SO ETHICAL IT SHOWS
Update your beauty regimen with one of these vegan and cruelty-free yet effective skin-boosters. By Jess Denham
Shopping for skincare is overwhelming enough as it is with so many products vying for our hard-earned cash, but when you want to ensure that the cleanser you are buying is not just cruelty-free but vegan too, you may end up leaving the store with a headache.
The good news is that veganism is no longer a niche lifestyle choice. Brands are reacting to the rapidly rising number of vegans – up from 150,000 in 2006 to more than 540,000 today, according to the Vegan Society – by reformulating their products to meet buyers’ demands.
Testing on animals has been banned in the EU for nearly 15 years and since March 2013 it has also been against the law to sell cosmetics products in the EU that have been newly tested on animals or contain
ingredients that have been.
To confirm that all products on this list are 100 per cent cruelty-free, brands were asked to clarify that they do not test on animals at any stage of supply, production and retail and are not on sale in China, where imported products must be tested on animals before entering the market. Some of the brands are certified by the relevant bodies, such as Peta or Cruelty Free International, while others have pledged to always abide by animal-friendly practices.
To count as vegan, the ingredients lists needed to be free from any animal-derived ingredients, which in skincare can include honey, beeswax and certain types of collagen and lipids.
Rest assured that none of the below skincare goodies – from exfoliators to body balms, face masks to night creams – have compromised quality for ethics. They all left our skin looking and feeling healthier and would make a great addition to a daily skincare routine. Many are free from parabens, alcohol and synthetic fragrance, and some are certified organic.
Be sure to consider your own skin type before buying, as some will suit oily skin better while others are targeted at those with dryness or eczema.
Tropic Whipped Body Velvet Intensely Rich Buttermelt, 200ml: £28, Tropic
This vegan brand is the first in the UK to use intensely moisturising rarabe butter in its skincare. Sustainably sourced from rarabe trees in Madagascar, this luxurious ingredient is a saviour for dry skin and its natural caramel aroma smells delicious. Each jar is freshly whipped up by “beauty chefs” in Tropic’s Surrey kitchen. The butter melts to an oily texture upon contact with skin, making it easier to rub in, and leaves your body feeling strokeably soft. Tahitian and Bourbon vanilla extracts add to the already enticing scent and the colourful jungle print packaging is a welcome reminder of warmer climes. It is good value too, with the big pot lasting ages if you can stop yourself from slathering it all on at once.
Certified by: the Vegan Society, Cruelty Free International, Peta
Neal’s Yard Frankincense Intense Lift Cream, 50g: £65, Neal’s Yard
The ultra-relaxing aroma of frankincense is universally popular with good reason. Sustainably sourced from Oman, it has been mixed with vitamin E-rich chiuri butter – a sustainable, natural alternative to palm oil – to create an award-winning face cream that helps fight the loss of skin firmness that ageing brings. Though on the dearer end of the scale, at £65 for a small glass jar, it lasts ages as only a small amount is needed per use. Its premium ingredients are certified organic by the notoriously strict Soil Association, so you can rest assured that you are feeding your skin the best. If you fall in love with the scent, there are plenty of other frankincense products in the Neal’s Yard range.
Certified by: Cruelty Free International
Nadur Smooth Shaving Serum, 150ml: £25, Amazon
Our male tester found using a shaving product that does not foam strange at first, but loved how smooth Nadur’s serum left his skin feeling after use. Foams usually include sulphates, which can leave skin red, blotchy and irritated, but this fully natural oil is non-alcohol based, making it great for use on all skin types pre, during and post-shave. Rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants that help prevent razor burn, improve skin elasticity and heal scars, it has a subtle pomegranate scent and rinses off easily. Warm three drops in your hands and apply to moistened skin, massaging in gently to create a milky texture that helps the razor glide across skin, before rinsing and patting dry with a towel.
Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream: £41, Cult Beauty
If an Icelandic holiday is a step too far budget-wise, bring the pure health benefits of the Nordic nation to you with this blissfully fluffy face cream from an all-vegan brand. The texture may take you back at first – it is more of a light mousse than a rich cream (hence the “cloud” part of its name) – but it absorbed quicker than we expected, making it a lovely base for make-up. Those with sensitive or rosacea-prone skin will love its soothing, cooling feel and it’s free from irritating parabens, petroleum and other chemical no-nos. The formula, dominated by yummy-smelling Arctic super fruits and mineral-heavy glacial water, will make you feel like you’ve just taken a dip in the naturally healing Blue Lagoon. It’s not cheap, but the quality for the price is excellent and it’s not so expensive that you couldn’t go back for more.
Certified by: Peta
INFINatura Cura Oil, 100ml: £34.99, INFINatura
What we love most about this 100 per cent natural blend of plant oils is its versatility – apply it directly onto your skin, mix it into face or body cream, use it to strengthen nails or use it to shampoo and condition dry, damaged hair. Clinically proven in independent trials to reduce wrinkles and help with psoriasis, its special ingredient is anti-inflammatory squalene, which helps plump the skin and limit dryness. Red mandarin acts effectively to draw out impurities – helpful if you live in a city – and balance any redness. The pump applicator stops you getting oil everywhere during pampering and the blue and purple floral pattern on the bottle makes it a pretty addition to your bathroom shelf.
