A few months ago I shared why I made the choice to switch to a vegan diet, and the support I received from readers was amazing. Seriously, you all are the best — which is why today, I’m back and sharing my favorite vegan beauty products. To be completely honest, when I first adapted to a vegan diet I didn’t even think about how my beauty routine would have to change.
There are many reasons for following a vegan diet, but as my primary motivation was ethical, it meant my lifestyle would have change too (in other words, goodbye Italian leather shoes from J.Crew). Beauty products often times have animal-based ingredients in them and there are still many brands who test their cosmetics on animals. So as products ran out, I started to swap my old staples for vegan ones.
This is how I made the switch to an entirely vegan and cruelty-free beauty routine, and the products I can’t live without:
Tips for Shopping Vegan
Know Your Ingredients
Unless you are buying super simple and natural products, most product labels are pretty hard to read. For me, it’s easiest to just look for a vegan label on the bottle, but not all brands utilize them. Keep an eye out for these common animal-based ingredients while shopping for skincare or cosmetics:
- Cochineal dye/Carmine
- Guanine
- Tallow
- Gelatin
- Lanolin
- Squalene
- Ambergris
- Collagen
- Estrogen
- Retinol
These were just a few examples, so it’s best to do further research. This list is super helpful and elaborates on how those ingredients come from animals.
Learn Which Brands You Can Trust
Some brands are completely vegan and wave their vegan flag loud and proud! But, some brands who don’t test any of their products on animals offer a selection of vegan products and clearly label which are which. Here is a great list of vegan beauty products and brands, but you’d be surprised at how common vegan personal hygiene products are becoming!
Source: Monastery
Health Food Stores Will Have Your Back
Local health food stores (Whole Foods counts!) usually have a small beauty and personal hygiene section. While “natural” ingredients are often vegan, they aren’t always. But these stores usually have great selections of simple, one-ingredient products — like tea tree oil or rosehip oil — that can be incorporated into your routine.
Don’t Shy Away From Store Brands
Did you know that Costco brand shampoo and condition is vegan and cruelty free? I didn’t! It’s affordable and because it’s Costco-sized, so the bottles lasts months. Trader Joe’s has been growing their beauty section as of late and many of their products are vegan too. My point? You can find vegan products at an affordable price almost anywhere.
Source: @koparibeauty
My Favorite Vegan Products
Who else here is a Glossier fan? Silly question, who isn’t. I have tried and enjoyed so many of their products, but Solution takes the cake. This chemical exfoliant is gentle enough to use every day, and keeps my pores smaller, helps with oil control, keeps acne in check, and brightens my skin. It’s a one-stop shop for a ton of skin issues. Not all of their products are vegan, but they are cruelty-free and they clearly label which products are vegan to make shopping with them easier.
I’ve been living out of a carry-on for the past few months and my skin has been paying the price. Glossier Solution is not small enough to get past the TSA, so after a series of breakouts, I ordered a set from Herbivore Botanicals that contained smaller sizes of their Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask and Lapis Facial Oil. The combo of this gentle exfoliating mask and soothing face oil really helped get my skin back on track. I love that their products are created with natural ingredients, work really well, and feel luxurious. Their Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Bar Soap is so convenient for travel, but I use it every day at home too.
Traditional makeup removers leave my skin feeling stripped and dry, but this cleansing oil gets the job done in a natural and gentle way (plus the rose scent is so soothing at the end of a long day). Not all of Monastery’s products are vegan, but they are all cruelty-free. Luckily, their natural ingredient lists are simple, so it’s easy to see which products will work for a vegan beauty routine. I’m eager to try their Pure Face Oil next so I can finish my nightly skincare routine with as much moisture as I started it with.
All of Tarte Cosmetics’ products are cruelty-free and they actually provide this handy list of products they offer that are vegan. I’ve only ever had good experiences with Tarte Cosmetics, especially products from the Amazonian Clay collection. Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer is nice because it doesn’t contain shimmer like many bronzers do, and it doesn’t have orange undertones.
This isn’t the most glamorous product on the list, but hey, everyone needs deodorant. The formula is made without baking soda (for all of you out there who have tried natural deodorant and ended up with rashes) and ACTUALLY works all day. It’s vegan and cruelty-free and has a light coconut smell which is refreshing, but not overwhelming. You can use code Everygirl25 for 25% off your first order.
I’ve been using this foundation on and off since high school and it provides great coverage. It does create matte skin though, so if you’re looking for a super dewy look then you may want to consider their tinted moisturizer, which I’ve also used and loved. It gives lighter coverage than the powder foundation, but you’ll definitely be glowing.
Are there any vegan and cruelty-free beauty products that have made their way into your routine?
The post I Made the Switch to Vegan Products—Here Are the Ones I Can’t Live Without appeared first on The Everygirl.
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