15 Cruelty-Free Gifts For A Very Vegan Holiday Season
Looking to spread a little more compassion and kindness this gifting season?
Say goodbye to ho-ho-ho-hum presents like lotions made with lanolin and join us on the nice list by giving 100% cruelty-free gifts.
But first, what does 100% cruelty-free mean?
While there’s an ethical gap in between technical definitions of vegan and cruelty-free, we define it as products that satisfy both. In other words, they’re not tested on animals AND don’t contain any animal byproducts.
From stocking stuffers that sleigh the competition to full-size plant-based presents, we’ve gone far beyond zero waste gift wrapping to bring you the ultimate round-up of thoughtful and guilt-free goodies that never passed through animal testing labs.
Don’t forget to take a (gift) bow down to the bottom of the article for tips on how to look for Christmas gifts for vegans—or any occasion!
Everything we recommend to you on Sustainable Jungle is independently researched and we ask all brands to confirm their claims. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here.
The Full List Of Vegan & Cruelty-Free Gifts For Him & Her
- Candles | Visit Store
- Perfume | Visit Store
- Cosmetics | Visit Store
- Personal Care | Visit Store
- Fashion | Visit Store
- Watches | Visit Store
- Handbag or Wallet | Visit Store
- Kicks | Visit Store
- Vitamins & Supplements | Visit Store
- Slippers | Visit Store
- Comforter | Visit Store
- Gift Basket | Visit Store
- Food Gifts For Vegans | Visit Store
- Gift Cards | Visit Store
- Unique Vegan Gifts | Visit Store
1. Candles
Price Range: $24–$42
Between baked pies, warm apple cider, and roasting Tofurkey, the holiday season is pretty scent-sational.
Add a self care-supporting vegan candle to the mix and you’ve got one of the most affordable cruelty-free gifts to give.
Whether it’s for your sister, brother, mailman, or neighbor, P.F. Candle Co is redefining luxury-level scents through 100% domestically-sourced vegan soy wax.
Plus, the gorgeous amber apothecary jars will never contain ugly ingredients like lead, parabens, or phthalates, thanks to a clean-burning cotton wick and all natural oils that create fragrances like the delightfully earthy Teakwood & Tobacco.
For another winning fragrance + flicker combo, you can turn to Paddywax and their soy wax Jasmine + Bamboo Candle—just one of the scents that come in a reusable, dishwasher, microwave, and food safe jar.
Perfect as a vegan gift for a green thumb, scents like Ocean Rose + Bay come in a ceramic vessel with a lid and hole at the bottom that transform it into the perfect planter.
2. Perfume
Price Range: $29–$110
While we’re on the topic of self care and aromatherapy, a non-toxic perfume is a romantic gesture that is hard to equal.
With cruelty-free gifts for her, him, or them, Clean Reserve’s perfumes are sure to be a holiday hit.
The brand’s limited edition Clean Reserve Travel Set features 4 travel-size roll-on perfumes to suit every scent fancy: Radiant Nectar; Skin; Rain; and Sparkling Sugar
The 7 Virtues’ Lotus Pear Eau de Parfum is vegan, cruelty-free, fruity, and flirty.
Plus, each whiff of The 7 Virtues’ luxury vegan gifts will provide a reminder of global giving, as a portion of every sale of this fragrance supports Days For Girls, an international organization ensuring menstrual equity, dignity, and health.
3. Cosmetics
Price Range: $18–$67
Animal-friendly cosmetics are purrfect as ethical stocking stuffers or cruelty-free birthday gifts—just to be sure to include a vegan makeup brush if they don’t have one.
If you want to make(up) someone’s holiday, you can’t go wrong with Flavedo & Albedo’s Velvet Eyeshadow Trio.
Not only is it cruelty-free, but the eyeshadow palettes come in infinitely recyclable or reusable aluminum tins. All but the ‘Sky’ shade are vegan, as this one contains animal-derived Carmine (CI 75470).
