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I am so thrilled you are here today! Whether you are new to vegan living or simply want to explore skincare options with fewer chemicals and more compassion, I have a list of tried and approved vegan and cruelty-free skincare products and tools for any skin types for you! I am obsessed with skincare products and always on the look-up for the new products coming to the market!
I must admit, I have sensitive skin. Though I do like to experiment with new products, I still have a few that I’ve been using for years now, and am not ready to switch them for something else 🙂
I don’t have perfect-looking skin, as I’ve been fighting with milia (those annoying whitehead spots) since I was a teenager. Those things just “love” my face too much and are not ready to leave it. Sigh…
I have tried it all. Well, almost all. Microdermabrasion, regular visits to an aesthetician, diets… I haven’t tried a chemical peel yet, and I will be happy to learn if you have had experience with chemical peelings and whether it was a good or a bad one.
But I know that my skin looks and feels so much better when I use the right products. Some of the vegan skincare products I have used are on the higher price end. Others are very affordable yet still effective!
Anyway, let’s jump right on! It all starts with clean skin. Do you agree?
My Favourite Vegan Skin-Cleansing Products
- this cleanser is my favourite one! It is gentle enough on your skin to not dry it out, but it is strong enough on your makeup! You don’t even need a makeup remover if you are using this cleanser unless you are wearing waterproof mascara. I always buy a bigger package as it lasts for a few good months, and I use it in the evening and the mornings when I am not using my second favourite cleanser:
- this is a cleansing masque, and I use it once a week usually on the weekend when I have more time to leave it on my face. Don’t tell anyone, but it is actually “made for men” by one of my favourite vegan actors Jack Black. Who said girls can’t borrow men’s products? Like you never wore your partner’s shirt, have ya? 🙂
The next step is to balance your skin and prepare it for the next step.
Vegan toners and treatments
I alternate the use of these vegan and cruelty-free products:
- this is a toner that I use to treat my acne. If you have sensitive skin, I would recommend trying it in a smaller bottle and only go for using it once in 2 or 3 days first. I heard others say that it dried out their skin. I haven’t had those issues, though I have sensitive skin too. But I think my “go easy” approach on slowly introducing it into my regimen is the secret solution 😉
- this Retinol Clearing oil is a new-ish addition to my regimen as well. You probably notice that I am not afraid of trying new things 🙂 I would also recommend going easy on this one when you start using it. Try using it twice a week for the first week after cleansing and toning your face, then go to every other night use for the next week. Gradually increase to daily use within a week or two after. Remember to use a good moisturizer after each application! Dermalogica has a proven record of great cruelty-free and vegan products.
This brings us to the next step:
Nourish Your Skin Like Your Beauty Depends on It (because it does ;))
If you think that you can clean your face and you are done, You Are Wrong! It is like feeding yourself but not drinking water! You have to nourish your skin.
Even when you are young 🙂
It is even more important to use a good moisturizer once you are getting older. I’ve been using moisturizers and creams since I was, let me think, maybe 16-17? There was a period in my life when I was on a very limited budget and I could not afford to buy any products, and you could definitely see how tired and dehydrated my skin looked.
Anyway, here is the list of the best vegan and cruelty-free skincare products I’ve used and love.
- Caudalie serum – is a lightweight serum. I apply it at night right after Dermalogica Retinol Clearing Oil and before moisturizer.
- Dermalogica moisturizer cream – its benefits are amazing! Whether it is a humid summer or a cold winter, this moisturizer does its job! I usually use it at night and another Dermalogica moisturizer with SPF30 for sun protection in the morning. While you might think it is a lot of products to have on your counter, you would need sun protection anyway, so why not have it 2-in-1 combined with a moisturizer?
- FAB priming moisturizer – this is another 2-in-1 product that I like. It is a primer and a moisturizer and I use it in the morning before applying my makeup. If you don’t wear makeup, this product will give you a dewy glow.
Remember to care for the skin around your eyes!
While there are many debates about whether you need an eye cream and whether your regular moisturizer can do the “double-duty”, I am a firm believer that one can definitely help you take your skincare to the next level.
The skin around the eyes is very gentle and requires special love! Be gentle when you apply products, never stretch the skin and only use tapping motions to apply the products around your eyes.
