The verdict is in: veganism is here to stay. No longer considered a fad or passing trend, the practice of not consuming animal products (be it meat, eggs, leather clothes or lanolin in beauty products) isn’t showing any signs of slowing down – on the contrary. Whether vegans are choosing this path for ethical, financial or environmental reasons, beauty brands are increasingly responding to their demands: vegan product launches rose by 175% from July 2013 to June 2018 (source: Mintel Global New Products Database). And these launches are supported by increasing sales too: in the last 12 months alone, sales of vegan beauty products grew 38% (source: NPD Group). This all sounds pretty impressive, however it’s worth noting that this category still only accounts for 1% of women’s face skincare market so this is by no means a global beauty takeover – yet. I’d like to point out at this stage that I’m not vegan, and actually believe that using bee-related products such as honey should be encouraged to support beekeepers in protecting the shrinking bee population. Even though I’m not actively seeking out vegan beauty products I find they’ve increasingly taken over my bathroom cabinet, no doubt due to my focus on natural and organic skincare which seems to go hand in hand with vegan credentials. From niche organic brands to high street newcomers, here are 5 beauty products that are certified vegan.

The Certified Organic One

I discovered Nourish when one of their products was included in a beauty event goodie bag, and since then I find myself regularly going back to their skincare range as well as recommending it to friends and family. British-made Nourish holds what I consider to be the gold standard of certifications when it comes to natural beauty:

• Certified organic by The Soil Association
• Certified cruelty-free by The Leaping Bunny
• Certified vegan by The Vegan Society

So what does it mean to be accredited by The Vegan Society? Well it guarantees that your product does not contain animal ingredients and has not been tested on animals. The organisation checks ingredient lists to ensure that the development of the product hasn’t involved the use of any animal ingredient or by product. The face cleanser currently featured in my gym bag is Nourish Kale 3D Cleanser, a gentle foamy wash enriched in kale, aloe vera and frankincense oil – all very decidedly vegan. Regardless of its vegan credentials this is a high performing face wash that does so gently and with the added fun factor of seeing turn from white cream to light green froth. 100ml RRP £25.00 

The Korean One

I didn’t know that Koreans were particularly into vegan beauty, but either way Korean made Olivarrier Fluid Oil Squalane has decided to cover all bases by getting all the imaginable certifications possible, plus a few I’d never even heard of:

• Certified cruelty free by PETA: guarantees that neither the product nor the ingredients used in the product were tested on animals
• Certified vegan by PETA: I didn’t know that PETA provided this service, having exclusively associated their instantly recognisable their pink-eared bunny logo with cruelty-free claims, but the extension of their remit to include a vegan certification does make sense
• The ‘Original DERMATEST®’ seal: one I hadn’t seen before, it’s a guarantee the product has been tested for allergic skin reactions with a patch test
• Verified by the Environmental Working Group: another logo I hadn’t previously come across in Europe, this means that the product is free from harmful chemicals which have been linked to asthma, cancer and fertility issues

The High Street One

Vegan beauty products are still only available in limited distribution, but I feel that’s all about to change with the likes of Love Beauty and Planet. This recently launched brand developed by Unilever has taken the UK by storm and gained presence in the two main high street beauty meccas: Boots and Superdrug. With distribution like that and investment from Unilever, I’d say vegan beauty has well and truly gone mainstream. The whole range is certified vegan by the European Vegetarian Union, signalled by a green V on a yellow background on the products’ packaging. This is another vegan accreditation I hadn’t come across before but looking at the portfolio of other accredited brands it seems more prevalent in Switzerland or Germany. If you fancy giving Love Beauty and Planet a try I can recommend the lightweight and deliciously scented Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Body Lotion, although with 400ml in the bottle this isn’t the time to find out you’re allergic to coconut. 400ml RRP £8.99

The One For Those In The Know

A staple in many hardcore natural skincare fans, Antipodes natural and organic skincare products from New Zealand are certified vegetarian or vegan by The Vegetarian Society. A vegan accreditation from this organisation means that the product is:

• Free from animal-derived ingredients
• Not cross-contaminated during production
• GMO-free
• Not tested on animals

I’ve just started using a 10ml deluxe sample of Antipodes Apostle Skin Brightening Serum, a water-based formula which claims to target pigmentation and brighten skin. This serum feels fantastic on skin but so far no brightening results to report. To be fair I’ve only been using it for 10 days and most skincare needs at least a few weeks of regular use to showcase its benefits. 30ml RRP £44.99

The Beauty Accessory One

Certified by The Vegan Society, The Konjac Sponge Company offers Korean-inspired skincare tools which are also cruelty-free accredited by The Leaping Bunny, an internationally recognized symbol that guarantees no new animal tests were used in the development of these products. This was actually one of the products I highlighted in my very first beauty article written for The Resident about – you guessed it – vegan beauty. You can take your pick from The Konjac Sponge’s range as each sponge is more collectable than the next. Part of the rainforest collection, this sloth design accompanies a mini pore refiner made of antibacterial bamboo charcoal powder, ideal for reaching into the creases around the nose where pores can get clogged. RRP £6.99

What vegan beauty products do you have in your bathroom cabinet? Leave a comment below to let me know.

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