Your loved one would also be elated to receive something from Elate Cosmetics. Everything they sell is cruelty-free and vegan—and comes consciously packaged.
Made of sustainably forested Californian cedarwood, the Long-Wearing Lip Crayon moisturizes as it works as a lip liner, pencil, crayon, and color for cheeks.
4. Personal Care
Price Range: $4–$85
Applied every morning or night (or both), sustainable skincare products can be the vegan gifts for her (or him, for that matter) that keep on giving.
And we’ve got a few brands to recommend for a clean conscience.
Their wildlife-inspired name’s a giveaway: everything from Meow Meow Tweet is vegan and Leaping Bunny certified.
It’s the pits when someone receives a gift they won’t use—which is why we’d recommend the brand’s refillable Grapefruit Baking Soda Free Deodorant Cream—which is suitable for all skin!
It’s made with recognizable ingredients, like fair trade coconut oil, and is backed by a brand that’s a Certified B Corp, Plastic Negative, and Climate Neutral
If unique cruelty-free gifts like deodorant are too unique, Shine Skincare Co. will keep your giftee’s utterly glowing without any of the guilt associated with most conventional beauty products.
They have a huge range of toners, serums, and moisturizers to choose from, but we personally love the Shimmer Spray Toner, which does double duty hydrating the skin with vegetable glycerin and aloe vera and adding an all-day shimmer thanks to mineral mica.
They also have cruelty-free gift sets, like the Dewy Skin Care Set complete with a vegan squalene packed Skin Recovery Essence, Radiance Serum, and lightweight Soothe + Hydrate Serum.
5. Cruelty-Free Fashion
Price Range: $28–$165
There are few more quintessential vegan holiday gifts than a pair of comfy sustainable pajamas—and Boody can deliver.
A new nightgown or PJ set can help provide one of the best gifts for vegans (okay, anyone) around: some well-deserved zzzs.
If instead you’re looking for a perfect gift for families with a budding environmentalist, 100% vegan brand tentree has matching sets for men, women, and kids.
Super soft and sustainable, most of the hoodies, t-shirts, and organic sweatpants are made with TENCEL™ lyocell or organic cotton.
What better accompaniment to the scent of fresh pine than knowing your vegan-friendly gifts also plant ten trees each?
Or go with a brand that has a little bit of everything, from lounge worthy duds to activewear.
And you’ll find a friend to animals and comfort in Girlfriend Collective and their range of recycled polyester athleisure garb.
Pieces like the Moss ReSet Hoodie not only look super cute thanks to a cropped, flowy cut, but the brushed microfiber lining is as comfortable as cashmere—except, you know, way more ethical.
6.Watches
Price Range: $127–$299
We think it’s time everyone should start considering cruelty-free gift ideas for a vegan (or not!).
And who better to help with that than sustainable watch brands giving you a (minute) hand with some of the best cruelty-free gifts for him and her.
One of our favorites is TRIWA.
Made of materials like recycled ocean plastic and recycled illegal firearms collected from areas of conflict, styles like the Black Solar Recycled prove you don’t need leather to look classy and timeless.
TIVC, or Time IV Change, is a mecca for classy timepieces to impress the best.
The Unisex Silver Piñatex Band watch is made with a stainless steel face and Piñatex recycled pineapple leaves, one of the most tropical vegan fabrics.
7. Handbag Or Wallet
Price Range: $36–$249
As stocking stuffers or under-the-tree surprises, a sustainable wallet or bag is a daily essential that would make for perfect cruelty-free Christmas gifts.
Portland, Oregon based Carry Courage makes use of PETA-approved cork fabric and a linen lining in products like the ADVOCATE Zippered Tote, a spacious catch-all for all your daily essentials and shopper needs.
For gifts so good they could’ve come from a fairy, completely vegan and PETA-approved Pixie Mood has a whole magical line of sustainable gifts for her—most of which are made with high-quality recycled vegan leather and a recycled bottle lining.
