15 Best Vegan & Cruelty-Free Skincare Products 2024

By Liis Hainla. Updated: January 2024.
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Best Vegan Skincare Products

Skin is our largest organ and deserves to be pampered with the cleanest vegan skincare available. But finding good skincare products takes time and patience.

To save you some time, our team has picked out the best vegan skincare products for 2024. Enjoy cruelty-free vegan skincare products that can really improve your skin.

Best Vegan Skincare Products 2024

Here are this year’s winning vegan skincare products from moisturizers and cleansers to body lotions and vegan skincare sets.

  1. Best Vegan Moisturizer: Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
  2. Best Vegan Night Cream: Andalou Naturals Resveratrol Q10 Night Repair Cream
  3. Best Vegan Eye Cream: Youth To The People Superberry Dream Eye Cream
  4. Best Vegan Cleanser: Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
  5. Best Vegan Serum: Youth To The People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum
  6. Best Vegan Face Oil: Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
  7. Best Vegan Exfoliator: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
  8. Best Vegan Toner: Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner
  9. Best Vegan Face Mask: Youth To The People Superberry Dream Mask
  10. Best Vegan Sunscreen: Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF 30
  11. Best Vegan Face Essence: Tatcha The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment
  12. Best Vegan Face Mist: Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist
  13. Best Vegan Body Lotion: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
  14. Best Vegan Hand Cream: Grown Alchemist Vanilla Orange Peel Hand Cream
  15. Best Vegan Skincare Set: Youth To The People The Youth System Skincare Set

Best Vegan Moisturizer

1. Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream

Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream Best Vegan Moisturizer
Courtesy of Youth To The People

Youth To The People Air-Whip is our favorite vegan moisturizer. It’s fresh and natural and gives the perfect daily hydration for every skin type. See more vegan moisturizers here.

  • What we like: lightweight consistency, fresh smell, very hydrating
  • What we don’t like: not moisturizing enough for very dry skin
  • What reviews say: perfect for oily skin types, real moisture boost during the cold season

Key ingredients: kale, spinach, green tea, alfalfa, vitamins C and E | Main benefits: nourishing, hydrating | Features: vegan, recyclable packaging, fragrance-free, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: AmazonSephora

Best Vegan Night Cream

2. Andalou Naturals Resveratrol Q10 Night Repair Cream

Andalou Naturals Resveratrol Q10 Best Vegan Night Cream
Courtesy of Andalou Naturals

Our favorite vegan night cream really nourishes and replenishes the skin. It is also really affordable and mainly uses natural ingredients. See more vegan night creams here.

  • What we like: helps against dry and flaky skin, deeply moisturizing
  • What we don’t like: very thick night cream, but when used correctly then a little goes a long way
  • What reviews say: lovely cocoa smell, rich hydration, makes skin soft and smooth, maybe too heavy for some and not that ideal for oily skin

Key ingredients: resveratrol Q10, goji berry, aloe vera | Benefits: rejuvenating, nourishing, reparative, anti-aging | Features: vegan, artificial fragrance-free, gluten-free, 98 nature-derived ingredients, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Ulta

Best Vegan Eye Cream

3. Youth To The People Superberry Dream Eye Cream

Youth To The People Superberry Dream Vegan Eye Cream
Courtesy of Youth To The People

This best-ever vegan eye cream uses vitamin C. It makes the eyes look awake and youthful by brightening the skin and smoothing our fine lines. See more vegan eye creams here.

  • What we like: worth the price and a little goes a long way, extremely hydrating and rich
  • What we don’t like: best to use it overnight because it doesn’t work well with make-up. The cream feels heavy and waxy after some time
  • What reviews say: It hydrates extremely well, it feels thick but spreads on easily, cream solidifies after some time

Key ingredients: goji stem cell, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C (THD ascorbate), shea butter | Benefits: smoothes lines and wrinkles, hydrating, firms the skin, renewing and plumping | Features: vegan, fragrance-free, made in the USA| Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Cleanser

4. Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser

Youth To The People Superfood Best Vegan Cleanser
Courtesy of Youth To The People

This refreshing vegan cleanser washes off makeup and dirt without any effort. It also loads your skin with healthy antioxidants from leafy greens. See more vegan cleansers here.

  • What we like: gives the skin a soft and fresh feeling, deep cleansing
  • What we don’t like: contains fragrances
  • What reviews say: a gentle cleanser that does not dry up the skin, little amount of product is needed

Key ingredients: proprietary superfoods blend: kale, spinach, green tea, alfalfa, vitamins C and E | Main benefits: cooling, moisturizing, deep-cleansing | Features: vegan, recyclable packaging, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Serum

5. Youth To The People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum

Youth To The People Triple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Best Vegan Serum
Courtesy of Youth To The People

We love this plumping vegan peptide serum. Ideal for all skin types, it gives deep hydration and improves your skin’s ability to retain moisture. See more vegan serums here.

