How to Take Your Beauty Routine Vegan from Head to Toe
If I didn’t have to write about beauty products for a living then chances are I’d be a beauty vegan. I love biltong and chicken wings far too much to give up animal products in my diet but when it comes to beauty I’d be all about that vegan lifestyle. Some of the best skincare, makeup, and body products I’ve discovered over the years have been vegan or all-natural products so trust me, it’s completely doable if you’re willing to put some time and effort in to try new products and play a little. But if you’re pressed for time I thought I’d share some of my favourite vegan and natural products with you to make going vegan from head to toe just that little bit easier. Most of these I’ve tried myself but some of them I’ve included under the advice of Robyn Smith, founder and director of online health store Faithful to Nature. Here are 10 products to help you take your beauty routine vegan from head to toe.
“It’s not just food that contains animal by-products, but your skincare does too,” explains Robyn Smith. “The most common animal by-products found in skincare are beeswax, lanolin and colour extracts from insects like carmine but many vegans prefer to support brands that are also certified cruelty-free which means that no animal testing has been done on the product or the ingredients used in the product.”
Robin also suggests that if you are making the effort to use vegan skincare then you should look at ensuring those products are toxin-free too. “Many of the harsh synthetic chemicals used in conventional skincare not only pollute our bodies, but the environment of the animals, fish and insects we are trying to protect too,” explains Robyn. “For example, if you are going to use products that are free of beeswax, it would be wise to ensure that no pesticides that kill bees have been used either in the product.”
HAIR
1. The Victorian Garden, Rosemary & Vanilla Hair Shampoo – R135
A gorgeous herbal shampoo with organic botanical extracts that will restore and repair the hair and add shine and lustre. PH balanced, the shampoo is mild and can be used daily. It will leave the hair with the beautiful fragrance of Madagascan vanilla blended with wild rosemary and olive.
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2. Naturalmente Intensive Hydrating Treatment – R285
Naturalmente’s intensive hair moisturising treatment is made with fennel and geranium oils, to deeply penetrate and hydrate dry hair, leaving it soft and shining.
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SKINCARE
3. Esse Trial Pack – R199
Esse is one of my most favourite natural skincare brands in the history of ever, and the best bit is, they’re proudly South African! There are loads of products in their range that I am low-key obsessed with and if you’re looking to take you skincare routine down a healthier path then you need to give it a try. If you’re not ready to commit to full-sized products then try a set of sample-sized Esse skincare products, specially selected for your skin type. Each trial pack includes a selection of sample size products, ideal as gifts or to try the range. Presented in a lovely tin Esse branded box. Esse skincare is also certified cruelty-free and is one of our top organic local ranges to harness the benefits of both science and nature in the formulations.
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4. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF30 – R765
Juice Beauty is another firm favourite of mine and their range has so many loveable products but it’s this CC cream that really blew my socks off. This all-in-one formula has been designed for colour correction and perfect coverage. This organic makeup product is a great way to keep your skin properly hydrated and healthy, while ensuring you have a radiant complexion. Juice Beauty’s award-winning CC Cream formula will even help to fight the signs of ageing, evening your skin’s tone and texture while reducing the appearance of small wrinkles and fine lines. It is also certified cruelty-free.
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HANDS & NAILS
5. Sparitual Nail Lacquer and Lacquer Remover – R95/R99
SpaRitual products are formulated using natural and vegan-friendly ingredients, which include certified organic, fair trade botanical essences. The company also uses environmentally responsible packaging materials. The SpaRitual brand’s beautifying creations are free of harsh chemicals like toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and parabens, and they’re made with only natural colouring – no synthetic dyes. SpaRitual was founded in 2004 and has since become a leading international ethical beauty brand.
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BODY
6. Mbiri Skincare, Mbiri Hydrating Body Wash – R104
With regular use, Mbiri’s Body Wash is intended to improve and beautify your skin, with effective ingredients such as anti-oxidant-rich Rooibos Leaf extract, Marula oil, and Kalahari Melon seed oil, all from the Southern Africa region and all supporting the empowerment of local communities. The range is also certified cruelty-free.
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7. Skin Creamery Everyday All Over Cream – R300
Skin Creamery body products are made with real organic ingredients to nourish and protect your skin, without any of those harsh synthetic fragrances or greasy pore-blocking mineral oils.
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SUNSCREEN
8. Sunumbra SPF30 Sunscreen – R299
You can protect your whole family from the sun’s harmful rays with this fabulous natural sunscreen. It’s made from a blend of organic plant extracts and zinc oxide, so it contains no harsh chemicals and is ideal for sensitive skin. Sunumbra’s excellent SPF30 formula also provides full-spectrum UVA & UVB protection, plus it is water resistant for up to 40 minutes. The perfect addition to your beach bag! Parents will love the kids version too which offers an SPF of 40!
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MAKE-UP
9. Dr. Hauschka Foundation – R476
Dr. Hauschka changed my life a few years ago when I discovered their oh-so-incredible Labimint Acute Lip Care lip balm. I suffer with monthly (yes monthly!) cold sore and sun blister breakouts and the Labimint treatment is the ONLY thing that relieves my pain and keeps my lips hydrated during breakouts. Of course, this incredible introduction led me to explore their range more and more and I loved what I found. Their makeup range is beyond magical and this liquid foundation is a personal favourite of mine. Formulated to give your face an effortlessly flawless look, covering up those little imperfections while the top-quality botanical ingredients nourish your skin. Pomegranate, macadamia and coconut extracts have been blended with natural mineral pigments, to give you a foundation formula that actively cares for the health of your skin. The product is also certified cruelty-free.
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10. Couleur Caramel Pearly Lipstick – R236
Most lipsticks have a beeswax base and so finding vegan lipstick can be a challenging task. Couleur Caramel Pearly lipstick is a quality lipstick that does not smudge or transfer. This plant-based lipstick is moisturising and nourishing while giving your lips the pamper they deserve. Certified cruelty-free this is a great choice for those looking for a vegan alternative.
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