Vegan beauty 2023: everything you need to know
For Veganuary we have found the best in beauty that maintains your principles without sacrificing packaging or performance
Its image has also had an overhaul; gone are the hippy-dippy tree-hugger connotations of wearing hemp and burning joss sticks – the new vegans (think Natalie Portman) and Insta-worthy ranges have not only cleaned up, but glammed up, their act.
So if you’re already eating vegan, thinking about going plant-based for National Vegan Day on 1 November, or in the midst of Veganuary 2023, we have all the brilliant beauty advice and buys you need to know about.
We spoke to Dominika Piasecka, spokeswoman for The Vegan Society, about how to invest ethically in your beauty regime.
Culture Whisper: 'What does vegan beauty mean?'
Dominika Piasecka: 'Veganism avoids all use of animals as far as possible and practicable. A vegan beauty product is one that does not contain animal ingredients and has not been tested on animals.'
CW: 'What credentials can you look for on packaging?'
DP: 'The term ‘vegan’ isn't legally protected when it comes to labelling cosmetics and body-care products, which is why we created the Vegan Trademark. It guarantees that all products carrying the symbol comply with these requirements. Our dedicated staff check ingredient lists of each of the products and make sure that they do not contain any animal ingredients, and that the company has not tested the product or its ingredients on animals. Furthermore, we run one-year and two-year licences, which means each product registered with our Vegan Trademark will be re-checked at least every couple of years to ensure it still meets our standards.'
CW: 'Are there any sneaky ingredients consumers might not realise are non-vegan friendly?'
DP: 'Yes, plenty of those, unfortunately – here is a list of some common ones: Beeswax/Cera Alba/E901, collagen, gelatin, lanolin, guanine, tallow, cetyl alcohol, carmine, cochineal, crimson lake, carmine lake, natural red 4/C.I. 75470/E120.'
THE VEGAN BEAUTY EDIT
Find ethical beauty buys on your favourite websites. A Little Find has lovely skin and body-care from Susanne Kaufmann and make-up from Roen and la Bouche Rouge. Net-a-Porter currently stocks over 100 vegan products – check out the listing here that includes Aesop, Dr Dennis Gross, Kypris, Nubyen and Tata Harper.
While Selfridges has an impressive section in its Project Earth platform that features 496 results, from vegan wellness nootropic supplements like Indi, and budget beauty from The Ordinary to our favourite hair brands like Olaplex, Coco & Eve and Aveda.
The vegan acne skincare range
Carbon Theory is a 100% vegan range dedicated to acne or problematic skin has showcased its brilliant spot-clearing results on Instagram and amassed a 34.5k following since launching in Boots in February 2018. It uses tea tree oil and charcoal and is derm-approved to clear congestion without stripping the skin or making it feel tight or dry. Check out the range of reasonably priced soaps, lotions, potions and masks from £6.
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The luxury vegan skincare range
Squalane-based skincare formulas have been popping up recently due to the efficacy of the formulas, but it’s not all created equally. Some might be sourced from a shark’s liver, others olives or sugar cane – so it pays to check with the individual brand.
From the vegan and cruelty-free status to the ethically and sustainably sourced squalane in every product, Biossance makes a brilliant skincare choice indeed and will make a real difference to skin tone and clarity.
Biossance Clean Your Routine, £45 – buy here
The sustainable scent range
Hidden animal ingredients like natural musk, civet, castoreum and ambergris are all animal by-products and could be lurking right under your nose in your regular fragrance.
However, Floral Street has not only made a pledge to be super sustainable – but are also vegan- and cruelty-free, and accredited by PETA.
Michelle Feeney, Floral Street founder, says, 'Our fragrances don’t have real musk (which is from scent glands of animals), we don’t use beeswax in our candles and we absolutely do not test on animals.'
Plus, all they’re fragrances are all so alluring, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Check out the Electric Rhubarb – a gourmande, sparkling scent that supports a greener future through the RHS.
Electric Rhubarb Eau de Parfum, £60 – click here
The minimalist vegan skincare range
Pestle & Mortar are based on a less-is-more philosophy and is the perfect synergy of high-performance active ingredients blended with natural ingredients. One of the heroes in the range is the Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £39, as it sinks in easily and targets fine lines and dullness – revealing your inner glow.
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Vegan haircare ranges
Biotin, keratin, wax, and lanolin are just some of the animal-derived ingredients found in your hair care. We love Bleach London, Aesop, IGK Hair, and Noughty Haircare, a range of 97% natural products that are free from parabens, silicones, petrochemicals and sulphates, and are all vegan and cruelty-free and will leave your frizzy locks smooth and silky.
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The luxury lip range Axiology Beauty is a refined luxury vegan make-up, lip-care range with ingredients such as mango butter and coconut oil to soften and tint at the same time. Plus, they are highly pigmented – so are long-lasting too.
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