Best Vegan & Cruelty-Free Face Wash and Cleansers for 2024 — Cleanse and Refresh Your Face

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If you’re looking for a vegan face wash that will keep your face clean without drying it out, then there are a number of different options for you to choose from. There’s a vegan cleanser for everyone no matter whether you have dry, sensitive or oily skin.

Best vegan face wash picks

We’ve put together a list of the top vegan face wash options out there. To help you find something that matches your skin type, we’ve got options for normal, dry, oily and combination skin. All the brands here are also vegan and cruelty-free, though some have parent companies that aren’t and this has been noted.

So, if you’re looking to swap to a vegan cleanser, or you want to opt for something more natural and sustainable, take a look at the different vegan face washes and cleansers listed here. You’re sure to find something that works for you.

Taking a more detailed look at these vegan face washes

Paula’s Choice RESIST Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser – For normal skin

1. Paula’s Choice RESIST Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser – For normal skin

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This carefully, but effectively removes all makeup from your face. Better still, it also cleanses the skin without leaving it dry or tight. It’s got a truly silky smooth formula that can replenish and preserve the skin. However, while this is a vegan product, the brand is owned by Unilever which is not cruelty-free.

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser – For oily skin

2. Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser – For oily skin

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This is a daily cleanser with a fresh scent. It’s made using superfood extracts including kale, green tea and spinach. These ingredients are great for removing makeup and ensuring that the skin’s pH balance is maintained properly. It’s also excellent for clearing build-up in the pores and therefore preventing blemishes. Better still, it can be used for double cleansing and doesn’t cause drying or stripping. As most vegan face washes are, this is good for all skin types but especially those with oily skin thanks to the antioxidant-rich formula.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser – For combination skin

3. Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser – For combination skin

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This cleanser is great for oily or combination skin. It uses apricot seed powered for gentle exfoliation. So, not only is your skin free from dirt, but toxins as well. In addition to this, the ingredients in this cleanser include essential oils and natural enzymes to ensure your face is balanced and hydrated. It’s also got many detoxifying ingredients and is a great option for those with dry skin. While Tata Harper itself is a cruelty-free brand, it is owned by Amorespacific which is not a cruelty-free brand.

THRIVE Face Wash – Best for Dry Skin

4. THRIVE Face Wash – Best for Dry Skin

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The TRIVE brand packs in a lot of antioxidants into its face wash. This is to help reduce the damage to your skin. It also helps in reviving dull skin that’s built up throughout the day. THRIVE uses a formula that’s light and gentle which means that dry skin in particular, really does thrive with this product. It’s a really great option for aging skin. Better still, it’s easily accessible and comes in great, environmentally-friendly packaging.

Fleur and Bee Face Wash Cleanser – Best Fragrance-Free

5. Fleur and Bee Face Wash Cleanser – Best Fragrance-Free

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This is a gentle vegan face wash that cleanses well without leaving your skin dry. It uses a blend of botanicals and antioxidants to get rid of impurities in the skin. Additionally, it does so while not drying your skin, leaving it at its optimal moisture level. It’s also gentle enough to be used as a daily cleanser, even on sensitive skin. This cleanser also reduces redness for those suffering from acne or blemishes. There is no fragrance which is a plus for some, though not all.

Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser – Best for Men

6. Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser – Best for Men

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A great option for men, this vegan face wash removes dirt and hydrates the skin at the same time. Any excess oil on your face is also removed but without stripping the natural oils. A number of high-quality ingredients are used here including camomile, witch hazel, and aloe vera. These ingredients help to bring out a bright, fresh complexion. Additionally, there is sage and rosemary for anti-bacterial properties which can prevent spots from occurring. The best part, it’s great for all types of skin.

COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser – Best for Acne-Prone Skin

7. COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser – Best for Acne-Prone Skin

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Great for sensitive skin, this vegan cleanser is super gentle for the face. It’s got pore-purifying ingredients that are great for removing any impurities. This gel cleanser is good for refining the skin without stripping. It uses ingredients such as Japanese cedar leaf, Indian lotus leaf and tea tree oil. While it is good for all skin types, it’s especially good for those with acne.

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser – Best Affordable

8. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser – Best Affordable

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One of the most affordable vegan face washes on our list, this face wash is great for dry skin. Not only is it great for removing makeup and keeping your skin clear, but it also makes sure to support the moisture barrier of your skin. It uses plant-based squalane with lipophilic esters to leave your skin feeling super smooth.


How can I know if a cleanser is cruelty-free?

If you want to know whether a cleanser is cruelty-free, you need to look at the company that produces the brand. While being vegan means that the product doesn’t contain any animal products of any kind, cruelty-free doesn’t.

For a brand to be cruelty-free, the company cannot test on animals in any way. Not only that but even if it doesn’t test on animals, it shouldn’t be shipping its product to a country where animal testing is a requirement.

To check if a cleanser is cruelty-free, there will typically be a logo certifying this. Otherwise, you can have a look at the brand’s page to see what their stance on animal cruelty is.

Are cleansers with a high pH harmful?

This really does depend on your skin type. For instance, if you have dry or sensitive skin, then a vegan face wash with a low pH is a much gentler option for you. A cleanser that has a high pH can actually dry out your skin quite dramatically. As your skin is already sensitive, you’re going to want to retain as much moisture as possible when it comes to a cleanser.

For those with combination or oily skin, then a high pH is much less of a concern. Of course, there are other issues you will have to contend with. Oily skin doesn’t do well with creamy formulas and is likely to actually cause more issues when applied. So, if you have oily skin, rather than focusing on the pH of a product, look at the type of product. Gel or foaming cleansers are your best bet. Plus, you should follow up on any face wash with a gentle toner.

Summary

If you’re looking for a top-quality vegan face wash, then this is the place to find it. Listed here are a range of different vegan cleansers suited to a variety of different skin types. Take a look and see if you can find your new favorite vegan face wash right here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

There is no single answer to this as what will be good for one person's skin, will not be great for another's. Check out our list of vegan face washes here and find one that suits your skin type.

This depends on your skin type, but one of the best vegan face washes for all skin types is Paula's Choice.

Many face washes are cruelty-free. These include Paula's Choice, THRIVE, The Ordinary, Jack Black and Fleur and Bee to name a few.

Yes, salicylic acid is always vegan. It's a botanical found in white willow trees.

No, CeraVe products are not completely vegan. Many of their products contain animal products such as glycerin.

No, Aveeno is not vegan as there are often ingredients such as beeswax or lanolin.

No, L'Occitane is not cruelty-free as it still sells products to countries like China which require animal testing on products.

Yes, St Ives is vegan and cruelty-free.

No, Clinique is not vegan as it is not certified cruelty-free as they make an exception for testing on animals for other countries that require it by law.

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