Vegan Vitamin C Skincare
Vitamin C is a seriously amazing antioxidant that can help improve the overall appearance of your skin by brightening the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and evening out skin tone. However, if you're vegan, it can be challenging to find vitamin C skincare products that align with your values, that are also vegan. In this blog, we'll provide some tips on how to choose vegan vitamin C skincare products so that you can confidently incorporate this wonderous ingredient into your routine.
Look for plant-based sources of vitamin C
One of the first things to consider when choosing vegan vitamin C products is where the vitamin C is coming from. The source. Traditionally, vitamin C comes places like collagen or gelatin, both of which are very much not vegan. But, those aren’t the only places you can get vitamin C. There are plenty of plant-based alternatives that can easily be made into vegan products so that vegan lifestyles can still reap the benefits of this amazing ingredient. Some good options include:
Acerola cherry: Acerola cherry is a fruit that is native to Central and South America that is rich in vitamin C, with a concentration of around 20% to 30%. Acerola cherry is also a good source of other nutrients, including vitamin A, iron, and calcium. Making it a well-rounded fruit, get it…
Since Acerola cherries are also thought to have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, this fruit is a superb natural source of vitamin C suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Camu camu: Camu camu is a small, tropical fruit from the South American Amazon rainforest. It is rich in vitamin C, with a concentration of around 30% to 60%. Camu camu is packed full of all sorts of other nutrients as well. Like potassium, calcium, and amino acids. In skincare products, Camu camu is most often used as a natural source of vitamin C and it’s additional nutrients make it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Kakadu plum: Kakadu plum is a small, tropical fruit that grows in Australia. It is a rich plant based source of vitamin C, with a concentration of around 100% to 300%, which is insanely high compared the concentrations in other fruit sources. Kakadu plum is also full of other nutrients, including vitamin E, iron, and calcium.
The high percentage of vitamin C makes this fruit highly coveted for vegan vitamin c serums and its other nutrients make it suitable for sensitive skin.
Rosehips: Rosehips are a small, red fruit that is produced by roses, yes roses like the ones you may have in your garden. With a vitamin C concentration of around 20% to 50%, these small fruits work as a great vegan vitamin C ingredient. Rosehips, like all the fruits before, are thought to have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, making them suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin and they are also a good source of other nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids.
Avoid animal-derived ingredients
In addition to choosing plant-based sources of vitamin C, it's important to avoid animal-derived ingredients in your vegan skincare products. Because I mean, then they just aren’t vegan. Some common non-vegan ingredients to look out for include:
Collagen
This protein is often used in skincare products to help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Gelatin
This ingredient is often used in gummy vitamins and other supplements, as well as some skincare products. It's made from animal bones, skin, and connective tissue, so it's not suitable for vegans.
Honey
While honey is often touted as a natural ingredient in skincare products, it's not considered vegan since it is a honey bee’s byproduct.
Lanolin
This ingredient is derived from sheep's wool and is often used in moisturizers and other skin care products. Sheep wool equals animal byproduct.
Check the label for certifications
One of the best ways to ensure that your vegan skincare products are truly vegan is to look for certifications. There are several trusted organizations that offer vegan certifications for skin care and other personal care products. Some of the most common certifications to look for include:
Vegan Society
The Vegan Society is a UK-based organization that was founded in 1944 with the goal of encouraging the vegan lifestyle and advocating for the rights of animals. Like stopping the use of animals in the safety testing of luxury products. The organization works to educate the public about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle and promotes the availability of vegan products. It even offers resources and support for those who are interested in adopting a vegan lifestyle. The Vegan Society certification program helps consumers easily identify vegan-friendly products. While also supporting companies that are committed to vegan principles.
Leaping Bunny
Leaping Bunny is a certification program that is run by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) to help consumers identify vegan products and companies. A coalition of animal protection organizations, including the Animal Protection Institute, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Doris Day Animal League. To be certified by Leaping Bunny, companies must pledge not to conduct, commission, or pay for any animal testing on their finished products or ingredients, and must undergo independent audits to ensure compliance. Remember vegan and cruelty-free are two separate certifications, so this certificate is only one piece of the puzzle. The Leaping Bunny logo is a widely recognized symbol of cruelty-free products and companies and is a helpful resource for consumers who want to avoid supporting companies that engage in animal testing.
PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies
PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies program is a certification program that helps consumers identify cruelty-free products and companies. Keep in mind that vegan and cruelty-free are two separate certifications. For a product to truly be animal conscious, it should be both vegan and cruelty-free. The Beauty Without Bunnies logo is a widely recognized symbol of cruelty-free products and companies and is a helpful resource for consumers who want to avoid supporting companies that engage in animal testing. PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies searchable database of cruelty-free products is extremely helpful if you’re in a pinch and want to quickly check a product or company. It also includes a number of resources and tips for choosing cruelty-free products.
