Glow or No? The Truth About Snail Mucin, Beef Tallow & Other Trending Skincare Ingredients!
In the ever-evolving world of skincare, there’s always a new “it” ingredient promising smoother, firmer, more radiant skin. Recently, I’ve noticed a resurgence of animal-derived ingredients making their way into moisturizers, serums, and even facials.
And while these ingredients are often marketed as “traditional” or “natural,” that doesn’t automatically make them better—or necessary. Just because something is trending on TikTok doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your skin.
At Skinfatuation, I believe skincare should be rooted in three things: efficacy, ethics, and innovation. An ingredient’s history doesn’t guarantee its place in modern formulations, and today’s buzz doesn’t always equal safety or results. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more controversial animal by-products in skincare and ask whether they truly deserve a spot in your routine.
Beef Tallow (Rendered Animal Fat)
Let’s start with the big one: beef tallow. Once considered outdated, it’s now popping up on skincare blogs and TikTok as a “miracle moisturizer.”
Claims: Nourishes skin, supports the barrier, deeply hydrates
Reality: Highly occlusive, pore-clogging, and not ideal for acne-prone or reactive skin.
While tallow is rich in fatty acids and can have some anti-inflammatory properties, it can trap bacteria and lead to breakouts and barrier disruption. I've seen it firsthand.
My take? There are far better options. Squalane, jojoba, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and essential fatty acids offer barrier support without the heaviness or pore-clogging factors.
I don’t believe in using animal fat when cleaner, smarter, cruelty-free alternatives exist.
Beef tallow may be “natural,” but so is poison ivy.
Snail Mucin (Snail Slime)
Claims: Hydrating, healing, rich in glycoproteins and mucin
The Catch: Sourcing practices vary—and many aren’t transparent.
Snail mucin can hydrate skin, but plant-based alternatives (like lab-engineered hyaluronic acid) offer the same results with fewer ethical concerns—and no snail stress.
While snail mucin is often considered one of the less harmful animal-derived ingredients—and is typically collected without directly harming the snails—the ethics can still be murky. It raises important questions: Are the snails kept in humane conditions? Is their environment natural or industrialized? Are they being stressed or exploited for secretion production?
Even if labeled “cruelty-free,” snail mucin still relies on animal secretions for cosmetic use. With so many effective, lab-created and plant-based alternatives available today (like peptides, hyaluronic acid, and growth factor mimics), some may question whether it's truly necessary to rely on animal-based ingredients at all.
Pro Tip: If you really like the sticky, gel-like consistency of snail mucin, Byoma came out with a hydrating serum called Phyto Mucin Glow Serum that mimics this! It contains a biobased alternative to snail mucin derived from Japanese roots and plants to plump skin, reduce water loss, and strengthen the barrier—and I actually really like this product. It gives the skin a nice hydrated glow for a really affordable price.
Bee Venom, Royal Jelly, Honey & Beeswax
Bee Venom: Marketed as a “natural Botox.”
The problem? Bees are already under threat. Venom harvesting stresses hives and impacts colony health, even when claimed “sustainable.” Bees release venom under stress. Electrical stimulation triggers panic and defensive behavior—far from natural. Let’s leave the bees to pollinate—not provide actives. Plant-based peptides and humectants can deliver the same smoothing and firming benefits—without putting pollinators at risk.
Lanolin (Wool Wax)
Why it’s used: Mimics natural skin oils; very moisturizing
Sourced from: Sheep’s wool
Lanolin can be helpful in extreme dryness or post-procedure healing—but it often carries pesticide residues and isn’t vegan. Refined, medical-grade versions are cleaner, but still animal-derived.
If the lanolin is sourced from humanely treated sheep, it is considered a low-impact animal byproduct. Though cruelty may be minimal, lanolin is still an animal-derived ingredient, which excludes it from vegan skincare formulations. So if you’re using lanolin, check where it’s sourced.
Better choices? Plant waxes, shea butter, or squalane offer similar emollience with more consistent purity—and no sheep involved.
Collagen
Topical Collagen: The molecule size is too large to penetrate skin—offers temporary smoothing at best. It acts primarily as a hydrating, film-forming ingredient—helping to improve surface smoothness, lock in moisture, and give skin a temporarily plumper appearance.
If you want to support your own collagen, opt for retinoids, peptides, growth factors, and vitamin C—they have been scientifically proven to work!
As supplements, hydrolyzed collagen peptides can improve skin elasticity and hydration—but they're not essential for everyone.
Carmine (Crushed Cochineal Beetles)
Used in: Lipsticks, blushes, red-toned shadows, even food
Issues: Not vegan, not cruelty-free, and often allergenic
Made by drying, crushing, and boiling female cochineal beetles, carmine is one of those ingredients that makes you pause. And if you know me, you know—I don’t do bugs. I can live without them. In fact, I’ll admit: I will absolutely kill any spider that dares step foot in my house. Actually, scratch that—I will make my husband kill any spider that dares step foot in my house while I run into the other room and hide.
But to kill tens of thousands of beetles just to get a red pigment for makeup or skincare? That feels excessive.
