The term vegan beauty might be new to those who are just starting to learn about a healthy vegan diet, since food is the logical starting place for most people who are intrigued by this lifestyle, which excludes all animals, animals products, and their derivatives in foods, beverages, and other consumer products.
Once the vegan curious start to question the practice of eating meat, it becomes demonstrably obvious that the traditional Western diet, which is largely comprised of animals and their products, is neither healthy, humane, nor environmentally sustainable. For those willing to look bravely at these realities, it can feel like the start of an enlightened journey. Along the way, many among us become conscious consumers, defined as people who are committed to purchasing decisions that have a positive social, economic, and environmental impact.
From a practical standpoint, it is easier to adopt a vegan lifestyle now than ever before. There is currently an abundance of product choices in multiple categories, as veganism has experienced a surge in popularity and practice in recent years. In fact, the worldwide vegan food market grew from $14.44 billion in 2020 to $15.77 billion in 2021. Happily, this healthy, just, and compassionate approach grows in popularity ever day, to the benefit of all concerned.
If you are on this path, you may already be thinking “beyond the menu,” and exploring other aspects of a vegan lifestyle, including vegan clothing, vegan travel, vegan cannabis products, vegan make-up, vegan personal care products, and more. Vegan beauty solutions are especially important, since we absorb more than 60% of what we apply to our skin. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) cruelty-free means that the cosmetic/personal care product was developed without testing on animals, while items labeled vegan are both cruelty-free and exclude animal-derived ingredients, such as lanolin or beeswax.
Like vegan foods, vegan beauty products have evolved as well, with a dizzying array of glamorous options. Among the many 100% vegan brands doing excellent work in this sphere is Chella Beauty, founded by Chris Kolodziejski. After Chris went vegan for health reasons, he came to the conclusion that beauty, compassion, wellness, and sustainability are mutually inclusive, empowering us not only to look, but even more importantly, to feel beautiful, inside and out.
As the wise have always known, beauty is more than skin deep, which is a concept worth exploring. For example, in what ways might our lives be positively impacted when we are feeling our most attractive? How is our overall well-being affected when we optimistically put our best face forward? Can you, in fact, boost your beauty self-esteem?
According to one peer-reviewed study, improving a physical trait appears to also positively affect attitude, personality, and overall self-esteem. Likewise, taking care of our physical appearance has a beneficial impact on how we relate and interact with others. When these positive interactions become internalized within a person, there is often a direct, corresponding impact on the person’s self-esteem. In other words, self-esteem is influenced by many factors, including how we present ourselves to the world each day. Since a person’s physical attractiveness is known to be a major component in determining his or her experiences, it is logical, as well as empirically documented, that this has a substantial influence on self-esteem.
You can test this science for yourself. Try starting with a single vegan cosmetic item, such as a lush, matte lip pencil in a flattering shade, for example, or a high-quality eyebrow crème to polish this face-framing feature. As you positively nurture your exterior appearance with high-quality vegan cosmetics, you may find that you start to exude an inner glow, a subtle radiance that emanates from knowing that your choices are more than pretty; they are also compassionate and humane.
Again, the more we integrate our values, such as a commitment to our personal health, our fellow sentient beings, and our amazing planet, into our diet and personal care routines, the happier and more empowered we are likely to feel. Now that is truly beautiful!