The Best Vegan Skin Care Products

With veganism on the rise, many people are switching over to a plant-based diet and incorporating cruelty-free and eco-friendly beauty products into their routines. But the philosophy behind vegan skin care goes further than just being animal-free — it's also about incorporating clean beauty products that are free from irritants and unnecessary ingredients, like artificial fragrances and parabens. That's why it's part of the whole "clean" movement that's been gaining momentum in recent years.

While it's great to see more and more brands adopting cruelty-free and eco-friendly practices, not all companies use these labels as they should. In fact, it can be confusing to determine which products are actually vegan and which are not, especially since some companies will have both a cruelty-free and a vegan label on their product. To help demystify the process, we've rounded up the best vegan skin-care products you can add to your daily routine.

Vegan skin care products are made without any materials or ingredients that have been derived from animals, including honey, beeswax, lanolin (wool grease), keratin (pig hair), collagen *(the Fountain of Youth, nbd) and squalene (shark liver oil). Additionally, vegan skincare products will be free of anything that has been tested on animals, which is a huge deal considering 100 million animals are abused each year for cosmetics testing purposes.

While some may believe that removing animal-derived products from their regimen would leave them with drier, less vibrant skin, the opposite is true. In fact, vegan skin care is often formulated with natural oils and shea butter that are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants — all of which promote healthy, supple skin.

It's also important to note that vegan-friendly products are formulated using ingredients that have been proven to be just as effective and beneficial for the skin, as traditional, animal-derived options. For example, collagen and elastin have traditionally been derived from fibrous proteins of various parts of animals, such as the skin, bones or ligaments, but new technology has enabled companies to create vegan versions of these ingredients through the fermentation of yeast and bacteria. Companies such as Pacifica and Derma E have developed lines that contain these new plant-based formulas.

If you're ready to incorporate vegan-friendly products into your skin care routine, try copying and pasting the ingredient list of any product onto PETA's Vegan Ingredient Checker to ensure that it's truly cruelty-free and completely vegan. You can also find a ton of vegan-friendly skincare brands that have compiled lists of their products on their websites, which can be a helpful resource for those just starting out. You can even find DIY recipes online for creating your own clean, vegan skincare regimen if you want to go the extra mile and craft your own serums and moisturizers! Just be sure to research the recipe and ingredients carefully before attempting to make any homemade concoctions. It's always best to start small and work your way up to more advanced recipes.