We all have that one friend with glowing skin who loves experimenting with different makeup looks. While choosing the perfect gift may seem like a no-brainer, you may have to pay more attention to detail if she’s into vegan skincare and makeup. Vegan products are void of animal and animal-derived ingredients, such as lanolin, beeswax, honey, silk, gelatin, cholesterol, pearl, collagen, lanolin, and carmine. Going vegan is better for people, animals, and the planet because formulas seldom use ingredients that could pollute water, soil, and the air.
If you’re new to vegan makeup and skincare but want to impress the ethical beauty queen in your life, check out these seven fantastic gift ideas that you’ll feel good about giving and she’ll be thrilled to receive.
1. A Soothing Lip Treatment
Dehydration, climate, sun damage, lip licking, and allergies are just a few causes of dry, chapped lips. Ironically, balms formulated with ingredients like menthol, phenol, and salicylic acid can make your lips even drier, so applying more product becomes a vicious cycle. Gift your friend a vegan lip balm treatment formulated with lip-loving ingredients like sesame seed extract, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, panthenol, and castor seed oil to nourish, restore, and provide long-lasting moisture to even the driest lips.
2. A Results-Driven Skincare Routine
While a balanced diet, water consumption, ample sleep, and stress management are vital for a healthy, glowing complexion, a solid skincare routine helps prevent and address specific concerns. Restock the beauty guru in your life with a well-curated bundle of vegan skincare products that includes a balancing cleanser, gentle exfoliant, hydrating serum, lifting eye cream, SPF, and a moisturizer for her skin type.
Look for skin-friendly vegan ingredients like antioxidant-rich plant extracts, high-potency botanicals, probiotics, peptides, and nourishing plant extracts. All products should be void of sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and gluten.
3. A Versatile Makeup Bundle
Consider sticking with color cosmetics and classic essentials when gifting vegan makeup unless you’re 100% sure of their concealer and foundation shade. For example, make a bundle that includes an eyeshadow palette, brow gel, waterproof eyeliner, tubing mascara, and a favorite shade of lipstick with a corresponding liner. Alternatively, opt for a makeup set that takes the guesswork out of determining which colors complement one another.
If you want to reduce the number of products to be more sustainable, choose multipurpose cosmetics such as bronzer, blush, and highlighter in one. Don’t forget the primer and setting spray to ensure your friend’s makeup application goes the extra mile.
4. Vegan Makeup Brushes
Brushes are the secret to professional-looking makeup, regardless of your girl’s skill level. Set your friend up for success with a collection of vegan makeup brushes that cover every step of the application process, from face to eyes. Choose cruelty-free brushes made from high-grade vegan fibers to mimic the texture, movement, and result achieved with animal hair.
5. An Overnight Skin Treatment
Nothing complements a perfect makeup application other than smooth, freshly exfoliated skin. Of course, this crucial skincare step sometimes falls to the wayside due to time constraints or occasional lazy moments. Make it easier for your queen to achieve flawless skin with an overnight skin treatment that works to gently exfoliate the skin while she’s getting her beauty sleep without any dryness or irritation in the morning.
These treatments are typically formulated with a blend of alpha and beta hydroxy acids and other results-driven ingredients like vitamin C, probiotics, and bakuchiol, a retinol alternative. Since the acids’ exfoliating action makes the skin more sun-sensitive, pair it with an SPF to protect her fresh skin.
6. Faux Lashes for Eyes That Pop
Faux lashes give natural eyelashes a fuller and more dramatic boost. They’re available in different lengths, thicknesses, and curls. While traditional falsies can only be used up to five times, vegan faux eyelashes last up to 30 uses, so they’re the gift that keeps on giving! Choose a couple of different sets so she can choose her look based on mood or outfit. Create a complete bundle with lash adhesive, mascara, eyeliner, and a lash curler.
7. A Natural Brow Lift
Brows frame the face, so the perfect shape and complementary products can be transformative, so give the gift of a natural brow lift. A light cream matte eyeshadow stick applied at the bottom of the natural brow line lifts and defines. A few hair-like strokes of an eyebrow liner fill in the brows to perfection, which are then finished with a shaping eyebrow gel to help keep hairs in place.
The easiest way to shop for vegan makeup and skincare is to choose a brand dedicated to creating ethical products. In many cases, these products are also cruelty-free and clean, and the company practices sustainability efforts, so you can feel good knowing you’re making a purchase that’s good for people, animals, and the environment.