1. Introduction
Cosmetic products containing ingredients of animal origin or, more generally, of zoological origin, are called zooceuticals [1,2]. This term is rarely used, and biocosmetics, cosmeceuticals, or natural cosmetics are spoken of more frequently because they contain ingredients of natural origin [3]. However, zooceuticals concern all cosmetic products for human use. They are not synonymous with “cosmetics for animals”, which are completely different products and are only for veterinary use or for the skin-care or hair-care of pets.
The chemicals used as cosmetic ingredients, as is known, can be grouped into three main groups of ingredients. The first group consists of the basic ingredients, which form the major quantity of the cosmetic product. The second group is formed by the functional substances that give the specificity of action to the cosmetic product, and finally, in the third group, there are additives, i.e., all substances added in low quantities to improve the characteristics of the product in terms of quality, safety, texture, appearance, and pleasantness. Animal-derived ingredients can be used both as basic ingredients and as functional substances or additives, depending on the characteristics of the chemical used. Animal-derived ingredients are frequently polyfunctional, such as snail slime, and can contain a variety of substances with various cosmetic actions and uses, even if the majority of these chemicals are used as functional substances with moisturizing, soothing, anti-aging, or, more broadly, conditioning effects for the skin, hair, and/or scalp.
Animal derivatives, used as ingredients in cosmetics, often do not require the sacrifice of the animal—consider, for example, snail slime—or they are replaced by substances derived from plants, by chemical synthesis, or by biotechnological applications, such as hyaluronic acid, produced in the laboratory from bacterial cultures. In other cases, however, they represent by-products of the animal industry, such as crests, horns, hooves, and skin, and therefore derive from animal sacrifice [4].
Today, animal-derived ingredients are less frequently used for various reasons [5]. They include the infectious risk of some derivatives, but also ethical issues (animal cruelty) and concerns regarding the protection of biodiversity and endangered species, such as whales and turtles [6,7].
In particular, the ethical issues regarding ingredients of animal origin for cosmetics refer both to respect for animals (animals suffer similarly to humans) and to the defense of biodiversity in order to preserve animal species from extinction. This includes defending the entire ecosystem. Laws have been enacted to protect endangered species of animals, and hunting for wildlife is regulated in many countries. In addition, consumer awareness has grown in this regard, as has society in general and the attention of manufacturing companies themselves. Certifications, such as vegan and halal, have proliferated to ensure that the ingredients in cosmetic products were obtained without causing animal cruelty or harm to animals [8,9]. Ingredients obtained without causing suffering or harm to animals, such as snail slime and the majority of bee derivatives, do not raise any ethical concerns. The situation is different as regards ingredients of animal origin deriving from breeding and the meat and fish industries: in this case, they represent by-products, i.e., waste from the production of products intended for food consumption [10]. The use of these by-products in the cosmetic industry is allowed if they comply with purity, safety, and hygiene requirements. However, as mentioned above, where possible, they have been replaced by similar vegetable substances or by synthetic derivatives. Moreover, today, many animal ingredients used in past centuries have fallen into disuse because they are not effective or are dangerous to health [11].
As is true for all other substances used as cosmetic ingredients, both vegetable and synthetic, ingredients of animal origin, including their derivatives, must comply with the quality, purity, and safety requirements for use as ingredients in the cosmetic industry. Furthermore, they must not be toxic, contain impurities, or pose a health risk to the consumer, including the risk of transmission of infectious agents. Toxicity due to dermal exposure, including irritation, sensitization, and phototoxicity, has been assessed in toxicological studies, and any adverse effects are reported in cosmetovigilance [12].
To facilitate the classification of cosmetic ingredients of animal origin, it is possible to group them into categories, as proposed by Proserpio and Passerini [13] and reported in Figure 1, i.e., ingredients derived from insects (group A), derived from land animals (group B), and derived from marine animals (group C).
2. Ingredients Derived from Insects
Substances derived from insects and used as ingredients in cosmetic products rarely result from animal sacrifice, and they are often obtained without causing animals to suffer. Thus, they are, in most cases, cruelty-free. They can be by-products of the bee, snail, and silk industries. The ingredients derived from these animals, generally grouped into the so-called Group A [13], are used especially as functional substances (for example, snail secretions, honey, and silk extract). They are less commonly used as basic ingredients (for example, fatty substances such as beeswax) or cosmetic additives (dyes such as carmin/CI 75470).
