AI is Shaping the Vegan Cosmetics Market

The global vegan cosmetics market is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by a new wave of conscious consumers who demand beauty products that are not only effective, but also ethical, sustainable, and cruelty-free. This movement is more than just a passing trend; it's a fundamental shift in values that is reshaping the industry. With the market projected to nearly double from an impressive USD 18.36 Billion in 2024 to USD 35.50 Billion by 2033, the vegan cosmetics market forecast is poised for a significant transformation. At the heart of this evolution is artificial intelligence (AI), a powerful technological tool that creatively builds a smarter, more transparent, and personalized beauty experience. By enabling precise ingredient analysis, facilitating hyper-personalized product recommendations, and streamlining supply chains, AI is helping brands meet the rising demand for products that resonate with modern values of integrity and environmental stewardship.

Beauty's New Blueprint: AI and Ethics Redefining Vegan Cosmetics

• When Ethics Become the New Aesthetic: People are progressively looking for beauty items that do not involve animal testing or contain animal-derived ingredients, motivated by ethical beliefs and environmental issues. The increasing demand is fostering the expansion of high-end vegan brands that meet ethical criteria while attracting fashion-forward, quality-driven, and globally conscious individuals. In 2025, Hyue was launched as a premium, vegan, and cruelty-free color cosmetics brand. The brand focuses on world-class formulations tailored keeping in mind the lifestyle and preferences of globally aware, fashion-forward Indians.
• Clean and Green, In Demand: Increasing awareness about health and environmental effects is encouraging individuals to select beauty products that are devoid of harmful chemicals and focused on sustainability. In response to this trend, Givaudan Active Beauty unveiled the [N.A.S.] Vibrant Collection in 2024, comprising five vegan botanical powder extracts for hybrid makeup that merge skincare advantages with enduring color, antioxidant defense, and environment-friendly design. This innovation addresses environment-conscious people looking for effective, ethical, and eco-friendly options that do not sacrifice performance or quality.
• Vegan Vogue, Celebrities Leading the Charge: Celebrity and influencer endorsements are significantly boosting the visibility of vegan beauty brands, fostering trust and sparking user interest by aligning with shared values. This wave of advocacy is cultivating a highly receptive market for new celebrity-led vegan beauty ventures, appealing to ethically conscious, style-oriented individuals. In 2025, SZA introduced NOT BEAUTY, a cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan brand, debuting with a lip collection of three signature shades designed to deliver long-lasting, natural results while addressing unmet needs in underrepresented segments of the beauty market.
• Machine Learning Your Best Look: AI-driven skin analysis tools are transforming product customization by evaluating personal skin conditions with remarkable precision and facilitating virtual try-ons for an authentic preview of outcomes. These technologies boost user trust, minimize returns, and deliver more personalized beauty experiences. In 2025, the American Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing Practice released a study by Nguyen and Akter that presented an AI-based skincare system utilizing sophisticated ML models like CNN, VGGNet, and DenseNet. Reaching an accuracy of up to 98% in examining skin images, the system provides accurate cosmetic suggestions, demonstrating AI's capability to revolutionize skincare personalization and enhance client satisfaction in the beauty sector.

Beyond Borders: The Ethical Beauty Wave Across Regions

Leading with Compassion: Europe’s Cruelty-Free Commitment

Europe vegan cosmetics market share stands at 38.6% because of its stringent animal testing regulations and a user group that values ethical, cruelty-free items. The continent’s strict prohibitions on animal testing are encouraging advancements in plant-derived and eco-friendly beauty alternatives, while the rising need for ethical products reshapes the area’s market trends, cultivating a robust, mindful using culture. In line with this trend, in 2025, the European Commission announced its plan to finalize the “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics” roadmap by early 2026, aiming to phase out animal testing in cosmetics and chemical safety assessments. The roadmap will integrate New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) across 15 legislative areas. Such initiative reflects the growing regulatory and public pressure to ensure cruelty-free testing while maintaining safety standards.

