Humectants are found in most beauty products, skin, nail, and hair care products nowadays. They’re pretty great at protecting and nourishing our skin – and, while there are perfectly good vegan skincare and beauty products out there, one question that remains for many of us is – are humectants completely vegan?
The answer’s a little bit tricky – it’s a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ situation. Below, we’ll take you through what exactly humectants are, how they work, what they’re made of, whether or not they are all vegan, and which ones are safe for vegans to use.
The straight answer: are humectants vegan?
Humectants can be both vegan and non-vegan depending on source. There are humectants derived from animal products, however some are completely plant-based.
There are also synthetic humectants that are man-made and, therefore, are technically vegan-friendly. Regardless, this all adds up to why it is so important to check the humectants in any product before trying them on your skin or hair!
What are humectants made of?
Simply put, humectants are products that attract water and bind it. Technically, humectants are hygroscopic substances that create hydrogen bonds with the molecules in water.
And, since humectants can gather various ingredients from different origins, they can either be animal product-based, plant-based, or even completely synthetic.
For example, animal-derived glycerin is a type of humectant. Lactoperoxidase, too, comes from animal milk.
On the other hand, sorbitol comes from potatoes, and is therefore a plant-based humectant. Tremella extract comes from mushrooms, and oats on their own are humectants, too!
As for man-made humectants, vegan hyaluronic acid is synthetic, as are glycerol and propylene glycol. You’ll also want to look out for sorbitol, urea and dicyanamide.
Which humectants are certified vegan?
Certifiably vegan humectants include the following:
- Propylene glycol
- Glycerol
- Tremella extract
- Butylene glycol
- Sorbitol
- Aloe vera
- Vegan hyaluronic acid
To be really sure your products are vegan-friendly, always look for vegan certifications. It’s not always easy to spot non-vegan humectants from ingredients lists on their own, so make sure to memorise a few before you go shopping.
Some are easier to remember than others – aloe vera, for example, is a plant and therefore easy enough to recall as a completely natural product. If all else fails, look for the vegan certification if you’re really not sure.
Remember, just because a product is cruelty-free or has a Leaping Bunny logo doesn’t always mean it’s safe for vegans to use.
What do humectants do?
The best thing that humectants do is retain water while preserving other chemical compounds and natural ingredients. That is why they are so popular in skincare and beauty products such as moisturisers, shampoos, body oils, and even certain makeup products.
What are some animal products typically used in humectants?
Just as there are plenty of vegan humectants, so too are there plenty of non-vegan options.
For example, there are some types of glycerin derived from animal fats – avoid at all costs.
Other animal-derived humectants are a bit easier to spot. For example, honey is commonly used in skincare and beauty products and should be fairly highly listed in product ingredients.
Consider keeping a watchful eye for ingredients such as lactoperoxidase, which, as its name suggests, derives from milk sources.
Both hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate, while highly useful and just as popular, aren’t always vegan-friendly. In some cases, these humectants derive from animal tissue!
How can I avoid non-vegan humectants?
You don’t have to stop using beauty products altogether – simply look for vegan certifications on the items you shop for, and/or try to shop for a brand that’s certifiably vegan across its entire range of products.
Makeup brands such as Emani, Au Naturale, Beauty Without Cruelty, and ELF, for example, are committed to cruelty-free, completely vegan produce.
What’s the difference between a humectant and a moisturiser?
While humectants and moisturisers are both used to nourish our skin in skincare products, they don’t do exactly the same thing.
Simply put, humectants are what trap and bind the water, i.e. the moisture, to our skin.
On the other hand, the moisturiser is there to create a sort of barrier between our skin and whatever surrounds us.
The barrier is there to ensure that as much moisture as possible is absorbed into our skin and not lost. In a way, it seals the hydration, ensuring that the humectants can get to work hydrating our skin!
Conclusion
Humectants have become absolute essentials in our daily skincare, and, for many of us, they are key elements in our daily routines.
However, if you are devoted to being a vegan, it is important to check all of the products you plan on using in case there are non-vegan humectants inside.
Remember, it’s one thing to purchase cruelty-free products, and another to purchase genuinely vegan items. Don’t try to confuse the two, and always try to choose items and brands dedicated to both causes!

I’m the founder and editor-in-chief at GetVedgy. As a former meat eater who only recently made a commitment to veganism, I’ve spent a lot of time over the last couple of years researching the subject. It felt like a good idea to share what I’ve learnt and help to answer the questions I’ve had that no doubt many others’ will also have.