Lanolin Anhydrous is a purified, water-free wool wax obtained from the sebaceous glands of sheep — collected as a byproduct of wool scouring. One of the most ancient and clinically validated cosmetic ingredients in the world, it has been used to protect, heal, and nourish skin for thousands of years under names including adeps lanae, wool fat, and wool grease. Modern cosmetic science has only deepened appreciation for lanolin's extraordinary functional properties: its fatty acid and alcohol composition closely mirrors human skin lipids in ways that no other single natural ingredient replicates.
Anhydrous lanolin (meaning "without water") is the concentrated, pure form — 100% wax content with no water. This distinguishes it from lanolin hydrous (lanolin cream), which is a pre-emulsified blend of lanolin and water. The anhydrous form is the correct grade for cosmetic formulation — it can absorb up to twice its weight in water, making it a powerful humectant and emollient that simultaneously seals moisture into skin while allowing the skin to breathe.
Our Lanolin Anhydrous is cosmetic grade — extensively refined and deodorised to remove the characteristic barnyard wool odour, producing a pale yellow to amber, smooth, unctuous semi-solid suitable for all cosmetic applications including lip care, facial skincare, nipple cream, barrier cream, hand cream, and soap making. Available in a 2kg tub — suitable for small businesses, cottage industry makers, and professional cosmetic formulators. Fast dispatch from our Melbourne warehouse.
A note on lanolin's reputation: lanolin allergy is frequently cited as a concern, but the clinical reality is that true lanolin allergy affects approximately 1.7–5.8% of patch-tested individuals — predominantly those with pre-existing eczema or contact dermatitis. Modern highly refined cosmetic grade lanolin has significantly reduced the lanolin alcohol fractions associated with sensitisation. For the vast majority of users, cosmetic grade anhydrous lanolin is exceptionally well-tolerated — including on compromised and sensitive skin.
Product Info
Specs
- INCI Name: Lanolin
- CAS Number: 8006-54-0
- Common Names: Lanolin, Wool Wax, Wool Fat, Adeps Lanae, Anhydrous Lanolin
- Grade: Cosmetic Grade — purified and deodorised
- Form: Anhydrous (water-free) — 100% wax content
- Animal Origin: Sheep (Ovis aries) — sebaceous secretion from wool fibres; collected during wool scouring (byproduct of wool processing)
- Appearance: Pale yellow to amber smooth semi-solid; unctuous, waxy texture
- Odour: Faint characteristic waxy — extensively deodorised; minimal wool scent in cosmetic grade
- Melting Point: 38–44°C — melts slightly above body temperature; semi-solid at room temperature, softens and melts readily on skin contact
- Water Absorption Capacity: Up to 200% of its own weight in water — one of the highest water absorption capacities of any cosmetic wax
- Acid Value: <1.0 mgKOH/g
- Saponification Value: 90–105 mgKOH/g
- Iodine Value: 18–36
- Comedogenic Rating: 2 (low to moderate — generally well tolerated including on most acne-prone skin; note individual variation)
- Solubility: Miscible with oils, fats, and waxes; dispersible in water (emulsifies readily due to water absorption capacity); insoluble in cold water
- Phase: Oil/wax phase — melt with other waxes and oils before combining with water phase
- Shelf Life: 2–3 years from manufacture when stored correctly
- Storage: Store sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Refrigerate for extended storage
- Size: 2kg tub
THE CHEMISTRY OF LANOLIN — WHY IT IS UNIQUE
Lanolin is chemically unlike any other cosmetic wax. Rather than being a simple triglyceride oil or a long-chain wax ester, lanolin is a complex mixture of approximately 33% free lanolin alcohols (sterols and triterpene alcohols) and 67% lanolin fatty acid esters — producing a unique amphiphilic character that explains its extraordinary functional properties:
Wax esters: Long-chain esters of fatty acids (C14–C36) with fatty alcohols — provide the waxy, occlusive base structure.
Lanolin alcohols (sterols and triterpene alcohols): Cholesterol, lanosterol, agnosterol, and dihydrolanosterol — these are the water-absorbing, emulsifying, and skin-identical components. Cholesterol is a major component of the human skin barrier (stratum corneum intercellular lipid matrix). Applying cholesterol-containing lanolin directly supports the lipid composition of compromised skin barriers.
Fatty acids: Branched and straight-chain fatty acids, including hydroxyl fatty acids unique to lanolin — contribute to the unique skin feel and barrier properties.
Key functional consequence: The lanolin alcohol fraction is primarily responsible for both lanolin's extraordinary skin compatibility and its rare sensitisation potential in susceptible individuals. Highly refined cosmetic grade lanolin has significantly reduced lanolin alcohol content compared to crude wool grease — the trade-off between maximum skin benefit and minimum sensitisation risk.
