Vegan Skin Care Products | Ultimate Go To Guide

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Are Vegan Skin Care Products Better For You?

There are so many reasons why vegan skin care products are better for you. They are kinder to your skin, kinder to animals, and the earth. Plant derived ingredients tend to contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

What Makes Some Products Not Vegan?

Vegan skin care products should not contain animal products or by-products, and it must not be tested on animals. There are a multitude of sources for quality vegan ingredients, like flower, vegetables, fruits, stems, roots and leaves.

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Non Vegan Skin Care Products to Avoid & Their Plant Source Alternative

Beeswax:

Beeswax is produced by bees to make the honeycomb. They produce this to protect their young and store their honey until they need food, in the winter or during a drought. In larger beekeeping operations, the bees are exploited for pollination and honey. They are subjected to pesticides that weaken their immune systems and make them susceptible to illness and death.

Beeswax is commonly used in body balms, lip balms and some mascaras to keep certain ingredients from separating. Vegan alternatives to Beeswax are plant and soya waxes, such as Candelilla Wax (from the leaves of the candelilla shrub), which can be found in our lip balms.

Shellac:

Shellac is a resin that is obtained from female lac bugs when they secrete which they are killed for. It's shocking and so sad that companies that use shellac, are able to justify killing thousands of these vulnerable insects AND for such a small amount of product. Commonly used in all shellac nail products. A vegan alternative to Shellac would be a protein called Zein, which is found in Maize.

Glycerin:

Glycerin can be obtained from both plant and animal sources so be sure to read the label and be sure that it’s vegan derived. Animal derived glycerin is a protein found in ground up horns, hooves, feathers and the hair of animals. We use vegan glycerin in our products.

Lanolin:

Lanolin is a wax taken from the glands of sheep and other animals with wool. It is most commonly used to prevent the loss of moisture from our skin and so is found in a lot of common products, such as moisturizing creams and lotions. Some good vegan alternatives to lanolin would be coconut oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil.

Carmine:

Carmine is an animal ingredient that is commonly used as a red pigment. It is taken from the shells of the female Cochineal insect, which are killed during the process.

Casein:

This is derived from cow's milk. It it found in mainstream moisturizing and conditioning products for hair and face.

Squalane:

Squalane can be either extracted from shark liver oil or from plant sources, so again, be sure when reading the label. We use olive squalane, which is in our opinion the best version available. It can also be derived from wheat germ oil. Vegan squalane is becoming more and more popular so it’s likely you’ll find it more readily available.

Guanine:

Guanine is a crystalline material obtained from fish scales. This is commonly used in nail polish, eyeshadow, bronzers or products that want to produce a shimmery effect. A vegan alternative to Guanine is mica and certain legumes.

Oleic Acid:

Oleic Acid is made from animal fat or tallow and helps to thicken formulas. It is commonly found in nail varnishes, soap and moisturizers. Vegan alternatives to Oleic Acid can be made from plants such as coconut, olives and nuts.

Consider our Firming & Lifting Anti Aging Serum, free of chemicals and synthetics and full of skin loving ingredients to help you on your skin care journey.

Silk Powder:

This is obtained from silk worms, they are horrifically boiled in their cocoons to obtain the silk. It is used in mainstream skin care, facial powders, soap and deodorant. A vegan replacement to silk powder is arrowroot powder.

Stearic Acid:

Stearic Acid can be derived from pigs, cows and sheep's stomachs and is best known as animal fat. It is commonly found in deodorants, soaps, hair and moisturizers. The vegan alternative to stearic acid is derived from coconut.

Collagen:

This animal derived version of this ingredient is taken from animal tissue, bone, skin, or ligaments (often found in cows). The vegan derived version has been prove just as or more effective and is readily common in the skin care market.

Keratin:

This naturally occurs in the hair and horns of animals. It is used in products to strengthen nails and hair. Vegan alternatives to Keratin are amino acids. These can be found in nut and berry oils such as, almond oil, avocado oil and sea buckthorn oil.