It can take up to 70,000 insects to make a single pound of carmine. And honestly? There are plenty of plant-based and mineral alternatives that do the job—without the bug guts.
My stance? If it crawls, buzzes, or bleeds red dye, it doesn’t belong in your skincare.
We Don’t Need To Have Bugs in Beauty!
Fish Enzymes & Marine Collagen
Why they’re used: Gentle exfoliation and skin-firming effects
Fish enzymes can help resurface sensitive skin—but fruit enzymes (like papaya or pumpkin) do the same with fewer sustainability concerns. I absolutely love papaya and pumpkin enzymes!
As for marine collagen, topical versions are ineffective, and supplements can help—but they’re not the only option. Lab-grown peptides and biotech collagen are cleaner, kinder alternatives for marine life.
Mink, Emu & Horse Oils
Mink Oil: From fat under mink skin—often a fur industry byproduct
Emu Oil: Rendered fat from slaughtered emus
Horse Oil: Sourced from horses used for meat
All three are rich in lipids—but so are plant-based oils like tamanu, rosehip, and squalane. And none of them involve animal cruelty or questionable sourcing.
No horse (or mink or emu) should lose its life for a face cream.
quick note on Squalene
Squalene is a natural lipid found in our own skin’s sebum, as well as in certain animals and plants. For decades, the beauty industry’s most common source of squalene was shark liver oil. Thankfully, the shift is now toward far more eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and sustainable plant sources like olives, sugarcane, rice bran, amaranth seed, and other plant oils.
Anytime I mention squalene here, I’m referring to the plant-based variety. 🌱
Unfortunately, some cosmetic brands do still rely on shark-derived squalene because it can be cheaper to produce and offers higher yield per source. But the good news is that more and more companies are moving away from that practice in favor of ethical, plant-based alternatives.
To be confident your product is shark-free, try the following:
Look for “100% plant-derived” or “vegetable-based” on the label.
Check for Vegan or Cruelty-Free certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies.
Research brand statements, especially in ethical or sustainability sections.
Reach out directly to brands that don't explicitly specify—ask if their squalane is plant-derived.
What About Salmon Sperm Facials?
This one I’ve gone back and forth on. The salmon sperm facial uses a regenerative serum derived from salmon DNA (PDRN). I know—it sounds a little out there (and definitely doesn’t sound plant-based). Here’s why I make space for it in the conversation and why I remain on the fence:
The PDRN is typically collected as a byproduct from wild salmon already being processed for the food industry—not from live animals raised or harmed solely for cosmetic purposes—or it’s filtered from the water during their mating season.
No farming. No invasive extraction. No animal testing.
When used in a professional, targeted, clinical setting—not mass marketed as a trendy “miracle” ingredient—it can deliver impressive results.
⚠️ Important to note: Be cautious of skincare products that claim to contain salmon PDRN. The molecule size is too large to penetrate deeply enough to benefit your skin. However, as an add-on to a microneedling treatment, it can help boost both glow and results over time.
Are there plant-based alternatives to salmon sperm? Yes—there are some vegan PDRN options. However, there’s no clinical data yet proving that vegan PDRN is as effective as salmon sperm PDRN. Since salmon sperm PDRN does have more clinical research behind it, I believe—for now—it can be the better option, but only in combination with professional treatments like microneedling, not in everyday skincare.
That said, I always encourage transparency. If you’re considering treatments that use animal-derived actives—even ones labeled cruelty-free—it’s always okay to ask questions about sourcing, safety, and whether a lab-made alternative could do the same job.
Final Word: Thoughtful Skincare is Better Skincare
Just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s beneficial—and just because it’s trending doesn’t mean it’s safe or ethical.
Even if some animal-derived ingredients in skincare aren’t harvested in harmful ways, that doesn’t automatically make them the best choice. With so many effective plant-based and lab-created alternatives available, there’s often no real need to rely on animal byproducts—especially when there are options that align better with both your skin and your values.
Does that mean all animal-derived ingredients are inherently bad? No. But it’s a good reminder to look beyond the marketing, check sourcing practices, and ask: Is there a more ethical, effective alternative?
At Skinfatuation, I’m committed to:
🌿 Science-backed, innovative formulas
🐰 Cruelty-free products
🌎 Conscious choices that care for your skin and the planet
You’ll only find brands here that align with ethics and deliver real results—no animal testing, ever.
Brands I Trust:
– Skinbetter Science
– Glymed+
– Clearstem
– CO2 Pro/Luminsque
– Perfect Derma Skincare
– Hydrinity
While I primarily work with professional-grade skincare, I understand that everyone has a different budget. If you’re shopping at the drugstore, two brands I trust for more thoughtful formulations and accessible pricing are Byoma and Naturium.
Both brands focus on barrier-supportive ingredients, avoid heavy fragrance, and are more transparent than most in their price range.
Whether you’re browsing ingredient labels or exploring what’s trending, I’m here to help you choose smarter, more compassionate skincare.
Need help finding The right Products for your skincare routine?
Let’s chat—I'd love to help you discover effective, ethical alternatives that align with your values and support real skin health.
