Almost everybody has trouble with dry skin at least once in their life. It’s kind of like acne… it’s just one of those things that you can’t avoid.
Thankfully, dry skin is a lot easier to treat than acne. All you need is a great vegan-friendly moisturizer that works well with your skin’s natural chemistry.
Once you find the right one and start using it on a daily basis, you should notice a significant decrease in your skin’s moisture level. Within a couple of days, your dry skin should be healthy, vibrant, glowing, and most importantly – moisturized!
As a fair-skinned individual, I’ve had plenty of experience dealing with dry skin. It can get especially bad in the winter months when the cold weather closes up all of my pores and the artificial heating strips my skin of its natural moisture.
If you’ve ever experienced dry skin before, then you’ve come to the right place! Below, I’ll show you some of the best vegan moisturizer brands on the market that are cruelty-free and made with high-quality ingredients.
After all, your face deserves to be treated with care.
![[Rovectin] Clean Lotus Water Cream](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21gNwgWgDsL.jpg)
What Makes Lotion Vegan?
At this point, you may be wondering, “What’s the difference between vegan lotion and your everyday store-bought lotion?”
To some, it may seem like the only difference between vegan and non-vegan lotion is that vegan lotion costs more and has fancier packaging. However, I assure you that there’s a lot more than meets the eye…
Here’s a quick visual breaking down some of the key differences between vegan moisturizers and non-vegan moisturizers, so you can see for yourself:
| Vegan Moisturizers | Non-Vegan Moisturizers |
| Never Tested On Animals. | Usually Tested On Animals |
| Contains More Natural Ingredients. | May Contain Some Natural Ingredients, But Will Typically Use More Unnatural Ingredients. |
| Doesn’t Contain Collagen, Keratin, or Other Animal-Derived Compounds. | May Contain Collagen, Keratin, and Other Compounds Derived From Animal Tendons and Bones. |
| Doesn’t Contain Animal-Derived By-Products, Like Shellac, Beeswax, Vitamin D3, or Others. | Often Contains Animal-Derived Compounds That Involve Animal Cruelty And Irresponsible Farming. |
| Typically A Bit More Expensive. | Typically A Bit Cheaper. |
Once you start researching what’s really in non-vegan cosmetics, you probably won’t want to use them ever again:
Watch Out For These Common Non-Vegan Ingredients In Moisturizers
Sadly, the cosmetic industry is full of animal-derived products. This is true whether you’re looking at nail polish, eye shadow, foundation, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and virtually anything that you’ll find on the beauty aisle.
One of the first things I did when I first went vegan was to slowly start swapping out the cosmetic brands that I used. I started using vegan nail polish, vegan foundation, vegan shampoo, and more!
If you’ve ever been curious about what’s really in your moisturizer, here’s a quick list of the most common animal ingredients used in moisturizers:
- Shellac (made from crushed beetles)
- Beeswax (stolen from beehives that need it)
- Vitamin D3 (obtained from sheep’s wool)
- Collagen (extracted from animal skin and tendons)
- Keratin (extracted from animal hair and skin)
Is Dove Lotion Vegan?
Recently, Dove lotion and its parent company, Unilever, banned all animal testing in the production of their products. That being said, some of their products may contain animal by-products.
The company is actively working to phase out and replace certain animal by-products with vegan-friendly alternatives. However, some of the products on shelves may still contain traces of animal ingredients.
The best way to tell for sure is to double-check the ingredients label. Newer bottles may be 100% vegan while older bottles may not be completely vegan.
Is Cetaphil Lotion Cruelty-Free?
Although some of Cetaphil’s lotions are vegan-friendly, others are not. The company has always been a bit vague on details as well, which is never a good sign.
Although the site claims that they don’t actively test on animals, they still sell products in countries like China that require animal testing.
This, unfortunately, means that they don’t meet the criteria for a completely cruelty-free brand.
The Best Vegan Moisturizer Brands To Try In 2024: Listed
Hopefully, by now, you have a better idea of what to expect from a good vegan moisturizer brand. Now, it’s time to do some shopping! Here are some of the best vegan moisturizers that I’ve tried this year, as well as my personal thoughts on each.
1) [Rovectin] Clean Lotus Water Cream (link)
- Best For: Daily facial cream
Rovectin is known for making pure, high-quality lotions and creams. So far, my favorite is the Rovectin Clean Lotus Water Cream. Although the packaging may be a bit minimalist, the product itself is incredible!