Most of the cosmetic ingredients derived from insects come from bees and snails. Other less-used ingredients are obtained from cochineal, silkworms, and spiders. The most common cosmetic ingredients derived from insects are listed in Table 1.
Carmine (INCI: carmin), also known as natural red 4 or, more formally, CI 75470, is obtained from Carmine cochineal (Dactylopius coccus). It is used as a pigment [15] and it can be found in various cosmetic products with an aesthetic–decorative function, such as lipsticks, eyeshadow, blush, nail polish, foundation, and concealer.
Shellac (INCI: Shellac/shellac wax/shellac cera) is the resinous secretion obtained from Lacquer cochineal (Kerria lacca) and it is used as an ingredient in various cosmetic products, such as shampoos, nail polish, hairsprays, mascara, and lipsticks [16].
Silk, sericin, and their derivatives are often used in hair products, such as shampoo and conditioner, while an innovative ingredient is represented by polypeptides, obtained from spider web silk and used in various types of cosmetic products for the skin and hair.
2.1. Bee Derivatives
We know that bees, with their precious work, are the basis of the balance of our ecosystem. Many plant species would become extinct if they were not present, having serious consequences for the ecosystem, the food chain, and humans. Bees provide valuable hive products, such as honey, pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, and propolis, which have always been used and appreciated by people, in terms of both nutrition and as cosmetic ingredients. Bee venom is also added as a cosmetic ingredient [17].
One of the most commonly used cosmetic ingredients is honey (INCI: Mel). Honey is a functional substance used as a moisturizer and emollient. It deeply nourishes the epidermis and is rich in enzymes that are able to help with natural skin exfoliation [18]. It is added in the formulation of many cosmetic products, such as for dry and mature skin, and is widely used in night creams. It is also used in shampoos for light hair because it highlights the natural reflections and leaves the hair protected and bright [19]. Nothing prevents the use of common foods such as honey to prepare multipurpose masks. A nourishing mask can be obtained by mixing two generous spoons of honey with a few drops of lemon and a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil. Once the mixture has been prepared, it should be applied to the previously cleansed face and can be kept in place for up to fifteen minutes. The mask can then be removed with warm water. A honey scrub, on the other hand, can be obtained by mixing three tablespoons of honey with two to three tablespoons of whole brown sugar. The mixture thus obtained can be massaged all over the body and left on for approximately ten minutes. It can later be removed with warm water.
Another bee product widely used as an ingredient in cosmetics is beeswax (INCI: Beeswax). It is used both as a functional substance and as a base ingredient (stabilizer for emulsions, surfactant, emulsifying) or additive (rheological additive, viscosity control, texturizer, perfuming). Used as a functional substance, it has film-forming and eutrophic properties and is suitable for all skin types. It is also useful when applied to pimples because it is highly antibacterial and healing [20]. It minimizes expressive wrinkles and counteracts skin atony. In addition to the numerous cosmetic products on the market, creams can be prepared using solid beeswax grains, dissolving them in a bain-marie and customizing the preparations with the addition of various other ingredients—for example, with lavender essential oil for the treatment of impure skin, with lemon essential oil to have a greater antibacterial and skin-purifying action, and with olive oil to prepare an excellent butter for the lips.
Propolis (INCI: Propolis extract) is rich in flavonoids and phenols and has a positive action on blood circulation and capillary fragility [21]. It is often present in hand creams and anti-wrinkle creams for its strong nourishing and repairing action [22]. It can also be used in cleansers for oily and acne-prone skin, thanks to its purifying action [21,23].
Pollen (INCI: Pollen) can be mixed into vegetable oils, such as sunflower oil or rice oil, to obtain pollen oil [24]. This preparation is rich in vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, pantothenic acid, and flavonoids. It is highly recommended for tired and impoverished skin. This oleolite can also be used on cracked elbows and heels to repair cracks more quickly.
