7 Best Vegan Face Moisturizers 2024: Rehydrate Your Skin

As somebody with sensitive skin, it took me a while to find something that agreed with my skin type. Interestingly enough, I found that a vegan face moisturizer was the best solution (and this was several years before I officially went vegan). 

To find the perfect moisturizer, I had to experiment with a bunch of different brands. 

To save you time and trouble, I decided to put together this conclusive guide to buying the best vegan face moisturizers. Below, I’ll show you some of my favorite brands and my experiences with each. 

Are you ready to up your skin game? 

Top-Rated
Burt's Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Day Lotion with Aloe and Rice Milk
Burt's Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Day Lotion with Aloe and Rice Milk
  • For Those With Sensitive Skin
Editor's Choice
Organic Face Moisturizer, Unscented Natural Face Cream for Every Skin Type
Organic Face Moisturizer, Unscented Natural Face Cream for Every Skin Type
  • For Daily Moisturization 
Reader's Choice
LilyAna Naturals Face Moisturizer
LilyAna Naturals Face Moisturizer
  • For Vegan Collagen-Building Moisturizer

Are Most Moisturizers Vegan? 

Most people don’t moisturize their face anywhere close to as much as they need to. During my early 20’s, I was that girl. Traumatized by my oily teenage face, I kind of avoided moisturizers even after adulthood. That is until I started dealing with the opposite problem – dry skin

That’s when my dermatologist told me that I should moisturize my face at least once a day, and often twice a day if I was washing my face regularly. 

The only problem is that not all moisturizers are vegan. 

Many people are surprised to find out that some of the best-selling mainstream face moisturizers contain animal-derived ingredients, such as crushed bugs, pig fat, and other unsavory additives.

If the average consumer knew exactly what was in half of their skincare products, they’d probably be appalled! 

For instance, one of the most popular everyday face moisturizers, CeraVe, is a non-vegan brand that routinely tests on animals. 

Thankfully, consumers are growing more aware of the ingredients contained within their food and their beauty products. This is why vegan cosmetic brands like Kylie Cosmetics and Huda Beauty have seen explosive growth over the past couple of years. 

What Is Vegan Face Cream? 

What Is Vegan Face Cream

At this point, you’re probably wondering what makes a vegan face cream different from your average non-vegan moisturizer. To put it simply, a vegan face moisturizer needs to be:

  • Cruelty-free (it isn’t tested on animals)
  • Animal-free (it doesn’t contain animal by-products)

Thankfully, vegan face products are more popular than ever. As a result, many vegan-friendly brands have very clear labeling stating that their products are “Certified Vegan” or “Cruelty-Free.” 

One of the easiest ways to tell if a product is vegan is to look for the “Cruelty-Free Leaping Bunny” logo. 

However, not all products are clearly labeled. Some are accidentally vegan, and you’d never be able to tell without reading through the ingredients list on the packaging. 

Here are some of the most common non-vegan ingredients that you may find in face moisturizers: 

Non-Vegan Additives In Face MoisturizersWhat They Are
ShellacShellac is a shiny substance that’s obtained from exploited lac beetles, which are native to Southeast Asia.  The beetles excrete a shiny “goo” that’s processed and used for cosmetics, paints, and more. 
CollagenCollagen is very popular in moisturizers. The only problem is that pure collagen is NOT vegan, since it’s derived from animal skins, bones, and hair follicles.  Instead, vegans take plant-based collagen “boosters” that help their bodies produce more of their own natural collagen. 
LanolinLanolin is a waxy substance that’s extracted from sheep’s wool. It’s often used in moisturizers and balms.  Unfortunately, the wool industry directly feeds into the commercial meat industry, which makes it a no-go for vegans. 
BeeswaxAlthough some vegans are divided on this subject, the majority of vegans agree that honey and bee-derived products like beeswax are non-vegan

The 7 Best Vegan Face Moisturizers (2024)

Now that you know a little bit more about what makes vegan moisturizers different from non-vegan moisturizers, it’s time to get down to business! Below are some of the best vegan face moisturizers that I’ve tried over the past couple of years. 

All of these products are cruelty-free and don’t contain any unwanted animal ingredients or meat-derived by-products! 

1) Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Day Lotion (link)

  • Best For: Those With Sensitive Skin

When it comes to organic skin care products, Burt’s Bees has a lot to offer. Although most vegans stay away from some of their beeswax products, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Day Lotion is beeswax-free. 

As a brand, Burt’s Bees has always focused on providing high-quality, organic skin care products that are free from meat-derived additives and harsh chemicals. They’re also a cruelty-free company that doesn’t test any of their products on innocent animals. 

If you have sensitive skin that tends to react to synthetic chemicals, then you’ll really appreciate this particular moisturizer. It’s light, refreshing, and made from mostly-natural ingredients.

The main active ingredients include bakuchiol flower extract, aloe vera extract, squalene extract, ceramides (natural fatty acids), and plant-derived hyaluronic acid. All of these ingredients are skin-friendly and provide long-lasting hydration.

One of the things that I really like about this product is that it doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily and over-hydrated. Instead, it leaves me feeling refreshed, hydrated, and prepared to handle whatever the day has to throw at me. 