Unlike many moisturizers that only contain trace amounts of natural products, Lotus Water Cream consists of 75% real lotus water. Aside from its history as a spiritually significant plant, lotus flowers are also known for their ability to self-purify themselves.
The plant grows in very muddy, dirty environments, but sprouts up and becomes a beautiful flower that’s capable of filtering impurities in the soil around it. As it turns out, lotus water is also great for your face and can help remove impurities from your skin.
Aside from lotus water, the other active ingredient is aquaxyl, which helps your skin easily absorb the moisturizer and provides deep, long-lasting hydration that can last you throughout the day.
I used this every morning and night for a month straight and saw great results. It’s so soft and light when you apply it, and absorbs really fast. It almost feels like nothing at all, and won’t clog your pores like some of the thicker moisturizers I’ve used over the years.
If you’re looking for something light and hydrating for daily facial moisturization, then I’d definitely check this one out. It’s also paraben-free, alcohol-free, color-free, and fragrance-free, which makes it an excellent choice for sensitive skin!
What I Love About It:
- Contains 75% lotus water.
- Contains aquaxyl for deep, long-lasting hydration.
- No artificial dyes or fragrances.
- Paraben and alcohol-free.
- Applies light, and absorbs fast.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- It’s a little expensive for a small container.
2) Bambu Earth Petitgrain Vegan Moisturizer (link)
- Best For: Nightly moisturizing cream
If you’re looking for an all-natural vegan moisturizer that doesn’t contain any of the artificial ingredients that mainstream moisturizers are known for, then Bambu Earth Petitgrain Vegan Moisturizer is the perfect solution.
It’s water-free, which means that you’re not paying for any fillers or wasted content. This also means that the cream is a lot thicker, so a little bit goes a long way. Despite the somewhat small container, this vegan moisturizer lasted me a lot longer than I expected!
It’s made with four simple ingredients: shea butter, jojoba seed oil, sweet almond oil, and petitgrain oil. That’s it! Plus, all of the oils and creams are certified organic, and the shea butter is Fair Trade Certified, so it isn’t sourced from factories where workers are exploited.
The one downside that I’ll mention about this moisturizer is that it’s very thick. This is great if you have extremely dry skin or have been suffering from eczema. However, I’ve found that it can be a little bit too heavy for daily use.
Instead, I prefer to apply it at night after washing my face. It makes for a great mask and leaves my face feeling deeply hydrated when I wake up in the morning.
Another really nice feature I appreciate about this vegan moisturizer is that it’s great for dark spots and acne scars. Thankfully, I don’t get bad acne like I used to; however, I still get a few blemishes from time to time.
With fair skin, these blemishes typically take up to a week or two to fade. However, the jojoba oil in Bambu Earth Moisturizer has healing properties that can accelerate skin cell regeneration and clear up dark spots even quicker!
What I Love About It:
- It’s 100% all-natural.
- No water, no additives, or anything else.
- Four simple ingredients.
- Uses Fair Trade Certified shea butter.
- Great for a nighttime mask.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- It’s a bit too thick for daytime use.
3) Acure Seriously Soothing 24Hr Moisturizing Lotion (link)
- Best For: Morning moisturizer
I’ve always loved Acure products, as the company is committed to making high-quality vegan cosmetics. Acure Seriously Soothing 24Hr Moisturizing Lotion has become one of my favorite morning lotions.
It’s scent-free, light, deeply hydrating, and doesn’t clog my pores. It also dries quickly, so I can apply my primer and foundation a few minutes later!
This vegan moisturizer contains six natural ingredients designed to help your skin stay soft, smooth, and hydrated all day long: chamomile extract, hyaluronic acid, sunflower-derived amino acids, blue tansy oil, calendula oil, and peony.
The peony and chamomile extract are natural anti-inflammatory herbs, which can help reduce redness and irritation, while the blue tansy and calendula oil provide the moisture your skin needs.
Last but not least, the hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration on a cellular level, while the sunflower amino acids speed up skin cell regeneration.
I love how they used science combined with natural ingredients to create a near-perfect moisturizer.
That’s not where it stops, though. Acure 24Hr Moisturizer also contains real cocoa butter, aloe vera gel, and colloidal oatmeal, which provide even more hydration! Plus, it’s affordably priced, so it won’t break the bank.
