Vegan beauty 2021 - Everything you need to know
For Veganuary we have found the best in beauty that maintains your principles without sacrificing packaging or performance
Its image has also had an overhaul; gone are the hippy-dippy tree-hugger connotations of wearing hemp and burning joss sticks – the new vegans (think Natalie Portman) and Insta-worthy ranges have not only cleaned up, but glammed up, their act.
So if you’re already eating vegan, thinking about going plant-based for National Vegan Day on 1 November, or in the midst of Veganuary 2021, we have all the brilliant beauty advice and buys you need to know about.
How to invest ethically in your beauty regime by Dominika Piasecka, spokeswoman for The Vegan Society
Culture Whisper: What does vegan beauty mean?
Dominika Piasecka: 'Veganism avoids all use of animals as far as possible and practicable. A vegan beauty product is one that does not contain animal ingredients and has not been tested on animals.'
CW: What credentials can you look for on packaging?
DP: 'The term ‘vegan’ isn't legally protected when it comes to labelling cosmetics and body-care products, which is why we created the Vegan Trademark. It guarantees that all products carrying the symbol comply with these requirements. Our dedicated staff check ingredient lists of each of the products and make sure that they do not contain any animal ingredients, and that the company has not tested the product or its ingredients on animals. Furthermore, we run one-year and two-year licences, which means each product registered with our Vegan Trademark will be re-checked at least every couple of years to ensure it still meets our standards.'
CW: Are there any sneaky ingredients consumers might not realise are non-vegan friendly?
DP: 'Yes, plenty of those, unfortunately – here is a list of some common ones: Beeswax/Cera Alba/E901, collagen, gelatin, lanolin, guanine, tallow, cetyl alcohol, carmine, cochineal, crimson lake, carmine lake, natural red 4/C.I. 75470/E120.'
THE VEGAN BEAUTY EDIT
The vegan acne skincare range
Carbon Theory is a 100% vegan range dedicated to acne or problematic skin has showcased its brilliant spot-clearing results on Instagram and amassed a 34.5k following since launching in Boots in February 2018. It uses tea tree oil and charcoal and is derm-approved to clear congestion without stripping the skin or making it feel tight or dry. Check out the range of reasonably priced soaps, lotions, potions and masks from £6.
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The luxury vegan skincare range
Squalane-based skincare formulas have been popping up recently due to the efficacy of the formulas, but it’s not all created equally.
Some might be sourced from a shark’s liver, others olives or sugar cane – so it pays to check with the individual brand.
Biossance - from the vegan and cruelty-free status to the ethically and sustainably sourced squalane in every product, it makes a brilliant skincare choice indeed andf will make a real difference to skin tone and clarity.
Biossance – Clean Your Routine, £45 - Buy here
The sustainable scent range
Hidden animal ingredients like natural musk, civet, castoreum and ambergris are all animal by-products and could be lurking right under your nose in your regular fragrance.
However, Floral Street have not only made a pledge to be super sustainable – but are also vegan and cruelty free, and accredited by PETA.
Michelle Feeney, Floral Street founder says, “Our fragrances don’t have real musk (which is from scent glands of animals), we don’t use beeswax in our candles and we absolutely do not test on animals.”
Plus, all they’re fragrances are all so alluring, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Check out the Electric Rhubarb – a gourmande, sparkling scent with 5% of sales going to the RHS to support a greener future.
Electric Rhubarb Eau de Parfum, £60 - click here
The minimalist vegan skincare range
Pestle & Mortar are based on a less-is-more philosophy and is the perfect synergy of high performance active ingredients blended with natural ingredients. One of the heroes in the range is the Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £36, as it sinks in easily and targets fine lines and dullness – revealing your inner glow.
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The science-based pro-age vegan skincare range
LABthetics is a science-focused cosmeceutical brand created by skincare professionals who formulate and test all products in-house using proven aesthetic ingredients backed by scientific research. The range is unisex and has an extensive vegan-friendly offering. Try their Intense Hydrating Serum, £48, crammed full of hyaluronic acid.
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Vegan haircare ranges
Biotin, keratin, wax, and lanolin are just some of the animal-derived ingredients found in your hair care. We love Bleach London, Aesop, IGK Hair, and Noughty Haircare, a range of 97% natural products that are free from parabens, silicones, petrochemicals and sulphates, and are all vegan and cruelty-free and will leave you’re your frizzy locks smooth and silky.
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The luxury lip range Axiology Beauty is a refined luxury vegan make-up, lip-care range with ingredients such as mango butter and coconut oil to soften and tint at the same time. Plus, they are highly pigmented – so are long-lasting too.
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The dermatologist-developed line
Previse is a dermatologist-based range with a holistic approach to skincare, employing the power of plant-based products to protect, hydrate and care for the dermis. From £30.
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The Ayurvedic rangeInspired by the principles of Indian Ayurveda, the Urban Veda range consists of over 35 products to cleanse, tone and hone every type of dosha, and all are ethically focused and vegan-friendly. The also have a really zesty vegan hand sanitiser, from £7.
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The lust-worthy make-up brandMemi is a luxury make-up range that offers hardworking pigment-rich formulas, but also champions transparency between brand and customer – not to mention the extremely Insta-worthy packaging.
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LE FIX
45 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1QE
Le Fix is an innovative natural beauty bar and concept store that specialises in premium-quality, toxic-free, organic-certified, vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics and treatments.
From toxic-free manicures, pedicures, make-up, brow and lash services to (coming soon) facials and vegan wax services, there’s everything you need in one ethical emporium. Plus there's a coffee shop, modern art gallery, and bookshop – meaning it’s a enjoyable space to just hang out.
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