A guide to vegan beauty essentials

Whether you are strictly vegan in all aspects of your life, or simply choose cruelty free beauty products, there are a few vegan beauty essentials you should know about. Use this vegan skincare and beauty essentials guide to understand what these phrases mean, how to shop for vegan and cruelty free products, and our top recommendations to get you started.

The vegan lifestyle has become incredibly popular in recent years, and the market is responding to the demand by offering an ever increasing number of vegan friendly beauty products. But what makes a product truly vegan? Is it just about the ingredients? Or is there something more to it? This guide will answer your questions about what makes a product vegan, how to find out if a product is vegan friendly, and some of our favorite vegan beauty products!

What does vegan skincare and makeup mean?

Still wondering: what is vegan skincare? With so many different labels and ways to describe products, it can be confusing to know what everything means. But, put simply, vegan skincare is essentially any skincare or personal care product that contains no animal derived ingredients Animal-derived ingredients include beeswax, lanolin (wool grease), squalene (shark liver oil), carmine (crushed-up beetles), gelatine (cow or pig bones and tendons) – essentially any ingredient that is extracted, secreted or otherwise made from an animal. You might hear the phrase ‘animal by products’ used a lot in the vegan dialogue. These can also be classed as ‘animal-derived as they are still the result of using animals in the production process. Honey, milk, and eggs are all common animal by-products.

Vegan skincare is skincare that uses plant based ingredients. Meaning they’re derived from plant matter, such as trees, flowers, bushes et cetera. You might also be wondering: is vegan skincare better. There are many reasons vegan skincare is better than non-vegan skincare. Firstly, by not using animal-derived ingredients, vegan skincare significantly reduces the cruelty and suffering of our furry friends. But more than that, using plant-based ingredients is usually less resource intensive and damaging to the environment. Another reason good quality, natural vegan skincare is better for you and your skin is that it contains natural, plant based ingredients that are safe to put on your skin. That said, vegan skincare can include synthetic, lab-made ingredients that are chemical based. That’s why it’s important to read ingredients lists even when you see a ‘vegan’ label, as ‘vegan’ products can still contain harsh, man made chemicals or fillers.
 

What does cruelty free mean?

Now that you understand vegan skincare, it’s time to understand what cruelty-free means. Cruelty-free is synonymous with ‘not tested on animals.’ Meaning, that product, and its ingredients have not been tested on an animal to see if they are safe for human use. Nowadays, there are many innovative and highly effective lab tests that can be done without the use of animals that ensure your cruelty free products are more than safe to use on your hair and skin. One thing to be careful of when shopping for cruelty free skincare is that a product can claim to be cruelty free if the final product was not tested on animals, but the ingredients that went into it were. Therefore, it’s important to research a brand or look for a recognised accreditation. Some of the most common cruelty-free certifications include the PETA cruelty free bunny, the Choose Cruelty Free bunny and the Vegan Society flower.

When you’re shopping for cruelty free skincare or cruelty free makeup, you’d probably think that all those brands and products are also vegan. While that would make sense, it’s not always the case. A cruelty free skincare brand might still use animal derived ingredients in its formulas; just like a vegan skincare brand might test its ingredients or products on animals. It can take some time and research to find out if a product or brand is both cruelty free and vegan, especially if they don’t have a logo for both. The easiest way to cut out that research is to shop the Sassy Organics cruelty free makeup and cruelty free skincare range. We ensure all the brands and products at Sassy Organics are both cruelty free and vegan. Otherwise, look for logos that ensure a product is both cruelty free and vegan. PETA has a cruelty free and vegan bunny logo, The Vegan Society logo and the Certified Vegan by Vegan.org also mean a product is both vegan and cruelty free.

Natural and vegan skincare essentials

So, you’re ready to get started on your vegan skincare journey but have no idea what the best brands and products are. The good news is there are lots of great vegan and cruelty free skincare brands out there – with more and more brands switching to vegan and cruelty free all the time. Just remember, when not shopping the already well researched Sassy Organics range, double check a product’s ingredients list for nasty chemicals and animal ingredients and check with them if you’re not sure whether they test on animals. With that said, here are five vegan skincare essentials to get you started on your journey.

