Vegan cosmetics are make-up, haircare and skincare products that contain no animal products, and no ingredients that have been tested on animals. The British Vegan Society maintains an international certification standard, and will certify a product as vegan only if the manufacture and development of the product and its ingredients did not involve the use of any animal product, and did not involve testing on animals conducted by the manufacturer, or on its behalf, or by parties over whom the manufacturer had effective control.[1]

Animal ingredients, particularly fats, obtained from slaughterhouses and put through the rendering process are ubiquitous in cosmetics because they are cheap. Common ingredients include tallow or cow fat in soap; glycerine, derived from collagen (though there is also a plant form), a lubricant and humectant in haircare products and moisturizers; and stearic acid, a fatty acid, usually from cows, sheep and pigs, and sometimes from shea butter and cocoa butter, used in face creams, shaving foam and shampoos. Lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid derived from animal milk, is another common ingredient, as are allantoin, derived from cow's urine or the comfrey plant, found in shampoos, moisturizers and toothpaste, and lanolin from sheep's wool found in lip balm and moisturizers.[2]

Cosmetics testing on animals was outlawed in Europe from 2009, though the sale of cosmetics that have been tested continues.[3]

The following is a list of vegan cosmetics suppliers, including manufacturers. Many are certified by the British Vegan Society, and some by other bodies, including Beauty Without Cruelty, the South African Vegan Society and Choose Cruelty-Free in Australia.

