5 Cruelty-Free K-Beauty Products To Love

With snail mucin, honey, and horse oil abound, natural ingredients harvested from Mother Nature are no strangers in the world of K-beauty peddlers. Given their prolific nature, one might be forgiven for thinking vegan options are simply non-existent (and what a shame that would be!). To dispel that notion and help you commemorate World Vegan Day on November 1 in true cruelty-free style, we have rounded up some of the best vegan Korean beauty products that are guaranteed to leave your skin (and animal-lover heart) happy!

CosRX Low-pH Good Morning Cleanser

A gentle gel cleanser, CosRX’s star product, the Low-PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, is also entirely plant-based! While not all of CosRX’s products are vegan, it’s great to see vegan selections available among the range. Featuring botanical ingredients like tea tree leaf oil and evening primrose extract, the cleanser helps to purify your skin and remove make-up residue. Whether it’s a good morning or evening, you can bet this cleanser will set your skin to rights and do right by the animals we love!

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum

Of late, Vitamin C has become synonymous with the ability to brighten skin and fade spots and scars. As potent as it might be, the antioxidant can sometimes cause irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. However, fear not, Klairs has come to your rescue with its gentle formulation of Vitamin C serum, which incorporates 5 percent of the key ingredient. Free of any animal by-products and loaded with skin-happy ingredients like grapefruit extract and lavender oil, this serum is sure to brighten without causing any dreaded flare-ups.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

Nothing’s more juicy and refreshing than a slice of watermelon on a hot summer day, and that’s what Glow Recipe is banking on with their cult favorite, Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer. Packed with vitamin- and amino acid-rich watermelon extract, this silky moisturizer floods your skin with an instant boost of hydration. The brand has made it a point to develop their products at no cost to the environment by being 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free. And we can safely say their products are better off for it!

Whamisa Organic Flowers Hydrogel Mask

Emphasizing the use of organic, fermented ingredients in their products, Whamisa is a rare breed in that it has been certified by notable organizations such as BDIH and EWG to be natural and environmentally-friendly. While they are more well-known for their mists and facial sprays, a good mask that has been tried and loved is the brand’s Organic Flowers Hydrogel Mask. Vegan and full of good old flower power, the mask brightens and moisturizes to leave your skin taut and glowing. Life might not be a bed of roses, but there ain’t reason for your face not to be!

RE:P Bio Fresh Mask With Real Vitality Herb

Leaping Bunny Certified as cruelty-free, RE:P’s products are specially formulated to treat and soothe sensitive skin. One of my favorites from their range would be this herbal clay mask, which has real rose and jasmine petals folded in. Not only does it draw out impurities from congested pores, it also leaves your skin feeling softer than a baby’s bottom!

Happy World Vegan Day, Soompiers! Amidst our pursuit of style and beauty, it is very heartening to see Korean brands increasingly stepping up to the challenge of formulating products that are not just good for our own well-being but also that of the many animals we share our lovely planet with. This World Vegan Day, why not share with us what other brands and products we (and our furry friends) might love too?
Aetcult is your friendly K-beauty enthusiast who loves her tea on and off her face (no lie). In between bouts of tinkering with new beauty products, she will probably be writing about her finds, revising her Korean language coursework and jamming to the latest K-pop song. Say hi to Am on Tumblr. 

Top photo credit: @scarlettjung12