Want luxurious skin care, beautiful makeup palettes with a side of feeling good? Consider vegan cosmetics.
Vegan beauty products contain no animal ingredients. Instead they are made from plant or mineral-based ingredients, and many eschew common cosmetic chemicals that irritate skin. Once only found in frumpy health-product stores, vegan cosmetics now compete with the top luxury brands at chains like Ulta and Sephora.
Many vegan brands have a fashion-forward design and look, with colors and textures suitable for teenagers and mature skin, said James Vincent, artistic director of The Makeup Show, and a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Barack Obama and Lady Gaga.
With more consumers focusing on buying ethically and concerned about ingredients, even old-school cosmetics brands are taking notice, said Rachel Weingarten, beauty historian and author of “Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America ’40s-’60s.”
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“It makes them seem very relevant,” she said.
Thinking of going vegan? Start by seeking products thatcontain no animal products and are cruelty-free, to ensure they’re not tested on animals, Weingarten said.
Be adventurous, and try a new brand — many up-and-coming companies have mostly or all-vegan offerings. Note that it’s easier for small companies to source ingredients to develop a small-batch skin care line than a makeup line, Vincent said.
Vegan cosmetics are appropriate for people with sensitive skin, but Weingarten says watch for ingredients like citrus or ginger in high concentrations; those can sometimes inflame sensitive skin.
Debbie Carlson is a freelance writer.
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