Quick answer: Several common skincare ingredients can come from pigs, including collagen, gelatin, glycerin, stearic acid, elastin and placenta extract. The ingredient list rarely tells you the source, so the only reliable way to know a product is free from pork and pig fat is a halal certificate from JAKIM or a JAKIM-recognised body.
Many Malaysians check food labels carefully but trust skincare without a second look. Yet some of the most popular ingredients in creams and serums can be made from pork, pig fat or other non-halal animal sources. This guide shows you which ingredients to check and what ANAAKA uses instead.
Why pork can hide in skincare
Animal fats and proteins are cheap, stable and easy to process. That makes them useful to cosmetic manufacturers. The problem is that the same ingredient name can come from a plant, a lab or an animal. "Glycerin" on a label can be made from coconut oil or from animal fat. The label looks exactly the same.
This is why halal certification matters. A certifier traces every raw material back to its source, checks the factory and confirms there is no contamination with najs.
Ingredients that can come from pork or pig fat
| Ingredient | What it does | Possible pork source |
|---|---|---|
| Collagen, hydrolyzed collagen | Moisture and firmness claims | Pig skin and bones |
| Gelatin | Thickener, film former | Pig skin and bones |
| Glycerin (glycerol) | Draws moisture into the skin | Animal fat, including pig fat |
| Stearic acid, glyceryl stearate | Gives creams their texture | Animal fat, including pig fat |
| Elastin | Elasticity claims | Animal connective tissue |
| Placenta extract | Marketed for renewal | Porcine (pig) placenta |
| Lard (Adeps Suillus) | Rich balm base | Pig fat |
Watch for the words "porcine" or "Sus Scrofa" (the Latin name for pig) in an ingredient list. If you see them, the product is not halal.
Other non-halal ingredients to know
- Tallow (sodium tallowate): beef fat, which is only halal if the animal was slaughtered according to Islamic law.
- Hyaluronic acid from rooster combs: a traditional source that is not halal unless certified.
- Alcohol from wine or beer making: not permitted. Alcohol from other sources may be used in small amounts under Malaysian fatwa guidance.
How to check a product in 3 steps
- Read the ingredient list. Look for the ingredients in the table above and for "porcine" or "Sus Scrofa".
- Look for the certifier's name. Imported halal products must show the name of a certifier recognised by JAKIM.
- Verify it. Check the certifier on the JAKIM Halal Malaysia portal or the Verify Halal app. Our full guide explains each step: How to Tell If a Product Is Truly Halal.
What ANAAKA uses instead
ANAAKA skincare is halal certified by IIDC GmbH, a certification body recognised by JAKIM. That means every raw material in our formulas has been checked, including ingredients like glycerin and cetyl alcohol that could otherwise come from animal fat. You can view the current certificate on our Halal Certificate page.
| Common non-halal option | What ANAAKA uses |
|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid from rooster combs | Halal-certified hyaluronic acid from a mushroom source |
| Animal-derived collagen | Peptides that support the skin's own collagen, plus hydrolyzed soy protein |
| Lard or animal fats for richness | Jojoba esters, sunflower seed wax, acacia flower wax, olive oil and safflower oil |
| Animal-derived emulsifiers | Lecithin and plant-based polyglyceryl emulsifiers |
One honest note: some ANAAKA formulas, such as the Overnight Revitalizer, use natural beeswax. Beeswax is halal, but it is not vegan. ANAAKA is halal certified, not a vegan brand.
Our formulas also use halal rose water and immortelle flower water from Italy, chosen for calm, hydrated skin.
Pork-free products to start with
- Foaming Cleanser: gentle cleansing with halal rose water.
- Firming Serum: light gel with halal hyaluronic acid and copper tripeptide-1.
- Overnight Revitalizer: night cream with peptides and halal hyaluronic acid.
- Travel Kit: five products in 15 ml sizes, the easiest way to try the range.
Read what verified customers say about the routine: Real Reviews: The Halal Night Routine Malaysian Women Keep Buying.
Frequently asked questions
Can skincare contain pig fat?
Yes. Ingredients such as glycerin, stearic acid and lard can be made from pig fat. Because the label name is the same whatever the source, only halal certification confirms a product is free from pig fat.
Is glycerin in skincare halal?
Glycerin is halal when it comes from plants or a certified halal source. It is not halal when it comes from pig fat. Check for a recognised halal certificate.
Is collagen in skincare halal?
Collagen from pigs is not halal. Marine collagen and certified alternatives can be. Many halal brands use peptides instead, which support the skin's own collagen.
Does ANAAKA contain pork or pig fat?
No. ANAAKA skincare is halal certified by IIDC GmbH, which is recognised by JAKIM, so it contains no pork, pig fat or other non-halal ingredients.
Is ANAAKA vegan?
No. Some ANAAKA formulas contain natural beeswax, which is halal but not vegan.
