Tips For Newbies To Get Started With Vegan Skincare Products
Vegan beauty products such as face cleansers and shower gels are growing in popularity, as people search for consumer choices that align with their ethical values and healthcare goals. However, if you are new to vegan cosmetic ranges, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Here’s a look at the best ways to transition successfully from your regular skincare products to vegan ranges.
What are the advantages of vegan beauty products?
Any cosmetic labelled as vegan means that it does not contain any animal products or ingredients derived from animals. Instead, they contain plant-based alternatives that are often gentle on the skin and less likely to cause irritation.
The natural oils, minerals and vitamins found in these plant derived products can have many benefits, and may have natural antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. They are also less likely to contain chemicals and complex ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions and inflammation.
Vegan manufacturing processes are also better for the environment, because it minimises the deforestation, habitat loss, and pollution that can be the result of livestock farming. Furthermore, you can be sure that no cruelty to animals was involved in the manufacturing or testing of vegan products.
How to start making the switch
Start with essential products, such as soaps, facial cleansers, and shampoos. These are readily available from online retailers or specialty stores, and it will be easy to start phasing them into your everyday beauty and skincare routine.
This will make it simpler and quicker for you to gauge how vegan products perform and how you react to them, rather than buying a product that you might only use infrequently, such as a face mask.
Understand the labels
An ethical and responsible vegan brand will be transparent about labelling their products, and will clearly list all the ingredients on the label. If you do not have time to read through the whole ingredient list, look for shortcuts such as the Vegan Society logo, or labels such as “100% vegan”.
When browsing an ecommerce store, use filters so that you can be sure you are only viewing vegan products. Beware of products that are labelled organic or natural but not vegan, because they may contain beeswax, lanolin, carmine, or other non-vegan ingredients such as keratin, which is derived from animals and often used in hair and nail care products.
Research the brands and read their website carefully to check out their claims. Are they affiliated with credible organisations such as Cruelty Free International and The Vegan Society? This means that the company will have to undergo and pass regular audits to ensure that their products are labelled honestly, are safe and animal or cruelty free.
Look for testimonials from customers, and check out if the brand has won any of the various beauty awards during the past few years.
Patch test new products
Although most people find that vegan products are gentler on their skin and do not cause any irritation, we are all unique and react to ingredients differently. Therefore, do a patch test on a small hidden area of your skin for every new product that you try, and wait at least 24 hours to check if you have any adverse reactions.
Be patient and experiment with different products
Overhauling your entire beauty routine overnight will be time consuming and also costly. Instead, gradually replace your existing products as they run out rather than rushing to make the change all at once. This will not only spread the cost and avoid waste, but it will also give your skin and hair a chance to adjust more gradually to vegan ingredients.
At first, your hair or skin might not feel or look quite as you expected, but buy smaller sizes of new products and experiment until you work out which formulations suit you best.
If you are still feeling overwhelmed, look up vegan societies and support groups online: they are often a wealth of information and advice, and may have forums or social media accounts where you can post questions and queries, and receive expert advice and recommendations from people with similar skin or hair types to your own.
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