Luxury skincare brands are not the most animal-friendly bunch. Leading brands like Shisheido or Estée Lauder stubbornly avoid the vegan label and are reluctant to even give up animal testing. After all, animal-derived ingredients were once seen as the epitome of luxury.
With the growing eco-luxe trend and the rise of vegan skincare, luxury skincare is slowly changing. You can find more and more luxury vegan skincare brands. Many new luxury brands choose to avoid all animal ingredients and are even certified cruelty-free.
Without further ado, we’re happy to introduce you to our favorite high-end vegan skincare brands of 2024. Shop luxury vegan skincare that is worth the splurge.
Best Luxury Vegan Skincare Brands
These are the top 15 luxury vegan skincare brands for 2024.
- Eighth Day – 100% vegan
- Kypris – 100% vegan
- Klur – 100% vegan
- Aesop – 100% vegan
- True Botanicals – 100% vegan
- Le Domaine – 100% vegan
- Stella – 100% vegan
- Augustinus Bader
- Tata Harper
- Chantecaille
- African Botanics
- Tatcha
- Perricone MD
- Dr. Barbara Sturm
- Kate Somerville
1. Eighth Day
Eighth Day is a beautiful luxury vegan skincare brand from California. The company was founded by a dermatologist and reconstructive skin cancer surgeon Dr. Antony Nakla. He uses his trademarked formula to transform the skin by promoting cellular turnover and skin healing.
Eighth Day utilizes a variety of peptides, amino acids, and stem cells in 100% vegan skincare formulas. Their products are expensive but backed by clinical results and raving reviews. This luxury brand is also hypoallergenic and free of harsh chemicals, gluten, and fragrances.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by Leaping Bunny
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan
- Pricing: $85–325
Shop on: Nordstrom, Official site
2. Kypris
Kypris is a high-end vegan skincare brand from Scottsdale, Arizona. Kypris uses primarily organic and wild-harvested ingredients, they’re especially known for their luxurious oils or as they call them – Beauty Elixirs. We especially love their 1000 Roses Elixir with vitamin C. Kypris products are ethically made in the USA.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan
- Pricing: $49–210
Shop on: Amazon, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty
3. Klur
Another luxury vegan skincare brand we like is Klur. This company is entirely vegan and in their own words “committed to animal protection on every level.” Founded in Los Angeles, Klur is a black female-founded business that celebrates skin wellness, inclusivity, and minimalism.
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan
- Pricing: $40–150
Shop on: Credo Beauty, Official site
4. Aesop
From Australia comes Aesop, a PETA-certified vegan brand offering luxury vegan skincare, bodycare, haircare, and fragrances. Of their products, we really like their Parsley Seed Serum and Rind Concentrate Body Balm. Aesop is available online and they also have the most beautiful retail stores across the world.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA (owned by L’Oréal)
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan and certified by PETA
- Pricing: $17–195
5. True Botanicals
True Botanicals is a luxury vegan skincare brand from California. True Botanicals offers plant-based skincare that is biocompatible and toxin-free. We especially recommend trying their bestselling Chebula Active Serum and Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm.
PS True Botanicals is 100% vegan and even certified vegan by PETA. Never mind the company’s old information that pops up in Google about Everyday Sheer Coverage not being vegan. The product has been long discontinued. We recently confirmed the brand’s vegan status with them directly.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by Leaping Bunny and PETA
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan and certified by PETA
- Pricing: $24–188
Shop on: Amazon, Ulta, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty
6. Le Domaine
Le Domaine is a luxury vegan skincare brand by Brad Pitt. This company is truly redefining luxury by repurposing grape remnants from the actor’s vineyard in Provence into antioxidant-rich botanical extracts. As a result, Le Domaine skincare is 96% natural and sustainable.
Of all celebrity vegan beauty brands, Le Domaine is the most luxurious one. We love their genderless approach and gorgeous glass packaging with oak caps. The brand was launched together with the Perrin family – French wine growers who were also behind the initial idea.
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan
- Pricing: $77–275
Shop on: Bluemercury, Official site
7. Stella
Another celebrity vegan skincare brand worth nothing is Stella by Stella McCartney. Stella was launched in August 2022 in collaboration with French luxury conglomerate LVMH. This certified vegan luxury brand offers Scotland-inspired skincare where Stella spent much of her childhood.
