With today (November 1st) marking World Vegan Day and November being World Vegan Month, there's never been a better time to hone in on beauty's most conscientious category.
The vegan movement is growing at an exciting rate. In fact, the global market for vegan cosmetics was estimated at US$15.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US$21.4 billion by 2027, according to a report by ReportLinker. And according to 1010data, online sales of vegan beauty products exceeded $342 million in 2020 and grew 83% from the previous year.
Meanwhile, a 2018 Google Trends report revealed that Australians are leading the way when it comes to learning more about veganism, racking up the highest number of searches for the term across the globe that year. Over in the UK, Cosmetify conducted a survey that showed 49% of women would choose a vegan product when shopping for beauty.
“November is World Vegan Month, making it a wonderful time to revamp your beauty bag with cruelty-free goodies that are kind to animals,” animal rights organisation, PETA, said. “Already, conscientious consumers are actively seeking products that haven’t been tested on bunnies, but many remain unsure of what it is that makes a cosmetic product vegan. Sadly, animal-derived ingredients can be lurking in everything from lipsticks to moisturisers, often listed as ingredients shoppers don’t recognise.”
So whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or simply “vegan-curious”, World Vegan Month is a great time to celebrate vegan living.
Below, we round up some of the best animal-friendly brands. Click the brand name to find the full product range and to download hi-res imagery.
GROW is a hair care brand with products that are locally made, sulphate, silicone, paraben free, cruelty free and vegan.
“We believe that everyone deserves healthier, happier hair,” the brand said. “That's our end game, in a nutshell. And in order to realise this, we've dedicated time to rethink hair care. That's how we came up with our everyday range of shampoos, conditioners and treatment products formulated to help you combat hair thinning and fragile hair and instead relish in longer, stronger and thicker, fuller hair.”
GROW’s collection includes a full regimen of cleansing, conditioning and styling products targeted specifically to nourish scalp health and encourage hair volume. The unique combination of ingredients found in the brand’s range helps to ensure that hair is also left soft and shiny after use. Enriched with ingredients like peppermint oil, aloe vera, jojoba and avocado oil, Grow’s range is also over 70% natural.
A’kin is proudly Australian made, owned and developed, with over 15 years of expertise and passion to create authentic, natural products so pure your skin and hair can feel it.
All A'kin products are 100% vegan, free from sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylated petrochemical cleansers, mineral oils (plus much more) and no animal testing or animal derived ingredients are used.
Skin O2 cosmeceuticals, body care, skincare and makeup are all vegan, ethical, cruelty free, dermatologically tested, fragrance free and non-acnegenic.
Skin O2 has taken the best of nature and science-based technology to produce products with active potent ingredients that are clinically proven and actually work.
Skin O2 formulas are at the forefront of best clinical practices, with top performing green products which contain the highest amount of over-the-counter active ingredients to ensure optimum skin health, including no pore-clogging and irritating ingredients, no toxic nanoparticles, no harsh chemicals and no irritating additives, making Skin O2 safe and suitable for every skin type, including sensitive skin.
esmi Skin Minerals is a 100% Australian, ethically sourced, vegan and cruelty-free brand with ingredients carefully chosen for their benefits and purpose.
The brand is committed to a healthy skin regimen with a less-is-more approach (no harsh chemicals, parabens, SLSs or fillers) that still contains high levels of actives, antioxidants and vitamins, for environmentally conscious skincare that delivers results.
esmi was also recently recognised in beautyheaven’s Best In Beauty 2021 Awards, which saw over 1,200 products nominated and more than 34,000 votes cast. esmi took home the Best Facial Oil award for its 24k Gold Nourishing Oil, and was runner up for Best Cleanser, thanks to its Probiotic Skin Mylck Cleanser.
Since its launch, LUSH has been driven by innovation and its ethics. LUSH fights tirelessly against animal testing and operates a thoroughly comprehensive Ethical Buying department, developing fair and direct trade initiatives.
The brand also leads the cosmetics industry in combating over-packaging by running public awareness campaigns and developing products that can be sold ‘naked’ to the consumer without any packaging.
Developed in Switzerland in 1975 by Petter Mørck, Arbonne is a botanical based premium beauty and wellness brand that lives by the philosophy of pure, safe and beneficial products.
Arbonne’s scientifically advanced and botanically based skincare and cosmetics range is developed by the Arbonne Research & Development Laboratories, where they have a commitment to high science and innovation.
From personal care to wellness products, Arbonne uses vegan and cruelty-free standards and is dedicated to creating formulations that preserve and enhance the skin, body and mind.
