
10 of my favourite vegan beauty products that I personally use daily
2023 is now upon us. The first month of every new year turns our minds to good intentions, including the 31 day challenge of Veganuary. The Veganuary website is a source of vegan inspiration by a not-for-profit organisation that encourages people to give veganism at least a good go.
Our household has done Veganuary before, and while do regularly have vegan days, admittedly we’re not strict vegans when it comes to food. Some firm vegan eating habits have formed for good though. We have a regular oat milk delivery from Tiger & Float, much prefer a Beyond Burger to a regular one and highly recommend vegan Magnum ice-creams. We’re also very lucky to have lots of really good go-to vegan establishments near us in Bristol – namely Eat Your Greens, the recently discovered Herbivore vegan deli and Cheungs for delicious takeaways.
When it comes to beauty products I’m much more strict. I can’t stand the idea of animal testing in laboratories and have created a range of cruelty free hair care that is completely vegan. Our handmade hair care products are registered with the Vegan Society, who certify that products are both vegan and cruelty free.
The difference between vegan beauty and cruelty free
They might sound like the same thing, but there is a difference between the terms “vegan” and “cruelty free” when it comes to beauty products. Vegan means that no ingredients were derived from animals. So no beeswax, lanolin (from sheep), keratin (from the hair and horns of animals) or any other common animal or animal-made ingredients.
Cruelty free means that the products and ingredients haven’t been tested on animals. Animal testing is actually illegal in the UK but is still required by law in some other territories. So if the product is sold internationally, it might have been tested on animals elsewhere.
So products can be both vegan and cruelty free, or just one and not the other
When a product is both cruelty free and vegan, it means it was never tested on animals and that it doesn’t contain ingredients sourced from animals. Our vegan and cruelty free hair care products have been registered with the Vegan Society and have their logo on the label. Sadly there aren’t any laws about using either of these terms, so looking for a certification logo on the packaging (like the Vegan Society or Leaping Bunny) definitely helps when choosing products.
My personal top 10 vegan beauty products that I regularly use all of the time
1. Hairy Jayne Shampoo bar for mild cleansing
Ok, so admittedly I don't actually use this on a daily basis as I don’t wash my hair every day. But when I do shampoo my hair I use our award-winning best selling sulphate free shampoo bar. Musk is my favourite of the fragrances. This one started off a lot bigger and has been going for about 3-4 months now.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/shampoo-bar
2. Hairy Jayne Cream conditioner for moderately dry hair
My hair naturally has a tendency to be dry as it’s wavy. I use our Cream conditioner at the moment because my hair isn’t coloured all over (I use the Treatment conditioner when it is). I don’t use it daily, probably every other day, and just by itself when I’m not using shampoo. The co-washing method suits my hair well as the waves tend to behave better when I don’t over-shampoo it.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/cream-conditioner
3. SBTRCT solid cleansing bar to wash my face
After reading a great book called “Clean” by James Hamblin, I tend not to wash my face with a cleansing product unless I need to, ie after wearing makeup. This solid cleanser is really lovely and mild, smells beautiful and the solid bar lasts for a really long time!
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/solid-foaming-cleanser
4. Vegan konjac sponge for gentle exfoliation
Konjac sponges originated in Japan and are made from konjac root which is a vegan (and plastic free) alternative to our traditional sea sponges. They start off hard until they’re soaked with warm water to go squidgy. The tiny air bubbles in the sponge do all of the gentle exfoliating, and no cleansing product is needed so they are brilliant for sensitive skin.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/konjac-sponge
5. Alter/native soap for the body
These vegan soaps are a really good price considering they are handmade, so they’re perfect for every day washing. I love this Patchouli & Hemp one as it goes perfectly with our Musk scented hair care range.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk//products/handmade-everyday-soap
6. Fruu deodorant balm on the armpits
I’ve tried a lot of natural deodorants now and this and the Totterdown Apothecary vegan deodorant are my top two (I tend to use this one in the cooler months and the other in the warmer). I love that it’s in a squeezy tube, it smells great, works well and sinks easily into the skin when you rub it in.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/deodorant-balm
7. Brushd. toothpaste tablets to brush with
Solid toothpaste tablets are a brilliant zero waste dental product. I keep mine in a little glass jar. These Brushd. ones are vegan and do contain fluoride (which some other brands don’t). You just pop one in your mouth and chew, and once you start to brush they do foam up.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/toothpaste-tablets

8. The Ordinary hyaluronic acid serum for soothing dry skin
Like my hair, my skin tends to be on the dry side. And being well into my forties doesn’t help. So my skin does benefit from hyaluronic acid, which stops that tight feeling after washing and plumps it up. I use this rather than a regular cream moisturiser as I find that moisturisers tend to sit on my skin rather than properly soak in. I love that this serum comes in a glass bottle and that all of their products are certified vegan.
https://theordinary.com/en-gb/hyaluronic-acid-2-b5-serum-100425.html
9. Natural Beauty Oil to seal moisture into skin and hair
After the serum I apply a couple of drops of Hairy Jayne Natural Beauty Oil to my skin. I then add a couple more drops to my palms, rub together and run my hands through the ends of my hair (when it’s damp or dry). Which seals in all of the moisturising and adds some nourishment to my skin and hair.
https://hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk/products/natural-beauty-oil
10. Maison Louis Marie perfume oils to smell amazing
My other half bought me this perfume oil discovery set from a shop here in Bristol and I absolutely love it. I’d been a fan of Diptyque perfumes for a very long time as they smell fairly natural, as far as perfumes go. But unfortunately Diptyque aren’t a vegan beauty brand.
I'm happy to say that this company is and their fragrances are just as beautiful and focused on natural, botanical scents. Their approach to their packaging seems more sustainably minded, too.
https://www.bristolgeneralstore.com/products/maison-louis-marie-perfume-oil-discovery-set
So that’s my round up of my favourite vegan beauty products that I personally use on a regular basis. I’m hoping that you might be inspired by Veganuary to try some cruelty free hair care and skin care. Or maybe you just discovered a new vegan beauty product to add to your current cruelty free beauty routine.
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