What I Like About It:

  • Made from mostly-natural ingredients
  • Beeswax-free 
  • Great for sensitive skin
  • Affordable
  • Cruelty-free
  • Fragrance-free

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • Since it’s a lighter moisturizer, you may need to apply it twice a day

2) Awake Human Organic Face Moisturizer (link)

  • Best For: Daily Moisturization 

If you’re looking for a small, simple, easy-to-apply vegan face moisturizer that easily fits in your purse or handbag, then you’ll love Awake Human’s Organic Face Moisturizer

On the surface, I love the way it’s packaged. The small compact squirt bottle easily fits in the center console of my car or one of my smaller handbags, so I can carry it around with me throughout the day. 

As far as the moisturizer itself goes, it’s a simple, all-natural solution that doesn’t contain any of the harsh chemicals and bogus ingredients that you’ll find in other mainstream face lotions.

This vegan face moisturizer is made with organic plant-based oils, herbal extracts, and butter, such as jojoba, sweet almond, aloe vera gel, and safflower oil. 

It also contains natural green tea extract, which is a great source of natural antioxidants, which can prevent wrinkles, and aging, and can reverse the effects of stress. 

It’s also a great choice for anybody with sensitive skin. Awake Human Organic Moisturizer is 100% scent-free and is specially formulated for a 5.5 pH level, so it’s easy on your skin and won’t cause any strange reactions. 

What I Like About It:

  • Small, compact packaging makes it easy to carry around
  • Great for sensitive skin
  • Formulated with a 5.5 pH
  • Made with certified organic ingredients
  • No artificial chemicals or fillers

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • It’s a bit expensive, considering the small container

3) LilyAna Naturals Face Moisturizer (link)

  • Best For: Vegan Collagen-Building Moisturizer

At first, the label on this vegan moisturizer took me off-guard, as it has the word “collagen” on it. Then, I looked a bit closer and saw that it was a vegan-friendly product!

LilyAna Naturals Face Moisturizer is made with natural vitamins that encourage your body to produce more of its own natural collagen.

Collagen is one of the key proteins that support your skin and keep it looking young, firm, and elastic. The more collagen that your body produces, the younger your skin and face will appear! 

Some of the key ingredients are aloe vera juice, vitamin C and E, orange extract, cranberry extract, distilled rose extract, and alpha-lipoic acid. 

All of these compounds provide deep hydration to your skin, reduce inflammation, and stimulate collagen production.

This moisturizer doesn’t have any “added” or artificial fragrances. However, it does have a nice herbal-citrus scent, thanks to the orange and lemon extract combined with the rose extract.

It’s not overpowering by any means, but it’s a refreshing, revitalizing scent that wakes you up a bit. It’s perfect for those slow mornings when I’m still feeling tired from the night before. 

What I Like About It:

  • Contains natural collagen-building supplements
  • Free from any animal collagen
  • Light scent thanks to the added citrus and rose extracts
  • Packed full of natural botanicals

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • It’s on the more expensive side (but definitely worth it!)

4) Olay Regenerist Mineral Sunscreen & Face Moisturizer (link)

  • Best For: Those Who Need A Sunscreen + Moisturizer

I’m normally not a huge fan of mainstream brands, however, I really enjoy Olay Regenerist Mineral Sunscreen and Face Moisturizer. If I plan on being outside in the sun for extended periods of time, this is my go-to moisturizer. 

It keeps my face feeling hydrated and refreshed while providing adequate protection from the sun, so I don’t have to worry about sunburns, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles.

Although Olay, as a brand, isn’t 100% cruelty-free (mostly due to its subsidiary companies), Olay has made a commitment to pushing its entire product line and subsidiaries to adopt a vegan ideology.

This particular product is both vegan and cruelty-free, so you can use it all day long without any ethical concerns. 

This product uses a mineral-based 30 SPF sunscreen, which is more natural than some of the more artificial chemical-based sunscreens out there.

This is very important when it comes to your face since facial skin tends to be more sensitive to some of the nasty chemicals in commercial sunscreen brands. 

The only downside of this product is that the moisturizing agents aren’t the most natural. In fact, they’re all artificial. That being said, they’re all approved for use on the skin and aren’t among the harsher chemicals used by lower-quality brands. 

What I Like About It:

  • Sunscreen + Moisturizer
  • Great for days in the sun
  • 100% vegan and cruelty-free
  • Zinc oxide mineral-based sunscreen

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • The moisturizers are artificial (although not harsh)

5) The Sage Witch – All-Natural Vegan Face Cream (link)

  • Best For: Those Who Need An Anti-Aging Vegan Face Moisturizer

First off, I love the packaging for The Sage Witch – All-Natural Vegan Face Cream. You should never judge a book solely by its cover, though. Thankfully, in this case, the “book” is just as good as the cover! 

If you’re looking for a reliable everyday moisturizer that’s packed full of natural anti-aging compounds, then this is it.

The main active ingredients include aloe vera for soothing moisturization, green tea to detox your skin, shea butter for deep hydration, refreshing cucumber, and grape seed oil, which is packed full of natural antioxidants. 

