Best Vegan Korean Skincare Brands & Products

Vegan skincare products are increasing in popularity as we starting to pay more attention to the ingredients of skincare products and their production methods. This beauty blog post covers all the best vegan Korean skincare brand and products. Read on to find out more!

About Vegan Skincare Products

Vegan skincare products are rising in popularity and aren’t just for vegans but for anyone who cares about the ingredients used in products. Most vegan skincare products are also cruelty free. Click here for a full guide on cruelty-free Korean skincare brands.

If you are wondering if a product is vegan you should look out for the following ingredients which are frequently used in skincare products and which aren’t vegan friendly:

• Bee products: Bee product are frequently used in skincare products as they are full of antioxidants and are very moisturising. Bee products include honey, royal jelly, bee wax and propolis.
• Collagen: Collagen is frequently used in anti-ageing products. It is a protein which is derived from animal skin or animal tissue.
• Lanolin: This is a commonly used product as it is very healing and moisturising. Lanolin is found in the fatty substance of sheep’s wool.
• Squalene: Another popular ingredient frequently used in anti-ageing products, lip balms and moisturisers. This ingredient is extracted from shark liver oil. A vegan equivalent is available which is extracted from olives and wheat germs instead of shark liver oil.
• Hyaluronic acid: Not all hyaluronic acid is derived from animals as there are different methods of obtaining this ingredient. The non-vegan friendly way is by deriving it from rooster combs or the red rooster crowns. This same ingredient can be manufactured using biofermentation.

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Why Use Vegan Products?

Using vegan products is not only for people on a plant-based diet. There are a couple of benefits for using vegan products:

• Sensitive Skin – If you have a sensitive skin or if your skin is condition prone it can often get irritated by synthetic ingredients. Vegan products are more likely to be made with all natural ingredients which have more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and more.
• Ethical Reasons – You probably want to use vegan skincare products if you care about how products are made and if you want to reduce your carbon footprint. Vegan skincare products are generally cruelty-free and eco-friendlier.

Where To Buy Vegan Korean Skincare

There are quite a few websites that sell vegan Korean skincare products. You can purchase the products straight from the official brand website or through K-Beauty Online stores. The best sites to check for vegan Korean products are:

• Wishtrend – An online K-beauty store that has a selection of vegan/cruelty-free brands.
• YesStyle – YesStyle sells all kind of products including clothing, accessories and skin care products. The have a section dedicated to all kinds of vegan skincare products. Get 10% off when using my link.
• iHerb – iHerb has a whole section just for Korean skincare brands. They have a very similar collection as Wishtrend and YesStyle. Get 5% off when using my link.
• Amazon US – If you are located in the US, you might want to check out Amazon.

The recommended products listed below have some links to one of these online webshops. Prices differ depending on your location so check which one works out to be the cheapest.

Vegan Korean Skincare Brands

1. Klairs

Klairs is a leading Korean skincare brand when it comes to vegan products and even cruelty-free products. The brand philosophy of Klairs is against using harsh products, against animal testing and aims to use high quality ingredients.

Below is a list of the most popular vegan Klairs skincare products.

Youthful Glow Sugar Mask

The Youthful Glow Sugar Mask is a multi-functional mask which cleanses makeup and is a mild exfoliator. It contains anti-inflammatory calamine to soothe your skin.

Click here to buy Youthful Glow Sugar Mask on Wishtrend.
Click here to buy Youthful Glow Sugar Mask on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Youthful Glow Sugar Mask on Amazon US.

Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 PA ++++

The Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 PA ++++ is a water gel based daily sunscreen with a high SPF and PA. The sunscreen isn’t oily or doesn’t leave white stains on the skin.

Click here to buy Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 PA ++++ on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Soft Airy UV Essence SPF 50 PA ++++ on YesStyle and get 10% off

Click here to read a full Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence review!

Midnight Blue Calming Cream

This is a great cream for people with sensitive skin as it instantly calms and soothes the skin. The main ingredients are Guaiazulene and Centella Asiatica, which have powerful calming effects and hydrate the skin.

Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on iHerb and get 5% off
Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on Amazon US

Click here to read a full Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream review!

Note: This product comes in different sizes. You can get them in a tube or in a pot.

TIP! It is highly recommended to use this product together with the Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop.

2. I’m From

I’m From is another Korean skincare band that pays special attention to the quality of the ingredients. Not all the products from I’m From are vegan but they have a couple of vegan skincare products.

Below is a list of the most popular vegan I’m From skincare products.

Rice Toner

This rice toner fits all skin types including oily, sensitive, dry and combination skin types. It contains 77.78% rice extract and improves the skin elasticity, moisturizes the skin, removes dead skin cells and prevents water loss.

Click here for more info about the I’m From Rice Toner on Wishtrend

Mugwort Essence

The I’m From essence is made with a single ingredient, namely mugwort extract. Mugwort is known for having antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. This mugwort essance soothes and moisturises the skin.

Click here to buy Mugwort Essence on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Mugwort Essence on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy Mugwort Essence on iHerb and get 5% off
Click here to buy Mugwort Essence on Amazon US

NOTE: Wishtrend and iHerb are the best places to buy this mugwort essence as they offer the best price. YesStyle and Amazon are very overpriced.

Read my full I’m From Mugwort Essence review here.

Mugwort Sheet Mask

Another mugwort product from I’m From. This sheet mask is using the same mugwort extract as used in the I’m From Mugwort Essence. The product contains 91.45% mugwort essence from Gangwha island.

Click here to buy Mugwort Sheet Mask on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Mugwort Sheet Mask on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy Mugwort Sheet Mask on Amazon US

3. By Wishtrend

By Wishtrend is another brand that has a selection a vegan skin care products. Additionally to most products being vegan they are also cruelty-free.

