DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT VEGAN.
I WISH I were vegan & I really do the best I can to be mindful of what I am eating/where it came from, but I just really love my cheese.
That said, the majority of my skincare products ARE from vegan beauty brands. I really like to use clean, minimal products on my skin… & in most cases, these clean/organic/GMO free products are typically vegan by default. Which is just icing on the cake.
I am all about beauty without cruelty, I actively seek it out & I have mad respect for vegans. Which is why I wanted to share with ALL of you guys some amazing products that just so happen to be vegan as well! But first, just a few benefits of why you might wanna try some vegan beauty products…
BENEFITS OF VEGAN PRODUCTS
☆ no animal by-products: lots of beauty products can contain animal by-products, which can be irritating to sensitive skin, & just gross. Things like dead insect extracts, ulric acid extracted from cows, etc. It’s just nasty.
☆ vegan products are cleaner: if it’s vegan, you can assume the product as a whole is gonna be clean & minimal w/ a much shorter ingredient list. Clean products are more versatile as they can be used on all skin types.
☆ no animal testing: if it’s vegan, it’s never tested on animals.
☆ eco-friendly: vegan companies are also typically very eco-friendly, so you can expect recycled packaging & solar energy involved in the production process.
Vegan Friendly Beauty
1. Botnia Skincare
I first was referred to this fabulous beauty brand by Leah from Good Life– if you’re into natural skincare that WORKS, check out her site. Leah just opened up a brick & mortar shop in San Diego & I went in for a holistic facial from MO– it was an amazing facial sesh, & ended with picking me out some custom CLEAN skincare to work with my specific issues.
The no.1 brand they recommended was Botnia Skincare, & I knew that was the one brand they were using in the facial room, & since my skin was looking so good, I got a few yummy products for an at home facial, along w/ a festive vegan nail polish + organic tampons… I’m telling you guys, Good Life is the best.
THE SHOP GOOD GIRLS PICK OUT THE FOLLOWING FOR MY SKIN:
☆ Botnia daily face cream: I was in need of a good everyday-er moisturizer, & this one hits all my check marks. It is lightweight, never leaves you feeling greasy, & keeps your skin dewy allll damn day. It is made with jojoba oil & olive-derived squalene to help protect your skin, Meadowfoam oil to keep the moisture going all day, & rose + geranium to help get rid of bacteria & inflammation.
☆ Botnia Kale Yeah face mask: this mask was used on me in my holistic facial & I remember when she was putting it on, I couldn’t stop commenting on how good it smells. I like it because it is SUPER versatile for all skin types. It comes in a powder form, so you can really customize to your skincare needs. If your skin is oily you can just add filtered water, if your skin is dry you can add goats milk, & if you have normal skin you can add honey (also, honey is great for acne!).
Plus, the kale gives your skin a major vitamin boost & it also has colloidal oatmeal which soothes irritated skin.
☆ Botnia toner: I honestly haven’t owned a toner in YEARS & got a little slap on the wrist for this post-facial. So, I got a toner. I didn’t know what my skin was missing. I kinda always thought toners were drying (throwback to the astringents I used in highschool!), but that is 100% not the case. This toner is full of botanical extracts that hydrate, nourish, & balance skin. It also keeps inflammation at bay & fights bacteria. Oh yea, it also has a little glycolic acid in it for a gentle exfoliant. I spritz this stuff on liberally at the end of everyday.
2. Epicuren Discovery
This is a semi-new brand that I found out about through the facialist at Girl on the Go night (another fab facialist in San Diego!). I have had great results with this brand, but please note- not EVERYTHING is vegan. Majority of it is, but they do have some products (i.e. their Colustrum cream, which is breast milk!!) that is bovine sourced. If you reach out to them, they will help you find the best vegan beauty options for your skin.
All Epicuren products are made with the highest quality ingredients, never contain GMO’s, they NEVER test on animals, & they are an eco-friendly brand when it comes to packaging.
A FEW OF MY CURRENT FAVES:
☆ Bulgarian Rose Otto: OKAY- so Kim K. honestly, NOT sponsored, swears by this stuff… & so do I. It’s a blend of oils, including rose (my fave), & is seriously moisturizing. I apply this nightly, & often add a drop or two to my daily moisturizer for an extra glow. It smells like roses, & is just feels super luxurious on the skin.
☆ Bio Peptide Complex Serum: serums are my jam, & this one is my go-to right now. It is full of peptides that work to fade fine lines & PLUMP up your skin big time. You know how products swear they make your skin ‘bouncy’, yeah… this is the ultimate skin bounce product. I apply this right after I wash my face at night, before I load on all of my moisturizers & oils.
☆ Apricot Cream Cleanser: I always like to have a cream cleanser on hand. I switch it up, but cream is great when my skin is feeling dry and/or when I need to remove some heavy eye makeup. This one is great because it is jam packed with oils, while still being lightweight & non pore-clogging. Also, unlike a lot of cream cleansers, this one really leaves your face feeling CLEAN.
