Vegan shower gel: ingredients, scents and what to look for when choosing
Shower gel that's vegan and smells good – that's what many people want for their daily shower and for sauna day. But what's actually behind the word "vegan" on the bottle? Is a vegan shower gel automatically natural cosmetics? And how do you find the scent that suits you? In this guide we honestly explain what makes a shower gel vegan, how to read the ingredients, and present the three scents of our VEGAN FOX shower gel with all declared fragrance substances and colourants.
Contents9
When is a shower gel vegan?
A shower gel is vegan if it contains no ingredients of animal origin. In shower gels and bath products these are, for example, honey, milk or whey components, lanolin (wool wax), keratin, silk proteins or the red colourant carmine (CI 75470), which is obtained from scale insects. Some ingredients such as glycerin can be of plant or animal origin – in that case you can only tell whether a product is vegan from the manufacturer's statement or a vegan label.
So that you can spot animal ingredients in the INCI list yourself, here are the common names:
- Mel: honey
- Lac, Lactis Proteinum: milk and milk protein
- Lanolin: wool wax from sheep's wool
- Cera Alba: beeswax
- Keratin, Collagen: proteins, often of animal origin
- Sericin, Silk: silk proteins
- CI 75470: carmine, red colourant from scale insects
- CI 75170: guanine, pearlescent pigment from fish scales
If none of these appear in the list, that's a good sign – but not a guarantee, because raw materials such as glycerin or fatty acids can also be of animal origin. The manufacturer's statement therefore remains decisive.
And animal testing? In the EU, cosmetic products whose ingredients were tested on animals for cosmetic purposes may not be sold since 2013. "Vegan", on the other hand, primarily describes the formulation. We've explained in detail what the various labels mean in our guide to vegan cosmetics (link below).
Vegan shower gel, natural cosmetics or conventional?
The terms are often confused. The table shows the differences:
| Term | What it tells you | What it doesn't tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan | no animal ingredients | whether the ingredients are natural or synthetic |
| Natural cosmetics (certified) | mainly natural raw materials according to the rules of the respective label | that the product is vegan – honey or beeswax are often allowed |
| Conventional | all ingredients approved in the EU are possible | whether animal components are included |
So a shower gel can be vegan and still have a classic formulation. That's exactly the case with ours: the VEGAN FOX shower gel is vegan, but not certified natural cosmetics. We'd rather say that openly than advertise with green buzzwords.
What's in our vegan shower gel
Our VEGAN FOX shower gel comes in 200 ml for €4.99. According to the product page, aloe vera, panthenol and betaine provide a pleasant skin feel while showering. The complete INCI lists are on the product page. Sorted by function, the formulation looks like this:
- Cleansing (surfactants): Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) as the main surfactant, plus the milder co-surfactants Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Cocamine Oxide. SLES foams well and is widely used in classic shower gels.
- Care: aloe vera extract, panthenol and betaine.
- Consistency and moisture retention: table salt (Sodium Chloride) as a thickener, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-7.
- Preservation: among others Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. In the EU this combination is only approved for rinse-off products such as shower gel. If you're allergic to isothiazolinones, you should choose a different product.
- Fragrance and colour: parfum, plus declared fragrance substances and colourants (CI numbers) depending on the variety.
Incidentally, the order in the INCI list follows the quantity, at least for shares above 1 %: what's at the front is contained in the largest amount. Water and surfactants make up the bulk, while aloe vera, panthenol and betaine round off the formulation. How to decode such lists yourself is shown in our guide to reading an INCI list.
The three scents compared
According to the product description, you choose between summery-sweet linden blossom, fresh grapefruit and fruity red grape. The table shows what the INCI lists reveal about fragrance substances and colourants:
| Scent | Character | Declared fragrance substances besides parfum | Colourants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden blossom | floral, summery-sweet | Hexyl Cinnamal, Geraniol | CI 19140 |
| Grapefruit | fresh, citrusy | Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Citral | CI 15985, CI 16255 |
| Red grape | fruity | none further declared | CI 14720, CI 19140, CI 16255, CI 28440, CI 42090 |
In the EU, the individually named fragrance substances must be listed in the INCI list above a certain amount because they can trigger allergies in sensitive people. If you know what you react to, you can choose the variety accordingly.
Which scent suits when?
- Grapefruit: for a fresh start in the morning, after sport or before the first sauna session.
- Linden blossom: for the evening and after the sauna, when you want to wind down.
- Red grape: for cosy autumn and winter days.
That's a matter of taste, of course. If you like, simply switch depending on your mood or the season. Our tip: if you're sensitive to citrus scents, the fragrance substances limonene and citral are the most important clue in the list – both only appear in grapefruit.
Choosing a vegan shower gel: your checklist
- Origin confirmed? Look for a clear manufacturer's statement or a vegan label.
- Allergies? Check the INCI list for fragrance substances and preservatives you react to.
- Skin feel: With very dry skin, better dose sparingly, shower briefly and lukewarm, and apply cream afterwards.
- Want natural cosmetics? Then also look for a natural cosmetics label – "vegan" alone says nothing about that.
- Scent: Better a scent you like every day than one that annoys you after three showers.
Use: in everyday life and on sauna day
According to the product page, you apply the shower gel to damp skin, massage it in gently, let it lather and rinse thoroughly – as needed, even daily. A small amount is enough. On sauna day, this order has proven itself:
- Before the first session: wash thoroughly with shower gel and dry off well.
- Between sessions: cool down with water only, without shower gel.
- After the last session: take a warm shower, then apply cream.
You can read more about showering properly around the sauna in our dedicated guide.
All three scents or as a gift
If you can't decide, you'll find all three shower gel scents together with facial, hand and foot care in the head-to-toe care set. A shower gel of your choice is also included in the Feierabend-Ritual set together with a bathrobe and hammam towel. You'll find all vegan care products in our care products.
Related reading: Vegan cosmetics: what "vegan" really means – and what it doesn't · Reading an INCI list: how to understand the ingredients in your cosmetics · Showering after the sauna (and before): how to do it right
Conclusion
A shower gel is vegan if it does without animal ingredients – that's all the word says. Whether it's natural cosmetics, or which fragrance substances and preservatives it contains, is only revealed by the INCI list. Our VEGAN FOX shower gel is vegan, classically formulated and available in three scents: grapefruit for a fresh start, linden blossom for winding down and red grape for cosy days. If you react to certain fragrance substances, choose the variety using the table.
Frequently asked questions
Is the VEGAN FOX shower gel vegan?
Yes, it's vegan, i.e. without animal ingredients. It's not certified natural cosmetics.
Is vegan shower gel better for the skin?
Not automatically. "Vegan" describes the origin of the ingredients, not skin compatibility. What matters is the formulation, the dosage and your personal tolerance.
Which scent contains the fewest declared fragrance substances?
For red grape, no individual fragrance substances are declared besides parfum; for linden blossom two, for grapefruit five.
Is SLES in shower gel a concern?
Sodium Laureth Sulfate is one of the most commonly used surfactants in shower gels and shampoos and is approved in cosmetics. It cleanses thoroughly and foams well. People with very dry or sensitive skin sometimes find milder surfactant systems more pleasant – it helps to dose sparingly, not shower too hot and apply cream afterwards.
Can I use the shower gel every day?
According to the product page, yes, as needed, even daily. A small amount is enough.
How do I recognise a vegan shower gel?
By a clear manufacturer's statement or a vegan label. In the INCI list you can also look for typical animal substances such as honey, lanolin or carmine.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.