Supplier Vegan products Company country of origin All vegan Certification Global delivery Website
Adorn Mineral Cosmetics Mineral make-up Australia Green tickY Vegan Society[4] [5]
African Organics Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion South Africa Green tickY Beauty Without Cruelty[6]
Vegan Society of South Africa[7]
[7]
Akoma Skincare/Akoma Cooperative Multipurpose Society Skincare from Ghana Ghana
UK
Green tickY Vegan Society[8] [9]
Alexami Cosmetics Mineral make-up Australia Green tickY Vegan Society[10]
Choose Cruelty-Free[11]
[11]
Alvin Connor Deodorant, bath salts UK Green tickY Vegan Society[12] [13]
Amazene Organic lotions, hand and body washes UK Green tickY Vegan Society[14] [15]
Animal Aid Make-up and toiletries made by Honesty Cosmetics UK Green tickY Vegan Society[16] [17]
Aqua Natural Hair removal UK Green tickY Vegan Society[18] [19]
Aromatika Hand cream, body cream, facial oil, nail conditioner UK Vegan Society[20] [21]
Barbara Hofmann Make-up brushes; the "bambus" range is vegan Germany Vegan Society[22] [23]
Bare-faced Beauty Mineral make-up; everything but the lip gloss is vegan UK Vegan Society[24] [25]
Bare Naturals Soap UK Green tickY Vegan Society[26] [27]
Beauty Without Cruelty Make-up and toiletries UK Green tickY Vegan Society[28] [29]
Bentley Organic Hair- and skincare; all vegan except the honey soap UK Vegan Society[30] [31]
Bohemian Chic Minerals Mineral make-up UK Green tickY Vegan Society[32] [33]
Botanic Blossom Skincare Scotland Green tickY Vegan Society[34] [35]
Claytime Australia Mineral make-up Australia Green tickY Vegan Society[36] [37]
Cocoon Apothecary Drugstore, mostly organic Canada Green tickY [38]
DM Drogerie Drugstore Germany Vegan Society[39] [40]
Earth Science Organic make-up; all vegan except for five products US [41]
Ecco Bella Organic make-up and skincare; 39 vegan products, including foundation, powder, face creams US Green tickY [42]
Esse Organic Skincare Organic make-up and skincare South Africa Green tickY Vegan Society[43]
Beauty Without Cruelty[6]
[44]
Fiafini Skincare (eye cream, moisturizer, serum) US Vegan Society[45] [46]
Firestarter Cosmetics Eyeshadow, lip scrubs/balms Canada Green tickY Green tickY [47]
Giovanni Cosmetics Haircare and make-up; all vegan except for lip balms and Magnetic hair products US [48]
Green beaver Organic toiletries (shower, bath, skincare, hair) Canada Green tickY [49]
Haut Minerals Make-up, skincare and toiletries; several products are vegan, including a BB cream Canada Green tickY [50]
Honesty Cosmetics Make-up, skincare and toiletries, including own brand UK Green tickY Vegan Society[51] [52]
Hugo Naturals Soaps, toiletries, incl. for children US Green tickY [53]
Inika Mineral make-up Australia Vegan Society[54] [55]
JĀSÖN Skincare and other toiletries US [56]
Kiss My Face Skincare and other toiletries US [57]
Lush Make-up, skin- and hair-care, other toiletries; 83 percent of its products are vegan UK Vegan Society[58] Green tickY [59]
Mii Maa Mineral make-up Australia Green tickY Vegan Society[60] [61]
Neal's Yard Remedies Skincare and toiletries, some vegan, e.g. Frankincense Hydrating Cream UK [62]
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Make-up US Green tickY Green tickY [63]
Ole Hyvä Shampoos, conditioners, other toiletries Finland Vegan Society[64] [65]
Prahy Mineral make-up France Vegan Society[66] [67]
Pure Beginnings Toiletries, including for children South Africa Green tickY Vegan Society[68] [69]
PZ Cussons Original Source shower/bath/hair products, several of which are vegan UK Vegan Society[70] [71]
Rossmann Make-up, skincare and other toiletries (drugstore) Germany Vegan Society[72] [73]
Sante Naturkosmetik Make-up, skincare and toiletries Germany [74]
Sukin Skin- and haircare Australia Green tickY [75]
Tara Smith Haircare UK Green tickY Vegan Society[76] [77]
Tarte Cosmetics Make-up US [78]
Urban Butterfly Mineral make-up Australia Green tickY Vegan Society[79] [80]
Urtecram Toiletries Denmark Green tickY Vegan Society[81] [82]
Valana Minerals Make-up for women of colour US Green tickY [83]
Verdesativa Shampoo (including for dogs), conditioner, soap Italy Vegan Society[84] [85]
Visionary Soap Company Soap, bath melts UK Green tickY Vegan Society[86] [87]