Lactic Acid:

We offer a superb vegan derived lactic acid in our products, but traditionally lactic acid has been derived from animals and found in their blood and muscle tissue. It is commonly found in skincare products that are intended to improve the overall look and feel of the skin. The vegan version that you can commonly find now (read the label) naturally occurs during the fermentation process of plants or can be man-made using plants.

Vegan Skin Care Products and Routine Options

Skin care routines can be as simple or as complicated as you like them to be. Many people only prefer a cleanser and moisturizer, while there are those of us who love many steps.

I personally love a variety of steps, and based on what my skin needs that day, I follow through. For me, it’s a way to relax and wind down from my day. In some ways, with the gentle movements and (fairly) quiet vibe at home in the evening, it can be almost meditative.

When you’ve spent the day caring for others and making sure everyone in your path has what they need, there’s some simple pleasure in applying some items that you know are good for your skin and body. A little “me time” never hurt anyone.

Below are potential steps in your vegan skin care product routine, none of which have to be included and not in an strict order.

The only strong recommendation I have is that if you are going to apply a serum or any treatments, you should do that before your moisturizer(s), not after. Serums and treatments are much more readily absorbed when skin in clean and dry.

Cleanser:

Our main hard and fast rule about cleansers is that they should not contain sulfates or parabens. Both of these ingredients are not good for your skin. They style of cleanser you use is very much up to you. I personally prefer a cleansing balm or creamy texture, while others insist on some sudsing action. Other people might forgo the cleanser altogether and stick to a thorough water rinse followed by a toner that is designed for their skin type.

Toner:

Gone are the days of the harsh toners from yesterday (or a couple of decades ago). Toners used to be extremely harsh and some can still be, with lots of alcohol and potent ingredients. But the reality is that toners can be formulated to help with dry skin, improve hydration, help turn around aging skin, and infuse skin with nutrients, and made to prevent the signs of aging and environmental damage. Finding the right toner is much easier these days, and using a toner can elevate your skin care experience. If it feels fantastic and smells good, it can help set the tone (no pun intended) for your day or evening.

Serum / Treatments:

Serums and other kinds of skin care treatments are a great way to make specific changes to your skin and add a layer of effectiveness. There are so many serum and treatments on the market, for so many different kinds of skin needs: acne, discoloration, signs of aging, firming, etc. Below we’ve included our top selling serum that has an ingredients list that is stacked for optimal firming and anti aging. You’ll love it (if not we offer no hassle refunds and free shipping).

Moisturizer / Sunscreen:

Moisturizing the skin is one of my most favorite steps. I have dry skin so this part is very soothing to me. If you can find a moisturizer with sun protection in it, by all means, use that as your go to daytime moisturizer. We offer one that is not only really good for your skin but also offers chemical free sun protection.

Masks:

Like serums and treatments, masks are a great way to give you skin a dose of whatever ingredients you most need, whether it’s for anti aging, acne control, inflammation, discoloration, etc. Masks are the ultimate pampering product and can leave your skin feeling so much better. Include some mask time in your weekend or weekly routine elevate your relaxation and improve the way your skin feels and looks.

Lips and Eyes:

Lip and eye skin requires some extra tender loving care at times, since this skin is delicate and sometimes more sensitive than other parts of our face. A nice lip scrub can make your lips look younger and soothe lines, and an eye cream can give your eyes that dewy, well rested look that we all long for. If you have time to incorporate any of these items into your routine, it’s well worth it.

Exfoliators / Scrubs:

It’s a proven fact that occasional exfoliation can help our skin cells turn over and reveal fresher, healthier skin. Besides, exfoliation just feels great. Focusing on some ingredients that will benefit you can help bring the appearance of your skin to the next level.

Consider our Firming & Lifting Anti Aging Serum, free of chemicals and synthetics and full of skin loving ingredients to help you on your skin care journey:

Conclusion

You’ll find that vegan skin care is the way to go when it comes to your health and the well being of our environment. Vegan skin care products can be super effective in helping you reach your skin care goals.