Clicks, Carts, and Customization: North America’s Digital Beauty Surge

The vegan cosmetics market growth in North America is supported by the emergence of online beauty platforms and AI-enhanced shopping resources. These technological improvements facilitate customized shopping experiences, helping people effortlessly find vegan products suited as per their preferences. The ease of online shopping along with cutting-edge technology is driving the area's embrace of cruelty-free cosmetic products. This shift is also creating new opportunities for international brands, like the Korean vegan skincare brand ASNO. In 2024, ASNO, known for eco-friendly, cruelty-free products like the ‘Rescue Squad’ sheet mask and sensitive skin care line, officially launched in the US via Amazon, expanding its global presence.

Roots of Change: Vegan Living Takes Hold in Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific area is evolving into a growing market for vegan cosmetics, propelled by the rising embrace of vegan lifestyles. With the increasing user awareness regarding animal welfare and sustainability, a growing number of individuals in the area are opting for cruelty-free and plant-based beauty items. This transition is driving expansion in the market, as the need for ethical and environment-friendly beauty products is consistently rising. This growing demand is creating a favorable environment for international brands like Be-Presence Inc.'s vegan cosmetics brand, Be-Hope, to enter India and Southeast Asia with support from the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) in 2024. The brand used patented ingredients and data-driven marketing to promote its eco-friendly products.

The Smart Side of Clean Beauty:

• Smart Picks, Beautiful Results

AI-driven recommendation systems analyze purchase history, browsing habits, and user preferences to propose the most suitable vegan cosmetics. This focused strategy boosts satisfaction through tailored options, heightens engagement, and raises conversion rates, providing a highly efficient shopping experience for ethically minded individuals looking for cruelty-free, sustainable beauty items that match their personal preferences and principles.

• Tech That Tells the Whole Story

Ingredient analysis powered by AI guarantees that cosmetic formulations comply with vegan and cruelty-free standards. It identifies concealed animal-based components, validates sourcing assertions, and ensures label precision. This technology enables brands to uphold ethical standards, adhere to regulatory requirements, and foster user trust. By providing transparency and honesty, it caters to the growing need for responsible beauty items, bolstering brand trustworthiness and enhancing connections with ethically aware individuals looking for clean and sustainable cosmetics.

• From Click to Perfect Pick

AI combined with AR is transforming vegan beauty retail by allowing shoppers to instantly experience products with realistic color and texture simulations. These technologies support informed purchasing, reduce returns, and create a more engaging, tailored shopping journey. This push for personalized, technology-driven shopping experiences is exemplified by the emergence of new AI tools designed to make online beauty retail more engaging. For instance, in 2025, Haut.AI introduced SkinGPT, a generative AI platform offering personalized virtual skincare try-ons for beauty brands. Alongside, the interactive “Generative Skin” website enables users to upload photos and visualize ingredient effects on their skin. These advancements make personalized skincare more accessible, interactive, and educational for global users.

• Biodegradable Packaging Gets a Smart Upgrade

Advances in packaging technology integrate biodegradable materials and smart labels with scannable data. This approach supports sustainability goals, enhances traceability, and provides users with instant product information, reinforcing brand credibility and environmental responsibility. This commitment to innovative, eco-conscious packaging is exemplified by brands introducing sustainable materials and responsible sourcing practices, as seen by the launch of the Vibes Eau de Parfum Collection, by Adidas in 2024, which featured six unisex, mood-boosting scents in sustainable packaging with 100% FSC paper boxes and 25% recycled glass bottles. Each fragrance used a vegan formula with up to 25% upcycled ethanol sourced from carbon emissions.
 

Unpacking the Market’s Makeup:

• Exploring the Range: Product Type Insights

Skin care dominates the market with 37.6%, driven by a significant user inclination towards natural, non-toxic products. Its prevalence highlights a growing consciousness regarding ingredient safety, dedication to ethical manufacturing, and ongoing demand for products that advocate healthy, eco-friendly beauty practices.

