The shower is the place where your brain cells either fuel their energy tanks to start a new day or give a sigh of relief after a long, tiring day. However, all this goodness goes out of the window the moment you realise an animal has been tortured, killed, then sold as meat, just to have this soapy liquid gliding down your body.
While cruelty-free body washes exist, they’re hard to spot in the middle of the sea of animal-based ones. Not to mention, not all of them are vegan! For your body wash to be vegan, it should neither contain any animal-based materials nor be tested on animals.
> Read more: best vegan face wash.
Because making sure of these two points isn’t the easiest task, we’ve gathered the best vegan body washes on the market in one place. Whether you’re on the lookout for a cruelty-free shower gel to use after the gym, unwind after a stressful day, or just have your daily shower in a guilt-free way, we have your next shower haven here.
- The 6 Best Vegan Body Washes in 2022
- Factors to Consider When Buying a Vegan Body Wash
- Your Best Cruelty-Free Suds!
At a Glance:
- Nubian Heritage Abyssinian Oil & Chia Seed – Best Overall
- Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile – Most Versatile
- Hask Lavender + Vanilla – Most Relaxing Formula
- Method Body Wash – Most Environment-Friendly
- Puracy Natural Body Wash – Best for Sensitive Skin
- Jason Natural Body Wash – Budget Pick
The 6 Best Vegan Body Washes in 2022
Since the priority is making sure the body wash you choose is vegan and cruelty-free at the same time, we made sure all the products we mentioned are certified as 100% vegan and pose no harm to our furry pals. Now, all you have to do is consider your skin type and the scent you like, then pick a shower gel that matches your requirements.
1. Nubian Heritage Abyssinian Oil & Chia Seed – Best Overall
Nubian Heritage takes their Abyssinian Oil, and Chia Seed body wash beyond being “just a cleanser” and introduces a formula that works magic in keeping the skin hydrated and looking as young as ever. This vegan body soap is suitable for all skin types, from very dry and sensitive to oily and acne-prone skin.
Made mainly from plant-based Abyssinian oil, the formula packs a collection of vitamins, omega acids, and oxidants required to nourish and cleanse dry skin. It also leaves no residue to clog or block the skin’s pores, so people with oily skin and those suffering from acne can still use it.
Other ingredients include chia seeds, ginseng, and amaranth, which have a relaxing effect on the body and encourage skin firmness, minimising the look of fine lines and wrinkles all over your body. Moreover, it exfoliates gently, removing the dead skin layers and allowing the nourishing oils to be fully absorbed into your skin.
Certified by PETA as cruelty-free, the body wash isn’t tested on animals by the company or other third-party vendors. However, be aware that not all the company’s lines are vegan. Some of their products, including the Goat’s Milk & Chai Body Wash and the Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Body Wash, are non-vegan as they contain milk products and silk proteins, respectively.
2. Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile – Most Versatile
Having one cruelty-free body wash suitable for everything is bliss, and that’s what Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile provides and more. The Leaping Bunny-certified body wash has five more uses other than being a vegan body soap, including being a face wash, hair conditioner, pets’ shampoo, dishwashing liquid, and laundry detergent.
Made from organic and biodegradable ingredients, the product is all-vegan, though the company itself has other non-vegan body balms that contain beeswax, so be aware when purchasing other products from Dr Bonner.
The formula is three times more concentrated than other body washes, meaning that one bottle of Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile will last you thrice the time other washes would do. Not to mention, the bottle is made from recyclable plastic, so you can rest assured that everything about this body wash is vegan and environmentally friendly.
The versatility extends to the scent options. You can choose from peppermint, lavender, almond, citrus, tea tree, rose, and eucalyptus scents, all of which are free of synthetic preservatives, foaming agents, and SLS. And if you like to have your body wash mellow, there’s a “Baby Unscented” option that carries no fragrance whatsoever.
