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Best vegan skincare

Vegan skincare excludes all animal-derived ingredients, choosing plant-based or laboratory-derived alternatives instead. For many people, this is an ethical decision, an environmental one or both.

Vegan skincare excludes all animal-derived ingredients, choosing plant-based or laboratory-derived alternatives instead. For many people, this is an ethical decision, an environmental one or both.

Vegan formulations have come a long way in recent years and now sit alongside conventional products in terms of clinical efficacy, with peptides, antioxidants and humectants all available in vegan-friendly forms.

The products below have been selected for their genuine vegan status, strong ingredient profiles and their ability to deliver against the hydration, exfoliation and nourishment most routines need.

Our top vegan skincare products

Daydreamer Firming Body Serum

Full Size (100ml)
Joonbyrd · 100 ml
Firming Body Serum
£78.00
Buy at retailer

Best Overall Dr. Alexis Pick, Best Overall, Dr. Alexis Pick

“Daydreamer is a lightweight serum-style body lotion that uses a biomimetic peptide-sapphire complex and tripeptide-28 to support firmness and elasticity, alongside paracress extract and plant-derived squalane for surface smoothing and barrier conditioning. Inulin acts as a prebiotic and green coffee oil rounds out the formula for tightening. The product is vegan, free from parabens, sulphates and phthalates and is clinically proven to boost firmness and elasticity within 6 weeks.”

Coffee & Sugar Softening Body Scrub

ORGANIC SHOP · 250 ml
Coffee & Sugar Softening Body Scrub
£4.49

“A gently exfoliating body scrub made from natural sugar crystals and organic coffee oil. The formula uses 99% naturally derived ingredients, is certified vegan by The Vegan Society and is COSMOS Natural certified. The sugar exfoliation refreshes and smooths surface texture, and the coffee oil adds a light caffeine-rich nourishment, leaving skin feeling polished and softened.”

Skin type
All skin types
Key ingredients
Sucrose (sugar crystals), Coffea arabica seed oil, Shea butter, Glycerin
Fragrance
Contains fragrance

Skin Renewal Gentle Body Scrub

AVEENO · 200 ml
Skin Renewal Gentle Body Scrub
£9.99

“Aveeno’s body scrub combines 2% polyhydroxy acid with prebiotic oat and niacinamide to deliver gentle resurfacing without irritation. The bead exfoliation is naturally derived and the formula contains no obvious animal-derived ingredients in its INCI list. It offers a more clinical alternative for those who want gentle chemical and physical exfoliation in one step while keeping the routine plant-based.”

Skin type
Dry / rough / bumpy / sensitive
Key ingredients
2% Gluconolactone (PHA), Colloidal oatmeal, Niacinamide, Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Coconut oil
Fragrance
Fragrance-free

Lemongrass and Coffee Body Scrub

UPCIRCLE · 200 ml
Lemongrass and Coffee Body Scrub
£19.99

“UpCircle’s body scrub uses upcycled coffee grounds, sea salt and lemongrass and lime essential oils to exfoliate, supported by shea butter and coconut oil to nourish post-exfoliation. The brand is certified vegan and cruelty-free, and the formula is free from sulphates, parabens, mineral oils and phthalates. The texture is robust enough for tougher areas like elbows, knees and feet while remaining usable across the rest of the body.”

Skin type
All skin types
Key ingredients
Upcycled coffee grounds, Sucrose, Sea salt, Shea butter, Coconut oil, Lemongrass oil, Lime peel oil
Fragrance
Contains fragrance (lemongrass, lime, coconut)

Almond Milk Body Scrub

THE BODY SHOP · 240 ml
Almond Milk Body Scrub
£19.00

“A creamy scrub built around almond milk, walnut shell powder, sweet almond shell powder and hydrated silica for exfoliation, alongside jojoba and sesame oils for nourishment. The Body Shop has reformulated this product to be vegan, with 97% naturally derived ingredients. It is a softer, milkier alternative to coffee or sugar-based scrubs and is particularly well suited to sensitive skin that finds harsher exfoliants uncomfortable.”