• Digital to Doorstep: Distribution Channel Powering the Beauty Boom

Specialty stores represent the largest segment, accounting 39.5%, supported by their capacity to provide carefully selected, premium product selections. Their concentrated retail atmosphere encourages knowledgeable buying, boosts user confidence, and reinforces brand allegiance through committed service and a focus on ethical, high-quality beauty products.

Botanicals, Breakthroughs & Beauty: What’s Blooming in Vegan Cosmetics

• Leading brands are launching AI-driven personalized skincare products that employ sophisticated algorithms to evaluate unique skin profiles and suggest customized solutions. These advancements merge data-informed analysis with superior formulations, improving product efficacy and individual contentment. Incorporating AI in product development allows brands to enhance market distinction, foster stronger buyer loyalty, and respond to the increasing desire for personalized, technology-driven beauty experiences. Moreover, the growing use of AI in personalized beauty, which aligns with innovations in sustainable ingredient development, is highlighting how technology is reshaping product creation while addressing ethical, environmental, and performance demands in the vegan cosmetics market. In 2025, biotech startup Geltor secured new funding to expand its AI-designed, animal-free collagen and bioactive proteins globally. The company uses precision fermentation to create sustainable peptides for beauty and wellness markets, aiming to replace animal-based collagen. Geltor’s innovations address environmental concerns.
   
• Strategic partnerships between AI startups and beauty brands are facilitating the development of highly personalized tech solutions. These collaborations combine advanced analytics, machine learning (ML), and automation to provide tailored beauty experiences, improve operational efficiency, and reinforce competitive edge. Through the fusion of creativity and industry knowledge, they can create formulations that combine high performance with ethical integrity, meeting user demand for innovative, sustainable, and cruelty-free beauty solutions. For example, in 2025, IBM and L’Oréal revealed a collaboration to create a custom AI model that accelerates sustainable cosmetic formulation by reducing energy and material waste. This AI-driven initiative aims to help L’Oréal meet its 2030 sustainability goals by optimizing product development with bio-sourced materials and circular economy principles. The partnership combines IBM’s AI expertise with L’Oréal’s cosmetic science to innovate eco-friendly and personalized beauty products.

Beauty Titans: How Key Players Are Shaping the Eco-Conscious Cosmetics Era

Major participants in the vegan cosmetics industry are concentrating on product development, eco-friendliness, and broadening their user base. They are progressively utilizing plant-derived components, guaranteeing that their products are free from animal testing, and incorporating sustainable packaging options. Many companies are allocating funds to research activities to create innovative formulations that meet individual preferences for clean beauty and ethical manufacturing. For example, in 2025, Brenntag Specialties announced a partnership with biotech company Cambrium to introduce NovaColl, a 100% vegan, skin-identical collagen produced via AI-driven precision fermentation. The ingredient will be launched in the UK, Ireland, Iberia, France, and Italy. NovaColl offers sustainable, high-performance skincare benefits and will be showcased at Cosmet'Agora in Paris. Apart from this, leading companies are adopting digital platforms to connect with a wider audience, providing tailored beauty solutions. Strategic partnerships, certifications, and transparency in sourcing and manufacturing are becoming common practices to build trust and loyalty among individuals, positioning brands to lead in an increasingly competitive and eco-conscious market.

How IMARC Group Drives Innovation in the Vegan Cosmetics Market:

IMARC Group helps stakeholders in the vegan cosmetics market navigate growth by providing strategic insights to identify opportunities, reduce risks, and foster innovation:

• Market Insights: We track key trends like the rise of cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients, clean beauty, and eco-friendly packaging, driving change in the industry.
• Strategic Forecasting: We focus on future trends, including eco-conscious manufacturing, digital retail integration, and the growing demand for personalized beauty solutions.
• Competitive Intelligence: We monitor innovations in vegan formulations, sustainable packaging, and production technologies, enhancing product appeal and competitiveness.
• Policy and Regulatory Analysis: We evaluate the impact of global regulations, ingredient restrictions, and ethical sourcing laws on production and market access.
• Tailored Consulting Solutions: Our strategies align with your goals, helping tackle challenges in sourcing, market trends, and expanding your market presence.