Animal Products in Your Makeup- And No, They Are Not Pleasant To Have In Them Either!

You might believe its not a big deal that you have some sort of animal product, or by-product in your makeup. Yes, it's in your lipstick, lipgloss, nailpolish, foundation, eye makeup, creams, lotions, toiletries - and pretty much everything.

Surprised? I would be too, and was when I first learned this. Want to know what the top 10 animal by-products are help to make up your makeup? Here is the top 10 countdown of animal byproducts in your cosmetics.

10. Oleoresin Capsicum
Better known as pepper, and a huge part of what makes pepper spray- this this substance is commonly used as a defense spray by police and law enforcement who may encounter dangerous animals in the wild. Heck pepper spray is used by women to defend themselves if need be. This pepper spray causes temporary blindness when making contact to the eye, and is burning to the skin.

And guess what- its found as capacin extract(same thing as extract of chilli pepper) in cosmetics! When you wear your lipstick or lipgloss and you feel a tingly sensation on your lips- know that its the oleoresin capsicum that causing this.  Fairly harmless, but is it even needed?

9. Waste Cooking Oil

This great stuff is often used by cosmetics companies as a surfactant. This basically helps to "regenerate damaged skin" so they say. Many of these companies get their waste oil from good old fast food restaurants. While the idea that they are recycling something sounds great, its pretty gross and disgusting to know they use that as a skin regenerating agent. Eww!!

8. Fish Scales

If you have ever used any cosmetic that has a shimmer to it, you can bet it has fish scales in it.The pearl-escent sheen on eyeshadows, nail polish, and such come from this ingredient.

7. Chicken Bone Marrow
Chicken Bone Marrow is just one of many animal based ingredients used in your everyday cosmetics.  A possible reason behind this is that it is said that bone marrow helps promote youthful skin, and helps skin cells to create a youthful appearance. It may also be used as an anti-inflammatory. You can also find this in facial creams and moisturizers.

6. Cochineal Dye
So guess what this is!??! You may not find cochineal dye listed as an ingredient in your cosmetics, but you will find carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid. If you find any of these ingredients listed, you probably are using a cosmetic that has some sort of red hue to it, such as lipstick. It may seem pretty harmless, but this dye is used in a lot of cosmetics that comes from cochineal beetles. The bugs are drowned in hot water, dried, and then ground to a fine powder. The crimson red dye is then extracted and used in whatever beauty product you can imagine. It’s also used in food products as well, such as gelatins, juices, and even candy.

5. Bull Semen

As surprised as you may be by this, this trend of using semen in cosmetics is not new. It has been used for several years in the form of cod sperm in lotions because it provides a quality that binds with water. But recently, bull semen is being used by cosmetic companies and salons in products for instance, for the hair, that provide a sheen, and lustrous quality to it.  They also believe no other ingredient can provide the same sheen. The salon, known as Hari’s Salon, uses bull semen mixed with katria root, to neutralize the odor, and viola, shiny hair. If you’re up for some semen in your hair, take a trip to the U.K. with $90 in hand. Maybe the cowboys know something we don’t.

4. Human Foreskin

Yes! Are you surprised too? If you are "looking for the fountain of youth" then look no further. Human foreskin is what is used been used for years as a method to cultivate new skin growth, instead of performing skin graphs on burn patients. While it may seem unethical to you, many cosmetics companies around the world have been using this in their makeup for a long time! The same method is also used in the cosmetics world. Companies, the most notable being SkinMedica, use foreskin fibroblasts in cosmetic creams and collagens, especially those made to reduce wrinkles. It is said that one piece of foreskin from a baby boy can be used to create about 4 acres of new skin.

3. Ambergris

Ambergris; sounds like something nice, maybe pretty, however, it’s everything but that. It’s actually a gray or black substance that is found in the digestive system of sperm whales-  we’ll just call it bile, or “whale by-product,” both work. Despite its dark color and waxy texture, ambergris is said to have a very earthy and sweet smell to it. The substance was widely used in cosmetics, especially perfumes because of its smell. However, not many companies use it today as synthetic scents have become much more popular. Whoever decided to smell this definitely has some guts!

2. Urea

Who knew urine contained something cosmetic companies would flip over? Urea, a chief waste product of our body as well as from animals, is used in antiperspirants, moisturizers, mouthwashes, deodorants, and shampoos. That’s right; you’re getting all beautified with the help of an organic compound in urine! Urea is used because it is known to absorb, attract and retain water, and contains vitamins A, D, E, and K. Not only does it work wonders on sweat and moisturizing, it is also a great anti-inflammatory as well as a sun protection. Thankfully, most companies now use synthetic urea instead of extracting it from a horse.

1. Human placenta

Despite how disgusting they look, some people have actually found a new use for them: cosmetics. The company Plazan has created and manufactured an entire line of cosmetics made with human placenta. Why placenta? Apparently cosmetics that use hormones extracted from the placenta, such as Hyaluronic Acid and Protein Hydrolysate, help to promote tissue growth, which is very effective in removing wrinkles. As if it’s any better, our bodies don’t become reliant upon products with human placenta because it’s made with our biological structure, both those products that use animal placenta are another story.