The vegan movement isn’t just about what you eat—if you truly subscribe to its animal- and cruelty-free philosophy, you know it involves making sure any other products you use are vegan, too. In a global beauty market worth over $736.80 billion that includes anything you use to help care for your skin, hair, and even your nails.
In fact, the demand for vegan beauty products continues to grow. This vegan cosmetics market report reveals that as more consumers become aware of how these goods are sourced and produced, the more they clamor for “clean beauty” items that are made in line with vegan practices. As a result, more brands are releasing products certified to not be tested on animals.
However, that’s not all they’re doing. Today, beauty companies also ensure what they sell uses vegan formulations—with some brands even going as far as touting themselves as being “100% vegan.” As a result, the use of more natural, vegan ingredients is becoming more widespread in the industry. Here are a few that are becoming more popular.
Sunflower seed oil
This particular ingredient is so vegan it’s considered a safe, plant-based oil to use for cooking. After all, it can be found in abundance. More than that, it can easily be produced through cold press extraction, which doesn’t require using heat or chemicals. However, these benefits also appeal to cosmetics brands—and you’ll find the oil a staple in many of today’s skin care and beauty products. That includes BeautyBio’s The Pout Lip. Among the top clean beauty products sold on QVC, this serum gives the lips an instant and temporary plumping effect. Thanks to the hydrating effects of sunflower seed oil, it can also simultaneously moisturize the lips to add more definition and shine—making it a two-in-one product that aligns with vegan ideals without compromising on performance.
Aloe vera
Previously, the vegan ingredient aloe vera was most popular for its medicinal properties.
Ready to use right out of the leaf, its extract’s hydrating benefits are helpful for healing
cuts and burns. That led to its use in skin care, where it can better moisturize the skin.
But did you know that it can also improve your hair health? Aloe vera can relieve
itchiness, prevent greasiness, ward off UV damage from the sun, and even help your
hair become stronger and longer more quickly. That’s why many hair care brands now
use them in line with the growing adoption of vegan ingredients in the industry. You’ll
find it in products like ECOLATIER’s Hydrating & Fortifying Hair Balm, a deep
conditioner that leverages aloe vera’s moisturizing properties to combat dry and
damaged hair—and even keep curly hair healthy.
Shea butter
Shea butter has been used by West African women for centuries, with its use in
cosmetics dating all the way back to Cleopatra. Now that it’s confirmed that the
ingredient is also vegan—local organizations like the Ghanaian Yumzaa Women’s
Association extract and process it by hand—even popular companies use it for their
product ranges. Arguably among the most notable is Rare Beauty, a makeup and
beauty brand launched on Sephora by celebrity Selena Gomez in 2020. This 100%
vegan label now offers products everything from skin care and makeup to body care,
and its Find Comfort Hydrating Body Lotion is among its best sellers. That may be
because it uses shea butter to provide a buttery, rich formula that keeps the skin supple
while also renewing its vibrancy over time.
Sugar cane extract
Regular refined, white sugar isn’t vegan—but sugar cane is. That’s because it doesn’t
undergo the same production process as traditional sugar, which uses bone char
(derived from cow bones) as a filtering agent. As such, raw sugar cane is a much better
vegan alternative for consumption. Surprisingly, though, it can also be beneficial when
used in beauty products—and in none other than nail care products, no less. Today,
even the popular nail brand OPI uses sugar cane extract in its Nature Strong Base
Coat. That allows its 100% vegan and cruelty-free formulation to infuse more calcium
into your nails, strengthening them while simultaneously helping your favorite nail polish
shades stay on for longer.