  • What we like: helps with fine lines, works great under makeup, a little goes a long way
  • What we don’t like: leaves a sticky feeling
  • What reviews say: skin feels more soft and tight, improves texture, hydrates

Key ingredients: 4D hyaluronic acid, triple bio-peptide blend, cactus stem, rambutan peel | Main benefits: plumping, smoothing, hydrating | Features: vegan, recyclable packaging, silicone-free, fragrance-free, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Face Oil

6. Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil Best Vegan Face Oil
Courtesy of Biossance

If you are looking for quality vegan face oil, go for Biossance. This oil is so lightweight and silky. It adds hydration along with vitamin C and antioxidants. See more vegan face oils here.

  • What we like: it hydrates and nourishes the skin, helps very dry skin
  • What we don’t like: it’s expensive
  • What reviews say: gives a healthy but not shiny glow, can be used day and night, good smell

Key ingredients: vitamin C, squalane, Damascus rose extract, Chios crystal oil | Main benefits: brightening, firming, hydrating | Features: vegan, synthetic fragrance-free, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Exfoliator

7. Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Best Vegan Exfoliator
Courtesy of Paula’s Choice

This cult-favorite exfoliator from Paula’s Choice is also vegan. The liquid exfoliant uses salicylic acid that smooths the skin and removes blackheads. See more vegan exfoliators here.

  • What we like: skin starts to feel more smooth, fine lines are less visible
  • What we don’t like: can irritate the eye area
  • What reviews say: reduces blackheads, skin texture improves, pores are less clogged

Exfoliating ingredients: salicylic acid | Other ingredients: green tea, methyl propanediol | Main benefits: exfoliating, boosting, brightening | Features: vegan, artificial fragrance-free, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Toner

8. Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner

Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Best Vegan Toner
Courtesy of Klairs

Klairs has made the best vegan toner to balance your skin and help the moisturizer work better. The toner is fragrance-free and gentle for all skin types. See more vegan toners here.

  • What we like: it’s fragrance-free, feels very natural on the skin, moisturizes even dry skin
  • What we don’t like: a little bit of sticky feeling while applying
  • What reviews say: makes the skin very soft, gives a real boost during the night or under makeup

Key ingredients: Centella Asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan | Main benefits: moisturizing, refreshing, softening | Features: vegan, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, essential oils-free, artificial color-free, silicone-free | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Ulta

Best Vegan Face Mask

9. Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Best Vegan Face Mask
Courtesy of Youth To The People

We love the Superberry Dream mask. The vegan mask uses vitamin C and berry antioxidants to revive the skin and give it a lovely glow overnight. See more vegan face masks here.

  • What we like: great mask for hydration and glow, buttery texture
  • What we don’t like: too nourishing for oily skin, contains fragrance
  • What reviews say: leaves the skin very soft and hydrated, smells amazing

Key ingredients: maqui, acai, prickly pear, goji berry, sunflower, moringa, squalane | Main benefits: hydrating, plumping, brightening | Features: vegan, recyclable packaging, gluten-free, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Sunscreen

10. Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense SPF 30 Best Vegan Sunscreen
Courtesy of Dermalogica

Dermalogica’s mineral vegan sunscreen is amazing. It offers broad-spectrum defense, leaves no white cast, and balances your skin with green tea. See more vegan sunscreens here.

  • What we like: reduces redness, works well under makeup
  • What we don’t like: it’s expensive
  • What reviews say: thick consistency that feels light on the skin and lets it breathe, works great for different skin types

Key ingredients: Zinc Oxide (20.9%) | Main benefits: reduces redness, defends against UVA/UVB/blue light | Features: vegan, SPF 30, mineral sunscreen, fragrance-free, no white cast, reef-safe, non-nano, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Face Essence

11. Tatcha The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment

Tatcha The Essence Skincare Boosting Treatment Best Vegan Face Essence
Courtesy of Tatcha

The Essence is a luxurious vegan essence that uses fermented green tea, rice, and algae. It visibly hydrates and softens the skin over time. See more vegan face essences here.

  • What we like: instant hydration, lightweight consistency
  • What we don’t like: it’s expensive
  • What reviews say: highly positive online reviews, praised for deep hydration and glow

Key ingredients: fermented rice, green tea, algae | Benefits: softening, hydrating | Features: oil-free, fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested, safe for sensitive skin | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Face Mist

12. Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist

Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Best Vegan Face Mist
Courtesy of Herbivore Botanicals

Herbivore has made a wonderful vegan face mist to offer a spritz of light hydration. The mist features organic rose water and coconut water. See more vegan face mists here.

