Switching to a vegan diet is one thing. Switching your bathroom cabinet is another. Many popular UK shampoos, conditioners, and hair treatments contain animal-derived ingredients that aren't immediately obvious from the label. Here's what to look for and which brands you can trust.
We're currently building cosmetics and toiletry scanning into Is It Vegan so you'll soon be able to scan your shampoo barcode and get an instant verdict, just like food products. Watch this space.
These are the ones that catch people out most often. If you've read our guide to hidden animal ingredients in food, you'll recognise the pattern: familiar-sounding names hiding animal origins.
Keratin — the most common offender. Used in strengthening and smoothing treatments, keratin is typically derived from animal hooves, horns, feathers, or hair. Some brands now use plant-based or synthetic keratin, but unless it specifically says "vegan keratin" or "phytokeratin", assume it's animal-derived.
Lanolin — a waxy substance from sheep's wool, used as a moisturiser in conditioners and hair masks. Sometimes listed as "wool wax" or "wool grease". Common in products marketed for dry or damaged hair.
Honey and beeswax — found in a surprising number of shampoos and conditioners, particularly those marketed as "natural" or "nourishing". Royal jelly is another bee product that appears in premium haircare.
Collagen — usually derived from animal bones, skin, or fish scales. Used in volumising and strengthening products. Plant-based collagen alternatives exist but the label needs to say so explicitly.
Glycerin — this one is tricky. Glycerin can be plant or animal derived, and most labels don't specify. In UK haircare, it's more often plant-based, but there's no way to be certain without checking with the manufacturer.
Silk proteins / silk amino acids — derived from silkworms. Used in smoothing and shine products. Sometimes listed as "sericin" or "hydrolysed silk".
Stearic acid — can be from animal fat or plant sources. Like glycerin, the label rarely tells you which.
| Brand / Range | Vegan? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco Free From | Yes | Clearly labelled vegan range |
| Sainsbury's Kind To | Yes | Vegan Society certified |
| Superdrug own brand | Most | Superdrug's own ranges are mostly vegan and cruelty-free |
| Aldi Lacura | Some | Check individual products, not all are vegan |
| Lidl Cien | Some | Some contain honey or lanolin |
| Boots Essentials | Varies | Check the label, no blanket vegan policy |
These brands are fully vegan across their entire range, widely available in UK shops or online:
Faith In Nature — one of the UK's oldest natural beauty brands. Entire range is vegan and certified by the Vegan Society. Available in most supermarkets and health stores. Affordable and refillable.
Garnier Ultimate Blends — Garnier has been Cruelty Free International approved since 2023 and many Ultimate Blends products are vegan. Check for the green "vegan formula" label on pack.
The Body Shop — long-standing commitment to cruelty-free products. Most haircare is vegan, clearly labelled on pack and online.
Superdrug's own ranges — the entire Superdrug own-brand lineup is Leaping Bunny certified. Most products are vegan and clearly marked.
Kind Natured — available in Boots and Superdrug. Affordable, vegan, and clearly labelled.
No. Cruelty-free means the product wasn't tested on animals, but it can still contain animal-derived ingredients like honey, lanolin, or keratin. A shampoo can be cruelty-free but not vegan. Look for both the Leaping Bunny logo (cruelty-free) and the Vegan Society sunflower (vegan) for full peace of mind.
We're building cosmetics scanning into Is It Vegan. Soon you'll be able to scan any toiletry barcode and check instantly.
Try the food scanner now →When you're standing in the aisle, look for these in order:
1. Vegan Society sunflower logo — if it's there, you're done. No further checking needed.
2. "Vegan" or "vegan formula" on the front of pack — most brands now highlight this if applicable.
3. Scan the ingredients — if neither logo is present, check for keratin, lanolin, honey, beeswax, collagen, silk. If none of these appear, it's likely vegan but not guaranteed.
The same principles apply to conditioner, body wash, soap, and other toiletries. Our guide to vegan soap and body wash covers those in detail.
Is It Vegan is built and maintained by one person with no financial backing. If you find it useful, a small contribution helps keep it running.
☕ Buy me a coffee