The Best Of: Cruelty Free & Vegan Beauty Brands

We are now seeing more and more brands making changes towards becoming cruelty free and vegan, and so I have rounded up some of the best brands and products that are completely cruelty free and vegan.

The Skin Matrix HD Exfoliating Micellar Cleansing Pads (£27.50) contain lactic acid to cleanse, exfoliate and brighten all skin types and tones. They come in a large tub, which holds 60 of the large cleansing pads, and they are perfect for using in a morning when you don't have time to do a full skincare routine. However, they can of course also be used on an evening and I found them to be excellent at removing my makeup and any dirt and grime from throughout the day. You can find them online here.

 

Impulse have recently released their brand new summery Body Mists (£5.99), which come in a variety of slightly odd, yet gorgeous fragrances. Here we have Purple Petals + Smoky Sky, which reminds me of Summer evenings, quite floral but with a musk undertone to it, and Tropical Beach + Espresso, which is quite creamy with a slight hint of coffee beans. The packaging is lovely and bright, and the fragrance lasts quite a while to say it isn't a perfume or eau de toilette. You can find them in store and online at Superdrug here.

Herbal Essentials is also a great cruelty free and vegan brand. I have been trying the Herbal Essentials Hydra 5 Gel (£19.00 for 50ml) which is a purifying facial moisturiser perfect for blemish prone skin, with a lightweight gel formula that quickly sinks into the skin to leave your complexion balanced and soothed. I also completely recommend the Herbal Essentials AHA Night Cream (£25.00 for 50ml) which is suitable for all skin types and contains Sugar Maple and Bilberry extracts along with other key ingredients to boost the renewal of the skin, keeping it super fresh and smooth. You can find Herbal Essentials online here.

I Love... is such a fun brand and they have so many pampering products to spoil yourself with, including the I Love... Whipped Sugar Scrub Pink Marshmallow (£3.99), the I Love... Coconut & Cream Nourishing Body Butter (£3.00) and the I Love... Lemon Sorbet Refreshing Body Spritzer (£2.99). Their products are very affordable and you can find them in most supermarkets as well as online. My favourite has to be the Pink Marshmallow Whipped Sugar Scrub as it is so creamy, yet effective as an exfoliator and smells divine. They are currently undergoing a huge transformation so keep your eyes peeled for more fabulous releases. You can find the I Love bath and body care range online here.

Hair care brand Monat's Super Moisture Masque (£42.00 for 134ml) is a very special hair mask which promotes healthy, lustrous shine by infusing the hair with a blend of natural oils, minerals and vitamins. Depleted amino acids are replenished for improved hair texture and manageability and this mask helps to improve the moisture balance of the hair to combat brittleness. This mask leaves my hair so soft and shiny and you only need about a walnut-sized amount to start seeing a difference. You can find it online here.

One of my all-time budget beauty brands, Essence definitely getting a shout-out in this post. They have recently released a whole range of the Essence Shine, Last & Go Gel Nail Polishes, which come in at least thirty different shades and textures to suit all tastes and the best thing is, they cost just £1.60 each. I wholly recommend Essence as a brand all day long, and these brand new gel polishes are super shiny and feature a new quick dry effect, so you don't have to wait around ages for your nails to dry. You can find them in store and online at Wilko here.

Next up is hair dye! The Clairol Natural Instincts Conditioning Colour (£5.50) comes in a wide range of shades that lasts up to 28 shampoos. Hair colouring can be super expensive in a salon, and I recently died my hair light brown from it being highlighted as I am awaiting an appointment at Mark Hill in August and so that I didn't have roots, I have used this gentle and conditioning colour for the time being. It features coconut oil and aloe vera to ensure the hair is well nourished and was so easy to use and I have since had comments to say how much healthier my hair looks since using it. You can find it in store and online at Superdrug here.

Ayumi is a great natural brand and I adore their skincare products. The Turmeric & Bergamot Fae Wash (£6.99 for 150ml) is great for cleansing dehydrated and dull complexions. It features turmeric which is a great anti-inflammatory, brightening botanics and antioxidant-rich extracts which help to treat dry and blemished skin. It also smells incredible too. To go with the Face Wash, I would recommend the Ayumi Turmeric & Bergamot Face Cream (£6.99 for 100ml) which is a lightweight yet super hydrating moisturiser which soothes uncomfortable, tight dry skin whilst also improving signs of hyperpigmentation and blemishes. There are products for other skin types too and they are completely cruelty-free and vegan. You can find them online here.