3. Hask Lavender + Vanilla – Best Relaxing Formula
A relaxing shower isn’t so relaxing when your body is attacked with a harsh formula and an overwhelming smell, even if it’s a good one. The Hask Lavender + Vanilla cruelty-free shower gel promises you a laid-back experience with its light yet effective formula as well as mild and soothing fragrance.
Boasting a hypoallergenic and PH balanced formula, the body wash is designed by experienced dermatologists to deliver a moisturised and soft feel to several skin types, from normal to sensitive. The mix of vanilla and Vitamin E aid in that purpose and provide the skin with the nourishment it needs to glow and look radiant.
This Vegan Society-certified body wash is free from sulfate, paraben, gluten, silicone, artificial colours and all the ingredients that do more harm than good to your body. The gel sports a pearly consistency and doesn’t lather much, but that’s all an indication that it’s free of harmful ingredients.
Plus, it gently washes away the drying additives on your skin and leaves it feeling smooth like a baby’s skin. Oh, and it doesn’t cost much either!
4. Method Body Wash – Most Environment-Friendly
From a reputable cruelty-free brand, the Method Body Wash is the most environment-friendly body soap you can find on the market and for good reasons.
Besides being certified by Peta and the Leaping Bunny as a product that’s neither tested on animals nor contain any animal byproducts, the Method Body Wash is designed to be kind to the planet as well.
The company has a strict policy that entails using organic and natural ingredients that negatively impact the environment. That’s apparent in the Method Body Wash’s formula that isn’t only eco-friendly but also soft and gentle on the skin. Additionally, all the body wash’s bottles are made from recyclable plastic and designed to be recycled after use.
The gel itself is hydrating and moisturising, making it a no-brainer for dry skin. If your skin tends to itch after showering, especially in the winter, you’ll love how soothing this one is.
It also comes in 6 different scents to suit different moods. Whether you’re into the fresh smell of cucumber, like the fruity smell of citrus, or prefer a flowery smell on your skin, you’ll find a bottle that matches your taste here.
5. Puracy Natural Body Wash – Best for Sensitive Skin
If your skin tends to itch and burn after showering, you might want to consider this silky-smooth vegan body wash from Puracy Natural. Formulated from a mixture of cocoa glycinate, Himalayan sea salt, and essential oil, the least that can be said about this body wash is that it’s extraordinarily gentle.
This Peta and Leaping Bunny-certified wash feels luxurious on the skin. Besides its effective cleansing capabilities, it purifies and hydrates. Not to mention, it exfoliates without drying out the skin, leaving it pampered and renewed with zero irritation whatsoever.
What makes it that magical, you ask? The shower gel is void of any irritating materials, including sulfates, parabens, salicylates, dyes, and even perfumes. It derives its fascinating smell from the essential oils it incorporates, so even the irritating alcohol of perfumes isn’t there.
The whole formula is PH-balanced and hypoallergenic, making it a suitable choice for babies’ delicate skins as well as the elderly’s susceptible bodies. It also comes in three different fragrances to choose from, including Citrus & Sea Salt, Coconut & Vanilla, and Bergamot & Sandalwood.
Overall, the body wash is almost flawless and will leave you singing in the shower with a guilt-free conscience.
6. Jason Natural Body Wash – Budget Pick
For the out-of-the-ordinary testing procedures and certifications required for a body wash to be vegan, it tends to be a bit pricier than its animal-derived counterparts.
However, the Jason Natural Body Wash proves that you can still have a guilt-free shower without emptying your pockets. Have no worries, though! The product is certified by the Leaping Bunny as vegan and cruelty-free.
The extremely affordable vegan body soap incorporates provitamin B5 and Vitamin E in its biodegradable formula, rendering it cleansing, nourishing, and hydrating simultaneously.
Vitamin E penetrates the skin and helps treat dryness at its source, while provitamin B5 keeps the skin quenched even in dry conditions, so you’re guaranteed healthy skin that’s moisturised from the core. And if you have any allergies, put your mind at ease since this product is free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and petroleum-derived products.
Finally, the wash comes in 11 different scents for men and women that linger for hours after the shower. And as a bonus, there are three special fragrances for men, including the Ocean Sport, Forest Fresh, and Mountain Spice scents.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Vegan Body Wash
Well, a pleasant smell and effective cleansing powers are a must, but what else should you look for when buying a cruelty-free body wash? Let’s find out!
Know How to Tell if It’s Vegan!
You’re safe with any of the products we mentioned above, but what if you’re skimming the internet on your own for a guilt-free body wash or popped in a drugstore and liked the shape of a bottle but can’t tell whether it’s vegan? There’s an easy way to do that.
The first thing you should know is that there’s a difference between cruelty-free and vegan. Cruelty-free means that the product hasn’t been tested on animals, while vegan means it doesn’t incorporate animal-derived products.
To make sure a product is vegan, take a look at the ingredient list. Materials like silk proteins, lanolin, and beeswax, indicate that the body wash is non-vegan. If you’re not sure about one of the ingredients, a quick Google search on the material will help you know if it’s safe. You can also contact the company and ask them directly.
The real problem lies in knowing whether the body wash is cruelty-free or not. That’s because there are no legal definitions for the term “cruelty-free,” so companies tend to take advantage of this ambiguity and label their products falsely as “cruelty-free” just to attract a broader base of customers.
The only way you can make sure the body wash isn’t tested on animals is to search for its certification. The Leaping Bunny Logo is the only verified symbol indicating the product has been verified by the Leaping Body or PETA.
If you can’t find the logo on the packaging, you can search the two organisations’ lists of certified companies and see if the one you’re searching for is included.
Consider Your Skin Type
Even if it’s vegan, not any body wash will suffice. Our bodies have different skin-care concerns, and for that, different formulas exist. To choose the right body wash, you should identify your skin type first and choose accordingly.
Dry
Three things are key when choosing a body wash for dry skin. First, always go for creamy washes instead of gel and soap, as the latter can further dry your skin. Second, look for hydrating materials in the ingredients, especially those that treat the problem from its core, like Vitamin E, aloe vera and olive oil.
Last but not least, stay away from exfoliating formulas unless they’re incredibly gentle. While it’d be tempting to remove the dry flakes off your skin more often, exfoliating them would only result in your skin becoming drier and producing even more flakes. The right solution is to nourish, not to remove.
Sensitive
If your skin breaks easily or the lightest creams spark your allergies, you have sensitive skin. In this case, look for body washes that boast PH-balanced, softening and nourishing formulae. Ingredients like avocado and almond oil are good pointers that the shower gel is suitable for easily irritated skin.
Just make sure to stay away from heavily scented washes as those depend on irritating perfumes and artificial fragrances instead of natural soothing essential oils.
Oily
When it comes to oily skin, cleaning the body pores thoroughly is necessary to avoid developing pumps and pimples. For this skin type, lighter shower gels and exfoliators are the best. Ingredients to look for are mint, raspberry, and lavender, as they contain antioxidants that cleanse the skin from within and leave a relaxing scent afterwards.
Your Best Cruelty-Free Suds!
Choosing the best vegan body wash can change the way your skin feels and improve your mood. Not to mention, it contributes to the whole idea of sparing the lives of our furry friends, whether by eating plant-based foods or consuming cruelty-free products.
For the ultimate feel-good experience, we recommend the Nubian Heritage Abyssinian Oil and Chia Seed. The body wash has what it needs to help you enjoy every part of your guilt-free shower and come out with sparkly clean, and nice smelling skin.
If you like to have one bottle for multiple uses, Dr Bronner’s Pure Castile body wash will make your day with its multipurpose formula. Last but not least, for the eco-friendly vegans out there, Method Body Wash isn’t only vegan but also has a minimal negative impact on the environment.
