World Vegan Month

As November rolls in, so does World Vegan Month—a time to reflect on how we can make more conscious choices, from the food we eat to the products we use daily. One often-overlooked area of sustainability is personal grooming, particularly wet shaving. 

Whether you're a long-time wet shaving enthusiast or just discovering the joys of a traditional shave, vegan shaving soap offers a host of benefits that make it a top-tier option for conscientious shavers. Here's why you should make the switch this November. 

Why go Vegan?

1. Kind to the Planet 

Vegan shaving soaps are typically crafted from plant-based ingredients, which means they sidestep the environmental impacts of animal farming. Animal agriculture is one of the largest contributors to deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing vegan soaps, you're supporting sustainable production processes that minimise harm to the environment. 

Many vegan shaving soaps also come in eco-friendly packaging, making them an all-around green choice for your wet shaving routine. 

2. Cruelty-Free Grooming 

For the ethical consumer, the assurance that no animals were harmed in the making of your grooming products is invaluable. Vegan shaving soaps are cruelty-free, meaning they don't involve animal testing or ingredients derived from animals, such as tallow (animal fat). In an age where more and more consumers are pushing for transparency and compassion in the products they buy, vegan shaving soaps align with a cruelty-free ethos, ensuring your shave is both smooth and morally sound.

3. Gentle on Sensitive Skin 

Many traditional shaving soaps contain animal-derived ingredients that can be harsh or irritating for sensitive skin. Vegan shaving soaps, by contrast, often rely on gentle, nourishing botanicals like coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera. 

These plant-based ingredients not only provide a rich, creamy lather but also hydrate and soothe the skin, reducing post-shave irritation. This makes vegan soaps an excellent choice for those prone to razor burn, dry skin, or allergic reactions to synthetic additives. 

4. Rich Lather Without Compromise 

One of the common misconceptions about vegan shaving soaps is that they don’t perform as well as traditional tallow-based alternatives. 

However, modern formulations have debunked this myth. The vegan shaving soaps of today produce a thick, luxurious lather that rivals, if not surpasses, non-vegan options. Ingredients like kokum butter, olive oil, and avocado oil help create a slick surface, allowing for a smoother glide of the razor, reducing nicks and cuts. 

5. Supporting a Growing Community 

By choosing vegan shaving soap, you're not just making a choice for your wet shaving routine—you’re becoming part of a global movement toward more ethical and sustainable living. Many artisans and small businesses are championing vegan products, crafting high-quality shaving soaps that support both the vegan community and traditional wet shaving. 

This November, World Vegan Month presents the perfect opportunity to explore the ever-growing world of vegan shaving soap and discover new favorite brands at retailers like Agent Shave. 

6. A Wide Variety of Scents and Formulations 

Vegan shaving soaps come in a wide array of scents and formulations, offering something for everyone. From refreshing citrus blends to earthy, woodsy fragrances, vegan soaps provide an equally enjoyable sensory experience without the need for animal-derived ingredients. There’s a vegan soap for every preference, ensuring that a cruelty-free shave doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury. 

Our pick of the best Vegan Shaving Soap & Creams 

Traditionally tallow (sodium tallowate) is used in shaving soaps, which is a by product of the meat industry. Many artisan brands in the wet shaving world have started to use a vegetable based form of stearic acid such as sustainably grown palm oil or cocoa butters to help create lather.

Rather than having to search ingredients listings, these are our top vegan shaving soaps and creams:

1. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements CK-6 Vegan Shaving Soap

With over 14 scents to choose from, there is bound to be a Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements CK-6 shaving soap for you! Produced in the USA, the CK-6 vegan formula shaving soap is made up of exotic butters, oils and waxes from around the world. Expect the slickest, thickest shaving soap formula with the ultimate post shave feel!

Not only do Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements produce vegan shaving soaps, they also have a range of vegan friendly shaving brushes too! 

2. Wickham Soap Co Vegan Shaving Soap

Artisan handmade in the UK, Wickham Soap Co shaving soap was developed due to the makers struggle with Psoriasis. The 1912 formula shaving soap was developed to be suitable for shavers with sensitive skin, paraben free, SLS free, lanolin free and vegan friendly.

Packed with conditioning oils, these sumptuous vegan shaving soaps produce a dense gloss lather and protective lubrication for your wet shave. 

3. Ariana & Evans VR1 Vegan Shaving Soap

Ariana and Evans are well known amongst the wet shavers for producing some of the best tallow shaving soaps in the world. Now, Ariana & Evans have a new VR1 vegan shaving soap base. Presenting a new standard in vegan shaving, the Ariana & Evans VR1 vegan shaving soap base produces a slick and ultimate density lather with impressive ingredients such as jojoba oil, rice milk and coconut milk.

4. Phoenix & Beau Vegan Shaving Soap

Phoenix & Beau vegan formula shaving soap is an opulent blend of skin loving oils, butters and vegetable stearic acid. Handmade with love in the UK, the sovereign range is fully vegan with 3 beautiful scents to choose from; Lavendula, Mentha and Wilderness. You won't want to miss these environmentally friendly shaving soaps that produce a wet shave with exceptional cushion and glide.

5. Zingari Man The Traditionalist Vegan Shaving Soap

Zingari Man The Traditionalist Vegan Shaving Soap has a classic sandalwood scent that is a firm favourite amongst wet shavers. Produced in the USA, The Traditionalist is the only vegan shaving soap available in the UK from Zingari Man. A vegan formula made with expertise and care, with your skin health as a main priority. 

6. The Goodfellas Smile AJ1 Vegan Shaving Soap

The Goodfellas Smile are an Italian wet shaving brand with a new vegetable formula shaving soap suitable for vegan wet shaving. The AJ-1 superformula is a high performing shaving soap produced by hot saponification. Based on 4 pure oils, argan oil, jojoba oil, pure coconut oil and pure sweet almond oil, the result is a shave with outstanding protection, hydration and smoothness. 

7. Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream

Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream is vegetable based and does not contain any animal products. The organic shaving cream is certified as 95% is made from natural raw materials, thus kind on the environment whilst still providing an outstanding shave. Ideal for sensitive skin, Taylor of Old Bond Street organic is also paraben free, fragrance free and preservative free.

This World Vegan Month, take the opportunity to upgrade your wet shaving routine with a vegan shaving soap. Whether you’re motivated by environmental concerns, ethical choices, or simply the desire for a superior shaving experience, these soaps offer a compelling option that fits seamlessly into the world of traditional wet shaving.