The Ultimate Guide on Hidden Animal Ingredients in Cosmetics

TL;DR:
Many cosmetics contain animal-derived ingredients hidden behind complex names. This guide explains how to spot them, lists 35 of the most common animal ingredients (with vegan alternatives), and provides tips for choosing truly vegan, cruelty-free products.

What Are Hidden Animal Ingredients in Cosmetics?

Hidden animal ingredients are substances derived from animals but often listed under scientific or unfamiliar names in the ingredient list of your favorite beauty products. Even products marketed as “natural” or “cruelty-free” can contain animal-based substances.

Why Should You Care About Animal-derived Ingredients?

If you’re vegan or aiming for cruelty-free beauty, knowing these ingredients helps you avoid animal exploitation and align your beauty routine with your values. Understanding what’s in your makeup is key to making ethical, conscious choices.

How Can You Spot Animal Ingredients on Cosmetic Labels?

• Look for vegan certifications: Labels like "100% Vegan", "Certified Vegan", or certifications from The Vegan Society and PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies offer strong guarantees.
• Read the ingredient list carefully: Learn the scientific/INCI names of animal-based ingredients.
• Use technology: Apps like Yuka and INCI Beauty scan and analyze product ingredients instantly.
• Remember: “Cruelty-free” means not tested on animals, but it doesn’t always mean vegan.

Pro tip: Brands are not required to specify if an ingredient is animal- or plant-based—so when in doubt, check or contact the brand.

35 Hidden Animal Ingredients in Your Cosmetics (with Vegan Alternatives)

Below you’ll find a list of common animal-derived ingredients, their function, animal origin, and vegan swaps.
Use Ctrl+F to search for ingredients on your product label!

What is Lanolin (Wool Wax)?

• Benefits: Excellent emollient for soft, smooth skin and hair (ScienceDirect; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Extracted from sheep’s wool.
• Vegan alternatives: Shea butter, olive oil, jojoba, and coconut oil.

What is Collagen?

• Benefits: Boosts skin elasticity and hydration (Sionkowska et al., 2020; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Derived from skin, bones, and connective tissue of cows, pigs, fish, and some sea animals like jellyfish and sea cucumber.
• Vegan alternatives: Soy protein and vegan collagen made from yeast or bacteria (Healthline).

What is Gelatin?

• Benefits: Gives products a smooth, gel-like texture (ScienceDirect; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Made by boiling animal bones, skin, and tendons (including fish).
• Vegan alternatives: Agar-agar, carrageenan, pectin, xanthan gum (FACTS, 2022).

What is Squalane?

• Benefits: Deeply moisturizing and skin-repairing, with antioxidant effects (Healthline; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Sourced from shark liver.
• Vegan alternatives: Plant-based squalane from olives, sugarcane, amaranth seed, rice bran, wheat germ.

What is Carmine (Carminic Acid, Cochineal, CI 75470, E120, Natural Red 4)?

• Benefits: Bright red pigment in lipsticks and blushes (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Crushed cochineal insects.
• Vegan alternatives: Beetroot powder, bacterial or fungal dyes.

What is Glycerin (Glycerol)?

• Benefits: Locks in moisture, protects skin barrier (Sethi et al., 2016; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Can be made from animal fats.
• Vegan alternatives: Vegetable glycerin from soybean, corn, canola, sugarcane, or coconut oil.

What is Keratin?

• Benefits: Strengthens hair and nails (Healthline; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Comes from hair, horns, feathers, hooves of animals like sheep, cows, chickens (Chilakamarry et al., 2021).
• Vegan alternatives: Almond oil, soy protein, hydrolyzed plant proteins ( V Label, 2022).

What is Cholesterol?

• Benefits: Emollient and stabilizer in makeup and skincare (Cosmetics Info; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: From animal fats, spinal cords, or lanolin (McGill, 2019).
• Vegan alternatives: Synthetic cholesterol, plant sterols (Healthline).

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

• Benefits: Retains moisture, plumps skin (Papakonstantinou et al., 2012; Narurkar et al., 2016; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Sometimes from rooster combs (Serra et al., 2023).
• Vegan alternatives: Produced by fermenting plants like corn, wheat, or sugar (Serra et al., 2023).

What is Stearic Acid?

• Benefits: Emollient, emulsifier, thickener (Incidecoder; Medical News Today).
• Animal origin: Usually from pork, beef, mutton, or sheep (Medium, 2023).
• Vegan alternatives: Cocoa butter, shea butter (Medium, 2023).

What is Elastin?

