Vegan alternatives

Snail mucin and PDRN aren’t for everyone. Here are plant-based actives that do a similar job, often with stronger evidence.

Animal-derived ingredients to look out for

Snail mucin: Snail secretion filtrate
PDRN: Usually from salmon DNA
Propolis and honey: Made by bees
Collagen: Often from fish
Milk: Goat or donkey milk in some creams
Lanolin: From sheep’s wool

What to use instead

Instead of snail mucin

For hydration, soothing and repair

Centella (cica): calms and supports repair
Panthenol: soothes and strengthens the skin barrier
Hyaluronic acid and beta-glucan: plump and hydrate
Heartleaf and mugwort: calming plant extracts popular in K-beauty
Galactomyces: a fermented yeast filtrate used in essences for hydration and glow

Instead of PDRN

For firmer, bouncier-looking skin

Retinal: the best evidence for fine lines
Bakuchiol: a gentler plant-based alternative to retinoids
Niacinamide: supports the barrier and tone
Adenosine: approved in Korea for wrinkle-improvement claims
Peptides: promising for firmness, with less research

Instead of propolis

For calming and a healthy glow

Centella: soothing
Niacinamide: evens tone
Rice extracts: brightening and softening

Instead of collagen

To help skin make its own collagen

Retinal: well-researched
Vitamin C: antioxidant that supports collagen
Peptides: messenger ingredients for firmness

A snail-free pick from our price list: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule (from £16.87), made with centella.

Plant-based PDRN

Early evidence

Several Korean brands now make PDRN from plants, such as red bean, oat, green tea, berries or rose, instead of salmon. It is a similar type of ingredient (DNA fragments), but from a different source, and the research so far is mostly small studies run by the brands themselves. Treat it as a nice extra rather than a proven active.

Beauty of Joseon Pore Firming Serum: Red bean PDRN, with peptide. Aimed at pores and smoothness.
PURITO Oat PDRN Gentle Refining Toner: Oat PDRN in a milky, fragrance-free toner for sensitive skin.
PURITO Multi PDRN Collagen EGF Serum: Plant-based PDRN with vegan collagen and EGF. Stocked in the UK by John Lewis.
innisfree Retinol Green Tea PDRN Firming Serum: Green tea PDRN with a retinol complex, so use it on retinoid nights only and avoid in pregnancy.
AXIS-Y Triple PDRN Barrier Boost Serum: Berry-derived PDRN, certified vegan. Launched in August 2026.
Haruharu Wonder Rose PDRN Firming Serum: PDRN from Damask rose stem cells.

These aren’t in our price comparison yet. Formulas change, so check the latest ingredients list before you buy.

Vegan or cruelty-free?

Vegan means no animal ingredients. Cruelty-free means not tested on animals. They are different, so if both matter to you, look for both on the label, along with certification logos such as The Vegan Society, EVE VEGAN or Leaping Bunny. Brands also change formulas, so it’s worth checking the latest ingredients list.

Good to know

Is snail mucin vegan?

No. It is collected from snails, so it is not vegan. Centella, panthenol and hyaluronic acid offer similar soothing and hydrating benefits.

Is PDRN vegan?

Most PDRN in skincare comes from salmon DNA, so it is not vegan. Brands such as Beauty of Joseon, PURITO, innisfree, AXIS-Y and Haruharu Wonder now make plant-based PDRN from sources like red bean, oat, green tea, berries and rose. Research on these is still early. Retinal and bakuchiol have stronger evidence for fine lines.

What is the difference between vegan and cruelty-free?

Vegan means a product contains no animal ingredients. Cruelty-free means it was not tested on animals. A product can be one without the other, so check for both if they matter to you.

General information, not medical advice. Read more: snail mucin · PDRN