RECOMMENDED USAGE RATES
Lip Balm (stick or pot)
- Lanolin: 5–30% — contributes emolliency, healing, moisture retention, and the characteristic "slip" of premium lip care
- Classic nipple cream / intensive lip repair: 100% pure lanolin
Nipple Cream (breastfeeding)
- Lanolin: 100% pure anhydrous lanolin — the standard ingredient in all medical-grade breastfeeding nipple creams (Lansinoh, PureLan, etc.)
- No other ingredients required; safe for infant ingestion; does not need to be wiped off before feeding
Barrier Cream and Protective Cream
- Lanolin: 10–30% of total formulation
- Combines with petrolatum, beeswax, zinc oxide, or other barrier ingredients for occupational skin protection
Hand Cream and Body Lotion
- Lanolin: 2–15% — adds emolliency, moisture retention, and skin feel
- At higher concentrations produces a rich, intensive hand cream
Facial Moisturiser
- Lanolin: 1–5% — note comedogenic rating of 2; generally suitable for dry and normal skin types; use with caution on very acne-prone skin
Eye Cream
- Lanolin: 2–8% — the thin, delicate periorbital skin benefits particularly from lanolin's barrier restoration properties
Cold Process Soap
- Lanolin: 0.5–1% of total oil weight — added to the oils phase as a superfat/conditioning additive
- Note: lanolin has a SAP value of approximately 0.074 (NaOH) — account for this in your lye calculation if using above 0.5%
Hot Process Soap
- Lanolin: 1–3% added at cool-down as a conditioning superfatting agent
Shampoo Bars
- Lanolin: 0.5–1% — contributes conditioning and scalp compatibility
Cuticle Cream and Nail Treatment
- Lanolin: 20–50% — intensive conditioning for cuticles and dry nail beds
Ointment Base
- Lanolin: 10–50% blended with soft paraffin or other bases for compounding
Benefits
- Skin-identical lipids — cholesterol, lanosterol, and other sterols in lanolin mirror the intercellular lipid matrix of the human stratum corneum; supports genuine skin barrier restoration rather than simply occluding the surface
- Extraordinary water absorption — absorbs up to 200% of its own weight in water; simultaneously seals moisture in (occlusive) while actively drawing moisture from the environment (humectant); this dual action is unique among cosmetic waxes
- Clinically validated for nipple care — the internationally recognised standard ingredient for breastfeeding nipple soreness; 100% pure anhydrous lanolin is safe for infant oral contact and does not require removal before feeding
- Emulsifies on skin — the lanolin alcohol fraction emulsifies naturally when it contacts water on the skin surface, producing a micro-emulsion that aids absorption of other actives into the skin
- Exceptional skin feel — imparts a characteristic smooth, silky, slightly tacky feel that formulators describe as "lanolin feel" — unique and widely sought in premium cosmetic formulations
- Supports compromised skin barrier repair — cholesterol and lanolin sterols directly replenish components depleted in eczema-prone, dry, and aged skin
- Semi-occlusive rather than fully occlusive — unlike petrolatum which fully blocks the skin surface, lanolin allows some gas exchange while still providing substantial barrier protection; appropriate for regular daily-use skin care
- Widely used in premium clinical and pharmaceutical skin care — found in medical ointments, wound healing preparations, and clinical dermatology formulations
- Long shelf life of 2–3 years — highly stable in storage due to its complex wax ester composition
- 2kg tub — suitable for small business and professional cosmetic production volumes
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
- Nipple cream (breastfeeding)
- Lip balms and lip treatments
- Intensive hand creams
- Barrier and protective creams
- Facial moisturisers (dry and normal skin)
- Eye creams
- Body lotions and body butter enrichment
- Cuticle creams and nail treatments
- Ointment bases
- Cold process and hot process soap (conditioning superfat)
- Shampoo bars
- Beard balms and men's grooming
- Baby skincare (barrier and protective formulations)
- After-sun and wound healing preparations
- Leather and shoe conditioning (non-cosmetic)
Product Safety
Cosmetic grade — extensively purified and deodorised; safe for direct skin contact including lip products and nipple cream
Animal-derived (sheep wool sebaceous secretion) — not vegan or vegetarian; disclose appropriately on product labels; INCI name Lanolin must appear on ingredient lists
Lanolin allergy: true lanolin allergy affects approximately 1.7–5.8% of patch-tested individuals — primarily those with pre-existing eczema, contact dermatitis, or chronic leg ulcers. Modern cosmetic grade lanolin has significantly reduced sensitising fractions. For general population use, the allergy risk is low; individuals with known wool or lanolin sensitivity should avoid use
Perform a patch test before use in new formulations intended for sensitive or atopy-prone skin
Safe for breastfeeding nipple cream applications — does not need to be removed before infant feeding; not harmful if ingested by infant in normal nipple cream quantities
Avoid contact with eyes in melted form; if contact occurs rinse with water
Keep out of reach of children
Store sealed — lanolin can absorb atmospheric moisture and odours if left unsealed; seal the tub immediately after each use
Refrigerate if storing beyond 12 months for maximum freshness
Shipping
Collections from Springvale: Please allow 24 hours for all collection in store. If same day pickup is required, please contact us to discuss.
