Many makeup and skincare brands still rely on animal-derived ingredients, and most of us don’t even realise it. This post isn’t about guilt — it’s about awareness, so you can make informed, conscious choices.
Open your makeup bag. Chances are, at least one product inside contains crushed insects, fish scales, or sheep’s wool grease — even though the label never spells it out. Brands often promote products as “clean” or “natural”, while quietly using animal ingredients to create colour, shine, or texture.
And here’s the confusing part:
“Cruelty-free” does NOT always mean vegan.
A lipstick can be cruelty-free (not tested on animals) and still contain insects, beeswax, or animal fat.
Meet the “secret” animal ingredients
Here are some common non-vegan ingredients in makeup and skincare — and which animals they come from:
1. Carmine (aka Cochineal, CI 75470, E120)
Derived from female cochineal insects, which are crushed to extract a red pigment used in lipsticks, blushes, and nail polish.
2. Beeswax (Cera Alba)
Produced by honeybees and widely used in lipsticks, balms, mascaras, brow products, and creams to give structure and grip.
3. Lanolin
Taken from the natural grease found in the wool of sheep, collected when the wool is washed and refined.
4. Squalene / Squalane
Traditionally sourced from shark liver oil. While many brands now use plant-derived versions, not all do — clear labeling matters.
5. Oleic Acid (aka Tallow, Oleyl Stearate, Oleyl Oleate)
Often derived from the fat of cows, sheep, or pigs, though vegan versions can be sourced from olives, coconuts, or nuts.
6. Stearic Acid
Commonly sourced from the stomach fat of pigs, and sometimes cows and sheep. Used in soaps, deodorants, and moisturisers.
7. Guanine
Made by scraping the scales of fish, used to create shimmer in nail polish, eyeshadows, highlighters, and blushes.
8. Animal Hair
Makeup brushes may be made from hair of goats, horses, foxes, sable, mink, or squirrels — even when labeled “cruelty-free”.
9. Collagen
Extracted from the skin, bones, and connective tissue of cows, pigs, or fish. Common in anti-ageing and lip-plumping products.
10. Elastin
Derived from the muscles and ligaments of animals such as cows and pigs, used in firming and anti-ageing skincare.
11. Keratin
Sourced from the hair, feathers, horns, or hooves of animals like cows, sheep, pigs, or poultry, and used in hair and nail products.
Why this matters
You deserve to know exactly what you’re putting on your skin.
Transparency helps you make kinder, more informed beauty choices — without confusion or greenwashing.
Awareness is power. Conscious beauty is a choice. 
