A while ago, vegan skincare had an expensive price label and no one really knew about it. Now, vegan skincare is widely embraced. And becoming normality. Over the years, vegan brands have become more aware. They contribute to product development and control.
But is vegan skincare better? We believe so. But let’s take a look at vegan skincare’s pros and cons and its actual benefits on the skin.
Vegan Skincare Pros And Cons
Today, vegan skincare has more pros than cons. Now that there are more and more vegan brands and products, their quality has improved, too.
Advantages Of Vegan Skincare
Veganism is accompanied by environmental and health awareness. Therefore, vegan skincare products are often cleaner and more natural. Vegan brands also contribute a lot to ethical production. The packaging is made from recycled materials and the staff is well-paid and treated.
Although skin care is only a small part of life, it can change a lot in the world as most of us choose vegan skincare.
Of course, the biggest advantage of vegan skincare is that it does not contribute to animal cruelty. Many people choose vegan skincare because they want to invest in animal welfare. And do not want to support the inhumane conditions in which animals often live.
In addition to being animal-friendly, vegan skincare also supports environmental sustainability. Keeping farm animals has a devastating effect on our planet. It contributes to global warming. The result is environmental pollution, scarcity of species, and lack of resources.
Disadvantages Of Vegan Skincare
Vegan skincare only includes plant-based or man-made components. Vegan skincare does not contain any animal-based ingredients or by-products. Yet, it does not mean that they cannot contain toxic chemicals.
You should not let yourself be fooled by the rumor that vegan brands are always natural. High-quality vegan skincare is definitely cleaner and better for your skin. However, we should all be critical of every product that has a vegan label on them.
A lot of cheap toxic substances are vegan by default. Because no animals have to suffer to produce them. However, they are most likely irritating and not good for your body.
For instance, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are all vegan by definition. But these chemicals are also claimed to be one of the most toxic skincare ingredients.
Other toxic components are PEGs aka polyethylene glycols. These are petroleum-derived ingredients used commonly in skincare as solvents and thickeners.
In general, vegan skincare is reliable. But background research or fast googling always helps to make the right decision. Still, most vegan skincare brands are conscious and refrain from toxic ingredients.
Is Vegan Skincare Better?
Vegan skincare is not necessarily better for the skin than non-vegan skincare. But it could easily be. However, as already mentioned above, it has many other good qualities that outweigh the pros of vegan skincare. Such as environmental aspects or animal welfare.
Still, vegan skincare could be better because most of the time it is clean, natural, effective, and science-based. Good quality vegan skincare products are likely chemical-free and sometimes even organic. As vegan brands are usually health-conscious, they produce according to their mission.
In today’s world, the consumer is very aware, because information about health and the environment is easy to find. Therefore, skincare brands also make their own adjustments.
Clean plant-based ingredients usually contain a lot of antioxidants and beneficial vitamins. These help the skin stay young and healthy.
Animal-based beauty products often include artificial or pore-clogging ingredients. And these might lead to breakouts. A toxin-free vegan product based on botanical ingredients is better for your skin and body. Most people would not want any animal-derived ingredients near their skin anyway. But since their origin hides behind fancy names, people are often oblivious.
For instance, collagen aka slaughterhouse waste is a protein made of animal tissue and skin. And a very popular skincare ingredient is lanolin, an emollient made from sheep sweat. Plus, lanolin-derived components in skincare are considered pore-clogging.
Although the link between animal-derived skincare ingredients and skin irritation has not been proven by science, a lot of dermatologists recommend not using them.
Our skin absorbs the majority of the products we apply to it. So it is best to keep the skincare regime as clean and natural as possible. Vegan products and brands are a good place to start with.
FAQ About Vegan Skincare Benefits
Vegan skincare is not necessarily better but most likely is. As vegan brands are usually health-conscious, they produce accordingly. Good quality vegan skincare products are chemical-free, natural, and often organic. Pure plant-based ingredients usually contain a lot of antioxidants and beneficial vitamins great for the skin.
Summary
There are many benefits to vegan skincare. Of course, vegan brands do not contribute to animal abuse. But moreover, there is a high probability that it is also better for our skin and body.
Vegan brands are often health-conscious and produced with buyers’ interests in mind. Clean, organic, and plant-based ingredients. No chemicals or pore-clogging components.
However, keep in mind that many toxic elements in skincare are vegan by default. So while high-quality vegan skincare is great for our skin, remember that not all vegan products are beneficial.
So, do your previous research to sort out the best choices. Buy from vegan brands that are transparent in their production and recommended by other users.
Update on May 05 (2023): Fact checked and medically reviewed by MD Shimona Garg
Update on February 19 (2023): Added more references
