If you're anything like us (i.e. complete beady-eyed beauty junkies) you might have noticed that the Kylie Cosmetics website has been shut down recently. Although the Kylie Jenner beauty empire shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon (it was her beauty company in large that made Kylie the youngest 'self-made' billionaire, after all) the closure of Kylie Cosmetics website did have us confused.
However, things have now become clear, as Kylie's revealed the reason why Kylie Cosmetics has been on a hiatus - and it turns out, it's for a very good reason. All Kylie Cosmetics products are being reformulated so that they're completely vegan.
Posting on instagram, Kylie wrote: "As some of you may have noticed my @kyliecosmetics website has been shut down for a little makeover. i started my makeup line when i was just 17 and i felt it was time to elevate and join the VEGAN and CLEAN family 🤍. i’ve been working hard to create the newest innovative formulas for you guys and i’m sooo excited to share with you all soon! stay tuned."
But why is vegan beauty so important and what does 'clean' really mean? We've debunked the myths and rounded up the vegan beauty brands you should have on your radar…
The Vegan Skincare Brands Worth Knowing About
Veganism has been growing exponentially over the past few years with the number of vegans in the UK quadrupling between 2014 and 2019. And in 2018, the UK launched more vegan products than any other nation. The increase in demand for more vegan friendly options has forced other industries to take notice too, including beauty.
In the beauty industry, there's a lot of confusing jargon like 'green', 'clean', 'cruelty-free' and 'vegetarian'. Put simply, vegan beauty means that the product does not contain a single animal-derived ingredient (for example, beeswax or lanolin). Whereas vegetarian beauty means the product is free from animal-derived ingredients obtained from animal slaughter, but can contain animal byproducts like beeswax, honey and lanolin. Cruelty-free refers to a product that doesn't test on animals. It is possible for a product to be cruelty-free and not vegan and vice-versa.
If you want to go vegan in the beauty department but you're not sure where to start, we've rounded up the best vegan moisturisers that are powered by plant-derived, natural ingredients and are made from eco-conscious brands. Good skin days this way...
Shop: The Best Vegan Moisturisers Here
Best Vegan Moisturisers 2021
1 of 12Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturizer, £35
Summary: New York-born, cool-brand Milk is well known for it's cruelty-free, vegan formulas that are simple yet mighty effective. Product details: This must-have moisturiser uses vegan milks (like oat, fig and argan) to deeply hydrate and nourish skin.
2 of 12Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream, £38
Summary: Pai's 100% vegan and cruelty-free skincare range is accredited by the Vegan Society and certified by the Leaping Bunny Association. Product details: Ideal for sensitive skins, this best-seller calms and soothes.
3 of 12Odacite Oleosomes Time Release Delivery Crème, £75
Summary: All Odacite's products are 100% vegan and very effective. Product details: This hard-working moisturiser delivers a steady dose of actives and hydration over the day to help revitalise skin.
4 of 12BYBI Babe Balm, £18
Summary: 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free, BYBI beauty not only has great shelfie appeal but also uses high quality ingredients. Product details: This multi-purpose balm works equally well on lips, skin and body.
5 of 12Evolve Beauty Daily Renew Facial Cream, £28
Summary: Evolve Beauty believe that natural organic skincare ingredients are better for us than synthetics which is why its vegan range is powered by plants. Product details: This rich, velvety cream restores dry skin back to its former glory.
6 of 12Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment, £105
Summary: Allies of Skin are committed to veganism without compromising on efficacy. Product details: This daily treatment protects skin from environmental aggressors whilst restoring any areas of damage. Double win!
7 of 12Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream, £49
Summary: Biossance products are all vegan and don't contain any animal-derived ingredients. Product details: This whipped up cream drenches the skin in hydrating hyaluronic acid, shea butter and squalane for a healthy, plumped up complexion.
8 of 12Up Circle Face Moisturiser, £18.99
Summary: Natural, vegan and plastic-free, beauty brand UpCircle reuse ingredients that otherwise would end up in landfill. So far, they've transformed over 250 tonnes of coffee grounds into sustainable skincare. Impressive, right? Product details: Wait till you try this super lightweight moisturiser. It's nourishing and deeply hydrating, ensuring skin is left supple and soft.
9 of 12Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, £40
Summary: All Drunk Elephant's products are cruelty-free and 11 are vegan. Product details: Drunk Elephant's vegan offering includes this amazing intensive hydrating serum packed with pineapple, watermelon and apple extract to brighten and bolster moisture.
10 of 12e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream, £14
Summary: Elf believe in luxury for all, offering high-quality, cruelty-free and vegan beauty products at affordable price points. Product details: Take this moisturiser for instance, packed with skin-savvy ingredients like niacinamide, squalene and peptides – it protects skin while boosting hydration, all for just £14.
11 of 12The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser, £16
Around half of the products from The Body Shop are 100% vegan and have a dedicated vegan section on site. We love this glow-boosting moisturiser blended with vitamin C from the Amazonian Forest.
12 of 12Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer, £101
Queen of Green, Tata Harper, formulated a line of products that are mainly vegan (see full list on her website) and are all cruelty-free. For a hydrating pick-me-up try this lightweight gel formulated with hyaluronic acid.
READ MORE: The Best Eco-Friendly Beauty Products That Don’t Cost The Earth