Ingredient origins
Animal-derived ingredients: a small reference
Use this to understand particular label names, not to certify a product. We currently cover 11 name rules, not the entire ingredient glossary.
What the classifications mean
Animal-derived material: the matched name identifies a conventional animal-derived material. Origin requires confirmation: a name alone is not enough to settle the material used in this formula. Neither classification measures irritation, allergy risk or ingredient quality.
Unmatched names are unclassified, not animal-free. We do not infer origin from a product name such as “Pro-Collagen,” a plant-themed marketing description, ingredient count, or absence of checklist matches. Explicit recombinant, synthetic and fermentation-derived names are not silently folded into animal-origin matches.
Honey / Mel
Animal-derived material. A bee-derived material.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Lanolin
Animal-derived material. Derived from sheep wool; derivatives not explicitly named in this checklist remain unclassified.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Beeswax / Cera Alba
Animal-derived material. Wax made by bees.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Carmine / CI 75470
Animal-derived material. Cochineal-derived red pigment; shade-dependent optional lists must also be checked.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Casein
Animal-derived material. A milk protein.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Shellac
Animal-derived material. A material made from insect secretions.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Snail secretion filtrate
Animal-derived material. Snail-derived material, also called snail mucin. Collection without killing snails does not make it animal-free.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Propolis extract
Animal-derived material. A bee-derived material; not an animal-free ingredient.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Glycerin / glycerol
Origin requires confirmation. The name does not establish the feedstock. Plant, animal or synthetic sourcing requires supplier or manufacturer evidence.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Collagen / hydrolyzed collagen
Origin requires confirmation. Conventional collagen is animal-derived. Do not generalize this to explicitly recombinant or fermentation-derived materials; check manufacturing evidence.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Keratin / hydrolyzed keratin
Origin requires confirmation. Conventional keratin is animal-derived. The checklist does not classify explicitly recombinant or otherwise source-qualified materials.
Source for this origin note · Reviewed 2026-10-17
Use product evidence for product decisions
A manufacturer can confirm vegan sourcing for a formula containing glycerin. A possible-source note is not evidence against that claim. Optional “may contain” ingredients, especially makeup colorants, do not establish which shade contains them.
Vegan and cruelty-free are different questions. Some vegan certification standards also cover animal testing; check the exact scheme. We do not derive animal-testing policy from an ingredient list or treat a cruelty-free badge as a vegan certificate.
Moisturizers the brands identify as vegan · Our evidence method · Ingredient glossary