Sure you’ve heard of vegan food (tofu, tempeh, the like) … but vegan beauty? That’s right, it’s a category – and a growing one at that, as an increasing number of companies and consumers look for products that are free from any animal by-products. Whatever your reason (ethical, environmental, just trying it out), you can be sure that it’s still possible to look gorgeous when using the beauty equivalent of lentils and soy beans. Promise!

Skincare: Look no further than Australia’s own Aesop. Stars include the B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel ($110) for oily skins, and the Damascan Rose Facial Treatment ($72.50) for dry and stressed skins. Available from Adore Beauty. On more of a budget? Try the beautiful plant-based Botani skincare, which is another fabulous home-grown brand.

Haircare: Another local hero, De Lorenzo, also happens to be vegan-friendly – and beautiful to boot. Click here to read more and locate your nearest De Lorenzo stockist. Highly recommended: the new Prescriptive Solutions range, which contains certified organic and fair-traded ingredients, and is manufactured using recycled and rain-harvested water. Talk about good hair karma. Also check out the new-to-Oz Jonathan range, from LA-based stylist (and star of reality series, Blow Out), Jonathan Antin. Available from TVSN.

Bodycare: Seriously good-enough-to-eat is the 100% Pure range, also direct from Los Angeles. The all-natural body washes and creams will be available from Kit towards the end of 2008. Work up an appetite by visiting 100% Pure. In the meantime, Alchemy and A’Kin are worth getting close and personal with. For details, click here.

Makeup: Local mineral-based beauty brand Inika offers flawless face finishes and a rainbow of beautiful eye dusts. Click here for more info. While EcoTools, from Priceline, are all cruelty-free and up there with the best of brushes. Alicia Silverstone, herself a vegan, is one fan – she recently raved about them to Allure magazine, saying “these are absolutely the softest brushes in the world. The handles are made of bamboo and recycled materials and they don’t use animal hair.”

FYI: Silverstone has also appeared in campaigns for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), promoting the benefits of veganism: “I’ve been vegan for 10 years, and it’s the single-most important and helpful decision I have ever made. Physically, the effect has been amazing. Once I went vegan, I lost the weight I wanted to lose, my nails were stronger, and my skin was glowing. I feel great, and I look better now than I did 11 years ago.” If you are considering trying veganism out, make sure to see a nutritionist who can help put an eating plan together for you and make sure you will be getting good intake of the likes of iron, protein and essential fatty acids.