Vegan Ingredient Checker

Want to know if your beauty products contain animal-derived ingredients? Our Vegan Ingredient Checker makes it simple! Just copy and paste a product’s full ingredient list into the tool below, and we’ll instantly flag any non-vegan ingredients. No more second-guessing—get clear, reliable results in seconds!

Ready to check your products? Paste the ingredients into Conscious Bunny’s Vegan Ingredient Checker and click “Analyze” to discover potentially hidden animal-derived ingredients.

*We’ve tested our Vegan Ingredient Checker and found it to be very accurate. However, due to variations in ingredient lists and terminology, we can’t guarantee 100% accuracy. We recommend cross-referencing your products with the full ingredient list below for the most reliable results.

 
Vegan Ingredient Checker

What Are Animal-Derived Ingredients?

Animal-derived ingredients are substances that come from animals or animal by-products, and they’re often found in beauty and personal care products. However, just like animal testing, the process of sourcing these ingredients can be harmful to animals, and in some cases, even result in their death.

The ingredients are often used for their moisturizing, emulsifying, or thickening properties. Examples of animal-derived ingredients include lanolin (from sheep’s wool), collagen (from animal connective tissue), and gelatin (from animal bones and skin). Other ingredients like carmine (a red dye from crushed insects) or honey (a sweet substance made by bees) also fall into this category.

There are plenty of plant-based or synthetic alternatives that can offer the same effects without the cruelty. By choosing these alternatives, you can enjoy a nourishing beauty routine that aligns with your values and avoids animal exploitation.

Animal-Derived Ingredients List

Here’s a list of common animal-derived ingredients, organized alphabetically for easy reference. Check your beauty products against this list as well as the results of our Vegan Ingredient Checker to make sure you’re avoiding ingredients that (may) come from animals.