Royal jelly (INCI: Royal jelly) stimulates cell metabolism and, for this reason, it is often used as an ingredient in anti-aging cosmetic products [25]. It is also very useful for regulating the secretions of the sebaceous glands and therefore can also be used on oily-prone skin. It is often present in many cosmetics for the care of the eye and lip area.
Bee venom (INCI: Bee venom) is a substance extracted from bees. It is a complex mixture of various substances, including enzymes, lipids, peptides, and bioactive amines [26]. It is also known as apitoxin and is used in cosmetics as an astringent and for its anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing [27], and anti-bacterial [28] properties. It represents a new entry into the cosmetic field, particularly for mature skin. It is often considered among the botox-like substances and is able both to promote the production of collagen and elastin and to act on the cutaneous neurotransmission mechanisms with the relaxation of the mimic muscles [29]. The effect obtained, as with the other botox-like molecules, is a transitory lifting effect.
Propolis and beeswax are substances that cause frequent allergic reactions (allergic contact dermatitis) and are therefore considered allergens [30,31].
2.2. Snail Derivatives
Snail slime is a complex secretion produced by snails. It is generally obtained from a genus of snail called Helix aspersa muller in a cruelty-free way, without animal sacrifice.
Nowadays, the interest of the cosmetic industry in skin applications and the benefits of snail slime is very high. The first studies on garden snails (Helix aspersa muller) began in 1958 with Melnick’s preliminary analysis [32] and continued with Williams’s work on snail mucus [33]. Initially, snails were used only as a food source, but in some snail farms, during the harvesting process, which involved the cleaning and manual handling of the animals, the skin was observed to be soft after being in contact with the snail secretion. Moreover, small cuts healed quickly, without infection or scarring [34]. This evidence has prompted some researchers to better analyze snail mucus to understand this interesting property.
Snail secretion consists of a dilute network of polymers, usually containing more than 95% water [35]. It contains various substances, including allantoin, elastin, collagen, mucopolysaccharides, glycolic acid, and vitamins. Mucous secretion is industrially treated before being added to creams, cleansers, and serums.
Snail slime has numerous properties: soothing and moisturizing, nourishing the skin, exfoliating and purifying, anti-wrinkle, anti-stretch marks, and anti-blemishes on the skin [36].
3. Ingredients Derived from Land Animals
Substances derived from land animals and used as ingredients in cosmetic products often result from animal sacrifice and/or are by-products of the meat and livestock industries. While, in the past, these substances were widely used, today, their use has been reduced in favor of the use of plant analogs or synthetic substances. The exclusion of some natural ingredients, such as civet oil and ambergris, is due to the protection of endangered species, to ethical issues related to violence against animals, and to health and hygiene issues [5,6,7,11].
The ingredients derived from land animals, generally grouped into the so-called Group B, are used both as basic ingredients (for example, fats and fatty substances such as lanolin) and especially as functional substances (for example, hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin, and keratin) in very different cosmetic products and for the most diverse uses, from moisturizing products for dry skin to anti-aging products. They are used less frequently as cosmetic additives.
Most of the cosmetic ingredients derived from land animals come from the cattle industry, especially collagen, elastin, and keratin. This is followed by the sheep industry, particularly for the extraction of lanolin, and the poultry industry to obtain the animal source of hyaluronic acid. Fats, milk, and other less-used ingredients are obtained from ducks, camels, horses, donkeys, minks, ostriches, pigs, and reptiles. The most common cosmetic ingredients derived from land animals are listed in Table 2.
Lanolin, including its fractions (INCI: lanolin/lanolin cera/lanolin wax/lanolin oil), is a wax secreted by sheep’s skin that is obtained from the processing of wool. This substance accumulates on the woolly fleece as a natural protective and emollient for the animal and is formed by a mixture of chemical compounds, including esters of fatty acids and cholesterol [15]. The main derivatives of lanolin used as cosmetic ingredients are: acetylated lanolin (INCI: acetylated lanolin/acetylated hydrogenated lanolin), hydrogenated lanolin (INCI: hydrogenated lanolin/PEG-20 hydrogenated lanolin/acetylated hydrogenated lanolin), hydroxylated lanolin (INCI: hydroxylated lanolin), lanolin alcohols (INCI: lanolin alcohol/acetylated lanolin alcohol/PPG-20 lanolin alcohol ether), and other derivates (INCI: Lanolin Acid/PEG-NN lanolin, where NN is a number). It is widely used in creams and lip products and is rarely used in hair-care products. Lanolin is also a substance that causes frequent allergic reactions (allergic contact dermatitis) and is therefore considered an allergen [31]
One of the most commonly used ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics as a functional substance is collagen (and its derivatives). Natural sources of collagen are some animal sources, such as farmed land animals (bovines, swine), and some marine animals (fishes) [39,40]. The main sources of collagen are shown in Figure 2.