Shipping: We ship Australia Wide
FAQs
Questions
What is the INCI name for Lanolin?
The correct INCI name is Lanolin. This is one of the most straightforward INCI names available — simply "Lanolin." It must appear on your finished cosmetic product ingredient list. Note that Lanolin Alcohol (the separated alcohol fraction) has a different INCI name and different properties — our product is full Lanolin (not lanolin alcohol).
Is Lanolin the same as Lanolin Hydrous (lanolin cream)?
No. Lanolin Anhydrous is 100% pure lanolin wax with no water — the concentrated form. Lanolin Hydrous (also called "Lanolin Cream" or "Hydrous Wool Fat") is a pre-made water-in-oil emulsion of approximately 75% anhydrous lanolin and 25% water. Our product is Lanolin Anhydrous — the pure wax — which gives you full control over concentration in your formulations. Lanolin Hydrous is used when a pre-emulsified product is convenient; Lanolin Anhydrous is the correct choice for professional cosmetic formulation.
Can I use Lanolin Anhydrous in nipple cream for breastfeeding?
Yes — 100% pure anhydrous lanolin is the internationally recognised standard ingredient for breastfeeding nipple care and is the active ingredient in all major medical-grade nipple creams including Lansinoh and PureLan. It does not need to be wiped off before infant feeding — it is safe for infant oral contact in normal nipple cream application quantities. Apply a small amount to sore or cracked nipples after each feed and allow to absorb — no rinsing required.
Is lanolin comedogenic?
Lanolin Anhydrous has a comedogenic rating of 2 — low to moderate. This means it is unlikely to cause blocked pores for most people, and the majority of skin types including oily and combination skin tolerate it well in leave-on formulations. However, individual responses vary — a small percentage of people with acne-prone skin may find lanolin-containing products pore-clogging. In facial formulations, using lanolin at lower concentrations (1–5%) and patch testing before full use is recommended.
How do I melt and work with Lanolin Anhydrous in formulations?
Lanolin Anhydrous has a melting point of 38–44°C — it softens and melts at gentle heat. Add to your oil phase with other waxes and butters, heating to 60–70°C for full incorporation. It blends readily with all oils, fats, and waxes. For small amounts (5% or less in lotion formulations) it can be added to melted oils without requiring the full oil-phase temperature — simply warm slightly above its melting point and stir until fully incorporated before adding the water phase. For lip balm, add to the oil/wax melt phase alongside beeswax or candelilla wax.
What percentage of Lanolin should I use in cold process soap?
Lanolin is used at very low rates in cold process soap — typically 0.5–1% of total oil weight — as a superfatting conditioning additive rather than as a primary soap-making oil. At these low rates it contributes exceptional skin feel to the finished bar. Its SAP value is approximately 0.074 (NaOH), which is very low compared to most oils. At 0.5–1% the impact on lye calculation is minimal but should still be entered into your lye calculator for precision. Add to the oils phase with your other oils before combining with the lye solution.
Does lanolin have a strong smell?
Crude wool grease (unrefined lanolin) has a strong, characteristic barnyard/sheep wool odour. Cosmetic grade Lanolin Anhydrous has been extensively purified and deodorised to remove most of this odour. Our cosmetic grade product has a faint, characteristic waxy odour that is barely perceptible in formulations — it will not compete with fragrance oils or essential oils in finished products.
YOU MAY ALSO NEED
- Beeswax Pellets (Natural) — pairs with lanolin in lip balms, barrier creams, and lotion bars
- Candelilla Wax (Vegetable) — vegan alternative wax for non-lanolin formulations; pairs with lanolin in mixed wax systems
- Shea Butter (Refined & Organic) — classic pairing with lanolin in intensive hand creams and barrier formulations
- Cocoa Butter (Deodorised) Food Grade — adds hardness and skin feel alongside lanolin in lip balms and body butters
- Castor Oil (Hexane Free) — adds gloss and conditioning to lanolin lip balm formulations
- Sweet Almond Oil — lightweight carrier oil to blend with lanolin in hand creams and body lotions
- Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) — essential for cold process soap making
- 5g Lip Balm Tube Clear — packaging for your lanolin lip balm products
- 80ml Aluminium Tin Jar Screw Cap — ideal packaging for lanolin-based barrier creams and body butters