Just like Winter, Summer can also cause our hair to get really dry and in need of a good dose of moisture. The Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme Shampoo & Conditioner (£9.50 each for 75ml) nourish extremely porous hair to intensely hydrate and gently cleanse fragile hair using a unique combination of nourishing oils to penetrate and fortify each strand. This results in moisture being restored and rough cuticles being smoothed. One of the things I love about Philip Kingsley is that you can buy their shampoos and conditioners in smaller sizes to try them out before committing to larger, more expensive bottles. You can find them online here.

Jurlique is a brand which I feature quite a lot on Kathryn's Loves as their skincare products are made from some of the highest quality ingredients. One of my favourites is the Jurlique Nourishing Cleansing Oil (£25.00 for 200ml). A lot of people shy away from facial oils but they are honestly one of the best things for the skin, and this one works for all skin types, particularly drier skin that needs some hydration. This Cleansing Oil will not leave a greasy residue after use and feels really lightweight on the skin, all whilst keeping it super hydrated and smooth. You can find it online at Jurlique here.

Clean Reserve is a fragrance collection which has been created with responsibly sourced ingredients and eco-conscious manufacturing and packaging. The Clean Reserve Citron Fig Eau De Parfum (£82.00 for 100ml) is a beautifully-blended perfume that can be used on its own or layered with other fragrances to create your own, unique scent. Citron Fig contains top notes of fig, ginger and lemon oil, with middle notes of cardamom, mint, copaiba and mandarin with base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and musk. This makes it a perfect summer fragrance for those who love a fresh scent, but with a musky, woody undertone. You can find it online at Space NK here.

One of my favourite cosmetics brands, IT Cosmetics ensures that all of their products are cruelty-free, including their makeup brushes. The IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush (£35.00) is a double-ended brush which contains a smaller brush and a larger one. The smaller end is perfect for blending away imperfections and hard-to-reach areas, whereas the larger brush is suitable for applying liquid formulas to get a flawless base. Another of my favourites is the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Powder Brush (£35.00) which is a luxuriously soft, rounded and tapered brush which picks up and applies just the right amount of powder to give you an airbrushed complexion. Both brushes have synthetic hair and a soft-touch handle making them a pleasure to use. You can find them online at IT Cosmetics here.

 

New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes is an organic and vegan brand which creates beautiful skincare products. The Antipodes Apostle Skin-Brightening Serum (£39.00 for 30ml) is a water-based serum which helps to correct dull, blemished or uneven skin tones. It contains antioxidant Vinanza Grape and Kiwi to minimise the appearance of redness, whilst exfoliating enzymes from kiwifruit and Vinanza Oxifend from pinot noir grapes leave the skin glowing and looking super healthy. The final key ingredient, mamaku black fern and Reishi mushroom of immortality boost healthy skin renewal to rid the skin of dead skin cells to keep the skin fresh and smooth. You can find it online at Antipodes here.

Another brand which tends to feature heavily on my blog is IGK Hair and today I am introducing you to the IGK No More Blow High Speed Air Dry Spray (£25.00 for 293ml) and the IGK Hair 30,000 Feet Volume Powder Spray (£27.00 for 7g). The No More Blow Air Dry Spray contains an innovative blend of lightweight starches and advanced flash cooling technology that helps to dry the hair naturally without the use of a hairdryer. Since the hair is drying faster, it is at less risk of frizz, breakages and bending. The 30,000 Feet Volume Powder Spray was introduced to me by Tati Westbrook who swears by it. This is a weightless styling powder that contains bentonite clay to give the hair body and texture whilst also keeping it in place. It absorbs into the hair immediately and there is no residue left behind, just great, voluminous hair! You can find IGK Hair online at Space NK here.

KISS Nails and Lashes create some amazing false nail and false lash designs, always keeping up with the latest trends. Their false nails are so easy and quick to use, and there are endless designs, colours and finishes to choose from. The imPRESS Nails are already pre-glued so you simply pop them straight on to the nails and the gel FANTASY nails come with the option of adhesive tabs or regular nail glue. The KISS Lash Couture False Lashes come in many different styles too, so there is something suitable for all eye shapes and tastes, whether you want to go natural or full-on glam. The Naked Drama Collection includes these Tulle lashes, which are multi-layered to give a gorgeous natural, yet fuller look to the lashes. You can find them in stores such as Boots here.

Benecos is a vegan beauty brand and their products contain around 90% natural ingredients, so they are also kind to your skin too. Their Happy Nails nail polish range contains avocado and biotin to help keep the nails nourished and strong, and of course looking super pretty. This shade here, Flamingo (£4.95) is perfect for fingernails and toenails during the Summer months. If you are going on holiday soon, then I would definitely recommend the Benecos Natural Fresh Bronzing Duo (£6.95), which comes with a bronzer on one side and a pretty shimmery blush on the other side - I like to save as much space as I can in my suitcase for shopping! You can find Benecos online here.