Following the epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), especially for cattle (mad cow disease), but also after transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), and avian and swine influences, many producers have chosen to resort to plant or synthetic analogs of animal derivatives in order not to run into problems regarding the safety of raw materials to be used as ingredients in cosmetic products [41].
Figure 2The main sources of collagen (created with BioRender.com (accessed on 10 December 2021); reworked by [39,42]).
[Figure omitted. See PDF]
As with collagen, elastin and its derivatives (INCI: elastin/hydrolyzed elastin) are popular in creams and anti-aging products. It is commonly extracted from the aorta or vertebrae of cattle [43].
Keratin and its derivatives (INCI: Keratin/hydrolyzed keratin) are widely used both in hair-care products (such as shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks) and nail-care products (strengthening nail polishes). Keratin is commonly extracted from the nails, feathers, horns, hair, claws, and hooves of various animals [44].
Hyaluronic acid is a very popular cosmetic ingredient, used as a functional substance in many skincare products, from skin hydration products to anti-aging products, in various cosmetic forms (creams, serums, shock vials). The animal source is the combs on the heads of roosters [45]. It is generally used as an ingredient in three different formulations, i.e., high-molecular-weight to create an invisible film with a skin barrier function (INCI: hyaluronic acid), medium-molecular-weight as a surface moisturizer, and low-molecular-weight as a skin moisturizer (INCI: hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid) [46,47,48].
Other ingredients derived from terrestrial animals are no longer used and have therefore fallen into disuse as they lack any real cosmetic effect or efficacy, linked to popular traditions and pseudo-sciences of past centuries (magical–alchemical traditions) or are even dangerous to human health. Some examples are goat feces, dog feces, rat feces, pig brain, ram’s fat, chicken feather juice, turtle blood and oil, and toad blood [11]. Furthermore, some ingredients, such as milk (cow, horse, donkey), milk proteins, casein, milk derivatives, and the aforementioned lanolin, can cause dermatitis or allergies in sensitive and predisposed subjects [30].
4. Ingredients Derived from Marine Animals
Substances derived from marine animals and used as ingredients in cosmetic products often result from animal sacrifice and/or are by-products of the fishing industry. Some of these substances have been replaced with plant analogs or synthetic substances, as happened with ambergris.
Ingredients derived from marine animals, generally grouped into the so-called Group C, are mainly used as functional substances (for example, marine collagen). In other cases, they are used as basic ingredients (for example, fish oil) or as cosmetic additives.
Most of the cosmetic ingredients of marine animals come from fish and some from crustaceans. Other ingredients, such as plankton, cuttlefish extract, and fish semen, are rarely used and are often found in high-end cosmetic products.
The most common cosmetic ingredients derived from marine animals are listed in Table 3.
Ambergris is a strongly odorous substance produced by the intestines of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). Its purpose is to defend the intestinal mucous membranes from the indigestible remains of the mollusks that the sperm whales eat, hardening around them and incorporating them [49].
The term ambergris is derived from the Old French “ambre gris,” which means “gray amber,” as opposed to “yellow amber,” which refers to resinous amber [50]. It was used for making perfumes.
Chemically, ambergris consists mainly of a mixture of waxy, unsaturated, high-molecular-weight alcohols [50], and the main chemical constituent is ambrein. Other chemicals, such as epicoprosterol and coprosterol, have also been found, but ambrein is the substance that gives ambergris its typical odor [51]. The mechanism of formation of the typical ambergris odor is shown in Figure 3.
Ambergris has now become extremely rare as the sperm whale is a protected species and cannot be hunted, so it has been replaced by synthetic substances. More rarely, it is possible to use the natural one if it is taken from beached dead animals, or sometimes it is recovered by fishermen when ambergris is regurgitated by the animal.