• Benefits: Maintains skin elasticity (Baumann et al., 2021).
• Animal origin: From connective tissues of slaughtered livestock (Nasrollahzadeh et al., 2021; Nadalian et al., 2019)
• Vegan alternatives: Synthetic/biodesigned elastin, plant-based proteins (in this article you'll find more about biotechnology in beauty).

What is Guanine (Pearl Essence, CI 75170)?

• Benefits: Adds shimmer to polishes and makeup (Cosmetics Info).
• Animal origin: Fish scales.
• Vegan alternatives: Synthetic pearl, leguminous plants, aluminum or bronze particles.

What is Oleic Acid?

• Benefits: Moisturizes and softens skin (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Can be derived from animal lard/tallow.
• Vegan alternatives: Olive oil, avocado oil, macadamia, marula, coconut oil.

What is Shellac (Resinous Glaze)?

• Benefits: Durable, glossy finish for hair and nails (Incidecoder; Treehugger).
• Animal origin: Secreted by lac bugs.
• Vegan alternatives: Carnauba wax, dammar resin, corn zein (Treehugger; Utopia).

What is Tallow?

• Benefits: Base for soaps/creams (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Rendered beef, mutton, cattle, or sheep fat (Science Direct).
• Vegan alternatives: Ceresin, Japan wax, vegetable waxes.

What is Lactose?

• Benefits: Humectant, skin conditioner (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Milk sugar from mammals.
• Vegan alternatives: Almond milk sugar, soy milk sugar.

What is Casein (Caseinate, Sodium Caseinate)?

• Benefits: Skin and hair conditioning (Kazimierska & Kalinowska-Lis, 2021; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Protein from cow’s milk.
• Vegan alternatives: Legumin (lentils, beans, hemp), soy/almond milk.

What is Beeswax (Cera Alba)?

• Benefits: Provides texture and structure (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Produced by bees.
• Vegan alternatives: Candelilla, rice bran, berry, carnauba, and soy wax (The Minimalist Vegan).

What is Honey?

• Benefits: Moisturizing, soothing, antibacterial (Burland & Cornara, 2013).
• Animal origin: Produced by bees.
• Vegan alternatives: Coconut butter, olive oil, agave, rice nectar, maple syrup.

What is Propolis?

• Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial (Kurek-Górecka et al., 2020).
• Animal origin: Resinous bee product.
• Vegan alternatives: Pine resin, tree saps, synthetics.

What is Royal Jelly?

• Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging (Kurek-Górecka et al., 2020).
• Animal origin: Secreted by worker honeybees.
• Vegan alternatives: Aloe vera, comfrey, seed oils (sunflower, pumpkin, watermelon).

What is Silk Powder?

• Benefits: Bulking, skin conditioning, coloring (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Silkworms.
• Vegan alternatives: Cornstarch, arrowroot, bamboo silk.

What is Snail Mucin (Snail Slime, Snail Secretion Filtrate)?

• Benefits: Antioxidant, hydrating, anti-aging. It’s one of the key ingredients in K-Beauty (Brieva et al., 2007; Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Secreted by captive snails (Utopia).
• Vegan alternatives: Plant-based hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, plant oils.

What is Ambergris?

• Benefits: Fragrance fixative (Treehugger).
• Animal origin: Digestive system of sperm whales.
• Vegan alternatives: Synthetic compounds, benzoin resin, oakmoss.

What is Musk (Musk Oil, Civet Oil)?

• Benefits: Sensual, long-lasting fragrance (Alvarez-Rivera et al., 2013)
• Animal origin: Musk glands/genitals of deer, beaver, muskrat, civet cat, otter.
• Vegan alternatives: Plant-derived musks (ambrette, musk mallow).

What is Placenta (Afterbirth, Placental Polypeptide Protein)?

• Benefits: Nourishes and repairs skin (Byrdie, 2021).
• Animal origin: Animal placenta, especially sheep.
• Vegan alternatives: Kelp, various peptides.

What is Urea (Carbamide)?

• Benefits: Moisturizing, exfoliating, supports barrier (Lodèn, 2003; Grether-Beck at al., 2012).
• Animal origin: Historically from urine/fluids of mammals.
• Vegan alternatives: Synthetic urea (Healthline).

What is Mink Oil?

• Benefits: Conditions hair and skin (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Fatty tissues of minks (National Library of Medicine).
• Vegan alternatives: Jojoba oil, shea butter.

What is Albumen?

• Benefits: Tightens and tones skin (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Egg whites.
• Vegan alternatives: Soy protein, other plant-based proteins.