Live In The Light is a fairly new website which houses all kinds of vegan and cruelty free beauty brands, and there are so many new brands and products to discover. They kindly send me some products from a brand called Pure Anada, who are both cruelty free and vegan. Here I have the Pure Anada Peppermint Cream Sugar Scrub (£12.50) which smells incredible with cool peppermint and creamy sweet vanilla. You get a big old tub of this and it is perfect for exfoliating dead skin cells, whilst also leaving your skin well moisturised. They also have a range of Shower Gels (£9.50) and Body Lotions (£9.50) in scents such as Sweet Orange, Tahitian Gardenia, Lemon Grass, Wild Cherry and more so you can either use one scent or mix and match. You can find Live In The Light online here.

Sensationail have a brand new collection called Nailtural, a range of nail polishes and treatments which are all vegan and cruelty free. There is a range of 20 shades of nail polish (£9.90 each), and so there is something for everyone, including the stunning coral-coloured Dainty Dahlia and the perfect pink-nude Trusting Terracotta. I adore the little wooden-style caps on the bottles too. They also have the Sensationail Nailtural Natural Nail Strengthener (£10.90) which has been formulated with bio-sourced ingredients to gently help restore and protect damaged nails. You can find the collection online at Sensationail here.

Something which I always take on holiday with me is a hair mask sachet as a combination of sunshine and chlorine from the pool does my hair no favours whatsoever. The HASK Deep Conditioner Sachets are super handy for popping in your toiletry bag as they are much more lightweight compared to a regular sized tub of hair mask, and you still get plenty of product in each one to leave your hair feeling much more nourished and in better condition for all of those holiday snaps. The Macadamia Oil is a moisturising deep conditioner to hydrate and repair, the Orchid & White Truffle is great for re-hydrating and adding shine to the hair, and Argan Oil is a great repairing deep conditioner to strengthen the hair. You can find them online here.

If like me, you are fair-skinned and try to keep out of the sun as much as possible to keep it protected, but still want some colour on the skin, then I would definitely recommend vegan brand Lavera's Self-Tanning Lotion (£14.90). This contains natural and organic tanning ingredients to give you a sun-kissed, streak-free, radiant tan after just 4-5 hours. Some false tans can make my skin really dry and itchy, but this one contains macadamia, sunflower oil, Vitamin E and shea butter to keep the skin well moisturised and smooth and can even be used on sensitive skin due to it containing calming calendula. You can find it online here.

Jillian Dempsey has a beautiful range of cosmetics and they are fully vegan and organic. The Lid Tints and Cheek Tints come in sleek, pretty packaging of light grey, light pink and rose gold. The Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint (£26.50) is available in eight different shades, including the one I have here, Bronze, a stunning deep bronze shade with a gentle shimmer to it and they are so quick and easy to apply. The Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint (£26.50) comes in six different shades and I think that Poppy is perfect for Summer as it is such a bright pop of coral unlike any I have seen before and the bonus is that you can also use them on the lips too! You can find Jillian Dempsey online here.

Sanctuary Spa offers a full range of vegan products including some of my favourites here. The Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly (£10.00) is one of their most recent releases, which is a highly refreshing moisturiser that locks in three times the amount of hydration and it smells of watermelon which is a definite yes from me! The Sanctuary Spa Moisture Burst Face Wash (£8.00) is a face cleanser which is infused with a blend of essential oils and skin-loving natural ingredients to easily remove makeup, daily grime and impurities. It also has a 100% natural fragrance and so is perfect for all skin types. If you don't always have the time for a face mask, then I would highly recommend the Sanctuary Spa 1 Minute Daily Glow Mask (£14.00) - yes that's right, you only need to leave it on for one minute! This contains extracts from super-fruit Kakadu Plum, which is the world's highest source of Vitamin C to give you a stunning fresh and radiant-looking complexion. You can find Sanctuary Spa in store and online at Boots here.

My final vegan beauty brand which I wanted to include in today's post is Biocell. This skincare brand offers three different sheet face masks, including the Biocell Regenerating Face Mask (£6.00), which is great for sensitive skin and includes ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, soybean oil and six vegetable extracts to keep skin hydrated and fresh. They also offer the Biocell Anti-Ageing Face Mask (£6.00) which is an intensive firming face mask which contains hyaluronic acid to help restore moisture to the face and stimulates the production of collagen, making the skin tighter and plumper. You can find Biocell online here.

Which are your favourite Vegan and Cruelty Free beauty brands? Let me know in the comments below!

All the Loves,
Kathryn xxx

*All items in this post have been gifted to me, but all opinions are my own