flannerie vegan beauty

Clean and green: The best vegan beauty brands

12 Jan 2024 | Updated on: 06 Sep 2024 | By Luxury London

Bring plant-based into the bathroom with the best vegan beauty and skincare products available now

All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.

Small step or big leap, we all need to do something. It has never been more important to change one, some or all of those daily habits of ours that are killing our planet, and hurting some of its inhabitants. For many people, going vegan is their step in a new direction, whether it’s the food they eat, the vegan beauty brands they apply or the fashion they buy into. In fact, the term ‘vegan’ now gets almost three times as many Google searches as vegetarian and gluten-free. PETA recognises London as the most vegan-friendly city on the planet, with more specialist restaurants opening every year – discover some of our favourites here.

However, although it may have taken over kitchens across the city, thoughts about vegan living don’t immediately extend to our bathrooms, even though there are plenty of brands in the vegan beauty and skincare fields. And going green doesn’t have to mean sacrificing on quality. Meet the science-backed vegan beauty brands promising effective, long-lasting results that don’t cost the earth.

S’Able Labs

sable labs

The debut beauty brand from Idris and Sabrina Elba, S’Able Labs was founded with the mission of highlighting the efficacy of ethically-sourced African ingredients via a range of genderless skincare products. The core collection offers just three products – a qasil cleanser, black seed toner and baobab moisturiser – creating a simplified but effective routine which promises to tackle hyperpigmentation and dryness while replenishing the skin’s barrier.

S’Able Labs Qasil Cleanser

Every good skincare regime starts with a great cleanser. Packed with exfoliating, purifying and hydrating ingredients, including qasil from Somaliland, oat amino acids, sqaulane, shea butter and rice milk, it’s gentle enough to use everyday.

£28
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Flânerie

vegan beauty brands flanerie

Leaping Bunny-approved and verified by PETA International, ethics and sustainabilty are at the heart of everything that British beauty brand Flânerie does. Its tight edit of 18 everyday products aims not to overwhelm, but to offer options for every skin concern, which also pay close attention to scent and texture to provide a luxurious tailored experience every time. Transparent labels also demystify the shopping experience so you'll know exactly which product is the right one for you (if, of course, you can stop at just one).

Flânerie Purifiying Green Clay Mask

Take five with this multi-tasking lightly acidic mask which blends seaweed, glycolic acid and matricaria extract to draw out impurities, exfoliate and revive dull complexions. Leave on for 10 minutes twice a week for optimum results.

£32
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Pai

pai vegan skincare

Certified vegan by PETA, as well as offering 100 per cent organic formulations, Pai was founded by Sarah Brown after she spent years struggling to find products that didn't irritate her own sensitive skin. Every single one of its products is independently patch-tested to ensure they're safe for eczema-prone skin while being designed to help repair the skin barrier, boost resilience and keep your complexion protected from external aggressors.

Pai Middlemist Seven Camellia & Rose Gentle Cream Cleanser

Containing caster and sweet almond oil, this gentle yet effective cleanser from Pai is perfect for everyday use. Apply before moisturising to restore the skin’s pH balance and prevent blemishes.

£34
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Floral Street

London-based perfume and home fragrance brand Floral Street was founded by Michelle Feeney out of frustration over the wastefulness and unsustainable practices of the traditional fragrance industry. As well as working with the Robertet perfume house, which promises transparency and traceability for all its ingredients, Floral street is also endorsed by FSC, World Land Trust and PETA for its vegan and eco-friendly credentials. Oh, and its scents are pretty great to boot.

Floral Street London Poppy eau de parfum

Fresh and complex, this elegant perfume blends citrus and floral notes, including neroli, orange blossom, sunflower accords, black amber and jasmine sambac, for a stunning every day scent that looks as good as it smells.

£74
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Ashe

Providing the missing piece to a full-service vegan beauty puzzle, Ashe is a London-based nail colour brand that promises each and every one of its chic colours is completely vegan. Founded by lawyer and former nail technician Ashleigh Alli in 2021, each of its shades is designed in-house and updated seasonally, with 10 per cent of all profits donated to female-centric charities including sickle cell non-profit Cianna's Smile and Bloody Good Period.

Ashe Mary + Mildred nail varnish

Made from 74 per cent plant origin ingredients and boasting an ultra long-lasting and hard-wearing formula, Ashe’s Mary + Mildred is a sophisticated deep rose hue that’s as pretty as it is versatile.

£16.50
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Whamisa

whamisa skincare

K-beauty has taken the world by storm over the past few years – but few brands are as pioneering as Whamisa. Laying claim to Korea's first organic-certified facility, it invests heavily in research and development, leading to a number of clean beauty breakthroughs, including natural organic fermentations for better absorption and the creation of plant-based, natural preservatives. Need more assurance? Its list of 'never' ingredients includes no fewer than 43 animal-derived, synthetic and artificial ingredients commonly found in mass-produced beauty products.

Whamisa Organic Flowers Refresh Toner

Containing 100 per cent organic and vegan ingredients, including lotus flower, aloe extract and chrysanthemum, set aside some time for yourself with Whamisa’s soothing toner. The refreshing serum will soften skin and minimise pores to leave your complexion bright and clear.

