Placenta extract in a jar of anti-ageing cream or a supplement capsule is not a plant compound with a dramatic name, it is processed animal tissue, usually collected from pigs, sheep or cattle at slaughter.
Made fromAnimal placenta (commonly porcine, ovine or bovine)
Collected atSlaughter, as a by-product
VerdictNot vegan
Where it hides
Anti-ageing creams, serums and "placenta therapy" facials
Oral supplements sold for skin and menopause support
Haircare and scalp treatments
Labelled "placenta extract", "placental protein" or by species (porcine, ovine, bovine placenta)
What it is
The placenta is the organ that connects a developing fetus to the uterine wall during pregnancy, and in animal agriculture it is routinely collected as a by-product of birth or slaughter. A 2020 clinical study describes what it is before anyone processes it into a cosmetic or a supplement.
Primary source 01 / 03
The placenta is a temporary organ in the females of mammals during gestation that connects the developing fetus via the umbilical cord to the uterine wall.
Manufacturers collect placentas from pigs, sheep or cattle at slaughter, then separate out the solid tissue and cell fluid to extract the proteins, growth factors and lipids marketed for skin and hair benefits.
Primary source 02 / 03
Placenta was obtained from healthy pigs, solid (placenta tissue) and liquid (cell fluid) phases were separated, and 100% extract was collected
Cosmetic use of placenta dates to the 1950s in France, when human placenta from hospital births was the original raw material. That changed after the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s made human tissue unacceptable for cosmetic use.
Primary source 03 / 03
All placental extracts of human origin were removed from cosmetics by legislative prohibition and replaced by placental extracts of bovine origin.
Bovine and ovine sources then drew their own scrutiny once bovine spongiform encephalopathy appeared in the 1990s, pushing some brands towards other species or away from animal placenta altogether. Porcine placenta, sourced from pig farming, is now common in both skincare and the oral supplements sold for menopausal symptoms and skin hydration.
The 'plant placenta' trap
In 1991 a French cosmetics company coined the term "plant placenta" for a new active ingredient designed to mimic the cell-stimulating effect of the real thing, and the name stuck as a marketing term still used today. Whatever a given "plant placenta" product actually contains, it is not an extract of any animal's placenta, but a shopper glancing at an ingredient called "plant placenta" next to one called "placenta extract" has no way to tell from the wording alone that one contains an animal organ and the other does not.
CollagenCollagen is the scaffolding of animal bodies: skin, bone, connective tissue. There is no plant version, so every real collagen supplement is animal-derived, and vegan collagen is a different thing wearing the same name.
KeratinKeratin is the protein in hair, nails, horns and feathers. The keratin in a smoothing treatment is sourced from exactly those animal parts.
Royal jellyRoyal jelly is bee food, secreted by workers to raise queens. Like honey and beeswax, it is something taken from a hive, which puts it outside a vegan diet by definition.
Frequently asked
Is 'plant placenta' vegan?
Generally yes. Despite the name, plant placenta is a marketing term for a plant-derived active ingredient developed to mimic the effect of animal placenta extract, not a real placenta of any kind. Check the full ingredients list if in doubt, since the name alone is not a guarantee.
Does placenta extract come from humans?
Rarely today. Early cosmetic use in the 1950s did use human placenta from hospital births, but most countries stopped this after the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s, and pig, sheep or cattle placenta from slaughter is now the standard source.
Is placenta extract vegetarian?
No, in most vegetarian definitions. Unlike honey or dairy, placenta extract is collected at slaughter as a by-product of the meat industry, so most vegetarians avoid it for the same reason they avoid gelatin or rennet from a slaughtered animal.
A brief history of placental extracts · Martini M-C, Cosmeticobs, 2026 · Industry history: human placenta banned from cosmetics in the 1980s, replaced by bovine and other animal sources
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