How to Build a Natural & Vegan Beauty Regime

Here are our top tips on how to easily swap your current beauty products to build an effective clean and green capsule skincare collection.

By Vai Mas, Immaculate Vegan Beauty Editor

1. Cleansers

Rule no 1: Always wash your face. Rule no 2: No soaps though!

Every skin type is different and unique, therefore it can be hard to find the right cleanser. To make the best vegan swaps, here are some of our favourites:

• If your skin feels dry, then we recommend a rich, cream-like cleanser, like this vegan Milk Cleanser from Laponie.

• If your skin feels oily, then we suggest a foaming cleanser for deeper cleansing. Our go-to is the Honeysuckle & Frangipani face wash from Maison Meunier.

• And, if you go feel like you have normal/combination skin, then we can vouch for the Acid Washed foaming AHA facial cleanser from Neighbourhood Botanicals. Lactic acid gently sheds dead skin cells to brighten and even tone, and aloe vera soothes irritation.Hidden within this exfoliating mousse are many strengthening and hydrating plant-based additives.

View our full range of cleansers here.

2. Exfoliators

Don't scrub your face! Swap any harsh chunky scrubs you have to a naturally potent smooth exfoliator.

Our skin can endure much but we shouldn't push it. Therefore, we recommend using fruit acid-based exfoliators 2-3 times a week. They gently melt away dead skin and dissolve impurities without harsh scrubbing, which often causes more break-outs by leaving micro cracks in our already sensitive facial skin.

We recommend trying the Radiance Face & Body Scrub with Grapefruit by Maison Meunier. Organic fair-trade coffee, organic almond oil, virgin Coconut oil, brown sugar and Vitamin E combine to remove dull skin cells and boost blood circulation to reveal healthy, glowing skin. Plus pure Grapefruit essential oil awakens the senses and leaves you feeling energised.

Or, try the award winning Kale Enzymatic Exfoliator by Nourish London. It contains phyto-active pomegranate enzymes, which gently exfoliate the skin to reveal a smoother, healthier complexion; while organic vitamin-rich kale extract helps to increase suppleness. Healing probiotics oxygenate, whilst griffonia extract provides a protective shield against daily environmental aggressors.

For the most luxurious experience, we recommend the Radiance Enhancing Exfoliator by Adarci. The unique blend of Fennel Seed oil, Frankincense Oil, Lavender Oil and Persian Lime oil induces a feeling of mental peace, relaxation, satisfaction and spirituality. A soothing, comforting and gentle product that refines pores while discouraging sebum production. The result is beautiful, youthful and radiant skin with visible reduction in pore size. Our founder Annick swears by this exfoliator!

 View our full range of exfoliators here.

3. Toners

The mystery of toners... What do they actually do? Well, buckle up, because adding this to your skincare regime is going to be a game changer!

A good toner will add an extra layer of hydration to your skin, and with the right ingredients it will also enhance the performance of your moisturiser. Keep a toner in your bag for on-the-go hydration, especially if you work in an air conditioned space (this tends to cause dryness and irritation).

When on the go, after a workout or whilst travelling, we swear by the Brighten Up Balancing Mist from the Five Dot Botanics minimalist range. Just five ingredients, but it packs a punch of plant powered goodness! Rose flower water detoxifies the skin and pomegranate extract reduces the appearance of fine lines and increases cell renewal!

And, for a truly Immaculate beauty regime, add the Aloe and Rose Toning Mist by Earth Tu Face. Organic rose water naturally tones and tighten tissue on contact; Rose Geranium increases collagen production and balances both oily and dry skin types; Lavender speeds the skin's rate of healing; Aloe Vera cools and hydrates.

View our full range of toners here.

4. Serums

Serums are a great way to give your skincare regime a boost. Serums contain highly concentrated ingredients made of small molecules that can penetrate deep within the skin. They contain 'actives' (ingredients that have an impact on how the skin looks and feels) such as peptides, antioxidant-rich vitamins and hyaluronic, glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids.

These have nourishing and anti-ageing effects, by increasing collagen production, removing dead skin layers, reducing inflammation and encouraging skin regeneration. Serums are best used under a face oil, which then works to moisturise and protect your skin. They are a great addition to your current beauty products – but if you can, swap out any synthetic-based formulations from mainstream brands.

