The latest buzzword in the Korean skin care industry is ‘veganism.’ Focus on animal rights has increased, impacting the market. Many people are replacing their skin care and beauty products with products that are not tested on animals and come from vegan Korean brands.
People are also choosing cosmetics products with fewer harsh chemical ingredients. Consumers, particularly young women in their 20s and 30s, are prone to buying cruelty-free cosmetics and eco-friendly products as per market data. There is an equal focus on the values the products represent as the products themselves.
As part of this phenomenon, veganism is rapidly expanding in Korea. It is becoming a part of a lifestyle rather than being a niche diet. More and more Koreans are moving away from using, wearing, or even consuming animal products.
Who is Vegan?
Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. – The Vegan Society
So, what is certified Vegan skin care and cosmetics?
Certified vegan cosmetic products mean that no animal ingredients, their by-products or derivatives, no animal testing (of the final product or individual elements), and no genetically modified organisms. The products from the vegan Korean brands focus on the use of organic, botanical ingredients, and avoid testing on animals.
Is it the same as cruelty-free products?
Not all cruelty-free products are vegan.
A law was introduced in 2017 in South Korea that prohibited animal testing of Korean skin care products to make them cruelty-free. The law stipulates that cosmetics manufacturers should not make any products that include ingredients tested on animals; they should not test their products on animals and not distribute products tested on animals.
Korean skin care ingredients – vegan or not?
Most often, Korean skin care products are not labeled ‘vegan’ even if they are vegan. South Korea does not have its own vegan certification organization, and most companies use international certification organizations.
Many Korean skin care products are not vegan – they contain animal extracts like snail slime, bee venom, propolis, eggs, starfish extract, honey, and many other such ingredients. All the ingredients are adequately labeled whether they come from animal or plant-based origin. Ingredients like lanolin, squalene, collagen, hyaluronic acid can come from either source. Bee products like beeswax, honey, propolis, and royal jelly are always from an animal source.
Does my favorite Korean skin care brand make vegan cosmetics?
Backed by the veganism trend, many Korean beauty brands have started to release vegan cosmetic product lines. It includes consumer-favorite brand names like Innisfree, Laneige, and homegrown brands like Dear Dahlia and Aromatic.
What about the makeup products?
Most vegan Korean brands are creating vegan skin care products as it is difficult to add color to vegan cosmetics products that last for a long time on the skin. However, more firms are working on releasing color makeup products in the market.
Certified Vegan Korean Skin Care Products
| Steps in Korean Skin Care Routine | Vegan Korean Skin Care Products | |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Cleanser (makeup remover) | Mamonde Petal Spa Oil To Foam Cleanser |  |
| Water Cleanser | Benton Tea Tree Cleansing Water |  |
| Exfoliator | COSRX One Step Original Clear Pads |  |
| Toner | Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner |  |
| Essence | Benton Fermentation Essence |  |
| Ampoule / Serum | COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid |  |
| Mask | Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask |  |
| Eye Cream | Benton Fermentation Eye Cream |  |
| Moisturizer | Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Cream |  |
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