How to create a vegan skincare routine

With brands like MyEarth, Iwori, Pradiance, Sukin and Skoon producing their own ranges, you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to vegan-friendly skincare.

“The Body Shop is a great example – not everything they make is vegan as some items contain animal-derived ingredients like beeswax, but if you know what to look out for, you’ll find what you need,” says beauty editor Leigh van den Berg.



Cleanse and tone



“You’ll find great face washes in the new MyEarth skincare collection. Everything in the range is vegan, cruelty-free, and made using 100% recyclable,” says van den Berg. “They have three lines that aim to brighten, rejuvenate and hydrate, and they make awesome micellar water too.” 



On the subject of micellar water, a local, vegan-friendly brand to try is Iwori. 

“It’s made using soothing aloe and rooibos extract – both great antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties – and can be used to cleanse as well as tone,” says van den Berg. "Alternatively, you could use something like Pradiance Balancing Facial Toner. Pradiance is another local-is-lekker vegan skincare brand made using kigelia extract. It’s sourced from the African ‘sausage tree’ and local healers have relied on it for centuries due to its super-soothing, antibacterial properties.”



As far as exfoliating goes, van den Berg suggests you check out Australian vegan skincare brand Sukin. 

“Their Revitalising Facial Scrub contains finely ground up walnut shells and bamboo powder so it’s a lot kinder to the environment than microbeads.” 

Hydrate and treat



“If you’re looking for a vegan daily moisturiser, try Skoon’s The One. It contains mega-moisturising hyaluronic acid and ceramides, plus a soothing, non-living probiotic,” says van den Berg. 

When it comes to anti-ageing products, van den Berg suggests that you have a wrinkle-smoothing, ‘retinoid-like’ product in your skincare regime. 

“REN is cruelty-free and created with mostly vegan products, one being a Bio-Retinoid Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Oil. It’s not retinol, but it’s a mix of plant-based ingredients that deliver the same effects as retinol.” 

Van den Berg suggests you consider The Body Shop Drops of Light Serum if you are struggling with pigmentation. 

"Everything produced by The Body Shop is cruelty-free and now roughly half their products are vegan, including the Drops of Light range,” she says. “It contains a potent form of vitamin C as well as a vitamin C-rich type of algae that can help minimise pigmentation.” 


Van den Berg says your best line of defense in the fight against pigmentation will always be a high sun protection factor. 

“Slnko sunscreen is a proudly South African brand making cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, zinc oxide-based sunscreen in both SPF 30 and 50. And their products smell great too!” 



IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf