Retinol (Vitamin A): Animal, Plant or Synthetic?

Retinol and its esters can be extracted from animal sources such as fish liver oil, synthesized, or supplied as plant provitamin A (beta-carotene) that the body converts. The origin is rarely on the label, so vegan status depends on the source. Cruelty-free is a distinct claim about animal testing — a synthetic, plant-free retinol can still be tested on animals, and an animal-derived one need not be.