  • What we like: natural scent, refreshing, hydrating, cooling and makes the skin soft
  • What we don’t like: it is expensive
  • What reviews say: very positively reviewed face mist, users like it for its lovely scent and hydrating effect. Some users experienced a drying effect.

Key ingredients: organic rose water, hibiscus flower extract, vegan hyaluronic acid | Benefits: hydrating, nourishing, refreshing | Features: vegan, artificial fragrance-free, no synthetic ingredients, suitable for all skin types, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Body Lotion

13. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Pink Dream Best Vegan Body Lotion
Courtesy of Glow Recipe

Pink Dream Body Cream is our favorite vegan body lotion because it hydrates and gently peels the skin with AHAs. The skin is left silky smooth. See more vegan body lotions here.

  • What we like: moisturizes deeply, softens the skin
  • What we don’t like: strong watermelon scent
  • What reviews say: great cream to use after shaving, absorbs quickly into the skin, hydrates for a long period

Key ingredients: watermelon seed butter, watermelon extract, hibiscus aha, hyaluronic acid, Bacuri butter | Main benefits: smoothing, hydrating, moisturizing | Features: vegan, mineral oil-free, silicone-free, artificial colors-free, drying alcohols-free | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

Best Vegan Hand Cream

14. Grown Alchemist Vanilla Orange Peel Hand Cream

Grown Alchemist Vanilla Orange Peel Best Vegan Hand Cream
Courtesy of Grown Alchemist

Vanilla Orange Peel hand cream is light yet hydrating cream that smells amazing. The vegan cream uses high-grade plant oils and extracts. See more vegan hand creams here.

  • What we like: it’s fresh, non-greasy, and offers deep hydration
  • What we don’t like: the consistency is watery
  • What reviews say: softens and soothes hands for the whole day, helps with damaged skin, absorbs quickly 

Key ingredients: rosehip oil, camellia, sea buckthorn, wheat germ | Main benefits: soothing, softening, moisturizing | Features: vegan, artificial fragrance-free, made in Australia | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Official site

Best Vegan Skincare Set

15. Youth To The People The Youth System Skincare Set

Youth To The People The Youth System Best Vegan Skincare Set
Courtesy of Youth To The People

This high-value vegan skincare set offers all the bestselling vegan products from our favorite skincare brand Youth To The People. See more vegan skincare sets here.

  • What we like:  it has routines for morning and night
  • What we don’t like: moisturizer included in the kit is not large enough, doesn’t last 30 days
  • What reviews say: works well across different skin types, hydrating, firming, use sparingly and most of the products can go a long way, wonderful way to create a consistent skincare ritual, products smell great

Set consists of Antioxidant Cleanser, Yerba Mate Energy Facial,  Moisture Cream, Vitamin C+ Caffeine Serum, Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil, Superberry Eye Cream

Key ingredients: superfoods blend, super berry blend, tea blend | Benefits: fights large pores, fights dryness and uneven texture, deeply cleansing, reduces hyperpigmentation, illuminates | Features: vegan, for all skin types, made in the USA | Full review: read here

Shop on: Amazon, Sephora

What Makes A Skincare Product Vegan

What Makes A Skincare Product Vegan
Courtesy of Youth To The People

A vegan skincare product is simply a skincare product that includes no animal ingredients. A certified vegan skincare product cannot also be tested on animals or contain any ingredients that have been tested on animals.

The most common ingredients that make a skincare product not vegan are beeswax, honey, lanolin from sheep’s wool, and animal-based glycerin. Luckily, all those animal ingredients can be easily replaced with plant-based oils, waxes, and emollients.

To make sure you are buying a vegan skincare product, always look for a vegan marking or a certified vegan label. Since some companies use a limited definition of vegan skincare to only refer to ingredients, some skincare products are seemingly vegan but the company may still use animal testing. It’s also a safe choice to buy products from a fully vegan brand. Vegan Avenue only includes products that do not contain animal based ingredients nor have been tested on animals.

What To Look For In Vegan Skincare Products

A vegan skincare product, like all skincare products, should do what it promised. So you should be looking for vegan skincare products that are at least good with one thing, be it hydration or cleansing. With so many good new vegan brands available, the bar of vegan skincare products is high.

In addition, the ingredient list of a vegan skincare product should be as clean and clear as possible. Ideally, a vegan skincare product matches some effective key actives such as niacinamide or vitamin C with natural ingredients from plants.

If you have sensitive skin, make sure the vegan skincare product is free of major irritants and harsh chemicals. Artificial colorings and fragrances should be a no-go. Oily and acne-prone skin should also avoid rich oils and other comedogenic ingredients in vegan skincare products.

How We Review Vegan Skincare Products

How We Review Vegan Skincare Products

At Vegan Avenue, we review vegan skincare products by reviewing both the qualities of the products and the skincare brand.

