Photo: The Body Shop SG / Instagram
When it comes to vegan beauty, there’s a couple of things to get straight first. One: don’t assume vegan means “all-natural” or “100 per cent botanical”. A vegan product simply has no animal ingredients or derivatives, such as carmine (a red pigment that comes from crushed female cochineal insects), gelatin, animal fat, milk protein, honey and beeswax (though some vegan brands do use ethically and sustainably sourced bee products). But it may have synthetic ingredients and chemicals, sometimes as alternatives to animal-based ones.
And two: it’s not a given that vegan beauty products are cruelty-free, though most of them are. Eric Chew, founder of natural multi-brand beauty store Bud Cosmetics, says many people turn to veganism because they don’t want to contribute to animal suffering, which is why they should ideally look for products that are certified by a trusted association such as The Vegan Society, Vegan Action or The American Vegetarian Society.
“The vegan accrediting process requires there to be no animal testing of the ingredients or finished products by any party involved with the production, and no future testing. This ensures certified products are cruelty-free,” he explains.
What you can expect from vegan beauty products is its gentleness. Lily Kew, founder of local organic brand Kew Organics, says natural and organic botanical ingredients used in vegan skincare are gentler on the skin compared to the artificial chemicals. “But that doesn’t mean they’re ineffective. In fact, they’re excellent choices for people with chronic skin conditions such as acne and provide great anti-ageing results as they are full of skin-rejuvenating antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and botanical extracts,” she says.
There are some limitations to vegan beauty, however. For starters, the number of certified brands and products available here is relatively small, though Chew says the pool is slowly growing. “Another area where vegan beauty is still catching up on is cosmetics – in terms of the range of colours, intensity and lasting power. However, almost all our customers looking for vegan-friendly cosmetics are willing to compromise for the assurance that the product is cruelty-free,” he says.
One way to widen your range of options is to look beyond certified vegan brands. There are now many others that are not fully vegan but offer a good selection of vegan offerings, such as The Body Shop, Kat Von D and Urban Decay. Some of these products may be certified, others not, in which case you would have to trust in the integrity and diligence of the brand in ensuring the product meets vegan criteria.
Here are some vegan skincare options:
https://www.herworld.com/style/beauty/vegan-beauty-makeup-skincare-cruelty-free-organic-clean-beauty/
vegan skincare
Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum, $36
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Though it’s not certified as vegan, Pixi offers a number of vegan-friendly items such as this rich but non-greasy serum which helps to plump fine lines and smooth skin texture with jojoba oil, aloe vera and vitamins C and E.
The Body Shop Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo, $15
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The brand has long been a poster girl for the animal rights movement and it has Peta cruelty-free certification to back it up. This shine-enhancing shampoo is part of its first fully vegan haircare collection.
Kew Organics Ultra-Revive H2O+ Masque, $80.40
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The leave-on treatment from what is reportedly the world’s first water-based organic skincare brand packs two kinds of hyaluronic acid, collagen and antioxidants.
Linne Repair Face Oil, $58-$114
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All of this US company’s products are said to be made in small batches from wild-harvested and organic plant ingredients. The face oil includes regenerating rose hip seed oil, moisturising green tea seed oil and nutrient-rich argan oil.
Antipodes Halo Skin-Brightening Facial Mud Mask, $52
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This New Zealand outfit is known for using superfruits sourced from the country’s pristine environs. Here, kiwi and Vinanza grape (said to have twice as much antioxidants as grapes grown elsewhere in the world) help to brighten the skin, while mineral-rich volcanic mud boosts skin regeneration.
Aesop Protective Facial Lotion, $77
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The word ‘vegan’ isn’t on its label, but like the brand’s other skincare and bodycare, this moisturiser with broad spectrum sun protection is cruelty-free and has zero animal-derived ingredients.
Here are some vegan makeup options:
https://www.herworld.com/style/beauty/vegan-beauty-makeup-skincare-cruelty-free-organic-clean-beauty/
vegan makeup
Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder, $31
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The company is 100 per cent cruelty-free (Kat Von D herself is an animal activist), though not all its products are vegan. Those that are, like this semi-metallic smudge-resistant brow powder, are marked accordingly on its website.
Tarte Limited Edition Rainforest of the Sea Foil Finger Paints Shadow Palette, $58
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Vegan makeup can also boast intense colours and plush textures, like this metallic eyeshadow palette offered by this Peta-certified cruelty-free brand.
Too Faced Melted Gold Liquified Gold Lip Gloss, $33
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A buildable, liquid foil formula with real gold that delivers epic glitter whenever light shines on it, this gloss turns the idea of vegan makeup as boring on its head.
Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder, $50
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Certified cruelty-free by Peta, the brand is converting as many of its products to vegan as it can. All its new offerings are vegan, like this translucent mattifying powder.
This article first appeared in the August issue of Her World magazine. ALSO READ: HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYALURONIC ACID IN SKINCARE