Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, you deserve to know. (Caution: you will get details). Contrary to many schoolhouse playground stories, gelatin does not come from horse hooves—it’s not far off, though. Hooves are made of keratin, the same stuff our hair and nails are made of.But gelatin comes from collagen, the soft protein that connects our skin, bones, muscles, tendons.It’s the stuff that gets pumped into one’s face to reduce wrinkles, puff up the lips, and basically look like Miss Jolie.ut gelatin comes from collagen, the soft protein that connects our skin, bones, muscles, tendons. It’s the stuff that gets pumped into one’s face to reduce wrinkles, puff up the lips, and basically look like Miss Jolie.