If you have sensitive skin, irritated skin, or have been suffering from acne breakouts, then I really recommend this vegan moisturizer.
It’s paraben-free, naturally unscented, sulfate-free, mineral-free, formaldehyde-free, and petroleum-free. It’s also never tested on animals, so it’s a 100% cruelty-free lotion!
What I Love About It:
- Contains all-natural ingredients.
- Free from chemicals, sulfites, paraben, minerals, and petroleum.
- Naturally unscented.
- Absorbs quickly.
- Provides long-lasting hydration that lasts all day.
- Chamomile and peony help reduce redness and inflammation.
- Affordable.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- I have nothing bad to say about it.
4) Ursa Major Hydrating Daily Vegan Moisturizer (link)
- Best For: Daily facial moisturizer
Although it’s definitely on the pricier side, I thoroughly enjoyed Ursa Major Hydrating Daily Vegan Moisturizer. I received a small sample as a gift, and got the chance to use it for a few weeks. Overall, I was very impressed!
The active ingredients include aloe vera gel, kendi seed, birch sap, and willow bark extract. It’s definitely not a mixture that I’ve seen before, which means that it’s a 100% original product.
The aloe and kendi seed provide soothing moisturization, while the birch sap naturally reduces redness. The willow bark is supposed to “condition” your skin and help it regulate oil production.
It comes in a very small container, but a little bit goes a long way. Since it contains very few fillers, a few small drops are all you need to completely cover your face and get the hydration you need. It absorbs very quickly as well, which makes it a great pre-makeup moisturizer.
What I Love About It:
- Contains botanical extracts, including willow bark, birch sap, aloe gel, and kendi seed extract.
- Vegan and cruelty-free.
- No sulfates, artificial scents, petrochemicals, silicone, glycols, or PEG.
- Lightweight and absorbs quickly.
- You only need to use it a little bit at a time.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- It’s expensive.
5) boscia Cactus Water Vegan Moisturizer (link)
- Best For: Nighttime moisturizer
Boscia Cactus Water Moisturizer is an incredibly refreshing vegan moisturizer that’s great as a nighttime mask! It’s made with a special type of cactus water extracted from the Mexican “Queen of the Night” cactus, a plant with a long history of use in herbal medicine.
When you open the jar, you’ll see a thick, green, gel-like substance. This is because it contains real cactus extract. It also contains aloe vera gel, which gives it a very cooling, soothing feel.
There are a few additives and fillers, like butylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and water, but none of these are harmful or inflammatory.
It’s designed to be used with Boscia’s full regimen of cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. However, I found that it’s just as good as a standalone moisturizer. If you’re looking for an ultra-smooth nighttime mask or daily moisturizer, this is worth checking out.
What I Love About It:
- Contains real cactus water and soothing aloe vera.
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
- Made in the USA.
- Contains a number of other herbal extracts.
- Soothing, cool texture.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- Contains some fillers.
- Expensive.
6) Sky Organics Organic Shea Butter for Body & Face (link)
- Best For: Full-body moisturizer
If you’re just looking for a cheap, affordable, all-natural moisturizer, then you can’t go wrong with 100% pure shea butter.
Sky Organics Organic Shea Butter For Body & Face is one of my favorite full-body moisturizers as it’s free from any and all chemicals, fillers, and additives. Since it’s so inexpensive, I don’t mind using it for my entire body!
Shea butter has been used by generations as a natural moisturizer and its effects have been well-documented. That’s why it’s used in so many different commercial products.
It also doubles as a natural hair conditioner as well. To use it, simply take a small ball of it, rub it into your palms, and apply to your skin, face, and hair as needed.
What I Love About It:
- Incredibly affordable.
- All-natural, organic shea butter.
- Zero added ingredients.
- It’s been used for generations.
- Doubles as a natural hair conditioner.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- It’s pretty thick, so use it sparingly.
The Verdict – What’s The Best Vegan Moisturizer For Everyday Hydration?
If I had to pick, I’d say that the Acure Seriously Soothing 24Hr Moisturizing Lotion is the best vegan moisturizer for everyday use. It’s affordable, uses a number of all-natural botanicals, is free from harmful chemicals, and it’s great for sensitive skin.
Before applying moisturizer, it’s always a good idea to wash your face first! Be sure to check out my list of the best vegan face wash brands next!
