Cruelty Free (Vegan) Skincare Products
One of the hardest things I found about transitioning to the vegan lifestyle was finding cruelty free / vegan skincare and beauty products, considering the majority of major brands out there are pretty involved in the whole animal testing scene, which is not something I want to support or contribute to. Therefore I wanted to share with you some of the products that I have tried out over the past year that have been the most beneficial for my skin and that have had the best results.
I'm going to be including two different companies in this post, one being Lush and the other being the superdrug own brand 'simply pure', so that I can provide a price range to be inclusive of everyones budgets and preferences. I want to put a disclaimer out there that I personally have dry / combination skin that is also very sensitive (to the point where I would get rashes if I wore a heavy skincare product) but no previous history of skin conditions such as acne, therefore the products that work for me may not work for you! If you want more information on any of the products mentioned you can check out www.lush.co.uk and www.superdrug.com.
{ DISCLAIMER I am not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned in this post (as much as I would like to be !!) and therefore all and any opinions stated on the products are mine and mine only }
Simply Pure (as pictured above)
1. Foaming Cleanser - this product is perfect for everyday use as its not too heavy on the skin meaning it can be used both morning and night. I love to use this product in the shower in the morning as it helps to wake me up whilst acting as a purifying cleanser to rejuvenate my skin after a nights sleep. I also use this product every evening after removing my makeup, but before I apply moisturiser as it insures that my skin is oil and dirt free after wearing makeup all day. Even if you don't wear makeup regularly this would be great to remove any excess dirt buildup that may accumulate on your skin during the day. This cleanser is around the £2.50 mark and lasts for a few months depending on how often you use it. To use, just apply one pump of cleanser to damp skin, gently rub in and then rinse with water.
2. Micellar Water - this is the ideal product to use as a toner after removing your makeup, or even to just remove excess oil and dirt from your face if you're having a no makeup day. It such a light product that you can hardly feel it on your skin, just take some on a cotton pad and sweep it across your face after removing your makeup. If you are using this product with the foaming cleanser mentioned above I would recommend using this afterwards (I'm not sure if this is the correct way but I've found it works best for me). This product is around £2.50 also.
3. Light Moisturiser - I tend to switch up between this moisturiser and my Lush moisturiser (mentioned below) on a day to day basis. I find this moisturiser better for use in the morning as it is a lot lighter on the skin, hence the name, and therefore works well under makeup as it sinks into the skin a lot easier. My skincare routing in the morning will consist of, foaming cleanser, Lush toning water (mentioned below) and then this Light Moisturiser and I find that because all the products are so light on the skin it works really well under any makeup that you may be wearing. This moisturiser is also around the £2.50 mark.
Lush Cosmetics (as pictured above)
1. Eau Roma Water - this toner water is my absolute favourite product from Lush as it hydrates and moisturises without being too harsh on the skin. Rose water helps to reduce redness and calm the skin, whilst Lavender water softens the skin whilst acting as an aromatherapy oil. I find this product has the best results if used in the evening as it leaves your skin feeling soft and supple, with the Lavender scent helping you to relax also. Because the eau roma water contains a majority of natural ingredients its perfect for sensitive skin and daily use. Just spritz this toner all over your face in a sweeping motion after cleansing your face for a light, refreshing feeling. This product is pricier than the Simply Pure range, at around £8 but its definitely worth it, and lasts a good few months.
2. 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion - perfect for removing waterproof mascara and stubborn eyeliner, this cleansing lotion is soothing and moisturising and excellent at removing all makeup, oil and dirt from the skin. Almond oil is packed with vitamin E making it moisturising and hydrating for the skin, whilst Dove Orchid helps to clear breakouts and gently rejuvenate the skin to its optimum condition. This cleanser has a beautiful smell, with the help of floral oils such as Ylang Ylang Oil which actually is proven to help combat symptoms of stress and depression! Retailing at just over £5 for 95g this cleanser is a perfect middle ground in terms of budget, and considering its completely vegan and cruelty free (as are all of the products mentioned in this post) and suitable for daily use its extremely reasonably priced.
3. Celestial Moisturiser (pictured below) - this is my luxury skincare product as it is pretty pricey (£12.50 for 45g) by boy is it luxurious! Not only does this moisturiser smell like cupcake mix, with hints of almond and vanilla, it is such a beautiful product to apply to the skin. I personally only use this moisturiser at night time rather than in the morning as it is that little bit thicker meaning its perfect for hydrating the skin overnight however not so great to layer under makeup. Almonds and Dove Orchid once again help to hydrate and sooth the skin, and vanilla water not only adds an amazing scent but also has antioxidant qualities meaning it stimulates the skin and helps to combat breakouts. This moisturiser is perfect for dry skin and sensitive skin, but if its not in your budget then the Simply Pure moisturiser mentioned above is also a great product for daily use.
My Skincare Routine ( & top tips )
MORNING
1. Drink minimum 1L of water as soon as you wake up - your skin becomes extremely dehydrated overnight so it is crucial to rehydrate in the morning, meaning your skin won't be as dry and breakouts are prevented
2. Cleanse with the Simply Pure Foaming Cleaner - apply to damp skin ( I do this in the shower ) and rinse off your face with cold water, as it will help to close your pores, preventing build up of oil, dirt or makeup products during the day
3. Spritz your skin with the Eau Roma Toner Water to hydrate your skin and wake yourself up a little more, make sure you let this product completely absorb into your skin before applying any other products
4. Moisturise using the Simply Pure Light Moisturiser, make sure you leave this moisturiser to sink into your skin for at least 10 minutes before applying makeup or any other products to your face
EVENING
1. Remove makeup with the 9 to 5 Cleansing Lotion and a cotton pad, gently sweep over your face to remove as much makeup, oil and dirt as you can
2. Cleanse with the Simpy Pure Foaming Cleanser - apply to damp skin ( if you have night showers then this would be the perfect time to do this, or alternatively just apply to your face before splashing your skin with cold water and patting your face dry with a towel )
3. Use either the Eau Roma Toner Water or the Simply Pure Micellar Water to tone your face, either spritz onto your skin or sweep across your skin with a cotton pad to remove any excess oil or dirt that has built up
4. Moisturise using the Celestial Moisturiser, making sure you do not use too much of this product as it is fairly thick and heavy on the skin, allow this to sink into your skin before getting into bed to avoid getting any product on your bedding
5. Drink minimum of 1L of water during the evening before you go to bed to make sure your skin is hydrated before going to sleep
Thank you SO much for reading this post and I hope that this slightly different topic here on my blog is useful to some of you! I will have a cruelty free / vegan beauty products post up very soon as that is a very highly requested post and also something I am very passionate about! As always if you have any extra questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment or message me at positivesoph@gmail.co.uk or at my social media outlets (links in the top bar of my layout - @positivesoph on all).
Keep your soul happy - Sophie :)
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