How to Tell If Cosmetics Are Vegan

To tell if cosmetics are vegan, read the INCI ingredient list on the packaging and look for animal-derived ingredients: beeswax, lanolin, carmine, keratin, collagen, shellac, silk protein, and non-plant squalene. "Cruelty-free" does not mean vegan. Many cruelty-free brands use beeswax and carmine. Vegan certification marks (Vegan Society, Certified Vegan) are the fastest reliable check. Our Cosmetics Checker scans INCI lists for common flags.

Why cosmetics are harder to check than food

Food labels use familiar names: milk, egg, honey. Cosmetic labels use INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), standardized Latin and chemical names that most shoppers do not recognize. "Cera alba" is beeswax. "Lanolin" is wool grease. "CI 75470" is carmine. Without knowing these names, a product that looks plant-based on the front of the package can contain multiple animal derivatives on the back.

"Cruelty-free" and "vegan" are not the same. See our Vegan vs Cruelty-Free page for that distinction. What follows focuses on finding animal ingredients in the formula itself.

Non-vegan cosmetic ingredients to know

Beeswax (cera alba, cera flava)

Used in lip balms, mascaras, lotions, and hair pomades for texture and emulsification. One of the most common non-vegan ingredients in otherwise "natural" products. See beeswax.

Lanolin

Sebum extracted from sheep's wool. Common in lip products, nipple creams, and rich moisturizers for its emollient properties. Also appears as lanolin alcohol, lanolin oil, or wool wax. See lanolin.

Carmine (CI 75470, cochineal, carminic acid)

Red pigment from crushed cochineal insects. Standard in red lipsticks, blushes, and eyeshadows. One of the hardest ingredients to avoid in color cosmetics. See carmine.

Keratin

Protein from animal hooves, feathers, horns, and hair. Marketed heavily in "strengthening" shampoos and conditioners. Look for "hydrolyzed keratin" or just "keratin". Plant-based alternatives exist but must be specified as such.

Collagen

Structural protein, usually from bovine or marine sources. Common in anti-aging skincare. Plant-based collagen boosters use different ingredients entirely. If the label says "collagen," assume animal unless marked plant-derived.

Shellac (E904)

Insect resin used in nail polish, hair lacquer, and some mascaras for shine and hold. See shellac.

Silk protein (sericin, fibroin, silk powder)

Used in luxury haircare and skincare for smoothness. Derived from silkworm cocoons.

Squalene vs squalane

Squalene was historically sourced from shark liver oil. Squalane (with an "a") is the stabilized form and is now usually plant-derived (from olives or sugarcane), but check the brand if not specified. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer.

Other ingredients to watch

• Guanine, fish-derived pearl essence in nail polish and eyeshadow.
• Stearic acid / stearyl alcohol, which can be plant or animal sourced. Labels rarely specify.
• Glycerin / glycerol, usually plant-derived in modern cosmetics, but animal glycerin exists.
• Retinol and vitamin D: retinol can be animal or synthetic. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is often from lanolin.
• Beeswax substitutes gone wrong: some "bee-free" waxes are vegan, but others contain lanolin.

How to read an INCI list

INCI ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration (above 1%). This means:

• Animal ingredients near the top are present in significant amounts.
• Colorants (CI numbers) appear at the end regardless of amount. Carmine in lipstick may appear last but is still the active pigment.
• Fragrance ("parfum") is a black box. Animal-derived musks (civet, ambergris) are rare in modern cosmetics but can hide under this term.

Scan the full list, not just the first few ingredients. A product with mostly plant oils can still contain beeswax or lanolin further down.

Step-by-step checking process

1. Find the INCI list on the packaging, usually on the back or outer box. Online retailer listings sometimes omit it. Check the brand website if needed.
2. Scan for known animal ingredients using the list above. Pay special attention to lip products (beeswax, carmine, lanolin) and hair products (keratin, silk, lanolin).
3. Check for vegan certification: Vegan Society, Certified Vegan, or V-Label logos confirm the full formula.
4. Do not rely on front-of-pack claims alone. "Natural," "botanical," "green," and "clean" are unregulated and do not mean vegan.
5. Verify ambiguous ingredients. If you see stearic acid, glycerin, or squalane without a plant source note, email the brand: "Is [ingredient] plant-derived in this product?"
6. Use our checker. Paste the full INCI list into the Vegan Cosmetics Checker for automated flagging of common non-vegan ingredients.

Category-specific tips

Makeup

Lipstick and blush are the highest-risk categories because of carmine. Mascara often contains beeswax. Eyeshadow may use carmine, guanine, or silk. Look for brands with explicit vegan color cosmetics ranges. Carmine-free red pigment alternatives (iron oxides, plant-based dyes) exist but are not universal.

Skincare

Moisturizers and serums frequently contain lanolin, collagen, or animal-derived glycerin. "Anti-aging" lines are especially likely to feature collagen and retinol from animal sources. Simpler formulas with shorter INCI lists are easier to verify.

Haircare

Shampoos and conditioners marketed as "repairing" or "strengthening" often contain keratin, silk protein, or lanolin. Clarifying and basic cleansing formulas tend to be more straightforward.

Fragrance

Perfumes list "parfum" or "fragrance" as a single ingredient, hiding the full formula. Vegan perfume brands exist and disclose notes. For mainstream fragrance, contact the brand or look for vegan certification.

Nail polish

Watch for guanine (pearl effect), shellac, and carmine in colored polishes. Many "7-free" and "15-free" formulas are vegan, but the "free" claims refer to toxic chemicals, not animal ingredients.

Certification vs DIY checking

Vegan certification is the most reliable path for consumers who do not want to memorize INCI names. Certified products have been reviewed ingredient by ingredient. For uncertified products, which includes most mainstream cosmetics, INCI scanning is your tool. Our checker handles the common cases. For ambiguous ingredients, a direct email to the brand is still the gold standard.

When to contact the manufacturer

Email or DM the brand when:

• The INCI list contains stearic acid, glycerin, or squalane without a source specified.
• The product claims "plant-based" but lists ambiguous emulsifiers.
• You need confirmation for a specific product, not just the brand's general policy.

Try something like: "Hi, is [product name] vegan? Specifically, are [ingredient names] plant-derived? Do you use carmine, beeswax, lanolin, or keratin in this formula?" Most brands respond within a few business days.

Related resources

Understand the cruelty-free distinction in our Vegan vs Cruelty-Free guide. For alcohol fining agents, a parallel "hidden ingredient" problem, see Is Alcohol Vegan?.