Stella’s high-end vegan skincare is minimalist with a core collection of one vegan serum, cleanser, and moisturizer. The eco-conscious skincare line uses primarily natural ingredients with has refills available for each product.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by Leaping Bunny (partly owned by LVMH)
- Vegan: Yes, 100% vegan and certified by The Vegan Society
- Pricing: $20–130
Shop on: Space NK, Official site
8. Augustinus Bader
Augustinus Bader is another brand we recommend for luxury vegan skincare. Founded by a biomedical scientist of the same name, Augustinus Bader skincare uses proprietary technology designed to renew the skin and fight wrinkles by boosting cellular communication and circulation.
Currently, most Augustinus Bader products are vegan, except for The Cream, The Body Lotion, and 200 ml The Body Cream. The Body Cream will be soon reformulated to become vegan as the 100 ml version is vegan already. From vegan skincare, their anti-aging moisturizer The Rich Cream is a must-try.
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, see their vegan collection here
- Pricing: $57–390
9. Tata Harper
Based in Vermont, Tata Harper is a luxury skincare brand that is 100% natural. The brand uses a variety of botanicals and flowers that come straight from the founder’s organic farm. For a luxurious skincare experience, try their bestselling Regenerative Cleanser and Rejuvenating Peptide Serum.
Tata Harper is not 100% vegan as some of their products include beeswax and honey. The brand’s makeup line also includes animal-derived carmine. Nevertheless, Tata Harper is certified cruelty-free with a wide vegan skincare selection worth exploring.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by PETA and Cruelty-Free International (owned by Amorepacific)
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, see their vegan skincare collection here
- Pricing: $46–490 (mini facials for $20)
Shop on: Amazon, Sephora, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty
10. Chantecaille
Chantecaille is one of our go-to brands for luxury vegan makeup and perfumes. The French brand has also a great selection of luxury vegan skincare. While not entirely vegan, Chantecaille deserves the spot on our list for its high-quality formulas and environmental efforts. Plus, their Rose de Mai vegan cream is just dreamy.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by PETA (owned by Beiersdorf/Nivea)
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, see their vegan collection here
- Pricing: $36–435
Shop on: Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
11. African Botanics
African Botanics is an eco-luxury skincare company founded by two Los Angeles-based South Africans, Craig and Julia Noik. This skincare brand pays homage to South Africa’s biodiversity and heritage. The products are also sustainably made in South Africa where the company supports the development of rural areas.
Is African Botanics a vegan brand? Contrary to what the brand claims on its website, African Botanics is NOT entirely vegan and uses pearl extract and beeswax in some of its products. Luckily, the majority of their products are vegan-friendly.
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, some products include pearl extract or beeswax.
- Pricing: $55–350
Shop on: Credo Beauty, Bluemercury
12. Tatcha
Inspired by Japanese skincare traditions and Geisha rituals, Tatcha is a popular luxury vegan skincare brand from San Franscivoty. Founded by businesswoman Vicky Tsai, Tatcha celebrates the beauty of harmony as she quotes the Japanese phrase ‘hinou dokon’ or ‘skin-mind same root’.
Tatcha is not entirely vegan but they have a good vegan selection. From Tatcha vegan products, we recommend their Gentle Rice Polish, The Essence, and The Water Cream.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by PETA (owned by Unilever)
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, see their vegan collection here
- Pricing: $14–125
13. Perricone MD
Perricone MD is a beloved luxury cosmetics brand by renowned author and dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone. While Perricone MD does use animal ingredients in some products, they also have a wide range of luxury vegan skincare. We especially like their vegan Vitamin C Photo-Brightening Moisturizer.
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, see their vegan selection here
- Pricing: $10–325
Shop on: Amazon, Ulta, Nordstrom
14. Dr. Barbara Sturm
Endorsed by countless celebrities, Dr. Barbara Strum designs luxury skincare that is all about restoring the skin’s microbiome balance with hydration and nutrition. Only by choosing skincare that is anti-inflammatory and kind to the skin can you achieve what the brand calls the ‘Sturmglow’.
The majority of Barbara Strum skincare is vegan, except for The Better B Niacinamide Serum, Glow Drops, Sun Drops SPF 50, Clarifying Serum, Clarifying Acne Spot Treatment, V Wash, Super Anti-Aging Face Cream, Anti-Aging Body Cream, and Darker Skin Tones Foam Cleanser.
- Cruelty-free: Yes
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, vegan products are marked so in Sephora
- Pricing: $55–395 ($900 for 3.4 oz serum)
Shop on: Amazon, Sephora, Nordstrom
15. Kate Somerville
Esthetician Kate Somerville founded her luxury skincare brand in 2004. Having served A-list celebrities at her Melrose clinic in Hollywood, she wanted to offer the same clinical solutions that everyone can use at home. Kate Somerville is not a fully vegan brand but they have a great vegan-friendly luxury skincare collection.
