Ingredient Decoder
Paste any product's ingredient list. We'll flag animal-derived, non-vegan and controversial entries — with cleaner alternatives.
Browse encyclopedia
Every entry, animal-derived flags, vegan alternatives.
Ingredients to avoid
The short-list of red flags.
How we score
Our transparent 0–100 methodology.
How to use this, and what it means
Ingredient lists are written in INCI and Latin names precisely because they are hard to skim. Animal-derived inputs in particular hide behind neutral words — carmine is crushed insects, tallow is rendered fat, shellac is a beetle resin. Paste a list here and the decoder names the ones worth knowing about, what they are derived from and what a plant-based alternative usually looks like.
The animal-derived ingredients people miss most
These appear routinely in cosmetics, food and household products, and none of them read as animal-derived to a casual shopper.
- Carmine / CI 75470 / cochineal — red pigment from scale insects.
- Lanolin — wool grease, common in balms and moisturisers.
- Stearic acid, glycerin, mono- and diglycerides — may be plant or animal unless stated.
- Shellac, beeswax (cera alba), honey, propolis and royal jelly — bee-derived.
- Keratin, collagen, elastin, silk amino acids, squalene — typically animal unless labelled plant-derived.
- Casein, whey, lactose and gelatine — dairy and slaughter by-products.
Ambiguous ingredients: why 'may be animal-derived' matters
A large share of common ingredients are chemically identical whatever the feedstock. Glycerin, stearic acid and squalene can come from palm, rapeseed, olive or animal fat, and the label rarely says which. Certified vegan products resolve the ambiguity for you; otherwise the only reliable route is asking the brand for the source of each ambiguous input.
Beyond animal inputs: irritants and environmental flags
The decoder also surfaces ingredients people commonly want to avoid for health or environmental reasons — parabens, formaldehyde releasers, synthetic fragrance blends, PFAS-related compounds, microplastics such as polyethylene beads, and uncertified palm oil derivatives linked to deforestation.
- Avoiding parabens? Scan for methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben.
- Avoiding microplastics? Look for polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon-12 and acrylates copolymer.
- Avoiding deforestation risk? Palm derivatives often appear as sodium palmate, elaeis guineensis or cetyl alcohol.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 'vegan' label guarantee no animal ingredients?+
A certified vegan mark from a body such as The Vegan Society or Certified Vegan means the formula and supply chain were checked. An uncertified 'vegan' claim on the front of pack is self-declared and worth verifying against the ingredient list.
Is vegan the same as cruelty-free?+
No. Vegan means no animal-derived ingredients; cruelty-free means no animal testing of the product or its inputs. A product can be one without being the other, which is why we score them separately.
See cruelty-free productsWhere do I find the full ingredient list?+
On the back of pack, and usually on the retailer or brand product page. Copy it exactly — abbreviations and missing commas can change how an ingredient is recognised.
What is CI 75470?+
The colour index number for carmine, a red pigment made from cochineal insects. It appears in lipsticks, blushes, yoghurts, juices and sweets.
Is 'fragrance' or 'parfum' a problem?+
It is a legal umbrella term that can cover dozens of undisclosed compounds, some of them animal-derived or allergenic. Brands that publish their full fragrance breakdown are the exception and worth rewarding.
Does this tool store what I paste?+
No. Matching happens in your browser against a local ingredient database; nothing is uploaded.