Our Best Vegan Skincare Products for Sensitive Skin

Making the switch to a vegan skincare routine is easier than you think. Whether you’re looking for beauty essentials to match your lifestyle—or just want to try something new—options abound. Thanks to innovative formulations and ingredient combinations, the best vegan skincare products are ready to give your bathroom cabinet a plant-powered makeover.

At Milk Makeup, we think all skin types can benefit from the switch (especially since everything we make already happens to be clean, vegan, and cruelty-free). But, we also know some can be more hesitant to try different ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, chances are you’re wary of applying anything that could set off a reaction or flare-up. Sound like you? Read on to find out how vegan skincare can actually help you get healthy, glowing skin.

What is vegan skincare?

It all comes down to the ingredients list. Vegan skincare products don’t use any animal or animal-byproduct ingredients in their formulas. These can include beeswax, honey, collagen, and more. (You can find a more comprehensive overview on our Ingredient No-List.) What does this leave? Plenty, actually.

Some of the most popular botanical ingredients, like aloe vera, ginger, and lavender have been used in skincare for centuries. And it’s not just limited to plants, either; seawater and clays, like the ones used in our Cooling Water Natural Deodorant, can also provide plenty of benefits. You’ve probably also heard of bakuchiol and plant-derived collagen, two trending ingredients that provide serious skincare benefits without relying on a single animal byproduct.

Is vegan skincare good for sensitive skin?

Like any skincare, this depends on the targeted formulation. Sensitive skin types can get easily irritated by intense actives and exfoliants, so it’s important to look for ingredients that nourish and protect your skin’s natural barrier function.

A good place to start is our Vegan Milk Fam, which we formulated as a daily two-step skincare routine for daily use. It’s especially good for normal to dry skin (and of course, sensitive skin) because of its gentle properties and fragrance-free ingredients. We formulated these products with our own Desert Milk™, a special blend of hydrating ingredients to help skin stay moisturized.

To make this totally plant-based “milk,” we blend Kalahari melon, baobab, jojoba, and aloe vera, which thrive in arid environments thanks to their water-storing abilities. The result: a soothing smoothie packed with restorative, nourishing benefits.

How to Use Vegan Cleanser

A gentle face wash is arguably the most important step in your daily skincare routine. Before you add anything else to your face, make sure that your skin is as clean as possible, encouraging your products to fully absorb. You want your cleanser to target and remove dirt, impurities, and pollutants that your skin is exposed to every day, without stripping your face. A formula like our Vegan Milk Cleanser helps maintain your skin’s natural pH levels and balance hydration levels.

Daily cleansing, morning and night, will help keep your skin happy and prepped for the rest of your routine. I personally love using our Vegan Milk Cleanser at night because the light and creamy formula feels particularly soothing after a long day. It’s the perfect nightcap before applying the rest of my products.

How to Use Vegan Moisturizer

One of the most important lessons for sensitive skin types to keep in mind is not to overdo it. While a brightening serum or pore-refining mask have their place, you can move straight to moisturizing after cleansing if your skin is experiencing a flare-up. An effective moisturizer helps seal everything in, allowing your skin to maintain its protective barrier. This shields it from environmental stressors (like pollution and other irritants) while preventing water loss. Moisturizing daily also gives your skin that softer, smoother-looking bounce.

Much like our cleanser, our Vegan Milk Moisturizer is made for both day and night use, with the needs of sensitive or sensitized skin in mind. “It’s great to use on skin that’s irritated from retinoids or harsh ingredients,” says Hannah Spicijaric, our Product Development Manager.

To use it, just spread a small dollop of it on clean, dry skin and let it go to work. You can wear the fast-absorbing formula during the day as well, but be sure to layer sunscreen on top for UV protection. In the winter, when my skin is at its driest and angriest, I rub this stuff all over my face before bed. The next morning, my skin feels noticeably better. I even keep a jar by my desk to use as a decadent hand cream on dry, flaky knuckles. It’s a true vegan dream cream.