There’s been a rise in vegan beauty products in recent years and I’ve been exploring quite a bit of vegan skincare products to see which ones really provide a positive impact for my sensitive, combination skin. I’m diving into 5 beauty brands that offer vegan skincare products worth looking into.
Disclaimer: some of these brands offer nothing but vegan skincare products only while some of the brands have only a part of their product range with vegan skincare formulas. Nevertheless, each of the products I mention below are vegan skincare products.
My skin type: sensitive, combination.
Vegan beauty products are products that do not contain any animal by-products or animal-derived ingredients.
AXIS-Y is a climate inspired, community focused, and self-care encouraged Korean skincare brand. AXIS-Y recognizes that everyone’s skin is unique and aims to deliver a higher level of personalized care through their skincare products. AXIS-Y products are not only vegan but they are also cruelty free and free of parabens, artificial oil, mineral oil, and artificial fragrance.
Below are a few AXIS-Y products I have used and recommend checking out! The products mentioned below are a part of AXIS-Y’s 6+1+1 series, meaning they’re formulated with a combination of 6 nutrient-rich base ingredients, 1 core goal oriented ingredient, and 1 quality-producing effective technology.
This reef-safe sunscreen from AXIS-Y has SPF 50+ and is a Mugwart based sunscreen with 2% Niacinamide and minimal whitecast. The 6 base ingredients in the Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen are Calendula, Grape, Green Tea, Chamomile, Squalane, and Allantoin, Mugwart is the core ingredient in this sunscreen and helps lower the heat of skin and clears the blood to help skin elasticity and radiance. The last part of the 6-1-1 formula is the effective technology, SYN-COLL. SYN-COLL is a unique peptide sequence that imitates the body’s collagen production. Truly love how detailed and educational AXIS-Y’s website is, each product page also has so much detail that’s easy to follow!
I enjoy how lightweight AXIS-Y’s Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen - the formula isn’t sticky at all and feels great on my skin. I have really sensitive skin and AXIS-Y’s sunscreen feels really gentle on me. There is an initial white cast when I apply this sunscreen but it does fade away within a few minutes.
AXIS-Y’s Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum is a staple in my skincare routine. It’s a 5% Niacinamide-based serum that corrects dark spots and improves uneven skin tone. It’s super lightweight + hydrating and is said to be great for all skin types. The 6 base ingredients in the Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum are Squalane, Papaya, Sea Buckthorn, Rice Bran, Allantoin, and Calendula. The 1 core ingredient is 5% Niacinamide - a water soluble vitamin that works with the natural substances of the skin to help improve uneven skin tone, dullness, and skin barrier. The 1 effective technology in this serum is Niacinamide and Rice Bran - brightening ingredients for an effective ton-up function.
I introduced the Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum in my morning and evening skincare routines to help with uneven texture. I noticed a difference in how my skin felt and looked within a few days of using this serum! It’s much smoother and the formula is gentle and lightweight.
AXIS-Y’s spot treatment is formulated for acne-prone oily and sensitive skin to help with breakouts + blemishes and help restore the skin barrier. It’s alcohol free and the 6 base ingredients are Tea Tree Extract, Green Tea Leaf, Camphor Leaf, Mentha Aquatica, Licorice Root, and Broadleaf Bamboo. The 1 core ingredient is 4-Terpineol which is the main active ingredient in Tea Tree. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties to help dry out breakouts and blemishes. The 1 effective technology is PHYTO-OLIGO 1%, a phyto complex that consists of hollyhock flower and aloe vera extracts. It’s high in moisture and non-irritating - a great solution for sensitive skin.
I use Spot the Difference Blemish Treatment on my problem areas after applying toner and pat into skin. This spot treatment has worked wonders on my skin, especially on my jaw area where I get most of my breakouts these days. I appreciate that Spot the Difference Blemish Treatment is formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin.
Dermalogica provides professional-grade skin care and personalized skin care. I’ve used the brands for over a decade and have my top 3 favorite vegan skincare products from Dermalogica below. Dermalogica is rooted in education - they provide skin therapists with skills based training to ensure healthy skin for all. I was actually lucky enough to take a few virtual classes with Dermalogica and found them so helpful and educational! Here are a few products I recommend checking out from Dermalogica:
This rice-based powder activates when you add water and create a paste like consistency. daily microfoliant is gentle enough for daily use and incredibly effective with helping to achieve brighter, smoother skin. A Skin Brightening Complex of Phytic Acid helps balance uneven skin tone while ingredients like Colloidal Oatmeal and Allantoin help calm skin.
This cleansing oil is an alternative to a cleansing balm as the first step of double cleansing. precleanse helps remove makeup and impurities from skin and preps you for the second step of double cleansing, using a face wash. precleanse helps remove impurities without clogging pores and also is formulated to help nourish skin.
Dermalogica’s cleansing gel is soap-free and cleanses skin without disturbing skin’s natural moisture balance. It’s super gentle and incredibly effective. special cleansing gel is formulated with ingredients like Quillaja Saponaria that helps gently rinse away toxins and leaves skin feeling smooth + Balm Mint and Lavender extracts to help soothe skin.
