy, hydrated and happy. However, many skincare brands neglect animal-free and cruelty-free values, and not all vegan products on the market deliver results. I've spent years testing and refining this list of effective, cruelty-free options. Trust that everything here is high-quality and well-formulated.
Cleansers
-
Naturium Ginseng Cleansing Balm
-
heimish All Clean Cleansing Balm
-
Dr Loretta Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
Beautiful Serums
-
Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
Brighten + Protect
-
Dr Loretta Intense Replenishing Serum
Hydrate + Protect
-
Summer Fridays CC Serum
Brighten + Protect
Moisturizers
-
Goodal Vegan Rice Milk Moisturizing Cream
-
PURITO Deep Sea Pure Water Lightweight Cream
-
Naturium Plant Ceramide Rich Moisture Cream
Shopping for skincare elsewhere?
Here are animal-derived ingredients to avoid:
Squalene (derived from sharks, but squalane is vegan)
Carmine – aka cochineal, natural red 4, E120, and C.I. 75470
Oleic acid – aka oleyl stearate, oleyl oleate, or tallow
Keratin
Lanolin
Shellac
Beeswax
Collagen
Elastin
Stearic acid (can be vegan)
Snail Mucin
Casein
Other shopping tips
-
Frustrating, I know. Marketers behind top makeup and skincare brands are smart and they do a good at confusing well-intentioned consumers. Remember, a vegan labeled labeled product can still be tested on animals, and a cruelty-free labeled product can be riddled with animal products. It’s incredibly frustrating and confusing (and the inspiration for creating The Vegan Shoppe!)
-
Marketers behind top makeup and skincare brands are smart and they do a good at confusing well-intentioned consumers. Remember, a vegan labeled product can still be tested on animals, and a cruelty-free labeled product can be riddled with animal products. It’s incredibly frustrating and confusing (and the inspiration for creating The Vegan Shoppe!)
-
If you don’t see any cruelty-free or vegan claims, you can safely the assume the product is tested on and/or includes animals. If it were cruelty-free or vegan, it would be advertised.