Understanding Common Animal-Sourcing Claims

Grass-Fed, Pasture-Raised, and Other Animal-Sourcing Claims in Skincare

Animal-derived ingredients have been used in skincare formulations for centuries.

Today, these ingredients continue to appear in a variety of products, including balms, moisturizers, cleansers, soaps, salves, and specialty skincare formulations.

If you've explored ingredient descriptions on product packaging or brand websites, you've likely encountered terms such as grass-fed, pasture-raised, ethically sourced, or responsibly sourced. These sourcing claims are commonly used to describe the agricultural practices associated with the original raw materials used to produce an ingredient.

While these terms may appear straightforward, their definitions are not always standardized across cosmetic supply chains. The meaning of a sourcing claim often depends on how a supplier, producer, certification program, or manufacturer defines and documents the claim.

Understanding what these claims generally mean—and the types of documentation that may support them—can provide valuable context for how sourcing information is communicated within the skincare industry.

This article explains common animal-sourcing claims, the documentation often associated with them, and why documentation plays an important role in ingredient transparency.

Why Animal-Sourcing Claims Matter

Animal-derived ingredients originate within agricultural systems long before they become cosmetic ingredients.

Depending on the ingredient, sourcing practices may involve farming operations, livestock management programs, apiaries, agricultural cooperatives, processors, ingredient manufacturers, and distributors.

As consumers increasingly seek transparency about ingredient origins, brands often communicate sourcing information to provide additional context about how an ingredient was produced.

Animal-sourcing claims may describe:

• Agricultural practices

• Feeding programs

• Animal-management systems

• Supplier sourcing standards

• Traceability initiatives

• Sustainability programs

Because these claims are frequently used in marketing materials, websites, and product descriptions, documentation plays an important role in helping define how a claim is being communicated.

Common Animal-Derived Ingredients Used in Skincare

A variety of animal-derived ingredients may be used in cosmetic formulations.

Examples include:

• Tallow

• Beeswax

• Honey

• Lanolin

• Milk-derived ingredients

• Propolis

• Royal jelly

These ingredients may serve different formulation purposes depending on the product and intended use.

Like botanical ingredients, animal-derived ingredients typically pass through multiple stages of processing and distribution before reaching cosmetic manufacturers.

What Does "Grass-Fed" Mean?

Grass-fed generally refers to feeding practices associated with livestock used to produce a particular agricultural material.

The specific meaning of the term may vary depending on the supplier, agricultural program, geographic region, or certification framework involved.

Within cosmetic supply chains, grass-fed claims are most commonly associated with ingredients derived from animal agriculture, such as tallow or certain milk-derived materials.

Because there is no single cosmetics-specific definition of grass-fed, the meaning of the claim depends on how it is defined and documented by the supplier.

Documentation That May Support a Grass-Fed Claim

Examples of supporting documentation may include:

• Supplier sourcing statements

• Agricultural production records

• Supplier attestations

• Traceability documentation

• Certification records, when applicable

Because definitions can vary, supporting documentation often provides more meaningful context than the claim language alone.

What Does "Pasture-Raised" Mean?

Pasture-raised generally refers to agricultural practices in which animals have access to outdoor pasture environments during part or all of their production cycle.

The term is commonly used within agricultural supply chains and may be applied differently depending on the producer, region, or certification program involved.

As with many sourcing claims, the exact meaning depends on how the supplier defines and documents the claim.

Documentation That May Support a Pasture-Raised Claim

Examples of supporting documentation may include:

• Supplier sourcing declarations

• Agricultural program descriptions

• Certification records

• Traceability documentation

• Supplier attestations

What Does "Ethically Sourced" Mean?

Ethically sourced is a broader sourcing description that may refer to a variety of supplier practices.

Depending on the supplier or manufacturer, the term may relate to factors such as:

• Animal welfare policies

• Supplier standards

• Labor practices

• Environmental considerations

• Supply-chain oversight

Because ethically sourced is a broad term, documentation is particularly important in understanding how the claim is being defined and applied.

Documentation That May Support an Ethically Sourced Claim

Examples of supporting documentation may include:

• Supplier policies

• Supplier questionnaires

• Sustainability reports

• Supplier declarations

• Program standards

• Traceability records

Why Documentation Matters

Documentation does not create a universal definition for a sourcing claim.

Documentation provides context for how a claim is being defined, communicated, and supported.

When brands communicate sourcing claims, documentation creates an evidence trail connecting those claims to supplier records, agricultural programs, sourcing statements, and other supporting information.

Examples of documentation commonly associated with animal-sourcing claims

include:

• Supplier sourcing statements

• Agricultural sourcing records

• Traceability documentation

• Supplier declarations

• Certification records

• Sustainability reports

Different documents serve different purposes. Some records describe agricultural practices, while others provide traceability information or explain supplier sourcing standards.

When documentation is available and appears consistent with a claim, it helps create greater transparency around how the ingredient is being described.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does grass-fed automatically mean pasture-raised?

Not necessarily.

The terms describe different aspects of agricultural production and may be defined differently depending on the supplier, producer, or certification framework involved.

Does ethically sourced have a universal definition?

No.

Ethically sourced is a broad sourcing description that may encompass a variety of practices and standards depending on how the supplier defines the claim.

Are animal-sourcing claims regulated the same way in cosmetics as food?

Not necessarily.

The applicability of specific regulations may vary depending on the claim, product category, jurisdiction, and how the claim is communicated.

What documents are commonly used to support animal-sourcing claims?

Supplier sourcing statements, traceability records, supplier declarations, certification records, agricultural program descriptions, and other supporting documentation may provide information relevant to sourcing claims.

How The Skincare Bureau™ Reviews Animal-Sourcing Claims

Animal-sourcing claims are among the many ingredient claims that may be submitted for review through The Skincare Bureau™.

When a participating brand submits a claim such as grass-fed, pasture-raised, ethically sourced, or responsibly sourced, the review focuses on the documentation associated with that claim.

The purpose of the review is not to determine whether an ingredient is superior, safer, more sustainable, or more ethical than another ingredient.

Rather, the review evaluates whether the submitted documentation appears consistent with the claim being communicated and provides support for the claim as presented.

This documentation-based approach differs from laboratory testing, certification programs, regulatory review, product safety evaluations, or agricultural audits.

We do not audit farms. We review the documentation behind the claim.

For brands seeking to strengthen transparency around ingredient sourcing practices, documentation review provides an independent way to evaluate whether supporting records align with the claims being communicated.

For Consumers

When you see the TSB Verified mark on a participating product, it indicates that documentation submitted in support of the reviewed claim has undergone independent documentation review by The Skincare Bureau™.

For Brands

If your products communicate ingredient sourcing, agricultural sourcing, sustainability, traceability, animal-sourcing, or other documentation-supported claims, TSB Verified provides a structured review process and a way to demonstrate that the supporting documentation behind those claims has undergone independent review.

Learn How TSB Verification Works →

Apply for Verification →

The information provided by The Skincare Bureau™ is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or regulatory advice.