Best vegan leather bags: 6 that pass, and the recycled leather that is 70% leather
Our pick is Matt & Nat's Garni tote, 100% PU with a recycled lining. For less plastic, Svala's Mirum tote. Skip Baggu's recycled leather: 70% leather fibers.
Tara Weaver
Tara has been vegan since 2012. She cooks for fun, invents dishes for the site and has tried more vegan beauty products than she can count. She writes about beauty and personal care, fashion and materials, everyday vegan living, the ethics debates and the recipes. No formal training, plenty of practice, and a firm belief that dinner should taste good first.
Why do vegans quit? They blame the food, and the widest gap is identity
Quitters most often blame the food. Of the difficulties Faunalytics highlighted, the widest gap from those who stayed was identity: 58% against 11%.
Why do vegans eat fake meat? Because the objection was never the taste
Veganism objects to exploiting animals, not to the taste of meat, and the Vegan Society's definition promotes animal-free alternatives. Plus the case against.
How to be vegan when you don’t like vegetables: let lentils and fruit do the work
Lean on lentils and fruit, and keep one orange vegetable. Lentils outrank greens for potassium on NIH's list; vitamin A is where fruit falls short.
Is second-hand leather vegan? No, and the reason isn’t the money
No: a thrifted jacket is still an animal's skin. The money argument barely holds, as USDA market data put a steer's hide under 1% of its live price. Our line.
Best vegan moisturizers: 7 that pass, and the drugstore classic made with lanolin alcohol
Our pick is e.l.f.'s fragrance-free Holy Hydration cream at $13; The Ordinary's is $6.70. 7 vegan moisturizers pass; skip Eucerin's: lanolin alcohol.
How to respond to vegan criticism: sound open before you sound right
Work out which of four kinds of criticism you're hearing, then sound open before you sound right. One study found people misjudge how open they sound.
Why is veganism so popular? Its food is, while the vegan count barely moves
Veganism looks popular because its food is: 60% of US households bought plant-based food in 2025, yet US polls put vegans at only 1% to 3% of adults.
Is lanolin vegan? No, and a natural-origin beeswax stick lists it fifth
No, lanolin isn't vegan: it's wax from sheep's wool. Of 7 lip balms we read, 4 list it, Burt's Bees' beeswax stick included, and 3 are vegan.
Best vegan boots: 7 that pass, and a Kamik with leather eyelets
Our pick is Blundstone's #2115, with outside vegan verification. For snow, Will's insulated hiking boot; for job sites, Kamik's Workday 3 BX. Skip one Canuck.