  • Benefit: What are the visible benefits to the skin? Does the skin improve over time when using this particular vegan skincare product?
  • Ingredients: What is the vegan skincare product made of? What are the key active ingredients? Which botanical ingredients or plant oils does the product use?
  • Brand: Is the brand fully vegan or just cruelty-free with vegan options? In what ways is the brand sustainable or ethical?

Vegan Skincare Product Comparison

Skincare ProductBrandProductKey IngredientsMain BenefitsReview
Vegan MoisturizerYouth To The PeopleSuperfood Air-Whip Moisture CreamKale, spinach, green tea, alfalfa, vitamins C and ENourishing4.8/5
Vegan Night CreamAndalou NaturalsResveratrol Q10 Night Repair CreamResveratrol Q10, goji berry, aloe veraRejuvenating4.8/5
Vegan Eye CreamYouth To The PeopleSuperberry Dream Eye CreamGoji stem cell, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C (THD ascorbate), shea butterSmoothes lines and wrinkles, hydrating, anti-aging4.6/5
Vegan CleanserYouth To The PeopleSuperfood Antioxidant CleanserKale, spinach, green tea, alfalfa, vitamins C and ECooling, deep-cleasing4.9/5
Vegan SerumYouth To The PeopleTriple Peptide + Cactus Oasis Serum4D hyaluronic acid, triple bio-peptide blend, cactus stem, rambutan peelPlumbing, smoothing, hydrating4.7/5
Vegan Face OilBiossanceSqualane + Vitamin C Rose OilVitamin C, squalane, Damascus rose extract, Chios crystal oilBrightening4.5/5
Vegan ExfoliatorPaula’s Choice2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantSalicylic acidExfoliating4.8/5
Vegan TonerKlairsSupple Preparation Unscented TonerCentella Asiatica extract, hyaluronic acid, beta-glucanMoisturizing, refreshing, softening4.9/5
Vegan Face MaskYouth To The PeopleSuperberry Hydrate + Glow Dream MaskMaqui, acai, prickly pear, goji berry, sunflower, moringa, squalaneHydrating4.8/5
Vegan SunscreenDermalogicaInvisible Physical Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30Zinc Oxide (20.9%)Defends against UVA/UVB/blue light5/5
Vegan Face EssenceTatchaThe Essence Skincare Boosting TreatmentFermented rice, green tea, algaeSoftening, hydrating4.6/5
Vegan Face MistHerbivoreRose Hibiscus Hydrating Face MistOrganic rose water, hibiscus flower extract, vegan hyaluronic acidHydrating, nourishing, refreshing4.2/5
Vegan Body LotionGlow RecipeWatermelon Glow Pink Dream Body CreamWatermelon seed butter, watermelon extract, hibiscus aha, hyaluronic acid, Bacuri butterSmoothing, hydrating, moisturizing4.4/5
Vegan Hand CreamGrown AlchemistVanilla Orange Peel Hand CreamRosehip oil, camellia, sea buckthorn, wheat germSoothing, softening, moisturizing4.5/5
Vegan Skincare SetYouth To The PeopleThe Youth System Skincare Setsuperfoods blend, super berry blend, tea blendvaries per product4.9/5

Why Trust Us

We have reviewed and picked out our favorite vegan skincare products by testing the products for ourselves. While we have tried to keep our list of favorites as versatile as possible, Youth To The People has won our hearts with many gentle yet effective products.

On top of our own experiences at Vegan Avenue, we also read reviews from countless other people online and consult skincare experts and dermatologists. Only by combining the experience and knowledge of many different people, can we find the best products for everyone.

FAQ About Vegan Skincare Products

Which vegan skincare products are vegan?

A great number of skincare products today are vegan-friendly. To ensure you are buying a vegan skincare product that is not animal tested, choose a product with a certified vegan label.

What is the best vegan skincare product?

Some of the best vegan skincare products include Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream, Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, and Dermalogica Invisible Physical Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30.

Where to buy vegan skincare products?

You will find the widest selection of vegan skincare products available on Amazon, Sephora, and Ulta. Just search the products with a vegan keyword or use the store’s vegan filter.

Summary

Hope you enjoyed our selection of the best vegan skincare products for 2024. As the popularity of vegan skincare is growing, we are also introduced to more amazing skincare products to try out for ourselves.

Currently, most of our favorite vegan skincare is made by Youth To The People but we keep testing out other brands as well to see if anyone can match their success. As we find new great vegan skincare treats, we will add them to this list.

See also: Best Vegan Skincare Brands

Article update on May 05 (2023): Fact checked and medically reviewed by MD Shimona Garg

My name is Liis. I've been a vegan for a long time and advocate for the vegan lifestyle. Through Vegan Avenue, I write about the latest vegan news, trends, events, and all things related to the vegan lifestyle.