What you need to know about vegan beauty

You're digging into a vegan superbowl for lunch – so should you apply the same vegan ethos to skincare and makeup?

Our skin is our largest organ, and while it is designed to literally "hold back the tide," according to Sydney naturopath Grace Barnes, there's a small amount of what we topically apply that's absorbed. "We don’t fully understand what the long-term affects of that is yet."

"Vegan cosmetics are simply healthier, because they've got no animal-derived ingredients in them at all," says Tony Rechtman, cosmetic development expert and CEO of Inika Cosmetics - a vegan, organic and cruelty-free brand. "Research shows the more natural ingredients you use on your skin, the better for you."

A huge percentage of people are now following a vegan lifestyle and looking for cosmetics that cater to that lifestyle, says Rechtman. "There are very few choices for vegans in makeup and cosmetics so people are reading labels and seeking out healthier ingredients."

What are vegan cosmetics?

Vegan products don’t contain any animal products or by-products. The philosophy behind vegan products is they don’t hurt animals and they lighten the strain our modern food chain. While organic cosmetics support the environment by eliminating the use of chemicals, fertilizers and genetically-modified ingredients, the vegan movement helps prevent the exploitation of animals too.

"Vegan products are a step-up from organic because they're not only good for the environment, they look after our furry friends too," says Rechtman. "Vegan and cruelty-free products are becoming more mainstream."

Singer Ariana Grande has been vegan since 2013. Image: Getty

Checking labels

Currently, there are no vegan certification schemes in Australia – so what do you look for? "Look for a symbol from the UK’s The Vegan Society, which is what we use, or a certified vegan logo from U.S.A. group Vegan Action."

While the term 'vegan' on a product should guarantee it's free from animal testing as well, it's not always the case. The term isn't yet strongly regulated, so cosmetics tested on animals may claim to be 'vegan'. For a list of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, there’s a comprehensive list here.

Ingredients to look out for

Ingredients to avoid include lanolin, collagen, albumen, carmine, cholesterol, gelatin, casein, biotin, glycerin, honey, beeswax and anything listed as animal-derived. "Animal by-products are definitely more processed," says Rechtman. "Look at carmine for instance - it's processed crushed beetles and the key ingredient in a lot of those really bright red-coloured cosmetics."

Do I really have to avoid honey?

It's up to you, but the true vegan philosophy seeks to exclude not only animal-cruelty, but exploitation of animals too. "We don't use honey or beeswax in our products because we try to source ingredients that haven't come in contact with animals at all."

Vegan Products To Try

From left to right:

Lily Lolo Eyebrow Duo, $18.

Be Radiant Be Genki Cleansing Oil, $78.

Inika Organic Baked Mineral Foundation, $65.

Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Duo, $28.

Too Faced Pro-essential Teddy Bear Hair Brush Set, $94.