☆ Nourish Daily Antioxidant Moisturizer: can you tell- I am obsessed with moisture on my skin? I have a ton & swap them out depending on my daily skincare needs, but when my skin needs a major boost (lack of sleep)… this one gives me a huge dose of ANTIOXIDANTS. Antioxidant’s + skincare is a dream when it comes to dull/tired skin.
3. BYBI
Not gonna lie- the branding is what first drew me into the BYBI by Clean Beauty Co. line, but what got me hooked is how well these products delivered. It def. doesn’t hurt they look so good on my vanity, but the results is what keeps me reaching for these two holy grail worthy products.
I STARTED OFF W/ TWO BEST SELLERS (BUT REALLY WANNA TRY THE SUPERCHARGE SERUM!):
☆ Babe Balm: this is probably the most versatile skincare product I own as it can literally be used in an endless amount of ways. I use it on my lips when they are chapped, my cuticles when they are dry, a quick fix highlight (looks great on the cheekbone), & a makeup remover. I carry it in my purse everywhere I go & even brought it on the plane to Jamaica– it was a real life saver cause air travel is so so DRYING.
It also contains Coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that helps to restore & regenerate your skin, as well as super hydrating calendula & hibiscus… & of course, it’s 100% natural, vegan, & cruelty free.
☆ Mega Mist: holy hyaluronic acid!! If you haven’t hopped on the hyaluronic beauty train yet, now’s the time. Hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000x it’s weight in moisture. So it’s another super BOUNCY product (I love using the word bounce to describe skin!!!). It plumps up & softens your skin, & is just SUPER refreshing/quick way to perk up your skin.
4. Juice Beauty
Juice Beauty is just what it sounds like, SUPER juicy. All of the ingredients are USDA certified organic, free of parabens/petroleum/pesticides/harmful glycols/silicones/talc/GMO’s/artificial dyes/etc. (you get the point- NOTHING bad!!), their products are free of all animal ingredients, & never tested on animals.
That being said, they are powerful products that make big changes in your skin. It really is like a cold pressed juice for your face!
THEY HAVE TONS OF CULT FAVES, BUT THE GREEN APPLE COLLECTION WAS PERFECT FOR MY SKIN ISSUES:
☆ Green Apple Peel: I have really been considering getting a chemical peel, but I am a little scared, so I started small with an at home peel. This one I loved because it contains vitamin A which provides a gentle exfoliation & helps fade any scars/fine lines/dark spots. I’m kind of picker, so this is a HUGE help for me.
☆ Green Apple Age Defy serum: my awake serum, I like this one in the mornings cause it just feels super fresh. It also provides protection against free radicals, so again, great to use at the start of your day. The plant-derived (vegan!) hyaluronic acid, again, makes your skin super plump & the green apple derived Malic acids really brightens your complexion.
☆ Green Apple brightening eye cream: I have the gnarliest genetic undereye circles, so an eye cream is crucial to my daily routine. Genetic undereye circles are trick, but this stuff really seems to be doing the job. It is incredibly nutrient rich (vitamins, peptides, sunflower, aloe, jojoba… to name a few) & contains a combo of CoQ10 + black tea to help hydrate & refresh that uber sensitive undereye area.
TIP: use your wedding ring finger to pat pat pat your eye cream in- that area is so sensitive, so no rubbing or pulling!!
5. Khus Khus Modern Herbal Fusion
Again with the branding! I am a real sucker for good looking skincare products to go on my counter, but it’s always nice when they are holy grail worthy as well. Khus Khus has definite HG potential. What I really love is that all of their products have various essential oils. So they all make you feel some sort of way. Such good energy.
WHAT I’VE TRIED… SO FAR (GOTTA GET ONE OF THEI LIP BALMS— MY LIPS ARE SO DRY RN!
☆ Worship body serum: I spend so much time working on my face, I often forget about the rest of me- but taking care of ALL your skin is crucial. Your skin is an organ, your largest organ, so you need to take care of all of it. This serum smells delicious, leaves your skin feel so smooth, & helps to calm the nervous system/aid in meditation/clear negative energy.
I love adding a few drops to my nightly bath for some extra zen, & then using is post-shower as an all over moisturizer.
☆ The Roses face serum: this is like a rose oil… but on steroids (natural, healthy, really good for you steroids & less oily/more of a serum. It helps with anti-aging, inflammation, & heals the skin, while protecting it from harmful free radicals that wreck your skin.
When it comes to energy, Rose is has a HIGH vibration- it can help relax the nervous tension & enhance feelings of love. That + good skin, you’ll be on cloud 9.
☆ The Roses Hydrolat: fanciest floral water ever!! It is uber refreshing & I love a spritz before bed (often keep it on my bedside). It is an extra boost of moisture- but better than that, it actually helps the endocrine system, hence regulating hormones!! I have hormonal acne, so this is MAJOR for me.
Also, another reason it is great for bedtime as it alleviates anxiety *spray 100 times* & helps provide healing. I find it very calming!
For more beauty, see my morning beauty routine & my favorite Korean beauty products.