Although 2018 was a standout year for vegan beauty and fashion, 2019 already appears to be absolutely packed with amazing vegan trends and cruelty-free product reveals.
In 2018, beauty junkies got a taste of just how good zero-waste packaging could be thanks to companies like Lush. And although vegan fur was elevated to chic from cheap, designers and brands are committing to full vegan fur ranges, rather than releasing a jacket or hat here and there.
Read on to get a jump on the best vegan beauty and fashion trends to come.
The Top 10 Vegan Beauty Trends for 2019
1. Hottest New Ingredient: CBD-Infused Everything
In 2018, we saw brands like Milk Makeup introduce products, such as its vegan CBD-infused “Kush” mascara and brow gel. This product received its initial “buzz” because of its ingredients, which features hemp-derived CBD oil.
It appears that CBD oil products will only get more popular in 2019.
A recent industry press release reported that “the hemp-derived CBD category” earned “$190 million in sales in 2017” and “is poised to reach a $1.0 billion market in 2018 led by hemp-derived CBD, food, personal care, and industrial products.” The release also reported that the Hemp Business Journal estimated that “the U.S. hemp industry will grow to a $1.9B market by 2022.”
2. Hottest Trend: Major Companies Going Cruelty-Free
Vegan beauty enthusiasts lost their mind earlier this year when COVERGIRL announced it earned Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny Certification.
The Coty-owned beauty brand worked closely with CFI to ensure that all COVERGIRL products are cruelty-free. Coty also aims to move one of its other beauty brands to cruelty-free status by 2020. Coty owns Clairol, Rimmel, Max Factor, Philosophy, and more.
3. Hottest Vegan Ingredient: Vegetable-Infused Beauty Products
In 2019, more beauty lovers will begin to slather their bodies with vegetable-infused beauty products.
Vegan brands, such as Pacifica, already sell products that are rich in antioxidants and plant extracts. The company’s Kale Detox Deep Cleaning Face Wash gets its power from kale, seaweed, and blue seakale.
4. Hottest Category to Watch: Vegan Collagen
Conventional collagen, which is found in many traditional hair and skin products, is a protein that’s produced only by animals.
So, imagine vegans’ surprise – and joy – when Geltor unveiled N-Collage, the world’s first animal-free high-performance collagen for cosmetics. The company recently won the 2018 CEW Beauty Award’s “Innovation of the Year” award.
Geltor makes its product by programming microbes that then produce collagen. This collagen can then undergo a fermentation process to turn it into gelatin for food products or be left as-is. The product is said to provide an elastin-boosting effect and protect a person’s keratinocytes (cells in the outermost layer of the skin) from UVB rays with vegan, kosher, halal, and sustainable ingredients.
Can you imagine all the potential products we could see if vegan beauty brands could use this technology in the future? The possibilities are enticing…
5. Hottest Colors: Earthy, Natural Mineral-Based Powders and Foundations
Mineral foundations and powders were everywhere in 2018, so it’s only natural to assume we’ll continue to see these earthy beauty products on glowing faces come 2019.
Valana Minerals sells a luxury mineral powder foundation that’s vegan, and promises to leave skin looking natural. And Pacifica sells a shimmery mineral highlighter and mineral BB Cream.
6. Hottest Lip Trend: Cream Lipsticks
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The most dreamy-creamy swatches we’ve ever laid our eyes on! ? ? #UnicornLipsticks ? @theglamwoman
Creamy lipsticks are here to stay. Somewhere between matte and sheer, cream lipsticks can deliver a pop of bold color without the drying formula found in mattes.
Cruelty-free beauty brand Lime Crime offers a range of cream colors through its signature Unicorn Cream Lipstick and Matte Velveteen collections. Kat Von D Beauty offers the Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick a long-lasting lip color that comes in 40 shades.
7. Hottest Skin Care Trend: Natural Skin Care
As consumers grow aware of the toxic ingredients found in some beauty products, natural skin care is on the rise. Lush Cosmetics, a pioneer in the natural beauty space, relies almost entirely on natural ingredients and preservatives in its cleansers, moisturizers, and face masks. OSEA Malibu, a vegan and cruelty-free brand, is committed to using natural, organic ingredients in its products.
Natural skin care is also no longer just a luxury – even affordable online retailer Brandless offers a natural skin cleanser for the attractive price of $3.
8. Hottest Look: Big Brows Will Stay Big
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’90s brows, begone! The days of overplucking are (fingers crossed) a thing of the past and bushy brows are here to stay. Cosmetics companies are on top of brow grooming accessories, with pencils, pomades, gels, and powders to help enhance what nature (did or didn’t) give you.
The brow whizzes at Anastasia offer vegan versions of all of the above, but it’s not the only brand to embody the trend. Milk Makeup makes a CBD-infused brow gel and Kat Von D launched a vegan brow collection last March. PS, drugstore makeup brand Wet n Wild makes a vegan brow mascara that costs about $5.
9. Hottest Sustainability Trend: Plastic-Free Packaging
Though the trend is new, Lush has proven that package-free is possible – and popular. After the successful launch of its packageless vegan foundation, the company expanded its plastic-free range with highlighters and after that, lipstick.
Lush isn’t the only company that’s conscious about its packaging – cruelty-free and vegan organic beauty brand Antonym isn’t zero waste, but everything is packaged in sustainable bamboo.
