The benefits of vegan beauty products

published Mar 15, 2022
2 min read

We all know about vegan food, but there is much more to living a vegan lifestyle than avoiding animal products in food. To really consider yourself to be fully vegan you need to also think about the clothing you wear, the cleaning liquids you use, and what you put on your body as well as into it.

Skincare regimes use a myriad of creams and lotions to keep you feeling soft and supple and reduce signs of ageing. Many of these use collagen and gelatine; neither of which are vegan.

Hair and nail care sees a lot of keratin in shampoo, conditioner and polishes to strengthen the natural levels found in these areas of the body, while glycerine has been a staple in soap for many years.

And yet, with veganism on the rise – 2019 was deemed to be the year of the vegan, and it is gathering steam every year – manufacturers have adapted their production methods and are finding suitable alternatives to cater for the ever more conscious population.

Making the transition

If you are a fairly new vegan and are gradually trying to change your lifestyle to incorporate more vegan products, skin and healthcare is a fairly easy way to make a difference after the obvious change in diet.

Many beauty brands have gone completely vegan, or been created specifically for fully vegan products, so you know that anything you use from that brand is definitely vegan. This makes it easier than constantly having to check the labels and ingredients so that you know exactly what you are buying. Halo Gel Polish, for example, lives up to its angelic name by consciously being totally vegan – it doesn’t contain any animal by-products, animal-derived ingredients and is not tested on animals, making it 100% cruelty free.

Natural ingredients for a more natural you

Because vegan products contain natural ingredients, your skin is not being exposed to nasty additives, so the purely plant-based creams and tinctures are easily absorbed and are far less likely to clog your pores resulting in acne breakouts. Plants are natural purifiers and rich in vitamins which help to naturally plump out your skin and give it the nutrients it needs to provide cell regeneration.

Reduction in sensitive skin complaints

The antioxidants found in plants are transferred to your skin and the natural anti-inflammatory effects found in the likes of aloe vera, tea tree and camomile reduce redness and irritation. A lack of chemicals that can lead to eczema, psoriasis and other skin allergies is another definite positive.

Animal testing and cruelty-free

It is important to know the difference between beauty products that are not tested on animals and are described as cruelty free – The Body Shop was the first manufacturer in the UK to make this a unique selling point for their lines – and those which are fully vegan.

The former may still include ingredients that come from animals, like beeswax which has been a highly popular beauty source for many years. It is pleasing to note that The Body Shop is still leading the way with its range of vegan make-up, skincare and body products as it continues to follow the trends and be market-led.

Environmentally beneficial aspects

As with all vegan products, it is the positive effects it has on the planet that cannot be ignored. Vegan beauty producers will almost certainly have gone to great lengths to provide environmentally friendly packaging in which to house them, making them sustainable and easily recyclable or even using already recycled plastics.

Harvesting the ingredients for vegan products also uses more sustainable practices. They are already found in nature, so extracting materials or generating them in a laboratory is not required.

Final thoughts

Nowadays, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find vegan beauty products as companies take it upon themselves to become more aware and to cater to the increased demand, where even just five years ago it appeared to be more of a gimmick than the norm. Thankfully, this is no longer the case and we are well on the way to becoming a more eco-conscious society.