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Vegan, clean and cruelty-free skincare is on the rise. Consumers are becoming more aware of the kinds of products they're putting on their skin, focusing on clean ingredients, but even as the world evolves, there is more of a need for sustainability and a brand's impact on the world. "Clean beauty" has revolutionized the beauty market. Aside from setting high standards for existing brands, new companies are being introduced and marketed for their clean ingredients and ethical manufacturing. With so many options on the market, it's hard to know which brands are actually worth the hype or more importantly, which ones are accurately marketed for their sustainability and ethical practices.
Not only does Summer Fridays have clean ingredients in their skincare products, but their packaging is stunning and always a piece of art. Their best-selling jet lag mask is an influencer favorite. This product has been all over Instagram and is loved by everyone. The mask can be used as a moisturizer as well and is packed with niacinamide, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Another cult classic from this brand that we rave about is their lip butter balm for long-lasting hydrated lips.
The Inkey List is a great affordable clean and vegan skincare brand. The founders want to simplify skincare and offer packaging that is easy to read. Some of their best-selling products include the caffeine eye cream, which is perfect for more stubborn dark circles as well as their hyaluronic acid serum for glowy skin.
Youth to the People is a well-known brand for clean and vegan beauty. What many people don't know is the legacy rooted in the brand, where the founders' grandma was a pioneer for holistic beauty and skincare. They continue to champion her work with their innovative products all focused on plant-based extracts. One of my absolute favorite cleansers is the Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Superfood Cleanser. Packed with anti-oxidants from plant-based sources like vegetables and then packaged in a glass bottle as opposed to a plastic one, it's clear they're very environmentally cautious but still focused on creating quality products.
They offer makeup and skincare that isn’t just good for your skin, but also the environment. Clean beauty starts from the manufacturing process, which is something they focus on with their products. The vitamin C serum has 1100, 5-star reviews with ingredients that you can't argue with. The Multi-Vitamin PM Serum specifically is potent and best to be worn at night. The serum has ingredients like 10% vitamin C, 1% retinol, 10% niacinamide, 10% vitamin E, rosehip oil, and a ton of other ingredients.
Clean and vegan skincare should be accessible and built for different tones, and that's why we love Brownkind. Their products are more geared towards melanated skin making it a perfect option for people of color. Like any other skincare brand, they focus on healthy glowy skin, but as one that is more geared towards people of color and darker skin tones, a lot of their products focus on evening out your skin tone. Some of our favorites include their moisturizer and sunscreen, which is sheer, so you don’t have to worry about the white cast that comes with a lot of regular sunscreens.
The boundaries for clean and vegan beauty have allowed scientists and beauticians to pave new roads and be more innovative with ingredients, and Biossance is living proof of that. While their products do lean more on the expensive side, one of the key ingredients you’ll find in their products is Squalane, a hydrating molecule made from sustainable fermented sugarcane. One of my favorite products is their eye cream, which provides instant brightness for dark circles, but also does a great job of hydrating the skin and reducing fine lines.