£56.55
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Twelve Natural Skincare

twelve natural skincare

Formulated for sensitive skin by founder, cosmetologist and pharmacist Pedro Catalá, Twelve’s complete range is vegan. The collection is compact, with each products designed to tackle specific concerns, particularly stressed, sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Beyond face creams, oils and cleansers, the Twelve range is all-encompassing, including body serums, shower gels, hand creams and balms, so you can get the Twelve treatment from top to toe.

Twelve Essential Bio-Technological Moisturiser

Skincare wonder ingredient hylauronic acid is the key to this moisturiser’s power. Capable of holding up to 70 per cent more water than any other substance, it effectively hydrates skin and preps it for makeup application.

£48
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Tata Harper

tata harper skincare

Tata Harper sources the more than 300 raw ingredients that go into its formulation from 68 countries, proving its commitment to using only the purest, highest quality botanicals in its products. It also uses the highest levels of concentration possible to deliver maximum results without resorting to chemicals or synthetic ingredients. Happily, the range is also vast, ranging from essentials cleansers, toners and moisturisers to eye creams, lip treatments and body scrubs.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum

This lightweight serum blends hyaluronic acid and essential vitamins to create a nourishing and gently exfoliating formula that is certified natural and cruelty-free. A quick pick-me-up for when your skin needs some serious rejuvenation.

£82
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La Belle Lune

la belle lune

Creating its products in small batches from its base in Norwich, La Belle Lune is firmly of the opinion that Mother Nature knows best. Its entire line is vegan and cruelty-free, blending nutrient-rich plant oils, botanicals and extracts into powerful products designed to cleanse, hydrate and protect. Plus, each is packaged in gorgeous Miron glass bottles and recyclable tins that will look great on your bathroom shelf.

La Belle Lune Organic Skin Facial Oil

This oil is ideal as an overnight treatment for most skin types, and it smells heavenly. Available with either a pipette or pump cap, this elegant facial oil will take pride of place in your bathroom. Designed to work overnight, it targets fine lines, scars and sun damage to leave skin looking healthy and rested.

£62
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Evolve

evolve organic beauty

Some natural haircare brands use honey in their products but Evolve avoids all animal-derived ingredients, as well as making all its cruelty-free and eco-friendly formulas right here in the UK. This commitment to the environment extends beyond its products as well, with the B-corp certified brand moving into a new Eco Studio in 2019, which uses 100 per cent wind power and low-energy lighting to make the entire production process as green as possible. Oh, and did we mention that its hair and skincare offering is seriously effective, too.

Evolve Superfood Shine Shampoo

A winner at the Natural Health Beauty Awards, this vegan shampoo contains sugar and coconut to effectively cleanse the scalp while nourishing hair. Ideal if your locks are struggling in the winter weather.

£15
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Lily Lolo

lily lolo cream foundation

Due to customer demand for long-wearing, highly pigmented formulas, vegan makeup brands are far less ubiquitous than plant-based skincare lines. Lily Lolo is a great UK-made mineral make-up range, famed for it eyeshadow palettes, which come in very versatile combinations. The collection is far more varied than that, however, with foundations, mascaras, blushers and concealers catering to every makeup bag need.

Lily Lolo Laid Sculpt & Glow duo

Designed to flatter and enhance every skin tone, Lily Lolo’s Sculpt & Glow duo promises glowing skin and sky-high cheek bones with pigments just as strong as their non-vegan counterparts.

£17.10
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Ilia

ilia beauty

Don't have time for a multi-step skincare routine? Ilia takes the hard work out of beauty by combining powerful skincare ingredients with clean, sustainable makeup formulas to create the ultimate multi-tasking products. Its foundations, for example, contain niacinamide and allantoin, its vibrant lipsticks are made with hydrating organic castor oil and practically every one of its facial products offers SPF protection. We promise you'll never be tempted by standard makeup again.

Ilia Color Block Lipstick

It can be difficult to formulate vegan lipsticks but Ilia has led by example and avoids both beeswax and carmine in its products. Created using mango seed butter, castor seed oil and apricot oil, this velvety smooth vegan lipstick is every inch as luxurious as its traditional competitors. Also featuring sunflower seed wax, Ilia’s lipstick seals in moisture and stays put all day.

£27
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Antipodes

Antipodes vegan beauty brand

Hailing from founder Elizabeth Barbalich's native New Zealand, and inspired by the country's abundance of healing and rejuvenating natural ingredients, Antipodes has been offering vegan, toxin-free and clean formulations for more than 15 years. Using only responsibly-sourced, 100 per cent natural ingredients, each product is independently tested to ensure the claims made on the packaging are backed up by real results.

Antipodes avocado pear nourishing night cream

Did you know that, as well as being delicious, avocados are also packed with antioxidant vitamins C, A, B1, B2, D and E? Combine that with hydrating Manuka honey and the soothing scent of sandalwood and you’ve got a formula that promises a great night’s sleep and glowing complexion come morning.

£35.55
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