Lanolin – Should it be in your skin care products?

Lanolin softens and protects. It is harvested without harming animals. The skin absorbs it quickly without clogging the pores. So why do people avoid it?

What is lanolin?

A pure and natural product, lanolin is simply the wax extracted from sheep’s wool, after the sheep has been sheared. The sheep is not hurt. You probably don’t like having your fur clipped, but the people who do it are highly trained, they do it quickly, and the sheep join your flock in a matter of minutes.

The trimmed wool is naturally covered with a pale yellow water-repellent wax. Also known as wool grease, its purpose is to keep sheep healthy and dry. It is extracted from wool by a boiling process. This is raw lanolin.

Refining: the key to security

The next step is to refine this wax and remove impurities. PBS recently did a documentary on lanolin and they purified it by mixing it with olive oil and water. The impurities dissolved in the water and oil, leaving the lanolin as a whitish wax that could be collected.

In commercial lanolin processing, refining is done in sterile environments and through many stages. This refining process is the key to the safety of lanolin. Depending on the needs of the manufacturer, lanolin can be refined raw, in which case it may still contain impurities. Or it can be refined to medical grade, safe enough for nursing mothers to use on cracked nipples.

So why the bad press?

There are two potential problems with lanolin.

one. It can be refined to an acceptable cosmetic grade and still contain impurities, some of which may be allergens. People who are allergic to lanolin are likely allergic to unrelated ingredients that were not removed in the refining process. Also, some manufacturers use a chemical bleach to whiten the color. And the finished product may have been mixed with vegetable oils or soft paraffin that comes from other sources. There could be impurities in these additives.

two. Some lanolin may be contaminated with DDT, dieldrin, lindane, or other toxic pesticides. These carcinogens may find their way into our skin care products. This is because the sheep may be eating feed that has been treated with these or other insecticides.

How to make sure your lanolin is safe

Both of these problems are solved by buying your lanolin-based products from a reputable company; a company you know and trust; a company with visibility – a website with contact information; a detailed label on your product. Make sure the lanolin in your lotion is labeled pure grade, fine grade, highly refined, or medical grade. If you are unsure of the rating, please email the company through their website. Well-refined lanolin will be free of pesticides and impurities.

When you buy a finished skin care product, also make sure that it has not been tested on animals.

Lanolin itself is not likely to cause allergic reactions, although each individual should check with their doctor before using anything that is absorbed into the body.

Pure lanolin is obtained without harming the sheep, unlike emu oil, which is obtained by killing the bird. Lanolin is an almost perfect skin softener and emollient. Many lanolin-based products are not tested on animals. And by making sure the soap, lip balm, skin cream, moisturizer or hair product you use contains only high-grade or medical-grade lanolin, you can breathe easy and enjoy the benefits of lanolin.