Going Vegan Boosts Skin Health

by Stacy Matthews Branch

Health consciousness is steadily rising and more people are appreciating the role of diet in overall health and quality of life. Much of a person’s state of health is reflected in the appearance of the body’s important protective covering, the skin. Many are well aware of the importance of a balance of vitamins and minerals, but are not aware that the type of diet affects whether one can receive quality proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and more.

Plant-based diets provide many important elements that are necessary for ideal health, including skin health. Some of the health benefits of going vegan include a diet that is lower in saturated fat than a typical omnivorous diet. Unsaturated fats found in plant-based diets are skin friendly because they help prevent severe photoaging (1). Vegan diets also provide higher water intake that is absolutely essential for the health of all the body’s cells including the skin. Skin health also benefits from the abundant antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Going vegan is not the only benefit to healthy and radiant skin. Vegan skin care products are also valuable for magnificent skin health. This class of skin care products does not contain substances derived from animals including some gelatins, lanolin, and beeswax. Instead, vegan skin care products contain plant-based ingredients that are gentler to the skin and a better choice for those with allergies or sensitive skin.

In addition to personal skin health and cosmetic benefits, the use of these products helps to promote animal welfare and reduces or eliminates animal testing. Furthermore, since animal-based foods and products have a negative impact on the availability of water supplies, vegan skin care products are environment-friendly by promoting the conservation of water. To be sure that a vegan product has not been tested in animals, check the product packaging to see if it states that the ingredients have not been tested in animals or identify the international symbol commonly used to specify this (usually a drawing of a leaping bunny rabbit).

1. Latreille J, Kesse-Guyot E, Malvy D, et al. Dietary Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Intake and Risk of Skin Photoaging. Soyer HP, ed. PLoS ONE. 2012;7(9):e44490. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044490.