Chitosan and its derivatives (INCI: chitosan/Hydrolyzed chitosan) are linear polysaccharides composed of β-(1→4)-linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine that can be obtained from the chitin shells of shrimp and other crustaceans [15]. It is a by-product of the fishing industry. Chitosan and its derivatives are used as cosmetic ingredients in dental, skin, hair, and nail products [53].
5. Conclusions
In cosmetics, various substances of animal origin are used as ingredients. Products that contain animal derivates, in part (such as some types of face creams) or wholly (such as snail slime serums), are called zooceuticals.
The most common ingredients are beeswax, snail’s slime and derivates, collagen, elastin, keratin and their respective hydrolyzed derivates, hyaluronic acid and derivates, lanolin and derivates, and chitosan. Other types of ingredients are used less frequently or in specific products, such as nail-care or hair-care, and many substances are now replaced by similar molecules extracted from plants, or of biotechnological or synthetic origin. This is due to hygienic–sanitary needs (preventing the spread of diseases, such as TSE/BSE), and ethical (cruelty-free) and ecological (safeguarding species in danger of extinction) concerns. Over the years, in fact, the sensitivity of consumers has greatly increased and the laws have rightly become more stringent in terms of the safety, ethics, and quality of cosmetic products (also thanks to the improvement of scientific knowledge and cosmetovigilance). Consequently, the attention of producers has also increased, and INCI formulas of cosmetic products today take into account all these factors, as well as compliance with other voluntary standards such as vegan, organic, kosher, and halal, which include or exclude one, more, or all ingredients of animal origin [54].
Writing—original draft preparation, L.C.; writing—review and editing, L.C.; visualization, L.C., M.G.; cosmetic applications and bee derivatives, M.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
This research received no external funding.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The data presented in this study are openly available in CosIng database (
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
![View Image - Figure 3. The mechanism of formation of the typical ambergris odor: due to the oxidative decomposition by seawater, air, and/or sunlight, ambrafuran is generated from the ambrein (created with BioRender.com (accessed on 10 December 2021); reworked by [52]).](https://media.proquest.com/media/hms/THUM/4/1yEDM?_a=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%2BgIBWYIDA1dlYooDHENJRDoyMDI1MDUyNzE4NDQ0NzM2Njo5OTQyMDk%3D&_s=4VBF9h6VEmu8Uf3QqRdejTaImFc%3D "View Image - Figure 3. The mechanism of formation of the typical ambergris odor: due to the oxidative decomposition by seawater, air, and/or sunlight, ambrafuran is generated from the ambrein (created with BioRender.com (accessed on 10 December 2021); reworked by [52]).")
Enlarge this image.Figure 3. The mechanism of formation of the typical ambergris odor: due to the oxidative decomposition by seawater, air, and/or sunlight, ambrafuran is generated from the ambrein (created with BioRender.com (accessed on 10 December 2021); reworked by [52]).
List of the most common cosmetic ingredients derived from insects (Group A) 1.