WithNature Skincare Moisturizers, oils UK Green tickY Vegan Society[88] [89]
Yerba Vita Organic make-up, skincare, some vegan Netherlands Vegan Society[90] [91]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Trademark standards", Vegan Society; also see Trademark search.
  2. ^ Animal Ingredients A to Z. E. G. Smith Collective, 2004, 3rd edition.
    • Torres, Bob and Torres, Jenna. Vegan Freak. PM Press, 2010 (2nd edition), pp. 201–203.
    • Marcus, Erik. The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice. Vegan.com, p. 131.
  3. ^ Osborn, Andrew & Gentleman, Amelia. "Secret French move to block animal-testing ban", The Guardian, 19 August 2003.
  4. ^ Adorn Mineral Cosmetics, Vegan Society.
  5. ^ Adorn Mineral Cosmetics.
  6. ^ a b Minter, Sasha-wyatt. "Beauty Without Cruelty-Approved Products", All4Women.co.za, 9 September 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Our philosophy", African Organics.
  8. ^ Akoma International (UK) Ltd, Vegan Society.
  9. ^ "Our Mission", Akoma Skincare.
  10. ^ Alexami Cosmetics, Vegan Society.
  11. ^ a b "Alexami Cosmetics are proudly vegan and cruelty free", Alexami Cosmetics.
  12. ^ Alvin Connor, Vegan Society.
  13. ^ Alvin Connor.
  14. ^ Amazene, Vegan Society.
  15. ^ "The Natural Way", Amazene.
  16. ^ Animal Aid, Vegan Society.
  17. ^ "Cruelty-free toiletries", Animal Aid.
  18. ^ Aqua Natural, Vegan Society.
  19. ^ Aqua Natural
  20. ^ Aromatika, Vegan Society.
  21. ^ "Vegan", Aromatika.
  22. ^ Barbara Hofmann, Vegan Society.
  23. ^ "Vegan", Barbara Hofmann
  24. ^ Bare-faced Beauty, Vegan Society.
  25. ^ "Product FAQs", Barefaced Beauty
  26. ^ Bare Naturals, Vegan Society.
  27. ^ "FAQ", Bare Naturals
  28. ^ Beauty Without Cruelty, Vegan Society.
  29. ^ "Welcome", Beauty Without Cruelty.
  30. ^ Bentley Organic, Vegan Society.
  31. ^ "Are Bentley Organic Products suitable for vegetarians and vegans?", Bentley Organic
  32. ^ Bohemian Chic Minerals, Vegan Society.
  33. ^ "FAQs", Bohemian Chic Minerals
  34. ^ Botanic Blossom, Vegan Society.
  35. ^ Botanic Blossom
  36. ^ "Cosmetics Innovations Australia", Vegan Society.
  37. ^ "Global campaigns", Claytime Australia.
  38. ^ "Our Eco Commitment", Cocoon Apothecary.
  39. ^ DM Drogerie Markt, Vegan Society.
  40. ^ Vegan search, DM Drogerie
  41. ^ "FAQ: Do you use animal derived ingredients? Which products are considered vegan?", Earth Science.
  42. ^ "Vegan", Ecco Bella.
  43. ^ The Esse Trust, Vegan Society.
  44. ^ "Philosophy", Esse Organic Skincare
  45. ^ Fianfini, Vegan Society.
  46. ^ Fiafini.
  47. ^ Firestarter Cosmetics
  48. ^ "FAQ: Are your products vegan?", Giovanni Cosmetics.
  49. ^ Green beaver.
  50. ^ "Vegan BB cream souffles", Haut Minerals.
  51. ^ Honesty Cosmetics, Vegan Society.
  52. ^ Honesty Cosmetics.
  53. ^ "Our products", Hugo Naturals.
  54. ^ Inika, Vegan Society.
  55. ^ Inika
  56. ^ "About JĀSÖN", JĀSÖN.
  57. ^ Vegan products, Kiss My Face.
  58. ^ Lush, Vegan Society.
  59. ^ "Happy World Vegan Day!", Lush.
  60. ^ Lush, Vegan Society.
  61. ^ "About", Miimaa.
  62. ^ "Frankincense Hydrating Cream", Neal's Yard Remedies.
  63. ^ "FAQ", Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics.
  64. ^ Ole Hyvä, Vegan Society.
  65. ^ Ole Hyvä
  66. ^ Prahy Cosmetics, Vegan Society.
  67. ^ Eugenie Prahy.
  68. ^ Prahy Cosmetics, Vegan Society.
  69. ^ "About Pure Beginnings", Pure Beginnings.
  70. ^ PZ Cussons, Vegan Society.
  71. ^ "Happy World Vegan Day", Original Source.
  72. ^ Dirk Rossmann, Vegan Society.
  73. ^ Rossmann.
  74. ^ "Vegan Sante products", Sante (owned by Logocos).
  75. ^ "The Sukin Difference", Sukin.
  76. ^ Tara Smith, Vegan Society.
  77. ^ "Products", Tara Smith.
  78. ^ "Vegan friendly collection", Tarte Cosmetics.
  79. ^ Urban Butterfly, Vegan Society.
  80. ^ "Why Urban Butterfly", Urban Butterfly.
  81. ^ Urtecram, Vegan Society.
  82. ^ Urtecram
  83. ^ Valana Minerals
  84. ^ Verdesativa, Vegan Society.
  85. ^ Verdesativa
  86. ^ Visionary Soap Company, Vegan Society.
  87. ^ "What makes us visionary?", Visionary Soap Company.
  88. ^ WithNature Skincare, Vegan Society.
  89. ^ WithNature Skincare
  90. ^ Yerba Vita, Vegan Society.
  91. ^ Yerba Vita

Further reading

edit
Finding vegan products
Lists of animal ingredients
Books/articles