- Cruelty-free: Yes, certified by PETA (owned by Unilever)
- Vegan: Not entirely vegan, see their vegan selection here
- Pricing: $22–205
Shop on: Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom
Is Luxury Skincare Vegan?
Luxury skincare is not always vegan. Luxury skincare can easily be made vegan but most leading brands in the luxury skincare category still widely use animal-derived ingredients, primarily collagen, pearl powder, silk proteins, beeswax, and lanolin. Luxury skincare is often also animal tested.
For instance, all these luxury skincare brands are NOT vegan since they still test on animals when required by law: La Mer, Shisheido, Dior, SK-II, Lancôme, Clarins, Caudalie, Guerlain, Estée Lauder, Dior, Chanel, Elemis, La Prairie, Elizabeth Arden, SkinCeuticals, Biologique Recherche.
Whilst luxury skincare is not easy to find, there are some high-end skincare brands out there that are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Also, popular luxury skincare brands like Kate Somerville or Tata Harper offer a wide vegan selection.
What To Look For In Luxury Vegan Skincare?
When shopping for luxury vegan skincare, set the bar high. Expect the brand to deliver as much value to you as possible. When paying more, you can and should expect more.
Here are some of the questions we like to ask from luxury vegan skincare brands:
- Is the brand certified – Luxury brands should be able to afford to get their products officially certified. Having Leaping Bunny or PETA validate the cruelty-free or vegan claims is crucial to showing commitment to animal-friendly practices.
- What are the ingredients – Essentially, what makes the brand’s skincare expensive? Are the ingredients innovative or technologically advanced? Do they use organic or wild-harvested components? Which chemicals do they avoid?
- Where are their products made – We prefer luxury brands that choose to produce locally or at least in highly controlled facilities abroad. Production cost is a big one and locally-produced luxury skincare better justifies its premium price.
- Other ecological or social commitments – From sustainable packaging to charitable causes, we believe luxury brands should always offer something extra.
How We Review Luxury Vegan Skincare Brands
We review luxury vegan skincare brands by testing the products and comparing our experience against online reviews. We also list 100% vegan skincare brands first.
When reviewing luxury brands that are cruelty-free but not fully vegan, we expect the brands to have a wide vegan product selection, especially in their core collection.
For example, while the Italian luxury brand Furtuna Skin has many vegan-friendly products, all their main moisturizers included beeswax, so Furtuna did not make it on our list.
None of our reviews at Vegan Avenue have been incentivized by the brand or retailer.
FAQ About Luxury Vegan Skincare
Luxury skincare is often not vegan but the popularity of luxury vegan skincare is definitely on the rise.
The most common animal-derived ingredients to make luxury skincare not vegan are collagen, beeswax, lanolin, and pearl and silk powders.
Some of the 100% vegan luxury skincare brands include Eighth Day, Klur, Kypris, Stella, Le Domaine, True Botanicals, and Aesop.
The best selection of luxury vegan skincare is available online, more specifically on Sephora, Nordstrom, Amazon, and Credo Beauty.
La Mer is not vegan. La Mer uses a variety of animal-derived ingredients (such as lanolin) and tests its products on animals.
No. Furtuna Skin is not vegan. The information on their website about being vegan is outdated. Furtuna has a wide vegan offering but their Daily Renewal Cream, Nightly Renewal Cream, Replenishing Balm, and Micellar Cleansing Essence are not vegan-friendly.
Most of Charlotte Tilbury’s skincare products are not vegan and include animal-derived ingredients such as collagen. Charlotte Tilbury’s vegan skincare options include Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer, Goddess Skin Clay Mask, and Glow Toner. See all of Charlotte TIlbury’s vegan products here.
No. African Botanics is not entirely vegan as they use animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax and pearl extract.
Yes. Hourglass is 100% vegan.
Summary
Luxury is slowly but steadily going vegan and we are here for it. Nothing feels better than investing in luxury vegan skincare that is ethically made from clean, plant-based ingredients.
Our favorite luxury vegan skincare brands are Eighth Day, Kypris, and Klur. We also love to buy high-end vegan skincare from cruelty-free brands such as Tata Harper.
Hopefully, many more luxury skincare brands will decide to join us in the 21st century and make their skincare vegan. Once they do, we’ll be the first to tell you all about it.
See also: Luxury Vegan Makeup Brands
Main image: courtesy of Eighth Day
