Neostrata Facial Cleanser

Best Natural Skin Care Products & Brands 2022

When it comes to skincare, people are slowly but surely realizing the harm that aggressive chemicals can do to the environment and their skin. Manufacturers have had to find alternative ways to maintain a healthy-looking appearance while staying within the principles of natural and organic skincare.

The Growing Vegan Skin Care Movement

Minimalism is the new beauty industry buzzword, and for good reason. From an environmentally-friendly perspective, going 'green' with your skincare can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. You don't have to be vegan to adopt a minimalist skincare routine – in fact, some non-vegans have noted that going vegan can make your skin look and feel better – but you do need to be willing to put in the time and effort to ensure that your skin looks as good as new.

This is why the vegan skin care products market is projected to grow from around £22 million in 2022 to over £30 million by 2027.

According to the NPD group, 23% of UK adults opted for a vegan diet in 2019 – that's 1 in 4 people. And, if you opt for organic food and animal-free products, you're reducing your environmental footprint even more.

The popularity of vegan skin care products is being echoed across the world. Germany's largest organic skincare retailer, for example, reports that sales of vegan skincare items grew by 62% in 2020 compared to the previous year. And in 2022, the market value of the vegan skincare market will be £22.3 billion (estimated by Packaged Foods Market)

An Evolving List Of Vegan Skincare Products

The evolution of vegan skincare products has been driven by several factors, but mainly by the growing influence of social media. Thanks to platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which are dominated by young people, social consciousness has shifted to a large degree towards animal welfare and environmental issues. People are more willing to voice their opinion on social media than they are in a face-to-face discussion, and this is reflected in the products that consumers are buying.

Here's a look at the current state of affairs for vegan skincare products.

Veganism

The category leader in terms of unit sales in the UK in September 2021, Veganism is a skincare range that's been formulated without any animal products or by-products.

To be classified as vegan, a product must meet three criteria: it must not contain any animal products; it must not be tested on animals, and it must not include any ingredients that are deemed to have a deleterious effect on the environment. Most people who use Veganism experience better skin, thanks to the range's innovative and earth-friendly skincare ingredients.

Amongst the products in the range, you'll find a facial cleanser, serum, and anti-aging cream. The brand also offers a two-in-one serum/moisturizer, which combines the benefits of both a serum and a moisturizer in a convenient option for those who don't want to go through the hassle of using two separate products.

Lantronix

Vegantronix, which stands for Vitamin E, Aspirin, And Retinol, is an effective vitamin-rich serum that's been clinically proven to increase collagen production and the growth of new blood vessels in the skin.

Derived from vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, aspirin, and retinol, an active ingredient that speeds up the body's absorption of nutrients and oxygen, this option from Neutrogena is great for skin that's experienced some damage from aging or the environment.

Lantronix protects and improves the appearance of skin by promoting collagen synthesis and vascularisation (the process by which new blood vessels are formed). Clinical studies have shown that it's effective for age spots, sun spots, and wrinkles. And given its proven benefits for skin health, it would appear that Vegantronix is here to stay.

Earth Medicine

If you've been following the blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a big fan of Earth Medicine, a brand that promotes organic and sustainable alternatives to conventional medicine. Not only is it good for the environment, but it's also great for your skin. This all-natural skincare brand supplies essential oils that can be highly beneficial for the skin.

Based on traditional Chinese medicine, Earth Medicine's founder, Dr. Daniel Gomes, created the range to address the issue of climate change. He wanted to find a way of providing effective skincare products without the need to compromise on form or function when it comes to manufacturing.

The brand's products contain essential oils, which according to traditional Chinese medicine, can be highly beneficial for the skin. Furthermore, the natural compounds within these essential oils have been proven to boost collagen synthesis and inhibit the production of free radicals, which can lead to wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Key Ingredients In Vegan Skincare Products

While social media has played a huge role in the rise of the vegan skincare products industry, it's also important to take into consideration the role that key ingredients have been playing. Here are some of the most important ones.

Vitamin E

I've talked about vitamin E many times on this blog. The vitamin E family is comprised of eight nutrients, each of which has a different function in the body. Vitamin E naturally protects the skin and can reduce the number of wrinkles and fine lines that appear on the face. Additionally, it can help to prevent skin cancer.

In the same way that vitamin C encourages the body to produce more collagen, so does vitamin E. However, whilst collagen encourages new blood vessels to form in the skin, vitamin E encourages collagen to form within the existing vessels. Meaning that you're more likely to experience improvements in skin health with vitamin E rather than collagen-boosting products.

Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid is a substance that naturally occurs within the wall of plant cells. It's been shown in several studies to have a positive effect on the appearance of skin. There's reason to believe that ferulic acid can improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines in the skin, and encourage cell reproduction and production of new blood vessels. This, in turn, could lead to a reduction in the appearance of age spots and sun spots.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit, like other citrus fruits, is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that can protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. These are atoms that can damage the structural integrity of the skin. In addition to shielding the skin from damage, antioxidants can encourage the body to produce more collagen within the skin. Grapefruit can improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and help to prevent skin cancer. Studies have also shown that it can help to regulate the production of melanin, so it can reduce the appearance of age spots and sun spots.

Retinol

Like vitamin E, retinol is another substance that naturally occurs within the human skin. It can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and can help to speed up the body's production of collagen. Derived from Vitamin A, which also promotes healthy skin, retinol can help to prevent sun spots and age spots. It can also be highly effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Aspirin And Fenugreek

Aspirin has been used for hundreds of years to relieve pain and discomfort and has been valued for its ability to reduce inflammation and the formation of blood clots within the blood vessels. It's been shown to have a positive effect on the skin, and traditional Chinese medicine recommends taking it in the winter to improve skin health.

Fenugreek is a substance that can be found in large quantities in the fenugreek plant. When combined with vitamins C and E, it has been shown to have a positive effect on the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Furthermore, fenugreek can encourage melanin production within the skin, which means that it can reduce the appearance of age spots and sun spots.

How To Select A Vegan Skincare Routine

If you're interested in trying out a vegan skincare routine, where should you start? It's always a good idea to look for supplements and ingredients that are already proven to work in synergy with each other. The fewer questions that you have about a product, the more likely it is to be effective and worth purchasing.