- my favourite product to use at night is this masque. Yes, I use it every second day as an eye cream and not as a masque. Why? Because it is soooo good, deeply hydrating, it does not feel heavy, and who said I can’t? Honestly, at my age, I think I don’t have that many fine lines under the eyes, and I thank this masque for that (and, well, yes, thanks to my healthy vegan lifestyle in general too :))
- in the morning I use this eye cream as it has an SPF15 component in it. Please, PLEASE protect your skin from sun damage whenever possible! I never ever leave the house without putting a protective layer on my face! I hope you do the same 😉
- on the nights that I don’t use the eyes masque, I use this eye cream. I actually find myself going back and forth between this cream and another Eminence product that I like. So, maybe try both of them and see which one works better for you.
I feel like the way our bodies need to be challenged to new fitness routines or added repetitions/weight, the same way our skin needs a change to make things work better 🙂
Do you find it to be true? Feel free to comment below 🙂
Next on my list of the best vegan and cruelty-free skincare is another important step:
Protect Your Skin
I’ve mentioned already that sun protection is a very important component of skincare. As much as I love being outdoors and tanning, after living in a hot sunny climate for many years, I know how much sun protection is important!
As I’ve mentioned above, I use these products for sun protection: this sunscreen moisturizer with SPF30 and this eye cream with SPF15. Yes to vegan skincare products! 🙂
What about the vegan and cruelty-free skincare tools?
While it is super-important to take good care of your skin with the right ‘materials’ like creams and serums, I find having the right tools is another way to up your skincare game!
I love my Vanity Planet kit, and I’ve had it for at least 3 years. The brand is cruelty-free and now offers a nice variety of vegan products in addition to their tools. They have multiple brush options, and you can pick and choose the one for your needs.
I use it once a week, usually on the weekend when I have more time for myself 🙂 You can either apply a cleansing mask or your favourite cleanser and go over your face in circular motions using a wet brush. It is like a spa-treatment but you get it at the comfort of your own home 😉
What is the difference between cruelty-free and vegan?
While many times ‘vegan’ and ‘cruelty-free’ terms used interchangeably, they don’t mean the same thing. By definition, “vegan” means no animal products or by-products have been used in a product. Whereas, “cruelty-free” means the product has not been tested on animals.
I find it quite confusing, as my common sense tells me that if a brand wants to sell its products as ‘vegan’, the products have to be cruelty-free as well. The whole idea of being a vegan is to protect the animals, right?
However, I learned that sometimes the products might be certified as vegan, but they are not necessarily cruelty-free, as there might be cases when they are tested on animals when required by-laws. That sounds very controversial to me, therefore, I try to choose the brands that in addition to producing vegan products are actually confirmed to be cruelty-free.
That is why I would rather prefer to use the brands that might not have 100% vegan products (though I would not buy them) but are cruelty-free.
For example, I like some Too Faced products (for example their mascara and foundation), but I know they do have a few non-vegan products. For example, beeswax might be one of the ingredients which is not vegan. However, the brand does not test on animals, and that is what is very important for me!
A different example is not a cruelty-free brand creating a “vegan” product. While it might appeal to some, I won’t buy a product if I know the brand is not cruelty-free and does animal testing.
Why choose vegan and cruelty-free skincare products?
- By choosing vegan and cruelty-free skincare products you are saving millions of innocent lives. Even if you are not vegan, try to use cruelty-free products whenever possible. Scientists have come far enough to figure out if the ingredients can be harmful to humans without checking it out on little bunnies, mice or other animals.
- Many vegan and cruelty-free brands proudly share their sustainable practices. They are in general are more environmentally-friendly and choose recyclable or compostable packaging.
- Choosing products free of animal-derived ingredients reduces your chances of allergic reactions. Yes, I have met people who are allergic to mint, and there are many who are allergic to gluten (plant-based protein). The data still shows about 65% of the population to be lactose-intolerance in comparison to about 6% population with sensitivity to gluten.
Of course, animal welfare is the main reason for me personally. That was the main reason I switched to a vegan lifestyle. Let me know in the comments below what your reasons for choosing vegan/cruelty-free are 🙂 I would love to add it to the list above!
Also, what are your favourite vegan and cruelty-free skincare products and tools? Care to share?
More from my site:
Best Vegan Mascara for Thinning Lashes
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