The Organic Skin Co. is a New Zealand company, born from a background in natural health-care and wellbeing that stretches back five generations.
The products are certified by BioGro, vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. As an added bonus, whenever somebody purchases one of them, The Organic Skin Co. plants a tree.
Malibu C produces ground-breaking, 100 per cent vegan hair treatments which contain the most innovative, crystallised vitamin technologies available.
Malibu C neutralises damaging impurities and mineral deposits found in hard and soft water supplies, which diminish the vitality of hair.
Malibu C’s powerful patented vitamin complexes leave hair cleansed, softer and ready for colour and chemical treatments ensuring even, longer-lasting results.
Aveda is a cruelty-free brand and Estee Lauder’s first 100% vegan brand. Since day one, the brand has never tested on animals, with the products being ‘people tested.’
“Being a cruelty-free brand is an important part of our mission to care for the world we live in and for those we live with, and has been since our founding in 1978,” Aveda said. “We strive to set an example for leadership and responsibility of caring, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world. Our commitment to caring for animals and wildlife reaches far and wide. In fact, we live and breathe it.”
Andalou Naturals was created for women who prefer to use natural skincare, but won’t compromise on results.
Andalou is Non-GMO, cruelty free, 100% vegetarian with a large vegan offering, gluten free and 98 per cent nature derived.
Daily Naturals is an all Australian, vegan-friendly hair care brand. A natural formulation with use of plant-based botanicals, this salon quality brand has been designed with no parabens and completely sulphate free without compromising the environment or product performance.
DesignME offers a range of high quality styling products that are easy to use for both hairstylists and their clients. All products are cruelty free and vegan friendly, and the formulations contain no harmful sulphates, parabens or gluten.
NYX Professional Makeup is a proud artistry and pro-level makeup brand accessible for all.
Colour and self-expression are never filtered. It proudly boasts cruelty-free and vegan formulas.
tbh Skincare launched in March 2020 and offers cruelty-free and vegan products. All outer packaging is also sustainable and the brand is female founded and run.
tbh has been created to not only bring you a completely new and scientifically proven method for treating acne, but is driven by the passion of its people to help young people across the globe get through this truly challenging time of their lives.
Australian, natural and vegan hair brand, Davroe, strives to develop the purest salon professional products that are both gentle on the skin and environment, whilst delivering innovative products that do what they say and create great hair.
Glow Lab’s offering is based on solid research with New Zealand women to discover what their ultimate natural skincare range would be, resulting in a product range that answered customer demand with:
Scientifically-proven active ingredients to deliver effectiveness women crave in a natural product range; Formulated with rapid absorption rates to remove any greasy after feel; Natural ingredients and elegant, natural fragrances; Free from parabens, sulphates, silicones and other nasties; Cruelty free, vegan and palm oil friendly; Proudly New Zealand made.
Alya Skin is the powerhouse brand behind the famous pink clay mask used to detoxify, cleanse and brighten your skin. Using only pure ingredients, the products are also cruelty free and vegan friendly.
Vegan, cruelty free and natural, Ethique has over 40 clean, green beauty products making it a leading sustainable beauty brand with a legion of loyal followers.
Ethique is on a mission to rid the world of plastic waste and to date. It has stopped 13 million plastic bottles from being made and disposed of into landfills since 2012.
Experience the transformational ability of 12Reasons Hair Care Collection. Cleanse, detangle, colour protection, rich nourishment, anti-frizz, eliminate product build-up, deeply moisturise, add brilliant shine, smooth, nurture dry and damaged hair, improve manageability and won’t weigh hair down.
Proudly Australian owned, vegan and not tested on animals.
Aluram’s principle ethos is simple and focuses on modern hair that prioritises clean beauty with a clear conscience. Aluram is marula spelt backwards.
Each product in the Aluram range is infused with the famed nourishment powerhouse, marula oil. The entire line is also vegan, sulphate free, silicone free, gluten free, cruelty free, paraben free and colour safe.
With plant-based formulations which originate in a base of coconut water, Aluram embraces worry-free, uncomplicated hair care. Clean beauty is the Aluram way.
Embrace the new hue! Deposit buildable colour every time you wash with Color Lux. Gently cleanse and lightly condition hair while depositing semi-permanent colour pigments, adding shine and enhancing beautiful hues.
Cleanse, condition and colour – good things come in threes with Color Lux Colour Cleansing Conditioner! The more you use, the more vibrant your hair colour becomes, plus Colour Lux works to intensify and maintain your existing hair colour.
Color Lux is good clean beauty, vegan, cruelty-free and made in the USA without sulphates, parabens and gluten.