Skin type
Dry / sensitive
Key ingredients
Community Fair Trade almond milk, Walnut shell powder, Sweet almond shell powder, Soybean oil, Sesame oil, Hydrated silica
Fragrance
Contains fragrance

Unscented Body Scrub

BARE BOTANICS · 680 g
Unscented Body Scrub
£22.00

“A vegan, cruelty-free sea salt scrub handmade in small batches. The formula combines fine and ultra-fine sea salts with coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, argan oil and vitamin E to deliver both exfoliation and meaningful nourishment in one product. The unscented version is free from synthetic fragrance and essential oils, making it a reliable option for very sensitive or fragrance-reactive skin.”

Skin type
All skin types
Key ingredients
Sea salt, Coconut oil, Avocado oil, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Argan oil, Vitamin E
Fragrance
Fragrance-free

Coconut & Sea Salt Body Scrub

BONDI SANDS · 250 g
Coconut & Sea Salt Body Scrub
£12.99

“A vegan and oil-free body scrub that combines naturally derived sea salt with Australian sand, coconut husk and walnut shell powder. The formula is sulphate-free and a popular choice for those who like a more robust physical exfoliation. The scrub buffs away dull surface cells while remaining suitable for regular exfoliating routines on most body areas.”

Skin type
All skin types
Key ingredients
Sea salt, Australian sand, Coconut husk, Walnut shell powder, Decyl glucoside
Fragrance
Contains fragrance (toasted coconut)

Vegan Friendly Shea Body Butter

BIELENDA · 250 ml
Vegan Friendly Shea Body Butter
£6.99

“A rich, vegan shea body butter formulated with shea butter, soybean oil, olive fruit oil, glycerin and vitamin E. The texture is more occlusive than a body lotion, making it well suited to very dry skin or skin needing intensive overnight care. The 100% vegan certification and accessible price point have made it a steady favourite in the vegan skincare space.”

Skin type
All skin types / sensitive
Key ingredients
Shea butter, Soybean oil, Olive fruit oil, Glycerin, Vitamin E
Fragrance
Contains fragrance

Botanical Blend Organic Body Moisturiser

CONSCIOUS SKINCARE · 235 ml
Botanical Blend Organic Body Moisturiser
£22.00

“A vegan and cruelty-free body moisturiser from UK brand Conscious Skincare, made with organic sunflower oil, organic shea butter and organic coconut oil and lightly scented with geranium and lavender essential oils. Approved by both the Vegetarian Society and PETA, the formula is plant-based, palm-oil-free and presented in glass packaging for those prioritising sustainability across the routine.”

Skin type
All skin types
Key ingredients
Organic sunflower oil, Organic shea butter, Organic coconut oil, Apricot kernel oil
Fragrance
Contains fragrance (geranium & lavender)

1A All-Day Pollution Repair Mask

ALLIES OF SKIN · 50 ml
1A All-Day Pollution Repair Mask
£59.00

“A clinically positioned vegan moisturiser-mask hybrid built around superoxide dismutase, niacinamide and a peptide blend. The formula is designed to support the skin against environmental stressors while delivering hydration and antioxidant protection. Allies of Skin is fully vegan and PETA certified, and the brand formulates without silicones, mineral oils, parabens and sulphates.”

Skin type
All skin types
Key ingredients
Superoxide dismutase, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Vitamin C, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic acid, Astaxanthin
Fragrance
Fragrance-free

Why vegan skincare matters

Vegan skincare excludes ingredients such as beeswax, lanolin, honey, animal-derived collagen, carmine and silk peptides, replacing them with plant oils, plant butters, marine algae, synthetic peptides and biotech-derived hyaluronic acid. For people who follow vegan principles in other areas of their life, choosing vegan skincare offers a way to align personal values with the routines used every day. Vegan formulations also often overlap with cruelty-free certifications and tend to use cleaner preservative systems, which can suit reactive skin.

How to approach vegan skincare

The clearest starting point is to look for explicit certification from organisations such as The Vegan Society or PETA. Beyond the badge, it is worth scanning ingredient lists for hidden animal derivatives.

Building a routine should still follow the same principles as any other, with gentle cleansing, daily moisturisation, targeted treatments where needed and consistent sun protection. Vegan skincare is now a category, not a compromise, and there are clinically credible products available across cleansers, moisturisers, treatments and SPF.

About Dr. Alexis Granite

Medical Director & Consultant Dermatologist

Dr Alexis about lilac v2

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