The Jane 2-in-1 Crossbody purse and wallet combo is one of the coolest vegan handbags we’ve ever had the delight to own.
Featuring a clever combination of magnets and clasps, its zippered clutch wallet can either go with the handbag or be detached and toted away separately.
*Use code PIXIEGIFT20 for 20% off
8. Cruelty-Free Kicks
Price Range: $66–$345
Does your love love shoes?
How about unwrapping and lacing up with a new pair from vegan shoe brands.
If salt and snow have proven a worthy match for your mom’s/sister’s/wife’s current footwear, give them an upgraded pair of cruelty-free Rally Combat Boots from Bhava.
The luxury brand uses vegan leather that is free of formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, azo-dyes, aromatic amines, and chrome—and it’s what you’ll find in their Rally Combat Hiker Boots.
With conscious Converse look-alikes, NAE has unisex Redo PET Black Vegan Mid-Top Vulcanized Sneakers that pair the recycled plastic with a 100% organic cotton lining and organic rubber sole.
They’re trendy, easy to clean, and a perfect gift for animal lovers.
For the best vegan gifts for him, Saola ticks all the boxes with their vegan Wanaka Waterproof Sneaker.
Not only can they handle anything the outdoors throws at them, but they’re saving the great outdoors, too!
Each pair features vegan leather made of three recycled plastic bottles, alongside natural cork, organic cotton, and harvested algae that rids the environment of toxins.
9. Vitamins & Supplements
Price Range: $18–$125
In anticipation of New Year’s resolutions, you can jumpstart someone’s health kick with vegan vitamins.
Plant People can help your vegan gift recipient ward off seasonal colds and the flu with their plant based Advanced Immune Power Adaptogenic Immune Complex.
It blends certified organic functional mushrooms with vitamin C and immune-supporting herbs (read: no animal-derived ingredients).
With a name like Dr. Vegan, we couldn’t not include this UK brand as a go-to for animal-friendly and zero waste vitamins.
Perfect support for the post-holiday slump, the Vegan Essentials Bundle combines a stress-relieving Vitamin B12 with Omega 3s to sustain energy with a boost to the eyes, heart, and brain.
10. Slippers
Price Range: $48–$140
Sustainable slippers are often made with wool, but we’ve found some gift-worthy brands that are trading “baa baa” for “naa naa” by leaving animals out of these gift ideas for a vegan.
Dooeys isn’t sheepish about their leather and wool alternatives, which include a cork insole, sugarcane sole, recycled plastic lining, and vegan apple leather.
Perfect to pair with PJs or business casual attire, their carbon-neutral House Mules are our personal favorite all-occasion house shoes.
Hemp and cotton specialists, Rawganique makes all sorts of eco-alternatives for the home, including eco-cozy slippers out of the most natural plants around.
We particularly like their unisex TOKYO Organic Cotton House Slippers and OREGON Unisex Organic Hemp Clog Sandals, which are both on-point for indoor and outdoors use.
11. Cruelty-Free & Cozy Blankets
Price Range: $128–$495
Cruelty-free gift ideas for new homeowners don’t get much better than this. Certified B Corp Newly sells blankets made with 100% recycled materials.
Like everything in their blanket range, the black and white Circo Massimo Throw Blanket is made in a chemical-free process using a 100% recycled blend of cotton, acrylic, and 12 plastic water bottles!
If you’re spending the holidays apart, you can send a loved one a comforting hug via a weighted blanket from Let’s Cuddle made from recycled and 100% vegan materials.
When they wrap up in the Cotton Napper, your sweetie will nap peacefully knowing that non-toxic OEKO-TEX and Fairtrade certified organic cotton is lulling them to sleep.
Similarly, animal-free GOTS certified organic cotton is the only material in Saatva’s Waffle Knit Blanket.
