Vegan Skincare Superfoods You Should Know About Before They’re Everywhere

These 4 ingredients are still flying under the radar, so you may not even realize you can find them in skincare. But take note and give them a try; not only are they all 100% vegan, but they also pack a mighty punch when it comes to potency and effectiveness. 

Over the last few months, I’ve shared posts about the benefits of collagen (both marine and bovine) for your skin, hair and nails, and another on detailing some of the foods you should eat every day for your most beautiful self. And while you, dear readers, seemed to like all of the pieces, I realized that in my haste to share this knowledge with you, I wasn’t doing my duty to the vegan ladies out there.

As an omnivore, it’s easy to forget that there are a lot of people out there who choose not to consume or use animal products in any way. And self-care is a particular minefield for vegans, with no-no ingredients hiding behind tricky names or companies not labeling their products clearly. But you know what? Vegans deserve to show their skin equal love and attention and as such, deserve their very own rundown of vegan skincare superfoods. This is only a small sampling, but it’s a mighty one: the ingredients below are still flying under that radar, so you may not even realize you can find them in skincare. But take note and give them a try; not only are they all 100% vegan, but they also pack a mighty punch when it comes to potency and effectiveness. 

Broccoli Seed Oil

You already know that eating broccoli is great for your health, so it should come as no surprise that broccoli seed oil is as good for your outside as its big sister is for your inside. Made from broccoli sprouts, broccoli seed oil is about to be everywhere in the skincare world for so many reasons, not least of which is the fact that it is a perfect natural dupe for silicone-based ingredients, minus the harmful health effects.

Despite its impressive fatty acid content (omega-3, -6, and -9), it’s incredibly moisturizing without being greasy, absorbing into skin quickly. It’s also antiinflammatory, protects against UV damage, and contains vitamins A and C, meaning it can work as an all-natural, non-prescription alternative to retinol.

Barley

Remember that collagen I mentioned before that wasn’t vegan-friendly? Well, here’s your plant-based alternative. While barley won’t replace collagen, it does supply amino acids that help stimulate natural collagen production in the skin.

It’s also full of zinc, an essential trace element that helps heal skin and repair wounds for when you just can’t stop yourself from picking, and selenium, which aids in maintaining skin elasticity.

Avocado Oil

You’re already loading up your toast with it, so it’s time to add avocado oil to your skincare routine, too. (And no, this won’t require you diving head-first into a salad.) Much like some of the other well-known face oils, avocado oil is high in antioxidants like vitamin E (free radical-blocking) and fatty acids (skin-plumping).

But what sets avocado oil apart is two-fold. First, there’s sterolin, a natural steroid that boosts collagen production, treats discoloration, and seriously softens skin without any of the negative effects associated with pharmaceutical steroids. Second, avocado oil contains an abundance of lecithin, a lipid that delivers nutrients directly to the bloodstream, meaning whatever you put on your face along with avocado oil will penetrate even deeper into your skin.

I’m calling it now: avocado oil is the next coconut oil. 

Noni Fruit

With over 100 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, I truly don’t know why everyone isn’t slathering themselves head to toe in noni fruit oil already. The fruit of the Morinda citrifolia, a Southeast Asian tree that grows where lava flows, noni fruit has been used as a natural remedy for over 3,000 years, probably because it leaves skin looking so dang good.

It has analgesic (pain reducing), antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s packed with the essential fatty acids that are the building blocks of the fats and oils skin needs to stay healthy, hydrated and plump. You can almost see your skin changing as soon as you use it.