With growing demand for ethically produced products, vegan and cruelty-free beauty has improved dramatically in recent years. An increasing number of brands now prioritise ethical credentials, using recyclable, compostable or refillable packaging and donating to environmental causes.
Vegan beauty products avoid animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, lanolin, snail mucin, keratin and non-vegan collagen. The term 'cruelty-free' is not legally defined, but the gold standard is brands that have eliminated animal testing. In the UK, cosmetics testing on animals has been banned since 1998, but complications arise from sales in countries where testing still exists.
Consumers should look for certification such as the Leaping Bunny logo by Cruelty Free International or check Peta's Ultimate Cruelty-Free List. All brands selected are 100% vegan and recognised as cruelty-free by either organisation. Many are smaller independent brands with ethical principles from the start.
Among the top picks is The Ordinary's Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, which acts on skin elasticity, fine lines and hydration. Dermalogica gained vegan certification in 2020, and its Daily Microfoliant is a favourite. Byoma's Phyto-Mucin Glow serum offers a vegan alternative to snail mucin serums, while Biossance uses sustainable sugarcane-derived squalane in its products.
By Sarah, created by Sarah Murrell after her sister's chemotherapy, uses botanical actives and recyclable glass bottles. These brands deliver effective products that are ethically sound.