10. More Than a Trend: Diversity
In the past and present, beauty companies have dropped the ball when it comes to offering foundation for darker skin tones. But over the past year several cosmetics companies, including Lush, COVERGIRL, ColourPop, and NYX launched foundation ranges that cater to people of color. We don’t want to see this go away ever, so that’s why it’s more than a trend – it’s the beginning of a more inclusive era of beauty.
Top 9 Vegan Fashion Trend Predictions
11. Hottest Fabric: Vegan Leather
Vegan leather is everywhere these days – and innovators are making it from just about anything. This year saw the rise of cruelty-free leather made from apples, pineapple, coconut water, mushrooms, and coffee, to name a few examples. Well-known labels like Hugo Boss and Adidas, which launched a vegan leather Stan Smith shoe with Stella McCartney, are embracing it. Vegan leather is so in, even Martha Stewart launched a line of affordable, cruelty-free shoes.
12. Hottest Fabric: Vegan Fur
When Kim Kardashian says that faux fur is her new thing, you know that the real thing is on its way out. It’s also been a big year for top label designers including Gucci, Michael Kors, Versace, Diane von Furstenberg, and DKNY.
Even Vogue gave faux an endorsement and there are now brands like NYC’s House of Fluff dedicated to cruelty-free alternatives to the real thing. Kylie and Kendall Jenner launched a faux fur jacket line at Macy’s and Stella McCartney’s cruelty-free fur coat was rocked in public by musician Dua Lipa.
Legislation is also helping to push fur out the door. The LA city council banned the sale of fur, making it the largest US city to do so. It joined San Francisco, Berkeley, and West Hollywood in implementing similar bans.
13. Hottest Fabric: Vegan Wool
Wool is considered by many to be less cruel than materials like fur and leather, but explosés have revealed that the industry is unkind to sheep.
Innovations in the fashion industry seek to provide a cruelty-free alternative. Students created Woocoa, a vegan wool made from hemp and coconut fibers. The contest was sponsored by vegan designer Stella McCartney, who highlighted the need for innovative vegan wool in the industry. NYC-based vegan menswear brand, Brave Gentleman, makes a luxe “future-wool” from recycled cotton and polyester.
14. Hottest Fabric: Feather-Free Down
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Who knew recycled plastic could look so cool? Tomorrow, ReNew is finally here. #ReNewToday
Down feathers are traditionally used as insulation for puffy winter jackets – but a number of brands have come up with cruelty-free, sustainable alternatives that make a bird’s heart sing. The North Face launched vegan versions of its popular ThermoBall coat, stuffed with down made from recycled plastic from Primaloft. EverLane’s vegan down jacket made from recycled water bottles had a 38,000-person waiting list upon its release and Canadian brand Quartz Co. launched puffy coats filled with milkweed instead of feathers.
15. Hottest Designer: Stella McCartney
Ethical vegan fashion designer Stella McCartney killed it this year. Not only has the British designer launched new collections, including faux fur and a children’s line, through her own brand, she’s also collaborated with top labels. This year, she made a vegan version Adidas’ classic Stan Smith and created a sustainable athletic wear collection. Celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Emma Thompson, Madonna, Karlie Kloss, and even Meghan Markle have rocked McCartney’s designs.
In addition to that, McCarney also launched a UN charter for sustainable fashion and spoke out about the leather industry.
16. Hottest Trend: Slow Fashion
Slow fashion brands is the polar opposite of fast fashion. Focused on bringing as many on-trend pieces to market as possible, fast fashion has been criticized for its cruelty to workers, its detrimentel effect on the planet, the poor quality of clothing, and for encouraging overconsumption. Slow fashion, is dedicated to responsible practices that benefit people and the planet by encouraging making mindful purchases.
Singapore-based slow fashion company Matter Prints is one of the brands looking to change the industry, as are Cuyana, Encircled, and Elizabeth Suzann.
17. Hottest Styles: Gender Neutral Clothing
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More brands are realizing that clothing does not actually have a gender, despite long being separated into “men’s” and “women’s” departments (hello, nonbinary and department? where are you?). This year, vegan celeb Miley Cyrus, who identifies as gender neutral, launched three collections with iconic shoe brand Converse, nothing that the clothing is for all genders.
Beyond that, sweatshop-free brand American Apparel has always been ahead of the curve with its unisex wardrobe staples, VEEA makes high-end menswear made to fit women, UK brand Gender Free World totes “clothing without labels,” and Austin, Texas’s FLAVNT makes gender-neutral streetwear.
18. Hottest Category: Eco-Friendly Shoes
Sustainability is the name of the game and top brands are on top of it. Adidas launched sneakers made from recycled ocean plastic, which the company estimates will rake in over $1 billion. Reebok released sustainable shoes made from corn and cotton – and while the original launch featured a leather tag, the company replaced it with canvas to make the sneakers vegan. Ballūta, a sustainable, vegan luxury shoe brand that launched last May, has already earned a strong fan following.
19. Hottest Category: Functional Bags
Shoes aren’t all that’s becoming more sustainable – bags are too. The rise in popularity of the zero waste lifestyle means that single-use plastic bags are out. Instead, we’ll see an increase in chic, sustainable reusable totes for all your grocery needs – and of course, classic canvas always looks good.
We’ll also see more functional, but stylish bags available, like Motile’s vegan leather bag collection that just launched in Walmart. The range, designed with commuters in mind, features handbags, wallets, gym bags, and backpacks that all come with wireless charging capabilities.