IngredientReason Not Vegan (Animal-Derived)
AlbumenDerived from egg whites (egg-based)
AmbergrisA substance found in the intestines of sperm whales
Arachidonic AcidFound in animal tissues, primarily from animal fats
Beeswax (Cera Alba)Secreted by bees for hive construction
Carmine, Carminic Acid, CochinealDerived from crushed cochineal insects
CastoreumScent gland secretion from beavers
CerebrosidesLipids found in animal brain tissue
Chitosan, Chitin, ChondroitinChitin comes from crustacean shells; chondroitin often derived from animal cartilage
CholesterolFound in animal cell membranes
CivetScent gland secretion from civet cats
CollagenDerived from animal skin, bones, and connective tissue
Egg Protein (Ovum, Ovum Powder, Egg, Egg Powder, Albumin, Ovotransferrin, Lecithin, Hydrolyzed Roe)Derived from eggs
ElastinFound in animal connective tissues
Emu OilDerived from emu birds
Estrogen, Oestrogen (Estradiol)Hormone typically derived from animals, such as pregnant mares
Fish Oils (Fish Oil, Fish Glycerides, Piscum Lecur Oil, Pisces Extract, Piscum)Derived from the tissue of fish
GelatinDerived from animal collagen, often from pigs or cows
Goat MilkMilk from goats
GuanineExtracted from fish scales or other animal sources
Animal-Derived Glycosaminoglycans (Hyaluronic Acid, Hyaluronan, Glycosaminoglycan, Chondroitin, anything containing “Hyaluronate)Often derived from animal cartilage
HoneyProduced by bees from nectar
Hyaluronic Acid (when animal-derived)Sourced from animal tissues or combs
KeratinDerived from animal hair, hooves, or feathers
LactoseMilk sugar from dairy products
LanolinOil secreted by sheep’s sebaceous glands
LardFat derived from pigs
Mink OilExtracted from mink fur-bearing animals
Mustela Oil, Mustele Oil, Mustela SeraDerived from the fat of minks
Nucleic AcidsCan come from animal sources, including animal tissues
Pearl Powders (Conchiolin Powder, Margarita Powder, Nacre Powder, anything containing “Pearl”)Derived from crushed oysters or other mollusks
Placenta, PolypeptidesSourced from animals, often human or animal placental tissue
IngredientReason Not Vegan (Animal-Derived)
PristaneDerived from shark liver oil
ProgesteroneOften derived from animal sources, especially from pregnant animals
PropolisA substance made by bees from tree sap
Royal JellyProduced by worker bees to feed the queen bee
Shellac (Resinous Glaze)Secreted by the lac bug, used as a coating
Silk (Silk Amino Acids, Silk Powder, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sericin)Derived from silkworms
Snail MucinSecreted by snails
Spermaceti, Cetyl Palmitate, Sperm OilExtracted from sperm whale oil
Squalene (when derived from sharks)Often sourced from shark liver oil
TallowRendered fat from cows or sheep
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol, from lanolin or fish liver oil)Sourced from sheep wool (lanolin) or fish liver oils
WheyA byproduct of milk during cheese production
IngredientReason It Might Not Be Vegan (Animal-Derived Possibilities)
AllantoinCan be derived from animals (urine or animal tissues), but can also be synthesized or plant-derived
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s)Can be derived from fruit, milk, or synthetic sources, but often extracted from animal-derived ingredients (milk-based)
BiotinOften synthesized, but can also be derived from egg yolks or animal liver
Caprylic AcidCan be plant-derived (from coconut or palm oil) or animal-derived (from milk fat)
Carotene, Provitamin A, Beta CarotenePlant-derived or synthetic, but in some cases, it could be derived from animals
Cetyl AlcoholTypically plant-derived (palm or coconut oil), but can also be derived from animal fats
CystineOften derived from plant sources, but can also come from animal proteins (hair, feathers, or hooves)
GlycerinUsually plant-derived or synthetic, but can be animal-derived (from animal fats)
Hyaluronic Acid (can also be plant-derived or synthetic)Animal-derived versions come from rooster combs or other animal tissues, but synthetic or plant-based alternatives are available
L-CysteineOften derived from human hair or feathers (animal-derived), but can also be synthetically made
LecithinTypically soy or sunflower-derived, but can sometimes be derived from egg yolks or animal fat
Linoleic AcidPlant-based (from vegetable oils), but animal-derived sources (milk, eggs) are also possible
Monoglycerides, DiglyceridesOften derived from plant oils, but can be animal-based (from animal fats)
Myristic AcidCan be plant-derived (from coconut or palm kernel oils) or animal-derived (from animal fats)
IngredientReason It Might Not Be Vegan (Animal-Derived Possibilities)
Nucleic AcidsCan come from both animal and plant sources, as well as be synthetically produced
Oleic AcidsUsually plant-derived (from olive oil or other vegetable oils), but can also come from animal fats
Palmitic AcidDerived mostly from plant oils (like palm oil), but can also be sourced from animal fats
Panthenol (Provitamin B5 and derivatives)Generally synthetic or plant-derived, but can be derived from animal sources
PolysorbatesMostly synthetic, but can be derived from animal fats or processed using animal-derived ingredients
Retinol (Vitamin A, can be from fish liver oil)Animal-derived (from fish liver oils or eggs), but can also be synthetically produced or from plant-based sources like beta-carotene
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)Can be derived from animal tissues, but may also be plant or synthetic
Stearic AcidCan come from plant-based (coconut or palm oil) or animal fats
Sugar (may be processed with bone char)Sugar itself is plant-derived, but the processing method using bone char can make it non-vegan
Urea (synthetic versions exist, but some are animal-derived)Can be synthetically made or derived from animal urine
Vitamin D (generic term, could be D2 or D3)Vitamin D2 is plant-based, but D3 is often derived from animal sources (lanolin or fish liver oil)

Besides this Vegan Ingredient Checker, we have other free Ingredient Checkers to use.