At Garden Dish, we strive to make sure that what you put into your body is ethical and plant-based. But shouldn’t you also make sure that what you put ON your body is also vegan? This can be easier said than done, though. Many cosmetic companies include animal-based ingredients in their products and use names that seem deceiving (like glycerine). Others rely on animals to test their products for safety. But not to worry! There are some companies out there that vegans can feel good about buying from – and they’re easier to find than you thought! Here is my list of the top 5 companies to buy vegan cosmetics from. Do you use any of these brands? Let me know!
The 5 Best Companies for Vegan-Friendly Cosmetics
A personal favorite of mine, LUSH sells shampoos, soaps, perfumes, cosmetics, and other beauty products. A couple of my favorite products (all of which are vegan!) are Aqua Marina, a face wash that uses calamine lotion and seaweed; The Comforter, a bubble bar that smells amazing; and Veganese, a great light conditioner for the summer. LUSH is committed to the environment, 
using only recycled material for the limited packaging they actually use (and they encourage you to do so as well – return 5 pots and get a free product!) They are also staunchly against animal testing and use natural, plant-based ingredients that are ethically sourced. They are 100% vegetarian, not 100% vegan, so their products will occasionally contain (ethically sourced) honey, yogurt or eggs, but it’s easy to find vegan products, as they’re always marked with a “V”. You can even filter out any product that isn’t vegan when searching their website. You can be comfortable using and supporting LUSH because of this.
Urban Decay is a hugely popular, high-end cosmetics line that is also against animal testing. They also don’t source any ingredients that have been tested on animals. Urban Decay does sometimes use synthetic materials in place of animal-based ingredients, so they aren’t as natural as some of the other companies, but their vegan products will live up to ethical standards. Not all of their products are vegan, but the ones that are vegan are marked with a pawprint so you can easily find them (keep in mind that different shades of a product may have different ingredients, so check every shade!) This is great news for the vegan fans of Urban Decay’s make-up!
The Body Shop (another brand I use personally) is also committed to using natural, plant-based products in their 
shampoos, soaps, lotions, and other products. They are also 100% vegetarian, and are naturally-derived whenever possible. They do have some ingredients that use honey and other animal products, but these are ethically sourced and easy enough to avoid. They are also proud to be one of the first ethical companies; in 1997, they were the first company to sign up to the Humane Cosmetics Standard, which sets standards for companies who refuse to test on animals. They are also a very eco-conscious company, and work to reduce their waste and packaging, so that they are helping humans, animals, and the Earth. Some of my favorite products are the Rainforest Balance shampoo and conditioner and their body lotion in Satsuma or Pink Grapefruit. All of their products are great – and you can feel good about buying from them.
Aveda believes that the best ingredients are found in nature, so they make every effort to use natural, plant-based products whenever it is possible in their skin- and hair-care line. Every one of their products is free of things like parabens, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulfate. They are also committed to the environment and use 100% recycled material for their products, as well as using ethically sourced ingredients. They also support green energy, like wind power. Their belief is that “nature works” for sustainability and their bottom-line, and they hope to spread their values to other companies.
Tom’s has a wide variety of products, such as deodorants, toothpastes, soap, and mouthwash. And get this – it’s all 100% vegan. They don’t use any animal products at all, and of course, they don’t do testing on animals. They also don’t use any artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives, using only natural ingredients instead. They also work towards environmental sustainability, cutting waste and reusing packaging. This is definitely a company that you can rely on to provide you with great vegan products – and since they’re all vegan, you don’t have to worry about checking the ingredients!
It’s Possible to Use Totally Vegan-Friendly Cosmetics!
These 5 companies are great, and they make products you can trust. Since they are such prominent, easy to find companies, it’s incredibly easy and practical to find and use only vegan cosmetics However, they aren’t the only companies who do this – just my favorites! Interested in finding some other great companies who are cruelty-free and use natural, plant-based ingredients? Or just want to see if the products you’re using are tested on animals? PETA has a huge comprehensive list of companies who DO and DON’T test on animals – and you can search for a specific company as well! They make it super easy to find companies and products you can feel good about. MVP (making vegan practical) and supporting companies that have great values is easier than ever!
Are you as conscious about what you put on your body as you are about what you put in it? Let me know in the comments below!
*Photos courtesy of Al Reid (alreidphotography.com)
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