Below is a list of the most popular vegan By Wishtrend skincare products.

Acid-Duo Hibiscus 63 Cream

This cream can be used on a daily basis and is a exfoliant. The product is perfect for those with a sensitive skin. The Acid-Duo Hibiscus Cream unclogges the pores and helps control the sebum. It can also help to minimise the pigmentation.

Click here to buy Acid-Duo Hibiscus 63 Cream on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Acid-Duo Hibiscus 63 Cream on YesStyle and get 10% off

Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask

The sheet mask is vegan and cruelty-free. It is filled with 21.5% natural vitamin complex. The mask is perfect for those with sensitive skin. You can use the mask on a daily basis as it soaks the skin with moisture and vitamins.

Click here to buy Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask on YesStyle and get 10% off

4. COSRX

COSRX is another Korean skincare brand which has a wide range of vegan and cruelty-free products. Not all of their products are vegan but the majority is.

Below is a list of the most popular vegan COSRX skincare products.

Acne Pimple Master Patch

If you have a lot of acne and have sensitive skin, you might want to give the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch a try. It is a hydrocolloid type of patch which promotes healing.

Click here to buy Acne Pimple Master Patch on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Acne Pimple Master Patch on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy Acne Pimple Master Patch on iHerb and get 5% off
Click here to buy Acne Pimple Master Patch on Amazon US

Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

The cleanser is excellent for all skin types. It is both cruelty-free and vegan. This cleanser exfoliates dead skin cells and cleanses the pores.

Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on iHerb and get 5% off
Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on Amazon US

5. Whamisa

Not many of the skin care brands mentioned in this article have actual vegan certification. Whamisa is one of the few that is a certified Korean vegan skincare brand. Additionally Whamisa is also EWG certified. This brand is not available for purchasing on sites like Wishtrend, iHerb or YesStyle but is available on Amazon.

Organic Flowers Toner Deep Rich

This toner is filled with argan oil, botanical extracts, dandelion extracts and galactomyces. Ingredients are fermented and the product is suitable for dry and normal skin types. This toner is rich and nourishing.

Click here to buy this product on Amazon US.

6. Olivarrier

Olivarrier is a certified cruelty-free and vegan Korean skincare brand. All products are also EWG certified.

Cream All Barrier Relief

This cream is a great moisturiser and helps to reinforce the skin barrier. Additionally it softens dead skin cells. The product contains 8 kinds of organic oils and organic rose oil water.

Click here to buy Cream All Barrier Relief on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Cream All Barrier Relief on Amazon US.

7. Withmy

Not really a skincare brand but a Korean brand that sells toothpaste. The brand is EWG certified and is a PETA registered cruelty-free and vegan brand. Additionally WITH MY gives back 10% of their profit towards children’s oral care and education.

Click here to buy Withmy toothpaste on Amazon US.

8. Aromatica

The mission statement of Aromatica is ‘save the skin, save the planet’. This brand is EWG certified and it received an award in 2011 for being Korea’s first EWG Verified Certified cosmetic brand.

Organic Aloe Vera Gel JUMBO

Aloe vera gels are a must have. They are excellent skin soothers and can be used for different purposes. The Aromatica Organic Aloe Vera Gel is made with aloe and rosemary leaf water. It can be used a as soothing gel, shaving cream or essence booster.

Click here to buy Organic Aloe Vera Gel on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Organic Aloe Vera Gel on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Organic Aloe Vera Gel on Amazon US.

9. Skin&Lab

Skin& Lab is owned by the same company as I’m From and like I’m From they have a couple of vegan products. All products are cruelty-free and are suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Below is a list of the most popular vegan Skin&Lab skincare products.

C Plus Brightening

This moisturize from Skin&Lab contains vitamin c, acerola extract and coenzyme Q10. These ingredients brighten, soothe, provide elasticity and illuminate the skin. This cream is excellent for people with UV-damaged skin.

Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on Wishtrend
Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on iHerb and get 5% off
Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on Amazon US

Barrierderm Intensive Cream

The Barrierderm Intensive Cream is made with fila seed, ceramide and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients provide moisturization and soothes the skin. It is also an excellent cream to use during winters as a skin barrier to protect against the cold.

Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on Wishtrend
Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on YesStyle and get 10% off
Click here to buy C Plus Brightening on Amazon US

10. Jungle Botanic

Jungle Botanic is a Korean beauty company and their focus lies on hand soaps. Their Ecru Clay Soap is suitable for people with oily skin. The soap is rich, delicate and contains 17.5% kaolin clay. Jungle Botanic soaps are both vegan and cruelty-free.

This soap is only available on Wishtrend. Click here for more info and prices.

11. elmt

elmt is a Korean skincare brand that is only sold on Wishtrend and they focus on using high quality ingredients and on how these ingredients work together. They shine a light on how each product is produced and the reasoning why certain ingredients are used. All elmt products are cruelty free and vegan, they are suitable to be used by people with sensitive skin.

They offer a selection of drop solutions with different purposes, including illuminating, calming, exfoliating and activating. The products have a very light scent and are watery which means they are easy to spread and apply.

Vegan Skincare Certifications & Organisations

Not all the brands listed above are certified vegan brands. If you only want to use certified brand then look out for the following organisations.

• KARA – The Korean equivalent to PETA
• Vegan Society (UK Based)
• AVA (USA Based)
• Vegan (USA Based)

Since 2018, animal testing is not allowed in South Korea, so most Korean skincare products have never been tested on animals. But skin care products that were sold (until 2019) in China different as China requires all products to be tested on animals. This law has changed in China and now non-animal tested products are allowed in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do you have any questions about any of these vegan skincare products mentioned above? What is your favourite vegan product? Do you know of any other brands that sell vegan Korean products? Let me know in the comment section below.