1. Pure rose water. Rosewater is a vegan skincare all-rounder and a beautiful product for your skin. Organic rose water can improve your complexion, reduce redness and even reduce acne. To use rose water, apply a small amount to a cotton pad and wipe over the face as a toner. Or, you can decant some rosewater into a spray bottle and spritz it onto your face as a regular, hydrating toner to use throughout the day.
    
2. Glory oil. Eco by Sonya glory oil (sometimes referred to as eco tan glory oil) is a true miracle worker. This cold pressed oil combines grape seed, coconut, jojoba and superfoods acai, chia seed and inchi seed. It’s packed with omegas 3, 6 and 9, as well as vitamin E. It’s proven to fix a whole host of skin concerns like acne, redness, hyperpigmentation and scarring. You can use glory oil on your face and body.
    
3. Antipodes eye cream. If you’re not already using an eye cream, this is your sign to start. Eye cream is a vegan skincare essential as the skin around our eyes is more delicate and different to the skin on the rest of our faces. Meaning, regular face products won’t work as well around the eyes. A targeted Antipodes eye cream like the Kiwi Seed Gold Eye Cream will work to target fine lines, reduce undereye bags and dark circles.
    
4. Acure Brightening Facial Scrub. No vegan skincare essentials list would be complete without an exfoliator. The Acure Brightening Facial Scrub is made with sea kelp and French green clay. It works to soften and detoxify the skin, revealing a fresher, brighter complexion underneath. The Acure Brightening Facial Scrub is great because it removes dead skin cells and impurities without disturbing your natural moisture levels.
    
5. To complete your essentials set, you’ll need an all-over body lotion. One of our favourites is the Noosa Basics Shea Butter moisturiser. This stuff is rich in hydration like you’ve never seen it. This shea butter moisturiser contains 65 per cent shea butter and a combination of pure plant oils – jojoba, pomegranate and rosehip – that are then whipped for the ultimate, creamy texture. If you want a body lotion that will prevent wrinkles and keep your skin silky soft, then this is for you.

Vegan makeup essentials

Now you’re practically a vegan skincare guru, it’s time to talk all things vegan makeup essentials. Vegan makeup can be hard to come across as a lot of common makeup products like eyeshadows and lipsticks use animal ingredients for colourings or smooth textures. It’s even harder to find all natural vegan makeup. Our essentials list, and our full vegan makeup range, will get you started with natural, vegan makeup that works.
 

1.  Zuii Organic Primer. Zuii Organic is a pioneer brand for certified-organic vegan makeup that uses the power of botanicals and plants. A foundation Primer will help your foundation go on smoothly and improve your foundation's wear time. For a foundation primer that benefits your skin, we recommend the Zuii Organic Primer as it enhances the protection and hydration of your skin to ensure your foundation of choice looks better and wears longer. 
    
2. Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation. Ere Perez is a leading Australian brand for natural and vegan makeup. The Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation is a non greasy, lightweight foundation that combines powerful skincare ingredients like oat milk, peach and vitamin E with a medium to full coverage. Achieve even, bright and youthful looking skin with the Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation – available in eight shades.
    
3. No makeup look is complete without at least one coat of vegan mascara. Many mascaras on the market are full of chemicals and harsh colourants. A vegan mascara that's natural will give you fuller, thicker lashes without chemicals and animal cruelty. Combining rich plant oils with natural colourants, vegan mascaras like the Ere Perez Waterproof Mascara strengthen and lengthen your natural lashes while creating the look of already fuller and longer lashes.
    
4. Neek Skin Organics is a go to brand for natural, vegan makeup that works. The Neek Skin Organics lipsticks are the perfect addition to any vegan makeup look. You can choose from creamy matte, satin or glossy finishes and a range of red, berry, coral and nude shades. The Neek Skin Organics lipsticks also come in beautiful wood bullets that look great on any makeup table.
    