Faith in Nature Exfoliating Face and Body Polish, 100ml: £6.25, Holland & Barrett
This hypoallergenic face and body polish from Faith in Nature is delicate yet effective and totally parabenfree. Made with blackcurrant exfoliant and organic calendula, it carefully polishes to leave skin feeling smooth and reenergised without aggravating it like some tough scrubs can. The fruity, chocolaty scent is an olfactory treat and vegans can enjoy it too. The exfoliating power may prove a little lacklustre for those with more durable skin, but if you are looking for a gentle natural scrub that can be used regularly without flaring up skin problems, then this is worth a try and will not dent your bank balance much, either.
Certified by: Cruelty Free International
Lush Charity Pot Hand and Body Lotion, 240g: £13.95, Lush
If you need an excuse to go skincare shopping, let us offer you one in the form of Lush’s popular Charity Pot which, as the name suggests, benefits both yourself and those in need. Every penny from sales of this lovely lotion goes directly to small grassroots charities focusing on animal welfare, environmental conservation and human rights. Its gorgeous ylang ylang and rosewood fragrance encapsulates the scent of summer, while Fair Trade shea butter and olive oil nourishes tired skin, effectively moisturising even rough patches around our knees and ankles. The chunky pot is bargain for under £15, meaning you need not worry about slathering on as much as you like during post-shower pamper sessions. Though not specifically targeted at those with sensitive skin, we found it soothing on itchy legs and reckon it would be gentle on sunburnt skin on holiday, too.
Green People Orange Blossom Exfoliator, 50ml: £15, Green People
Wave goodbye to DDD skin (that’s dead, dull and dry) with this purifying facial exfoliator from sensitive skin pro Green People. Bamboo and apricot kernels gently drag out every last bit of nasty from your skin, shea butter moisturises and hibiscus, also known as the “botox plant”, helps firm things up for a youthful appearance and feel. The aroma of orange blossom oil is said to alleviate stress and it certainly left us feeling cheerier, not least because our skin felt so deeply cleansed without being left red raw from overly abrasive ingredients. The cream is thick, slightly grainy and smells delicious, however it comes in a tube so do not do what we did and squeeze out too much product upon opening.
Certified by: the Vegan Society
The Handmade Soap Company Lemongrass & Cedarwood Hand Cream, 50g: £11.95, Amazon
Handmade in Ireland, this company began life at farmers’ markets. Its hand cream comes in an attractive glass jar with a cheery yellow sticker, and smells invigoratingly citrussy thanks to top notes of lemongrass and pineapple. It is made entirely from natural essential oils, which work hard to soften up even the roughest hands, and the rich, creamy texture is a pleasure to massage in. It is environmentally friendly, using repurposed packaging printed with ink derived from vegetables, and a bargain for just over a tenner.
Bulldog Original Stubble Moisturiser, 100ml: £7.50, Boots
The problem with moisturising stubbly skin is that it can be left feeling extra sticky and greasy. That’s where Bulldog comes in, a British company created for men by men to address specifically male skincare needs. This all-natural product is fantastically affordable and lives up to the clever “man’s best friend” branding. Certified by Cruelty Free International, it is best used morning and night after cleansing. The pump applicator makes for fuss-free use, the cream is light and the aloe and green tea scent is refreshing first thing. Our male tester found it rubbed in easily and left his skin feeling rehydrated. He loved the fun, bold packaging too.
Certified by: Cruelty Free International
Tata Harper Crème Riche, 50ml: £185, Cult Beauty
Tata Harper has long been considered one of skincare’s queens – and most of her range is vegan. This new launch, a fabulously velvety face cream, may be the luxury buy on our list with its hefty price tag, but it worked a miracle on our dry skin without leaving the greasy, sticky finish synonymous with many cheaper brands. Don’t be put off if you have oily skin, either, as it works to rebalance and can help reduce acne. The richest moisturiser in the collection, it left our skin feeling soft and looking matte, providing a great base for applying make-up each morning. Though not tested for long enough to notice a reduction in fine lines, its complex formula is packed with age-defying botanicals and youth-preserving fatty acids with no synthetic nasties, making it a great choice for mature skin.
Certified by: Cruelty Free International, Peta
Sand & Sky Brilliant Skin Clay Purifying Pink Clay Mask, 60g: £39.90, Boots
Beloved by beauty bloggers fawning over its millennial pink colour, this vegan mask comes in a cheery blue pot with a double lid for hygiene and a cute (also vegan) brush for mess-free application. The main ingredient here is Australian pink clay, which draws out toxins as it dries white on your skin, while liquorice, kelp, aloe vera and pomegranate also feature. The scent reminded us of playdough and we were pleased to enjoy a sting-free experience, despite the tightening effect leaving us unable to open our mouths. The mask came off with warm water and once patted dry, we were surprised at the effect on our pores, which looked noticeably more refined, and pleased with our glowing complexion. We will be using this for multi-masking as it worked wonders on our oily T-zone, mattifying shine without drying.
The verdict
Tropic is onto a winner with the innovative use of new must-have ingredient rarabe butter – it melted like a dream onto our winter-ravished skin. The feel-good, do-good approach of Lush’s Charity Pot scores brownie points too, while men will love the cheap, cheerful, no-nonsense approach of Bulldog – its launch addressed a gap in the market and the products remain a steal for the price.