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The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Cosmetics (Makeup, Hair Care,
Skin Care, and Nail Care Products)
Updated
December 03, 2007
Just because a company says its products are "natural" or "organic" or that they don't test on animals, they may still be using animal derived ingredients. Some companies say "we have vegan products" but that doesn't mean that all of their products are vegan (and they often don't tell you which ones aren't;
so you still need to read the labels).
Everything on this list is a Kristen's Pick.
I've tried many products and disappointedly felt like I was
throwing away money as I threw them in the trash can because so many of
them just didn't do the job well enough (both small label and popular
name brands). I've tested the following products personally, and they've
all received my
seal of approval. They are all completely free of animal testing and
animal ingredients.
(If you would like me to test your vegan / vegetarian product, please
Contact Me to tell
me about it and send me a sample. If it meets my picky standards, I'll tell my visitors about
it. Please note, I receive many product samples that don't get my
approval, but even if your product doesn't meet my standards, I'll be
sure to let you know what improvements need to be made. And don't worry,
I don't publish bad reviews.)
All Products
Jason Natural Cosmetics
I can't say enough about how much I love this company. Every time I
try something of theirs, I love it.
Kiss My Face
Their products are much less expensive than most other brands, but
most of their products are excellent quality.
Hair Care Products
Shampoo
ABBA
I was very impressed with how will a tiny bit lathers up and how
gentle these shampoos are. I've used the Pure Gentle and the Pure
Moisture.
Giovanni
Their tea tree oil shampoo leaves your hair tingly and does a great
job of cleaning. It's the only shampoo my husband wants to use now
(and he's pickier than I am).
Jason
You have to use a bit more than other products to get a good lather,
but they're great for washing fine hair without weighing it down. My
kids love the no-tears kid formula.
Conditioner
ABBA
I first tried the leave-in conditioner. I admit, I was a bit
apprehensive because most leave-in conditioners leave your hair
greasy, but this stuff was great. My hair felt smooth, soft, and
bouncy. (Just make sure you don't use too much. It only takes a
little. And comb it through your wet hair to ensure that it is
evenly distributed.)
Giovanni
I really like the way Giovanni conditioner makes my scalp tingle and
leaves my hair feeling very moisturized.
Jason
A great rinse-out conditioner. I use it almost daily.
Shine and Anti-Frizz
Jason
I use the Jason Smoothing Serum almost daily. I love the way it smells and
the way it makes my hair shine. I spray it on my brush, and brush it
through damp hair. It's also great at removing tangles.
Giovanni
The Giovanni Shine of the Times mist is wonderful, but I recommend
spraying it on your brush rather than as a mist because it just
seems to work better that way. (Caution: Do NOT spray it over a
tile, vinyl, or other hard floors. It makes them very slippery.)
Styling
ABBA
Pure Thermal Protect
Their Thermal Protect product truly impressed me. I sprayed it on
damp hair, brushed it through, and waited awhile for my hair to dry
a bit. Then I curled my hair with a hot iron. My curls actually
stayed in place much longer than they normally do, and my hair
didn't feel sticky, stiff, or greasy.
ABBA
Styling Gel
Another ABBA product that impressed me. It holds well but isn't too
stiff.
Skin Care Products
Soap
Jason
Liquid soaps with all the quality expected in Jason
products. My favorite is the tea tree / melaleuca soap for
it's anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties .
Kiss My Face
Excellent liquid soaps and olive oil based bar soaps.
Clearly Natural
Inexpensive glycerine bar soaps with fantastic scents. These are
great for gift baskets since they're so inexpensive.
Giovanni
Their tea tree oil body washes leave you feeling very clean
and smell wonderful.
Makeup Removers
Yves Rocher I was very
impressed with their eye-makeup remover.
Deodorants
Jason
I especially love their tea tree deodorant because it last for such a
long time.
Kiss My Face
My favorite is their Active-Enzyme stick.
Crystal
This impressed me. It's a mineral crystal stone that you wet with
water and rub under your arms. You can also get a spray-on version.
Since it is salt, though, don't use it right after shaving.
Moisturizers
Kiss My Face
My favorite Kiss My Face moisturizers are the Vitamin A & E formula
(which is very moisturizing) and the Peaches and Cream with alpha
hydroxy acid formula (which is very light).
Jason
Their moisturizers are among my favorites. Their "Red Elements" line
has copper in it, which is great for fighting wrinkles. I love their
Red Elements Daily Moisturizer with SPF.
Nature's Gate
Their moisturizers are inexpensive. They're formula is a bit heavier
than other moisturizers I've used, so they're great for very dry
skin or rough patches.
Serums
Jason
The Hyper-C Serum is wonderful for dry skin and wrinkle prevention.
Since it's oil based, though, you may want to skip it if you have
oily skin.
Kiss My Face
Their "C the Change" also has oil in it, but seems less oily than
Jason's Hyper-C Serum.
Acne Treatment
Kiss My Face
Their acne gel uses tee tree oil to treat acne.
Home Health Salicylic Acid acne treatment.
Just put it on any area prone to breakouts. It's especially useful
during monthly hormonal changes.
Lip Balms
The Merry Hempsters
Their lip balms are made from hemp seed oil (and no, you can't get high
from it).
Kiss My Face
(vegetarian, not vegan)
Lots of flavors and inexpensive prices. I especially like the mint
flavor with SPF.
Yves Rocher Their powder
stick foundation is the only kind I've found that gives me just
enough coverage without clogging my pores or causing acne flare-ups,
so it's great for everyday use. I buy it in bulk. (For flawless
coverage, though, such as for photos, you may want to use something
a bit heavier.)
Concealer
Beauty Without Cruelty
I love the stick style concealer because it's easy to put on when
you're on the go.
Powder
Beauty Without Cruelty
Their colors powders are good for evening your skin tone when you're
posing for photos.
Yves RocherTheir translucent powder is my
favorite for giving a nice matte finish without affecting the color
of my foundation.
Beauty Without Cruelty
They have a variety of shades, but my favorite are Oakmoss and
Tamarind.
Eye
Liner
Beauty Without Cruelty
Their pencil eye liner is my favorite, but they also have liquid liner.
Mascara
Yves Rocher I really love
their waterproof mascara. It's inexpensive, great for everyday use, and it doesn't clump.
Beauty Without Cruelty
Again, I'm a fan of the waterproof mascara, but they also have
non-waterproof formulas. Their full volume formula is great for
creating stunning eyes when you're posing for photos.
Nail Polish / Nail Treatments
Still looking for a brand to recommend. Everything seems to chip
easily or peel right off. Let me know if you can recommend any.
Everything on this list is a Kristen's Pick.Good products at good prices.