A good vegan face wash can capably clean your skin without damaging it and may even restore the youthful glow!
Let’s check out some of the best vegan facial cleansers available right now and discuss the factors that determine which is the right one for you.
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks
- Alaffia Purely Coconut Face Cleanser
- Beauty by Earth Superfruits & Sea Kelp Face Wash
- Eavara Botanical Facial Cleanser
- Desert Essence Thoroughly Face Wash
- Thesis Facial Wash Daily Harmony Cleanser
What to Look for in a Vegan Face Wash
It’s not enough for a facial wash to just be good at cleaning. It also has to possess certain certifications and other qualities if it’s going to remain a staple of your beauty regime.
I’ll take you through the factors worth considering when you’re looking for the right facial wash.
Vegan and Cruelty-Free Certifications
Soon enough, we’ll all be able to find vegan and cruelty-free products wherever we shop.
But for now, the pickings are still not as plentiful as we want them to be.
Some brands may try to take advantage by claiming to be vegan or cruelty-free, but after you dig a little deeper, you might find this not to be true.
To ensure the products are adhering to certain standards that qualify them as truly vegan or cruelty-free, you need to be on the lookout for specific certifications.
The organization most famous for lending their reputation to vegan products is PETA. The folks at PETA have high standards that must be met before they hand-out their seal of approval.
You can also check with PETA to see if a particular brand has vegan and/or cruelty-free certification.
Along with PETA, another organization known for handing out their approval to brands striving to be vegan and cruelty-free is the Leaping Bunny.
Similar to PETA, the Leaping Bunny has guidelines brands need to adhere to if they want to be certified. The Leaping Bunny arguably has more stringent guidelines than PETA.
According to American Spa, the Leaping Bunny is also “considered the gold standard in cruelty-free certification for personal care and household product companies.”
As much as possible, you want to find the Leaping Bunny’s certification on the facial wash you’re considering.
Another organization providing cruelty-free certifications is Choose Cruelty Free (CCF).
Companies must first sign a legally-binding contract with the CCF indicating their commitment to being cruelty-free before they can earn their certification.
Notably, the logos of the aforementioned organizations may not always appear on the products that come from certified brands due to a licensing fee.
You may still have to do extra research before you can be sure a specific brand’s product is indeed vegan and cruelty-free, although this is your choice.
High-Quality Ingredients
It goes without saying you can’t have any animal products in your vegan-friendly facial wash, but those are not the only ingredients you need to watch out for.
Organic ingredients are great to have in any type of vegan skincare product. Some manufacturers may feel limited because they can use only vegan ingredients and this could lead them to turn to artificial ingredients.
Artificial substances are not going to be as kind to your skin as their natural counterparts.
You can excuse a company for using one or two artificial ingredients to normalize the texture or aroma of their product, but if the ingredient list is largely made up of artificial contents, it may be best to use an alternative.
You should also take the extra time to check-out the ingredient list just to see if it may contain some allergens.
The last thing you want is to apply facial wash that’ll end up triggering a reaction instead of improving the condition of your skin.
Coconut Oil Content
One more ingredient you’ll want to see inside vegan facial wash is coconut oil. This wonderful ingredient offers all kinds of benefits.
It can help reduce inflammation and acne while also working to hydrate your skin. The antioxidants present in coconut oil can also effectively slow down the aging of your skin.
I wouldn’t say coconut oil is a must-have ingredient in your facial wash, but its presence will definitely work to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the product.
If possible, I would also urge you to seek out facial skin care products that contain virgin coconut oil.
According to The Nest, virgin coconut oil hasn’t been exposed to chemicals. This variant of coconut oil also contains more antioxidants.
Ability to Foam
Some facial skincare products will foam up if you work them in your hands, while others will feature the same texture no matter what you do.
So, is it better to get the cleansers that foam up or those that don’t? Well, your answer to this question will depend on what kind of skin you have.
The foaming types of facial cleansers are compatible with people who have oily skin or wear makeup often. It excels at getting rid of oily substances quickly.
Foaming products do not work as well for dry and sensitive skin though, according to In Style. If you have this type of skin, then go for the non-foaming skincare products.
5 Top Picks for Vegan Face Washes
Now, let’s look at vegan face washes great at cleaning and caring for your skin.
These products excel in different areas, so you’re likely to find at least one that’ll suit you perfectly.
Alaffia Purely Coconut Face Cleanser with Papaya and Neem
No products found.A lot of thought clearly went into the making of the Coconut Face Cleanser with Papaya and Neem from Alaffia. The manufacturers made it a point to make this product as accessible to as many people as possible.
It won’t trigger common allergies because it’s gluten-free and it also makes use of organic ingredients. The majority of people can use this facial wash without having to worry about skin problems.
The manufacturers also use virgin coconut oil in this product. As discussed earlier, virgin coconut oil effectively moisturizes your skin while also slowing down the aging process.