The eye area can be especially sensitive, and therefore we recommend only natural but nutrient-packed products like Sea buckthorn and Geranium Eye Serum from Earth Tu Face. It's an intensive repair serum for the face and eyes: a clean base of organic oils formulated with powerful antioxidants and cell-regenerating plant extracts.

An alternative eye serum is the Full Bright Eye Serum by Five Dot Botanics - a powerhouse of eye brightening ingredients (including Horse Chesnut, Mediterranean Liquorice root and Caffeine) that combine in a serum designed to reduce dark eye circles and bags.

For the face, we love this multi-functional serum by Maison Meunier, made with a blend of 14 active natural oils and flower extracts, with added COQ10 and natural vitamin E, from . This incredible serum nourishes and rejuvenates the skin, and it comes with a roller made of beautiful gemstones for the delicate under-eye skin.

For sensitive skins, the fragrance-free and award winning Whisper Serum from Elan Skincare is a great option. Whisper serum is a unique blend of organic chamomile, calendula, camellia, safflower, borage oils and vitamin E, leaving your skin nourished, protected, and calm.

View our full range of serums here.

5. Moisturisers

If you want to completely restart your beauty regime, we highly recommend swapping your mainstream moisturiser for a high quality natural facial oil.

Face oils can be the secret to radiant, healthy-looking skin through their highly moisturising and protective effects. Suitable for all skin types, even oily skin, our vegan face oils are packed with high quality natural ingredients such as vitamin C, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

These work by hydrating the skin at a deeper level than ordinary moisturisers, and preventing further moisture loss. Face oil blends are specially tailored to work with your skin's natural oils to help keep your skin balanced, and strengthen your skin's protective lipid layer. Many have additional antibacterial and healing properties.

Our team's top choice is from Five Dot Botanics. Their Deep Feed combinines five of the most powerful anti-ageing oils to tackle inflammation, reduce wrinkles and give intensive nourishment. Cold-pressed green coffee beans deliver three times more antioxidants than green tea, calming puffy and congested skin.

We also love the Signature Face Oil from the Clockface Beauty. This award-nominated face oil works on softening and hydrating the skin whilst also protecting against future damage. Provides a healthy, youthful glow. Addresses dark circles and balances oil production. Recommended to help combat eczema prone skin

And lastly, we love using a specially formulated night oil for deep all-night moisturising, and our favourite is the Dream Dream Dream Night Oil by Neighbourhood Botanicals. A lush warming and nourishing facial oil, it's formulated to soothe the senses and soak your skin overnight. The velvety-smooth oils in this blend contain a range of essential fatty acids and vitamins that regenerate skin cells, heal the day's damage and re-plump your skin as you dream. Phytosterols and vitamin C promote skin elasticity and collagen regeneration, whilst oleic acid carries the blend's nutrients deep into the inner layers of skin. 

View our full range of face oils here

6. Face Masks

No beauty regime is complete without a nourishing face mask! So ditch those jars with questionable lists of ingredients, and swap them for sustainable skin-soothing blends of oils and clay.

For skin in need of serious TLC, we recommend the Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask from Nourish London. Scientifically formulated with minerals created from a probiotic fermentation process, this innovative treatment will boost collagen, diminish wrinkles and restore firmness to the skin.

For a real self-care treat we recommend the superfood Pumpkin Pie Enzyme Face Mask from Bella Vida Santa Barbara. It is a yummy addition to your autumn skincare regime. But your skin will love it any time of the year! Pumpkin enzymes are loaded with over 100 beneficial nutrients for the skin. Packed with antioxidants, this mask is wonderful for brightening, rejuvenating, smoothing and the glycolic acids achieve a deeper exfoliation. 

And for sensitive and tired skin, we swear by Pure Rewind Face Mask from Five Dot Botanics. It contains only five but truly potent plant-based ingredients. One of them is safflower seed oil, which is extremely effective at reducing blackheads, calming acne and fading scars and blemishes, with its high concentration of linoleic acid.  

View our full range of face masks here.

For more easy vegan beauty swaps and suggestions, visit our Beauty Edits for Normal & Combination Skin, Dry Skin, Oily Skin, Mature Skin and for Stressed & Sensitive Skin.

Cover image by UpCircle Beauty

This article doesn't include medical advice. Always consult with your dermatologist.

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