5. BB Cream. If you’re not much of a makeup wearer, a BB cream might be your new favourite vegan skincare and makeup product. A BB cream is a cross between a moisturiser and a foundation. So, it has lighter coverage than a foundation but contains more skin-improving ingredients like a serum or moisturiser. One of our favourite brands for BB Creams is La Mav. La Mav skin care is certified organic, vegan and cruelty free. The La Mav bb cream is made from age defying bioactives. The formula is colour adapting, skin-evening and deeply hydrating.
    
6. To complete your look you might want to try Hanami nail polish. Vegan nail polish can be hard to come across as bugs are often used to create different colours and finishes. It can be even harder to find natural, chemical free nail polishes that are safe to use and won't damage your lungs or nails. Hanami nail polish is not only long-wearing, natural and easy to use but it comes in a range of amazing colours. Think trend led statement shades to your classic neutrals. There's a Hanami nail polish for everyone.

Vegan perfume essentials

One of the trickiest products to find when adopting a vegan or cruelty free lifestyle is perfume. Many perfumes on the market contain extremely harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients that are often tested on animals and/or animal derived. Phthalates and synthetic fragrances are known to negatively impact health, in particular causing disruptions to the endocrine system (glands and hormones). 

Vanessa Megan is a luxury perfume brand that is known for its elegant, sophisticated scents. Vanessa Megan's perfumes are created with the finest ingredients and hand blended to perfection in small batches. They use essential oils, including bergamot and jasmine, so you know you're getting something that smells amazing and is good for your skin.

Vanessa Megan natural perfume blends essential and plant based oils to create uplifting and long lasting fragrances that are both natural and vegan friendly. The Vanessa Megan Monarch perfume is one of the most loved fragrances, combining five exotic essential oils for a truly unique scent of musk and earthy florals. But with four different fragrances to choose from, you might want to try Vanessa Megan perfume samples to decide which Vanessa Megan perfume is for you. You can purchase any Vanessa Megan perfume in a 10 ml option or you can try them all in the Mini Perfume Collection. 

Vegan protein powders & supplements

Lasting beauty and good skin start in the kitchen. Nourishing our bodies with highly nutritious foods can help strengthen our hair and nails, and improve our skin. Omegas like omega 3, 6 and 9 are all essential fatty acids that our bodies need to grow our hair and renew our skin cells. Having better internal health will also help regulate our skin’s sebum/oil production, which in turn can help solve our skin concerns. And a nutrients diverse protein will supply your body with amino acids, which are essential for making keratin – the structural protein found in our skin, hair and nails. A good mix of macro and micro nutrients will help to keep you feeling, and looking, your best.  
 

1. Macro Mike specialises in making vegan and gluten-free protein powders that actually taste good. The Macro Mike protein powder range comes in a variety of flavours and can be used to make smoothies and baked goods. But for an extra beauty boost, you can use the Macro Mike premium almond protein which is full of fibre, magnesium, Vitamin E, iron and calcium – all vital for healthier hair, skin and nails.
    
2. Nutra Organics protein powder is all about clean, plant based and organic ingredients. These protein powders will not only balance your diet and internal health but improve your gut strength and intake of vital micronutrients. Add this to your smoothies, shakes or raw vegan treats for a healthy beauty boosting treat.
    
3. Hemp Foods Australia protein powders are made from organic hemp seeds. The hemp seed is highly nutritious and contains a mix of essential omega fatty acids. Hemp Foods Australia protein powder is not only high protein but is tasty and easy to blend.  
    
4. Teelixir is a leader in making healthful mushroom latte powders. The Teelixir mushroom matcha latte boosts antioxidants and beta glucans, which helps support your immune system. It’s also rich in minerals, amino acids and fatty acids that support healthy bodily functioning.
    
5. Frank Simple are pioneering simple, no nonsense health supplements that stick to facts and results, not marketing ploys and buzzwords. The Frank Simple Super Greens Powder is a great addition to your supplements mix as it ensures you get all your vital micronutrients. From vitamins A, C and E to digestive enzymes and apple cider vinegar this powder will supercharge your body’s functioning – in turn improving your hair, skin and nails.

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