Use this facial wash long enough and you’ll notice the difference.
In my opinion, scent matters less in a facial wash than it does in say a body wash.
That said, this product is still quite fragrant but not overly so. It turns out papaya has a really lovely aroma!
Because this is a foaming facial wash, some people with sensitive skin may find it to be a bit harsh. Still, it’s gentler on skin compared to many other foaming products.
What We Like
- Contains virgin coconut oil
- Features a fragrant papaya scent
- Gluten-free product
- Gentler than most foaming facial washes
What We Don’t Like
- May not work as well for those with extra-sensitive skin
Beauty by Earth Superfruits & Sea Kelp Face Wash
A facial cleanser should excel at removing oils and dirt particles more than anything else.
In that department, you’ll struggle to find a facial wash that can outdo Beauty By Earth’s Supertfruit & Sea Kelp face wash.
This particular facial wash has the ability to really get into the pores. You can definitely feel you’ve used it. Your face will not just look clean, it will feel it too. Individuals who struggle with blackheads will also benefit from using this.
Beauty By Earth’s product also contains antioxidants responsible for slowing down skin aging. It’s hypoallergenic so there’s no reason to be concerned about using it even if you’re prone to breaking out.
Now, even if you don’t have to worry about this facial wash triggering your allergies, your skin may not like it as this has foaming properties.
If you’ve had issues with foaming agents in the past you may need to check-out the alternatives.
What We Like
- Highly effective facial cleanser
- Won’t trigger allergies
What We Don’t Like
- May not work well on sensitive skin
Eavara Botanical Facial Cleanser
Another facial wash bidding for the title of being the best cleaner is the Organic Facial Cleanser from Eavara.
It contains all the cleaning components you would expect to see in most facial washes, along with one notable addition.
This is activated charcoal. It’s worth highlighting the inclusion of this because it’s a highly effective cleaner. It targets chemicals and bacteria and removes them well.
Activated charcoal also works well when it comes to removing other micro-particles.
The inclusion of activated charcoal does lead to this product featuring a somewhat off-putting color, but this isn’t anything to worry about.
It has a fragrance some may consider too strong. I don’t mind it so it’ll come down to personal preference so should be a consideration if you’re looking to buy this.
Some users reported breaking out when using this while others claimed the opposite. Check the ingredients to see if contains anything you know to avoid. You can always use just a little which may minimise any negative effects.
What We Like
- Features activated charcoal
- Can easily remove oil and chemical particles on your skin
What We Don’t Like
- Has a strong scent some may consider too much
Desert Essence Thoroughly Face Wash
Skin irritations are normal for many of us. If you get exposed to enough strong elements, it’ll only be a matter of time before one of them eventually triggers an adverse reaction.
Facial washes can help clear up your irritated skin. The Thoroughly Face Wash from Desert Essence is particularly good at doing exactly that.
The manufacturers have seemingly made it their goal to provide consumers with a facial wash that easily gets rid of irritated skin.
It contains the substance known as bladderwrack which is known as an effective anti-inflammatory.
It also makes use of Hawaiian white ginger, an ingredient best known for its skin-balancing properties.
If you’re in the middle of an unfortunate breakout, grab this facial wash!
Some reviewers I found while researching stated this can end up leaving your skin feeling dry. It’s probably just a coincidence the word “desert” is in its name!
What We Like
- Excellent cleaner also great at nourishing your skin
- Good to use if you have irritated skin
What We Don’t Like
- Can leave your skin feeling dry if you’re already prone to it
Thesis Facial Wash Daily Harmony Cleanser
I often find myself in the washroom during the summer. On those really warm days, it always feels like my face is way too warm and excessively dry.
This is something the Foaming Face Wash from Thesis can help with.
After using this facial wash, you’ll experience a cooling sensation you can only describe as extremely refreshing.
You’re getting more than just the feeling of being cooled down though. This also moisturizes skin effectively so it’s a great revitalize!
Similar to some of the other facial skincare products we’ve already discussed, this item can also be too harsh for those with sensitive skin.
Some (not all) of its users have reported their skin breaking out, so take note if you’re prone to this.
What We Like
- Offers a cooling sensation after use
- Moisturizes your skin very well
What We Don’t Like
- May not be ideal if you have very sensitive skin
Top Choice for the Best Vegan Face Wash
No products found.Identifying the best vegan face wash can be a daunting challenge, but I’m not ending this article without declaring a clear winner.
With a nice bit of experimentation with each of these products, the Alaffia Face Cleanser with Papaya and Neem is definitely my favorite.
As you’ve probably deduced, not all facial cleansers can work for everyone. Yet, Alaffia’s product may be a neat exception.
Regardless of whether you have sensitive or oily skin, this product is definitely going to help you out.
Plus, it contains virgin coconut oil, which greatly helps retain a youthful glow for a longer period of time!