Antioxidants are natural compounds that help your body fight the effects of stress and aging. They’re found in a number of superfoods, and natural oils, several of which are present in this particular moisturizer. 

Even though it has the appearance of thick face cream, it goes on the skin very light and doesn’t clog the pores or leave your skin feeling greasy. This is thanks to the fact that the product is almost entirely natural, and contains very few chemical fillers or artificial ingredients. 

As far as scent goes, The Sage Witch Face Cream has a light floral scent that smells like roses and cucumber. I find it very refreshing and mild. 

What I Like About It:

  • Packed full of natural antioxidants, which fight aging
  • Made with mostly all-natural ingredients
  • No harsh chemicals or artificial scents
  • Provides deep hydration and moisturization

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • Due to the lack of cheap fillers, it’s a bit more costly than mainstream moisturizers

6) LILY SADO TEA + C Green Tea & Vitamin C Face Moisturizer (link)

  • Best For: Vegan Moisturizer For Men and Women

I’ll be honest, this is one of my favorite brands, and is the one that’s currently sitting on my bathroom shelf! 

Lily Sado Tea + C Green Tea and Vitamin C Face Moisturizer is a refreshing, revitalizing everyday moisturizer that will leave your skin feeling awake and alive.

This is the perfect vegan face cream for anybody looking to “awaken” their skin, and I love using it first thing in the morning. 

One of the things that I like the most about this face moisturizer is that it doesn’t have a super-strong floral scent. Instead, it has a light citrusy scent that makes it great for both men and women.

Because of this, my boyfriend is always “stealing” it from me (buy hey- his face looks a lot smoother, which I appreciate). 

The main active ingredients are vitamin C extract (which promotes collagen production), green tea extract (which is a potent antioxidant), aloe juice (which is a soothing anti-inflammatory compound), and licorice root (a soothing botanical that’s great for eczema and dry skin). 

Unlike other moisturizers which often need to be reapplied throughout the day, Lila Sado’s Tea + C provides long-lasting hydration that lasts for up to twelve hours. Whenever I apply it in the morning, my face feels fresh and moist until I get back home. 

What I Like About It:

  • A light citrus scent that’s good for both men and women
  • Packed full of hydrating oils
  • Contains aloe and licorice, which are powerful anti-inflammatory agents
  • Long-lasting hydration
  • Affordable

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • There’s really nothing bad I have to say about this moisturizer

7) Ancient Greek Remedy – 100% Natural Vegan Face Moisturizer (link)

  • Best For: Those Looking For A 100% Natural Moisturizer

Compared to many other ancient civilizations, the ancient Greeks were known for their cleanliness and hygiene. They were one of the first societies to implement public baths.

They also used a number of ancient plant-derived oils and butter to keep their hair and skin looking as close to “god-like” as possible. 

Ancient Greek Remedy – 100% Natural Vegan Face Moisturizer is a great option for anybody who’s looking for a pure, plant-based solution. 

This blend of moisturizing oils contains absolutely no artificial or man-made ingredients of any sort. Instead, it consists of a few simple oils: extra-virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, lavender oil, and vitamin E oil. 

That’s it.

All of these oils are known for their moisturizing, anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E oil can also help reduce the appearance of acne scars and discoloration on your face! 

The only thing that I will say about this product is that it can leave your face feeling a bit too oily if you don’t use it correctly.

I recommend starting with a very small amount and slowly massaging it into your skin. It also helps to massage a bit of water into your skin to help it absorb the oils, so they don’t sit on the surface of your skin. 

What I Like About It:

  • It’s 100% all-natural
  • Made with traditional ancient plant-based oils 
  • Provides deep hydration
  • Added vitamin E oil can reduce the appearance of acne scars

What’s Not-So-Great: 

  • Make sure you apply it sparingly, so your face doesn’t get too oily

What Is The Best Natural Moisturizer For Your Face? 

What Is The Best Natural Moisturizer For Your Face

Out of all of these vegan face moisturizers, I’d say that the Ancient Greek Remedy – 100% Natural Vegan Face Moisturizer is the most natural. It doesn’t contain any artificial or man-made ingredients whatsoever. 

If you want to feel like an ancient Greek beauty queen, this is definitely worth checking out! 

Conclusion – What’s The Overall Best Vegan Face Moisturizer? 

What’s The Overall Best Vegan Face Moisturizer

There are a lot of vegan moisturizers on the market. However, I’d say that LILY SADO TEA + C Green Tea & Vitamin C Face Moisturizer is one of the best vegan face moisturizers that I’ve used. It’s currently my go-to everyday moisturizer and I love it. 

Face moisturizers are great for keeping your face looking fresh and hydrated. But you shouldn’t forget about the rest of your body either. Keep on reading to find out my favorite vegan lotion brands next

Photo of author
Author Bio
Im Emma and I’m the creator of Vegan Calm. When I became a vegan seven years ago, I mainly did it for health and ethical reasons. To my surprise, it had another amazing benefit; I became a much calmer and peaceful person. This change inspired me to create Vegan Calm. Whether you’ve been a vegan for a long time or just want to learn more, this website will have something for you!

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