Our pick of the greatest vegan beauty buys

With an ever-growing consciousness about what’s actually in the products we slather our skin with, attention has recently turned to vegan skin care and cosmetics – which doesn’t just mean that they’re ‘cruelty-free’, but that they contain not one single animal-derived ingredient (beeswax, lanolin or carmine, for example).

Because we’ve recently been receiving many more requests about whether specific products fulfil this criteria, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite vegan cleansers, moisturisers and treatments, as well as some make up must-haves for those who want pure, plant-derived products, from brands that pride themselves on their ‘animal ethics’.Kick-start your skin care regime with a nourishing oil cleanser, to dissolve the day’s dirt with cocktail of plant-sourced extracts. African Botanics’ {Pure Marula Oil} is brimming with natural fruit acids, skin-softening nut oils and brightening actives to encourage detoxification, while Tata Harper's {Nourishing Oil Cleanser} smells like elysium, and effortlessly melts make up to leave skin soft and luminous.What’s more, the entire {African Botanics} range is gluten-free and vegan (with the exception of their Intense Skin Repair Balm which contains wild flower honey), while {Tata Harper} is a vegan-friendly skin care line - the vast majority of Tata's products being formulated without any animal-derived ingredients (check our {vegan} filter to identify all those which make the vegan grade).Follow with a light, refreshing toning mist or essence – May Lindstrom’s {The Jasmine Garden} is purely plant-based, while Blithe’s {Vital Treatment Pulp Essence} delivers an intensive shot of long-lasting (cruelty-free) moisture.

Two brand’s committed to veganism are {skyn ICELAND} and {Allies of Skin} – both of whom have a strict policy when it comes to animal-testing and the use of animal-derived ingredients. Allies’ {1A All-Day Mask} creates an invisible ‘shield’ between complexion and the elements – providing intense, day-long hydration to revive fatigued (hungover) complexions – while skyn ICELAND’s stunning, hypoallergenic range is rich in Arctic ingredients to soothe sensitivity and combat signs of stress.HealGel’s supercharged treatment gel-serums are also completely vegan – their {HealGel Eye} is ideal for soothing and strengthening delicate skin – while {Kypris’s} list of requirements is extensive: all of their products are vegan, wild-crafted, organic, cruelty-free, sustainably sourced… and incredible (the brand comes with a coveted, Caroline Hirons’ ‘seal of approval’).And when it comes to cosmetics, you can’t go wrong with {Lime Crime}. Vehemently vegan, everything from this brand's pigment-packed lip formulas to wildly 'out there' hair enhancers, this range delivers colour with a conscience. We're totally besotted with the new {Unicorn Hair} dyes (no unicorns were harmed in their creation), and the beauty world can't get enough of suedette {Velvetines} - long-wear liquid lipsticks guaranteed to get you noticed...We are dedicated to expanding our vegan offering, and making selecting a product as transparent as possible, with full ingredient listings and accurate filters. If you spot any exceptions, or have any questions regarding the composition of a particular product, or ethics surrounding a certain brand, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team who will always be more than happy to help.SHOP VEGAN SKIN CARE >>

Verity Douglas Writer and expert

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...

Our pick of the greatest vegan beauty buys

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