| Animal Source | Ingredient | INCI Name | Functions | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bee | Beeswax | Cera alba/Beeswax | Emollient, emulsifying, film forming, perfuming | - |
| Honey | Mel | Humectant, skin conditioning, flavoring | Honey cosmetics | |
| Nectar | Nectar | Humectant, skin conditioning | - | |
| Pollen | Pollen/pollen extract | Emollient, skin conditioning | Pollen cosmetics | |
| Propolis | Propolis cera/extract | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Royal jelly | Royal jelly/R.J. extract | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Bee venom | Bee venom/Bee venom extract | Astringent, skin conditioning | - | |
| Bee larva | hydrolyzed bee larva extract/queen bee larva | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Beetle | Beetle larva | Beetle larva extract | Skin conditioning | - |
| Mealworm beetle (larva) (Tenebrio molitor) | Mealworm larva extract | Humectant, skin conditioning | - | |
| Cochineal | Carmine cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) | CI 75470 (carmin/natural red 4) | Colorant, cosmetic pigment | - |
| Lacquer cochineal (Kerria lacca-Laccifer lacca) | Shellac/shellac wax/shellac cera | Emollient, film forming, hair fixing, viscosity controlling | - | |
| Silkworm | Sericin | Sericin | Smoothing, antistatic, skin/hair conditioning | - |
| Silk | Silk/Silk extract/Serica | Skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Silk (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed silk/H. silk protein | Antistatic, humectant, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Silkworm extract | Bombyx mori extract | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Snail | Allantoin (snail’s slime) | Allantoin | Soothing, skin/hair conditioning | Snail cosmetics |
| Egg | Snail Egg Extract | Skin conditioning | Snail cosmetics | |
| Slime | Snail Slime Extract/Snail Secretion Filtrate/Snail Mucus Filtrate | Skin conditioning, antioxidant, humectant | Snail cosmetics | |
| Slime (Helix aspersa muller) | Helix Aspersa Extract/Elicina® | Skin conditioning, antioxidant, humectant | Snail cosmetics | |
| Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) | Snail Extract | Skin conditioning, antioxidant, humectant | Snail cosmetics | |
| Spider | Peptides (spider web) | Spider polypeptide-1/SP-4 | Skin/hair conditioning | - |
| Spider web | Spider Web Extract | Skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Spider web (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed spider web | Skin conditioning | - |
1 Reworked by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (annexes III, IV), Commission Decision (EU) 2019/701, CosIng database, InciDecoder database, INCI Beauty database, Proserpio and Contini [
List of the most common cosmetic ingredients derived from land animals (Group B) 1.
| Animal Source | Ingredient | INCI Name | Functions | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear | Fat | Bear oil | Skin conditioning | - |
| Beaver | Castoreum 2 | Castoreum/castoreum oil | Fragrance | - |
| Bovine | Allantoin (urine) | Allantoin | Soothing, skin conditioning, skin protecting | - |
| Amniotic fluid | Amniotic fluid | Moisturizing, skin conditioning | - | |
| Bovine amniotic fluid | Amniotic Fluid | Moisturizing, skin conditioning | - | |
| Collagen (ligaments) | Collagen | Moisturizing, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Collagen (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed collagen | Humectant, antistatic, emollient, film forming, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Elastin (ligaments) | Elastin | Soothing, skin conditioning | - | |
| Elastin (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed elastin/E. amino acids | Emollient, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Fat (buffalo) | Buffalo fat | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Fat (tallow) | Sodium tallowate | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Bile (bovine) | Gall | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Keratin (horns, hairs, hooves) | Keratin | Skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Keratin (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed keratin/K. amino acids | Humectant, antistatic, film forming, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Milk | Lac/Milk | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Milk (buffalo) | Whole dry buffalo milk | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Milk (casein) | Casein/Casein extract | Antistatic, skin/hair conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Milk (casein, hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed casein | Antistatic, skin/hair conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Milk (yak) | Yak milk | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Placenta [ |
Placental extract/Placental protein | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Placenta (Hydrolyzed) [ |
Hydrolyzed Placental Extract | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Sperm (bull: Aberdeen Angus) | Aberdeen Angus bull | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Camel | Milk | Camel milk/Camel milk extract | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics |
| Chicken | Albumen | Albumen/Albumen extract | Film forming, skin/hair conditioning | - |
| Albumen (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed Albumen | Antistatic, viscosity controlling, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Egg | Egg/Egg extract | Skin/hair conditioning | Egg cosmetics | |
