Why Consumers Are Shifting to a Vegan Lifestyle + the Benefits of Vegan Beauty

Whether it's a move toward a healthier lifestyle or an ethical decision, there's no denying that consumers are shifting to a vegan lifestyle. As a result, the demand for all things vegan, from clothing to skincare and beauty products, is on the rise across the board.

Consumers are beginning to question what's in the products they're buying and do their own research, and beauty brands are listening. The industry is making a dramatic shift toward being not only vegan and clean ingredients but also cruelty-free and eco-friendly practices.

While not every brand has gotten on board with this movement, there's no denying that the beauty industry's future is clean, vegan, and free of animal testing. Let's talk about the benefits of vegan skincare and beauty and why more consumers are shifting to a vegan lifestyle.

Why Are Consumers Switching to a Vegan Lifestyle?

There are lots of great reasons to shift to a vegan lifestyle in all areas of your life. For example, following a plant-based diet may reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

Vegan fashion is also becoming extremely popular. Vegan consumers are avoiding clothing made from leather, suede, wool, and silk in their efforts to prevent the exploitation of animals. Vegan fashion brands also prioritise sustainability in their designs, which is a huge bonus for many consumers.

Shifting away from animal products in all areas of your life has many benefits for the planet. Animal agriculture is a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, which is a major contributor to climate change. Animal agriculture also uses vast amounts of water and leads to deforestation. 

But even more than that, producing tremendous amounts of livestock feed every year requires the use of massive quantities of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilisers. These chemicals pollute our oceans and waterways and kill off bees, which are one of the most essential species.

The Benefits of Shifting to Vegan Skincare and Beauty Products

While eating entirely plant-based is the foundation of living a vegan lifestyle, most vegans consider avoiding animal products in all aspects of life their ultimate goal. Switching to vegan beauty products is a great place to start the shift to a vegan lifestyle because vegan beauty is easily accessible and something most people use daily.

Here's a closer look at the benefits of switching to vegan skincare and beauty products.

Going Vegan Helps You Avoid Questionable Ingredients

When you see cheese, meat, or eggs in the store, you have a pretty good idea of where it comes from and what's in it. But when you look at the labels on your beauty and skincare products, undesirable ingredients are often cleverly hidden by using terms that aren't familiar to the average consumer.

Conventional skincare and beauty products have been known to contain all sorts of questionable substances, from animal parts to chemicals that disrupt hormone function and may even cause cancer. Naturally, you wouldn't want to eat these substances, and you probably wouldn't knowingly apply them to your skin either.

Many consumers are shifting to vegan skincare and beauty brands because the ingredients are plant-based, natural, and less harmful. For example, the vegan makeup brand Cover FX is not only fragrance-free and gluten-free, but its products are also completely free of endocrine disruptors like parabens and phthalates, which can be harmful to your health.

Natural Ingredients Are Easier for the Body to Process

The ingredient label on conventional beauty products is generally a long list of things you can't pronounce or identify. Unfortunately, if your brain doesn't know what those ingredients are, there's a good chance your body won't either.

The body has a hard time processing artificial ingredients. So it's made to process natural ingredients like plants. Many consumers choose vegan skincare because the ingredients are natural and easier for the body to absorb and utilise.

Choosing Vegan and Cruelty-Free Saves Lives

For many consumers, making the switch is all about saving the lives of countless animals. Animals that are used for the laboratory testing of cosmetics live miserable lives and are euthanised when they're no longer needed.

The fact is that animal testing is cruel, but even more than that, it's outdated, inaccurate, and unnecessary. There are much better ways to test the safety of cosmetics these days. By choosing to purchase vegan and cruelty-free products, you're telling beauty brands that this practice is no longer acceptable.

On your own, making the switch can save hundreds of lives. If everyone went cruelty-free, millions of animals would be spared year over year, and cosmetic companies would be forced to abandon this horrible practice.

Plant-Based Ingredients Are Better for the Skin

Did you know that plants are the richest source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients on the planet? Vegan skincare and beauty products are plant-based, so they're full of nutrients that are good for the skin.

On the other hand, chemicals are often very harsh on the skin, often speeding up the ageing process and leading to irritation and breakouts. Consumers who are interested in anti-aging or have sensitive skin prefer vegan beauty products because they're more gentle and beneficial for the skin.

Are You Ready to Make the Switch?

Are you ready to make the switch to vegan skincare and beauty? You'll be happy to hear that cost won't play a role in your efforts to avoid animal ingredients and harmful chemicals and lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Vegan and cruelty-free products are just as affordable as convention products, so there's nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Not only will you feel good about taking care of your skin and body in a more natural way, but you will also feel good about saving animals from mistreatment and protecting the environment. It's truly a win-win all around.