What is Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)?

• Benefits: Moisturizing, soothing, healing (Camargo Jr et al., 2011).
• Animal origin: Can be animal-derived.
• Vegan alternatives: Plant-derived or synthetic panthenol such as in our lash growth and volume treatment (Veganavenue, 2023).

What is Caprylyl Glycol?

• Benefits: Moisturizer and preservative (Healthline).
• Animal origin: Sometimes from animal milk.
• Vegan alternatives: Coconut oil.

What is Biotin (Vitamin H, Vitamin B7, Coenzyme R)?

• Benefits: Strengthens hair and nails (Incidecoder, Cosmetics Info).
• Animal origin: Often from animal sources.
• Vegan alternatives: Nuts, seeds, plant-derived or synthetic biotin.

What is Lecithin?

• Benefits: Emollient, emulsifier, stabilizer (Incidecoder).
• Animal origin: Egg yolks, milk, animal brain (Alhajj et al., 2020).
• Vegan alternatives: Soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin.

What is Retinol (Vitamin A)?

• Benefits: Renowned anti-aging effect (Mukherjee et al., 2006).
• Animal origin: Fish liver oil, egg yolk, milk (Gilbert, 2013).
• Vegan alternatives: Bakuchiol, synthetic retinol.

What about Animal Hair (in Brushes)?

• Benefits: Used in makeup brushes for smooth application.
• Animal origin: Horse, goat, badger, squirrel (Queenbrush).
• Vegan alternatives: Synthetic fibers.

Note: For a full list and technical info, see PETA’s Animal-Derived Ingredients List.

Vegan Beauty Checklist: How to Make Informed Choices

1. Look for trusted vegan certifications: Vegan Society, PETA, Leaping Bunny.
2. Read the full ingredient list: Learn to recognize animal-derived terms.
3. Research the brand’s policies: Many are transparent about vegan/cruelty-free practices.
4. Contact the brand if unsure: Most respond quickly to ingredient queries.
5. Don’t rely on buzzwords: “Natural”, “organic”, or “green” ≠ vegan.
6. Use technology: Scan with apps like Yuka or INCI Beauty.
7. Try before you buy: Sample sizes prevent waste.
8. Connect with vegan beauty communities: Forums and groups are a great resource.
9. Transition gradually: Replace products as you finish them for a smooth switch.

FAQs

What animals are used in cosmetics?
Various animals might be used in cosmetics, including sheep (for lanolin), cows and pigs (for collagen and gelatin), fish (for squalane and guanine), insects like cochineal (for carmine), and bees (for beeswax and honey).

What are animal-derived ingredients?

Animal-derived ingredients in cosmetics are substances obtained from animals, such as lanolin from sheep's wool, collagen from animal skin and bones, and carmine from crushed cochineal insects. These ingredients are used for their beneficial properties in beauty products.

Which shows that the product does not contain any animal product?
Products labeled as "100% Vegan" or "Certified Vegan" indicate that they do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. These labels are a clear indicator of a product's compliance with vegan standards.

How do you know if makeup is vegan?
To determine if makeup is vegan, look for explicit labels like "100% Vegan" or "Certified Vegan." Additionally, check the ingredient list for animal-derived substances and consider using apps or websites that specialize in analyzing cosmetic ingredients for vegan compliance.

What is the common alternative ingredient in vegan cosmetics?
Common alternative ingredients in vegan cosmetics include plant-based butters, oils, and waxes like shea butter, olive oil, and jojoba oil, which replace animal-derived emollients. For coloring, beetroot powder and synthetic dyes are used instead of carmine.

What is the order of ingredients in INCI?
In the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration. Those at the top of the list have the highest quantity in the product, while trace ingredients are listed towards the end.

Is there an app to check ingredients in products?
Yes, there are apps like Yuka and INCI Beauty that allow users to check the ingredients in cosmetic products. These apps can provide insights into whether a product is vegan and analyze its overall composition for consumer awareness.

Key Takeaways

• Many animal-derived ingredients in cosmetics are hidden behind unfamiliar names.
• Learning to read labels is essential for making vegan, cruelty-free choices.
• Trusted certifications, ingredient-checking apps, and brand transparency make shopping easier than ever.
• For each animal ingredient, there’s a safe, ethical, and effective vegan swap.

Final Tip

• Where can I find truly vegan cosmetics? If you’re looking for makeup that’s guaranteed vegan and formulated without hidden animal ingredients, explore our hybrid cosmetics at Lebubè Shop.