A global skincare brand, glowoasis creates unique vegan skincare products using vegan probiotics. The vegan probiotics glowoasis use in their products is derived from nappa cabbage and help deliver nutrients deep into skin. They also balance and strengthen skin’s natural microbiome + protect from stress, environmental factors, and more! You can read more about glowoasis and what makes them different here.
Here are 3 of my top picks from glowoasis:
One of my all time favorite moisturizers has to be glowburst by glowoasis. glowburst is waterburst cream that keeps skin moisturized day to night. It’s my go to cream for winter as it’s one of the most reliable creams to keep my skin hydrated. The formula of glowburst is lightweight and there is absolutely no greasy feeling to it. This vegan moisturizer transforms into tiny drops once you apply it to skin, the sensation is so refreshing and different from using traditional moisturizers.
Some of the nutrient-rich ingredients found in glowburst include desert rose leaf extract to help restore hydration and reinforce cell regeneration, blue agave leaf extract to help boost skin health and decrease inflammation, and resurrection plant that has antioxidant properties to help strengthen skin’s moisture barrier.
This vegan toner from glowoasis is a pH balancing moisture milk toner that hydrates and nourishes skin. milkdew is formulated with a blend of ingredients to revitalize dull, dehydrated skin, leaving it dewy and hydrated.
Some of the core ingredients include apricot kernel oil to condition skin and lock in moisture, prickly pear extract to hydrate and brighten skin, and soybean extract to help reduce flakiness and restore suppleness.
Cleansing balm is the first product I use when I double cleanse and glowoasis’ makeupmelt is a one I’ve used often. makeupmelt is a vegan cleansing balm that is gentle on skin and easily removes makeup and impurities from skin. makeupmelt helps break down and remove even the most stubborn makeup, including waterproof mascara. I have a demo of where I used makeupmelt in my cleansing routine here.
A few core ingredients found in makeupmelt are moringa seed oil that calms inflammation, neem leaf extract that restores and repairs skin, and false daisy that soothes and heals skin.
Related posts: first look at glowoasis, must have hydrating skincare products, beauty empties ft. glowoasis
Live Tinted is a brand I’ve been following since day one of their launch. Live Tinted started off by launching a digital community that focused on inclusive, diverse community which then helped shape a storytelling platform focused on underrepresented people and their journeys with culture and identity. Live Tinted creates products where I, as an Indian American, feel represented and seen and it’s been so amazing to follow the journey of the brand as they continue to grow! Here are a few vegan skincare products from Live Tinted to check out:
Live Tinted’s Huegard is a no white cast sunscreen. Huegard is a daily mineral SPF 30, moisturizer, and primer all in one and protects skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays and blue light. The formula of Huegard is weightless and blends into skin, leaving it with a natural glow and no whitecast.
These 100% biodegradable eye masks help reduce under eye puffiness and the cooling hydrogel soothes and brightens skin. Live Tinted’s vegan eye masks are formulated with their Triple Complex of Copper Peptides, Banana Extract, and Bakuchiol. I like using these eye masks to prep my undereyes prior to applying makeup and anytime I want to refresh my undereyes with an extra boost of hydration.
SUPERHUE is a solid balm-to-serum stick that fades the signs of dark spots and hyperpigmentation while helping smoothie the look of fine lines and wrinkles. I instantly fell in love with this product and how the formula felt on my skin. SUPERHUE instantly glides on and melts into my skin and leaves a cooling feeling. Some of the key ingredients in Live Tinted’s SUPERHUE are 5% Niacinamide to help fade dark spots, 1% Bakuchiol, a retinol alternative to help boost skin firmness, improve skin brightness, and smooth texture, and 1% THD Vitamin C to help fade existing dark spots.
Thrive Causemetics is a beauty brand and philosophy that empowers women. Thrive Causemetics creates vegan and cruelty free formulas that stems from their belief of changing the world with a single ingredient. What’s also admirable about Thrive Causemetics besides their exceptional beauty products is that they give back to help women thrive. You can read more about how Thrive Causemetics gives back here. Below are a few of my favorite skincare products from Thrive Causemetics I recommend checking out:
This leave on lip treatment is a go to of mine to hydrate my lips. It’s great to apply day and night for soft, smooth lips. Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lip Balm Treatment is powered by their nutrient rich Lip Filler Technology which helps plump and smooth the look of fine lines. This lip treatment is also formulated with Vitamin B5 ti replenish and retain moisture, Abyssinian Seed Oil to deeply nourish lips, and Sesame Seed Extract to revive lips and protect against environmental stressors.
Our lips need suncare too! Thrive Causemetics Sunproof Intensive Lip Balm protects skin from sun damage, sunburn, dryness, and chapping. The formula is non sticky and not heavy at all. It’s formulated with ingredients like Sweet Cherry Seed Oil to promote collagen production, Mango Seed Butter to moisturize skin, and Pomegranate Sterols to help skin’s barrier to protect against environmental stress.
This 7 peptide moisturizer has a 5 ceramide and 5 hyaluronic acid active blend to hydrate skin and boost elasticity. The feel of this Thrive Causemetics moisturizer is super lightweight and gel-like. It blends right into skin without leaving a heavy or greasy feel. The peptides in the formula of this moisturizer provides hydration and skin elasticity while the orchid stem cells firm and rejuvenate skin.
Have you tried any of these vegan skincare products? Share your go to vegan skincare products/brands below!