Hint from personal experience: This last one is the perfect vegan Christmas gift for them to curl up in after a big holiday meal and one glass too many of vegan eggnog.
12. Vegan Gift Baskets
Price Range: $35–$150
Helping you out with the best vegan, cruelty-free gifts when the holiday season has you feeling a little clueless, an animal-loving vegan gift basket is just the trick.
Those from Etsy-based Pop-Up Poetry Shop come in a few different options and feature sustainable, eco-friendly, plastic free products, like soap, bath bombs, teas, and jokes or poems.
The affordably priced hampers are packaged in eco materials like washi tape and recyclable cardboard.
With zero waste kits for animal lovers, Santa (err.. EarthHero) can surprise and impress your loved one—especially with the Self Care Gift Box.
Just over $80 will provide all the sustainably made and Leaping Bunny certified essentials for a conscious day of relaxation: detoxifying soap, a herbal lotion bar (contains organic beeswax), bath salts, a clay mask, an agave washcloth, and a USA-grown soy candle.
13. Foods Gifts For Vegans
Price Range: $5–$198
What’s the fail-safe gift above all others?
That’s a rhetorical question, surely.
Consumable gifts featuring vegan ingredients put the yu(m) in yuletide.
You can satisfy a sweet tooth sweetie with the decadent vegan chocolate from The Raw Chocolate Co.
When they “accidentally” eat a few bars from the Chocolate Bar Selection Box, they can feel good knowing that they’re devouring raw, vegan, organic, soy-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free ingredients.
When multiple biodegradable wrappers are tossed in the compost bin, they don’t even count, right?
And for people constantly on the go, Sun & Swell Foods can fuel them with 100% organic, 100% delicious, certified vegan, clean, and cruelty-free ingredients.
The chocolate covered cherry on top of their Fudge Brownie Real Food Bars and other totally vegan snacks is that its clean and tasty ingredients are sourced from fair trade, USA farms.
If your loved one is more of a create-a-meal-from-scratch kinda chef, give them the gift of a MICHELIN Star Oil & Vinegar Tasting Kit to make their own vegan cuisine from Saffi Saana.
If they’re anything like us, the foodie in your life will sip and drizzle their way through six of the tastiest, most transparently-sourced oils and vinegars from the US, Chile, Mexico, and Spain.
The included $20 gift card might earn you a spot at one of their future dinner parties, too.
14. Gift Cards
Price Range: Various
If, after checking out these vegan gift ideas, you aren’t feeling absolutely pawsitive about a potential hand selected present, turn to the most infallible option (after food): a gift card.
The best vegan gifts, after all, are those the recipient can choose themselves.
EarthHero has a nearly limitless range of sustainable and ethical goodies—from audio and tech to clothing, pet, and travel essentials.
Does your loved one prioritize ethical sourcing?
Then they can use their gift card to narrow their search for the many fair trade cruelty-free gifts on EarthHero.
Plastic waste-free and ready to please, an EcoRoots e-gift card ($25-100) can be sent by email to help jumpstart someone’s sustainable living journey.
Or just hook them up with a non-expiring way to keep their favorite cleaning, kitchen, and personal care products well stocked.
15. Unique Vegan Gifts
Price Range: $45–$443
Buying ethically doesn’t have to mean buying boring.
In fact, you can find some truly unique cruelty-free gifts by narrowing your search to some seriously clever small businesses.
LIKHÂ, for instance, offers eco-friendly planters unlike any you’ve seen before.
Any indoor plant enthusiast would be thrilled to get one of their utterly adorable woven organic coco coir, natural rattan, or hemp planters.
Plus, they’re the perfect gifts for a vegan friend because while they don’t contain any animal byproducts, they do pay tribute to animals with their designs—like the Elephant Plant Pot that makes for quite the pachyderm-worthy present.
If you have a cousin that could easily binge sci-fi movies all day every day, you may want to turn to the UK shop The Cardboard Boutique and their UFO Pendant Cardboard Lampshade.
