Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. It's the key to putting your best face forward. But maintaining a balanced, moisturized complexion is sometimes easier said than done. After all, when it comes to skincare, there are so many choices it can be a bit daunting. But one surefire way to streamline your search is to get back to basics and choose vegan beauty products.

Unlike many skincare brands that test on animals, use animal products, and add chemical ingredients, vegan products are cruelty-free, better for the environment, and offer a cleaner beauty routine.

That said, not all vegan beauty products are created equal. While you can rest assured that vegan skincare is cruelty-free with no animal products or byproducts, vegan does not always mean "all natural." Be sure to read labels to confirm that only natural ingredients are being used and not synthetic additives.

So how can you find the best vegan face moisturizer? The first thing to do is figure out your skin type. Once you know what your skin type is, you can choose the skincare products with ingredients that are best suited for your specific needs. Feel Beauty has a carefully curated selection of vegan skincare items that are suitable for all skin types, but it's a good idea to take this quick skin type test before buying your next face moisturizer.

Quick Skin Test





When you wake up in the morning, take a good look at your face and touch it. If your skin looks and feels a little oily in the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) but your cheeks and the rest of your face is not, then you should thank your lucky stars (and your mom) because you have normal skin. Combination skin is similar to normal skin, except that you have more pronounced dry patches on the face along with an oily T-zone.

If your skin looks and feels oily all over and you have large, visible pores and perhaps some blackheads, then you have oily skin. When your skin feels dry all over, tight, rough, and looks dull, then you have dry skin. If your skin is like a roller coaster (sometimes up, sometimes down), slightly red, irritated, or even flaky in areas, then chances are you have sensitive skin. (To further test this out, splash a little warm water on your face — if it burns or tingles at all, you have sensitive skin.)

If you tend to break out, then you're already well aware that you have acne-prone skin. While it's true that oily skin and acne-prone skin often go hand-in-hand, this isn't always the case. Many times, acne-prone skin is also sensitive or even dry, so you want to avoid synthetic fragrances and chemical ingredients that can worsen irritation and flare-ups.

Remember: Just like the rest of your body, your skin does not stay exactly the same for a lifetime. It changes depending on your health, age, lifestyle, time of year...and that time of the month! Be aware of how your skin is changing so you can adapt and adopt the proper skincare routine that will keep you looking and feeling your best.

Facial Moisturizer Checklist

Now that you know your skin type, it's time to determine which sort of face moisturizer will work best for you. There are three main varieties of facial moisturizers — day cream, night cream, and lotion — and each has their own properties and purposes.

Day creams are generally lighter in texture and often contain SPF to protect against the sun's harmful rays. Try day creams with a minimum SPF 30 rating to combat dark spots, wrinkles, and skin cancer.

Night creams are usually thicker in consistency and are primarily focused on hydrating and renewing the skin. Ingredients such as retinol and glycolic acids are often found in these creams because they can work overnight without exposure to the sun, which could make skin more sensitive.

Lotions are similar to day creams, but generally don't have as many anti-aging or specialized ingredients to soften fine lines or fade dark spots. More of an “all-purpose” moisturizer, lotions are lightweight, breathable, and an easy way to hydrate skin without much fanfare.

Normal Skin

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If you're fortunate enough to have normal skin, then your primary goal is to hydrate your skin and maintain its healthy glow. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid from citrus) is a great ingredient since it can brighten skin, tighten pores, and increase radiance.

Try our Balanced Moisturizing Cream, a deeply nourishing vegan moisturizer with a splash of lime to keep a bright, dewy complexion without a greasy finish. You can also try our Super Soft Kit, which includes the Renewed Pumpkin Walnut Facial Cleanser — a gentle exfoliator perfect for pre-moisturizer prep — and our Pure Lip Balm available in four luscious shades that can be worn anytime, anywhere.

Combination Skin

Having combination skin means you have a little extra dryness in some areas combined with other oily zones on your face. Because maintaining overall balance is key, look for moisturizers with green tea, a go-to ingredient that balances sebum production by absorbing excess oil while simultaneously conditioning the skin.

Your combination skin will also love the ultra-balancing and soothing properties of Balanced Moisturizing Cream, which combines aloe, cucumber, and lime to both hydrate skin and treat irritation.

Oily Skin

There's nothing wrong with wanting to shine, but you don't necessarily want your face to literally do it. When you have oily skin, look for oil-free skincare with ingredients such as clay, activated charcoal (found in the Brilliant Bamboo Charcoal Sheet Masks), glycolic acid, and plant-derived hyaluronic acid that decrease sebum production.

It’s also a good idea to regularly detox your skin with a mask such as our Restored Self-Warming Clay Mask. This pore-opening mask is packed with clarifying white charcoal powder, detoxifying nigiri salt, nourishing vitamin E, and hydrating hyaluronic acid, all of which work together to make oily complexions look renewed and fresh.

Dry Skin

To ensure that dry skin gets the moisture it's missing, look for face creams that will nourish your skin with ingredients such as argan oil, coconut oil, and essential oils like chamomile and jojoba. Our Bright Daily Squalane + Facial Oil is a luxe combination of plant-derived squalane and rosehip oil, an essential fatty acid that restores skin moisture and calms dry skin.

Also, when it comes to dry skin, sloughing off dead skin cells is crucial to eliminate dullness. To achieve this, try the Renewed Pumpkin Walnut Facial Cleanser, which will gently exfoliate dry, flaky skin to reveal a fresh, dewy complexion.

Sensitive Skin

When your skin is sensitive, it's essential to use a gentle, light moisturizer that won't aggravate it. That means no harsh ingredients, dyes, synthetic fragrances, or any other culprits that can easily irritate sensitive skin. It's also important to use a gentle non-scrubbing cleanser to avoid any potential adverse reaction such as a breakout or rash.

Our gentle Balanced Moisture Balancing Cream is suitable for all skin types and features cucumber and aloe vera, two must-have ingredients renowned for soothing skin and reducing inflammation.

Acne-Prone Skin

Breakouts and breakups are never fun, but we have a breakthrough for your acne-prone skin: Bright Daily Squalane + Facial Oil. While the thought of using an oil on acne-prone skin seems like a major no-no, rosehip oil is a powerful acne-fighting ingredient rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E. (Bonus: It also packs plenty of anti-aging properties.)

Green tea is another key ingredient for acne-prone skin since it has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the redness and inflammation often caused by acne. Of course, always look for the "non-comedogenic" label on any moisturizing lotion so it won't clog pores.

You Are What You Feel

What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. That's why choosing a non-toxic, chemical-free vegan moisturizer is an important part of making the connection. Once you know your skin type and the ingredients to look out for, you are well on your way to finding the best skincare.

To learn more about non-vegan ingredients, you can refer to PETA's list of animal-derived ingredients. Be sure to check out more of our vegan skincare collection to help you feel beautiful both inside and out.