Top Vegan Skincare Ingredients to Explore This Veganuary

Posted by Skinsider Team on 7th Jan 2025

As Veganuary gains momentum each year, skincare enthusiasts are embracing vegan beauty products more than ever. Korean skincare, or K-beauty, is at the forefront of this movement, offering innovative and highly effective formulations. From cult favourites to eco-conscious innovations, the rise of vegan Korean skincare in the UK is hard to miss. Whether you're a seasoned K-beauty devotee or new to the world of Korean skincare, these vegan ingredients deserve a spot in your routine.

1. Centella Asiatica (Cica)

Benefits: This powerhouse herb is celebrated for its soothing properties, making it perfect for calming redness and inflammation. It also supports the skin barrier, promoting overall resilience.
Why It’s Trending: Nicknamed the "miracle herb," Cica is a staple for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Its gentle nature makes it universally loved.
Product Recommendation: Try the iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream, a lightweight, oil-free gel cream containing 70% Centella Asiatica leaf water and 10% tea tree leaf water, perfect for soothing irritated skin.

2. Bamboo Extract

Benefits: Bamboo is a hydration hero, offering antioxidant protection and soothing properties.
Why It’s Trending: As a sustainable and eco-friendly option, bamboo extract aligns perfectly with the values of vegan skincare enthusiasts.
Product Recommendation: Incorporate the PURITO Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream into your routine – A deeply hydrating and soothing moisturizer that is especially beneficial for sensitive and irritated skin.

Top Vegan Skincare

3. Green Tea

Benefits: Packed with antioxidants, green tea reduces inflammation, soothes irritation, and combats free radicals.
Why It’s Trending: A staple in Korean skincare for centuries, green tea is a timeless ingredient that naturally complements vegan formulations.
Product Recommendation: The Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum, infused with 76.49% green tea leaf water and 2% panthenol, offers hydration and a calming effect for stressed skin.

4. Rice Extract

Benefits: Rice extract brightens the skin, refines texture, and provides deep hydration.
Why It’s Trending: Steeped in traditional Korean beauty rituals, this ingredient offers a natural solution for improving skin tone and texture.
Product Recommendation: Protect and hydrate your skin with the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ PA++++, a sunscreen enriched with rice extract for nourishing protection.

5. Licorice Root Extract

Benefits: Renowned for its brightening properties, licorice root helps reduce hyperpigmentation and irritation.
Why It’s Trending: As a natural alternative to synthetic brighteners, licorice root is a vegan favourite.
Product Recommendation: Pair brightening with hydration using the I'm from Licorice Soothing Ampoule, which is a K-beauty marvel for acne-prone skin enriched with 73% Licorice Exosome.

6. Algae and Seaweed Extracts

Benefits: These oceanic ingredients hydrate, detoxify, and infuse skin with essential minerals and antioxidants.
Why It’s Trending: Sustainably sourced and deeply nourishing, algae are perfect for hydration and anti-aging.
Product Recommendation: Rejuvenate tired eyes with the Heimish Marine Care Eye Cream, packed with marine algae extracts for hydration and anti-aging benefits.

7. Plant-Based Squalane

Benefits: Squalane locks in moisture, strengthens the skin barrier, and prevents water loss.
Why It’s Trending: Derived from plants like sugarcane or olives, squalane mimics the skin’s natural oils without relying on animal sources.
Product Recommendation: Experience deep hydration with LAGOM Cellus Aqualane Solution, a lightweight moisturiser featuring plant-based squalane.

8. Beta-Glucan

Benefits: A super hydrator that soothes irritation and strengthens the skin barrier, beta-glucan is a vegan alternative to hyaluronic acid.
Why It’s Trending: Extracted from oats or mushrooms, beta-glucan is gaining traction as a must-have for deep hydration.
Product Recommendation: Add the MIXSOON Beta-Glucan Essence to your routine for its exceptional soothing and hydrating benefits.

9. Soybean Extract

Benefits: This vegan powerhouse enhances elasticity, hydrates, and brightens the skin.
Why It’s Popular: Soybean extract is rich in amino acids, making it ideal for anti-aging care.
Product Recommendation: Revitalise your skin with Mixsoon Bean Essence, a multitasking formula for hydration and radiance.

10. Mugwort (Artemisia)

Benefits: Known as "Korean tea tree," mugwort soothes sensitive skin, reduces redness, and offers antibacterial properties.
Why It’s Popular: It’s incredibly gentle yet effective, perfect for calming irritated skin.
Product Recommendation: Treat your skin with I’m From Mugwort Essence, rich in mugwort extract for soothing care.

11. Aloe Vera

Benefits: Renowned for its cooling, soothing, and hydrating effects, aloe vera calms irritation and inflammation.
Why It’s Popular: Naturally vegan and gentle, aloe vera is a versatile skincare ingredient.
Product Recommendation: Try COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ to protect and hydrate your skin simultaneously.

12. Heartleaf (Houttuynia Cordata)

Benefits: Reduces redness, calms irritation, and promotes a healthy complexion.
Why It’s Popular: Its gentle nature makes it perfect for sensitive skin.
Product Recommendation: Soothe your skin with AXIS-Y Heartleaf My-Type Calming Cream.

13. Upcycled Ingredients

Examples: Coffee grounds, fruit peels, and rice lees (a byproduct of rice wine).
Benefits: Brighten, exfoliate, and hydrate while promoting sustainability.
Why It’s Popular: A creative way to reduce waste while delivering effective skincare.
Product Recommendation: Enjoy the power of Klairs Fundamental Eye Awakening Gel 35ml. Infused with caffeine and red bean extract as the main ingredients, the gel-type eye cream helps to de-puff the eyes.

14. Tea Tree Extract

Benefits: A natural acne fighter, tea tree extract reduces breakouts, balances oil production, and soothes inflammation.
Why It’s Popular: It’s plant-based, effective, and a must-have for acne-prone skin.
Product Recommendation: Clear your complexion with SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Relief Ampoule.

15. Calendula Extract

Benefits: Soothes, reduces redness, and supports healing for sensitive or irritated skin.
Why It’s Popular: With its anti-inflammatory properties, calendula is a trusted ingredient for gentle skincare.
Product Recommendation: Cleanse with iUNIK Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil for soft, nourished skin.

Vegan K-Beauty: A Movement with a Purpose

Korean skincare’s fusion of tradition, innovation, and sustainability makes it the perfect fit for the vegan ethos. Ingredients like Centella Asiatica, green tea, and plant-based squalane are more than just trends; they represent a shift towards mindful, effective skincare.

As the popularity of Korean skincare in the UK continues to rise, embracing these vegan ingredients allows you to experience the best of K-beauty while supporting cruelty-free practices. This Veganuary, transform your skincare routine with the power of nature—your skin (and the planet) will thank you!