| Hyaluronic acid (ridges) | Hydrolyzed chicken cartilage extract | Humectant, antistatic, moisturizing, film forming, skin conditioning | - | |
| Duck | Embryo | Duck embryo extract | Moisturizing, skin conditioning | - |
| Fat | Duck fat | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Emu | Fat (oil) | Emu oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | - |
| Equine | Fat (donkey) [ |
Donkey Oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics |
| Fat (horse) [ |
Horse fat/oil/H. tissue extract | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Milk (donkey) | Equus asinus lac/donkey milk | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Milk (horse) | Equae lac/Mare milk | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Mink/Civet | Mustele Oil/Civet oil | Mink Oil/Civet oil | Skin/hair conditioning | - |
| Ostrich | Egg | Ostrich egg yolk extract | Antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning | Egg cosmetics |
| Fat (oil) | Ostrich oil | Emollient, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Ovine/caprine | Fat (goat milk) | Caprae Butyrum | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics |
| Lanolin (fleece) | Lanolin | Emollient, antistatic, emulsifying, surfactant, skin/hair conditioning | Lanolin cosmetics | |
| Lanolin derivatives | Lanolin *, PEG * lanolin, * lanolin, etc. | Emollient, antistatic, emulsifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling, skin/hair conditioning | Lanolin cosmetics | |
| Milk (sheep) | Sheep milk | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Milk (goat) | Caprae lac/Caprae Lac Extract | Skin conditioning | Milk cosmetics | |
| Reptiles | Fat/oil (crocodile) | Crocodile oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | - |
| Fat/oil (snake) | Snake oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Fat/oil (snake: Agkistrodon halys blomhoffi) | Mamushi oil | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Viper venom 3 | Viper venom/viper v. extract/snake v. | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Swine | Lard | Hydrogenated lard | Emollient, skin conditioning | - |
| Placenta (hydrolyzed) [ |
Hydrolyzed Placental Extract | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Stearic acid | Stearic acid | Emulsifying, surfactant, viscosity controlling | - | |
| Magnesium stearate 4 | Magnesium stearate | Anticaking, bulking, cosmetic colorant, moisturizing | - |
1 Reworked by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (annexes III, IV), Commission Decision (EU) 2019/701, CosIng database, InciDecoder database, INCI Beauty database, Proserpio and Contini [
List of the most common cosmetic ingredients derived from marine animals (Group C) 1.
| Animal Source | Ingredient | INCI Name | Function | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cephalopods | Cuttlefish | Sepia extract | Skin conditioning | - |
| Cetacean | Ambergris 2 | Musk ambrette | Fragrance | - |
| Fish | Cartilage | Fish cartilage extract | Skin conditioning | - |
| Collagen | Soluble Fish Collagen | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Collagen (Hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen | Moisturizing, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| DNA | DNA/Hydrolyzed DNA | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Fat (codfish) | Cod Liver Oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Fat (oil) | Fish oil/hydrogenated fish oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Fat (shark) | Shark Liver Oil | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Egg [ |
Salmon Egg | Skin/hair conditioning | Egg cosmetics | |
| Fin extract (Isurus oxyrinchus) | Shark Fin Extract | Emollient, humectant, skin conditioning | - | |
| Ovary | Hydrolyzed salmon ovary extract | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Semen | Spermidine/sperm | Skin conditioning | - | |
| Squalene (shark liver) 3 | Squalene | Emollient, antistatic, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Jellyfish | Collagen (Rhopilema asamushi, Stomolophus meleagris, Catostylus tagi, Rhizostoma pulmo) [ |
Collagen | Moisturizing, skin/hair conditioning | - |
| Jellyfish | Jellyfish extract | Humectant, skin conditioning | - | |
| Plankton | Plankton | Plankton extract | Skin conditioning | Plankton cosmetics |
| Porifer | Collagen (Geodia cydonium, Speriditae, and Icinia fusca) [ |
Collagen | Moisturizing, skin/hair conditioning | - |
| Sponge | Sponge/Sponge extract | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Sponge (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed Sponge/Hydr. Sp. Extract | Emollient, skin conditioning | - | |
| Seal | Seal (fatty tissue) | Seal oil | Skin conditioning | - |
| Shellfish | Chitin/chitosan [ |
Chitosan | Film forming, hair fixing | - |
| Chitosan (hydrolyzed) | Hydrolyzed chitosan | Film forming, skin/hair conditioning | - | |
| Starfish | Starfish powder [ |
Starfish extract/Hydrolyzed starfish extract | Skin conditioning | - |
1 Reworked by Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (annexes III, IV), Commission Decision (EU) 2019/701, CosIng database, InciDecoder database, INCI Beauty database, Proserpio and Contini [
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; Guagni, Manuela 2 1 Research and Development Division, Prestige, 52024 Loro Ciuffenna, Italy; New Line Academy, 50131 Firenze, Italy;
2 New Line Academy, 50131 Firenze, Italy;