Inspired by mid-century design and the atomic age, the recycled cardboard light fixture is treated to be flame retardant and comes with a B22 or E27 fitting.
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How Do I Find Cruelty-Free Products & Gifts?
Just how can you be sure you’re spreading the love with truly cruelty-free moisturizers?
Is “cruelty-free” cruelty-free, really?
Is there a way to be sure that vegan and cruelty-free perfume won’t turn up the nose of your animal sanctuary-volunteering relative?
The building blocks (or should we say barks?) of getting an animal-friendly gift starts with understanding the difference between cruelty-free vs vegan.
It’s absolutely possible to find that perfect present that ticks both boxes, but you should realize that vegan doesn’t necessarily mean cruelty-free, and vice versa.
Some products may contain organic or ethically sourced beeswax (making them non-vegan), but can be completely free of animal testing, making them cruelty-free.
What Does ‘Cruelty-Free’ & ‘Vegan’ Mean?
These pro-animal terms aren’t legally defined, so the safest bet is to not assume they mean the same thing but rather are delineated as follows:
- Cruelty-free means that the products and the ingredients used were not tested on animals at any stage—from sourcing to shipping of the final goods.
- Vegan means that the product is totally free of animal ingredients and animal byproducts.
This opens up a whole new can of (gummy) worms when selecting gifts for vegans.
How To Spot Non-Vegan Ingredients:
Some animal ingredients are pretty easy to spot—like wool, honey, beeswax, yogurt, and gelatin.
Animal by-products, however, are a different story.
You may unknowingly buy something that contains squalene or ambergris, only to find out that you’ve just surprised a vegan with shark liver oil or whale intestines.
Here are some other possibly animal-derived ingredients commonly found in cosmetics, food, and other products:
- Albumen / Albumin
- Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (Lactic Acid)
- Biotin
- Caprylic Acid
- Carmine / Cochineal / Carminic Acid
- Castor / Castoreum
- Chitosan
- Civet
- Collagen
- Elastin
- Guanine / Pearl Essence
- Hydrolyzed Animal Protein
- Keratin
- Lipase
- Monoglycerides / Glycerides
- Musk
- Oleic Acid
- Pepsin
- Sable Brushes
- Shellac / Resinous Glaze
- Tallow / Tallow Fatty Alcohol / Stearic Acid
Check out this PETA article for a more complete list.
To make it easy, some companies and products may bear a logo from one of the big vegan certifying bodies:
- Vegan.org (internationally recognized)
- Vegan Society UK (based in the UK but internationally recognized)
Avoiding Animal Testing
As with all conscious consumerism, transparency is a key thing to look for when it comes to finding gifts for a vegan.
Many brands have started to share their position on animal testing or sourcing 100% cruelty-free products.
A company’s FAQ or About Us page is a good place to look.
Even easier, there are three trusted certification bodies to look out for:
- PETA (us based but recognized internationally)
- Leaping Bunny (internationally recognized)
- Choose cruelty-free (an Australian based certification)
However, even with these certifications, you may only have a finished product that is cruelty-free—not one that has been made with cruelty-free ingredients/materials.
When in doubt, put your socials scrolling to good use by reaching out to a brand on their Instagram or Facebook account.
Final Thoughts On The Best Cruelty-Free Gifts For Vegan Friends
Pat yourself on the back for looking for an eco-friendly gift that isn’t just sustainable and useful, but also aligns with your giftee’s ethical values.
Nothing says, “I care about you” more than a gift that also says, “I care about animals.”
For more gifts that align with different values, check out our roundups of our favorite fair trade gifts and ethical gifts for this holiday season.
We hope this list has provided some useful vegan gift ideas and cruelty-free present inspo.
If friends or family are looking for gifts that will leave someone feeling warm and fuzzy (while protecting our furry friends), pass this along to them.
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