💄 Beauty
The vegan skincare guide
A simple, evidence-based routine using brands available in India.
2 min read Updated 16 June 2026
The actual routine
You need three products. The rest is optional.
- A gentle cleanser - once or twice a day. (Plum Green Tea, Minimalist Salicylic.)
- A moisturiser - every day. (The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors, Plum Vitamin C SPF.)
- A sunscreen - every single day, indoors too. SPF 50, broad spectrum. (Earth Rhythm Mineral SPF 50, Minimalist Sunscreen SPF 50.)
These three products are the core routine; additional steps are optional.
Optional actives
Introduce one at a time, give each one 6 weeks.
- Niacinamide (5-10%) - evens skin tone, reduces oil. Minimalist 10% Niacinamide.
- Vitamin C (10-20% LAA) - brightens, antioxidant. Minimalist Vitamin C 16%.
- Retinol (0.3-1%) - anti-ageing, gold standard. Start 1x/week. Minimalist Retinol 0.3%.
- Salicylic acid (2%) - for active acne. Plum 2% Salicylic.
- Hyaluronic acid - adds hydration. The Ordinary HA.
Indian vegan brands worth your money
If I were recommending the strongest Indian vegan skincare brands today:
- d'you - luxury
- Plum - entire range vegan and cruelty-free. Pioneer in India.
- Minimalist - mostly vegan, science-backed, brilliant for actives.
- Conscious Chemist
- Dot & Key
- Earth Rhythm - clean, vegan, sustainable. Their mineral SPF is excellent.
- Foxtale
- Dr. Sheth's
- Juicy Chemistry - organic, vegan, certified.
- The Switch Fix
Brands people assume are vegan but aren't
- Forest Essentials ❌ Not vegan. Many products contain honey, milk, beeswax, ghee or silk proteins. Cruelty-free, but each vegan product has to be checked individually.
- Kama Ayurveda ❌ Not fully vegan. Many products contain milk or honey.
- Suganda - Mostly vegan.
- Ras Luxury Oils - Mostly vegan.
Imports that are easy to find
- The Ordinary (Nykaa, Tira)
- Pacifica (Nykaa) - fully vegan
- e.l.f. (mostly vegan, very affordable)
- Drunk Elephant (most products vegan)
- Glow Recipe (vegan)
Ingredients to skip
| Ingredient | Source | Found in |
|---|---|---|
| Carmine / CI 75470 | Cochineal beetles | Lipstick, blush, eyeshadow |
| Beeswax / Cera alba | Bees | Lip balm, mascara |
| Lanolin | Sheep wool | Moisturisers, lip products |
| Honey | Bees | Masks, scrubs, balms |
| Silk powder / Sericin | Silkworms | Foundations, primers |
| Snail mucin | Snails | K-beauty serums |
| Squalene (not squalane) | Often shark liver | Anti-ageing creams |
On sunscreen
The single most important step is daily sunscreen: SPF 50, broad-spectrum, mineral for sensitive skin. India's UV index is high year-round, and most visible ageing is attributable to cumulative sun exposure. A vegan SPF used consistently is worth more than any active ingredient.
References
Written by Malavika Malaviya. Last updated 16 June 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.
