If you are devoted to a vegan lifestyle, chances are you want to extend that commitment to your daily beauty routine. But unlike a vegan diet, what constitutes a vegan moisturizer, lipstick, shampoo or any other beauty product is a little more complicated. After all, beauty products don’t exactly list “chicken” or “beef” on the ingredients label! In celebration of November as World Vegan Month, we’re breaking down what you need to know if you want to commit to a vegan beauty routine, plus the best vegan products to incorporate into your existing regimen.

What are vegan products?

In general, a beauty product is considered to be vegan if it is formulated without any animal-derived ingredients. We checked in with board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin founder and CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger on which ingredients to avoid if you want to adopt a vegan skin care regimen:

“Whereas a vegan diet would exclude things like meat, cheese or milk, vegan skin care products will forego ingredients like honey, beeswax, collagen and lanolin, among others. If extending your vegan diet to all areas of your life is important to you, I recommend you pay close attention to beauty labels. For example, just because a beauty product is labeled as cruelty-free doesn’t mean its vegan. A cruelty-free designation indicates a product hasn’t been tested on animals, but could in fact contain animal by-products. Look for the Leaping Bunny symbol if you also want your beauty products to be certified cruelty-free.”

Additionally, vegan hair care products will avoid ingredients like keratin, which is an amino acid derived from animal hooves, feathers and horns, as well as silk, which comes from silkworms. Vegan makeup is formulated without ingredients like guanine, a pearlescent ingredient derived from fish scales and carmine, which comes from crushed beetle-like insects to give lipstick red pigment.

Will vegan products produce the same results?

A vegan beauty regimen is not only friendlier to animals and the environment but can also be beneficial for your skin and hair. Vegan brands tend to have more recognizable ingredients that have been used for centuries for healing and improving skin conditions. Many plant-derived ingredients have anti-inflammatory benefits and are ultra rich in antioxidants, which naturally brighten skin while protecting them against premature aging caused by free radical damage. Look for things like shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, or fruit and vegetable extracts. However, if you have extra sensitive skin, be sure to check with your board-certified dermatologist before switching to plant-based products. Essential oils and other plant materials can cause allergic reactions or contact dermatitis in sensitive skin types. LovelySkin has something for everyone, whether you’re committed to a 100% vegan lifestyle or want to incorporate just a few vegan products into your regimen. Here are a few of our favorites:

Vegan Products

LovelySkin LUXE Brightening Gel

This next-generation brightening gel improves dark spots, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone—all with vegan-friendly ingredients. Formulated with the Asafetida extract derived from trees in the Middle East and amino acid based filaggrin antioxidants, this treatment gel inhibits melanin production to restore radiance and clarity to uneven skin with virtually no irritation. The best part? It can be used on the face, hands or any other parts of the body where dark spots pop up.

HELIOCARE Antioxidant Supplements

Supplement and support your existing sun protection regimen with this vegan supplement that boosts the power of your sunscreen. Each capsule is powered by a powerful antioxidant derived from a tropical fern that boosts your skin’s immune response to the sun, helping to minimize burning and sun damage. It’s dermatologist-tested for efficacy but its important to note that it does not replace sunscreen, but merely acts as additional protection.

Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-Use Liquid Pigments

This buildable, blendable foundation is formulated with 33% concentrated mineral pigments to give skin a natural-looking yet full-coverage finish. It’s dermatologist-tested for safety and is formulated without any animal-derived products, parabens, phthalates and SLS.

Pro Tip: To speed up your morning routine and achieve a more sheer finish, add a few drops to your daytime moisturizer.

Surface Awaken Protein Mousse

This vitamin-rich styling mousse naturally thickens strands with botanical fibers for added volume and a fuller-looking head of hair. Enriched with vegetable and soy proteins to strengthen hair, this vegan hair product also helps calm and soothe common scalp conditions.

Hush&Hush Plant Your Day Supplement

Fuel your body with the power of plant-based nourishment with this vegan, organic, gluten-free daily powder supplement. It features an indulgent chocolate flavor and is packed with supergreens, organic pumpkin, probiotics and fiber to help fill in the gaps your diet may lack. Its pH-balancing and alkalizing formulation brings your body back to center while giving you energy to start your day the right way.

Read more on our blog to find some of our favorite vegan skin care products to nourish your skin naturally.