Is cosmetic lanolin good?

Lanolin, also known as wool fat is the sheep equivalent of sebum (the stuff that makes our skin and hair greasy). It consists of liquid waxes and is produced by the sheep to give it some protection from the elements. Lanolin acts as a waterproof barrier, allowing sheep to be out in the rain all day without getting weighed down and cold. So, what good is lanolin to us?Well, anyone who has spent time in a shearing shed will know that the grease that comes off the flease leaves the shearers hands soft and silky.It also ensures that the blades and metal structures in the shed remain shiny and rust free.

Lanolin’s negative image remains today although it is beginning to return to fashion as people demand alternatives to petroleum (how the pendulum swings). The lanolin that is produced for today’s personal care products is of the highest and purest quality. It is tested down to very minute levels to ensure that no impurities or potential allergens remain.

While the collection of lanolin does not harm the animal (it is collected from sheared fleeces) some people are against the use of animal products. If this is the case for you we recommend trying some of the low melting point plant based waxes and butters such as Shea or Coconut as equivalents.

Definition of Lanolin Fatty Acid

        Lanolin is known by many other names, including Adeps Lanae, wool fat, wool wax or wool grease. Lanolin is greasy and has a yellowish hue. This natural extract from wool-bearing animals like sheep has several uses. It functions as a skin lotion, wax for manufacturing water proof items and also serves as a raw material for different products, such as shoe polish. Lanolin Fatty Acids are generated as a by-product in the refining process of wool grease in order to produce pharmaceutical and cosmetic grade lanolin anhydrous or lanolin alcohol. Lanolin Fatty Acid is a product of the alkaline hydrolysis of Lanolin. The fatty acid is a complex mixture of straight chain acids, branched chain acids and hydroxy acids. It is in the form of a hard, waxy solid.

      Lanolin Fatty Acid is exploited extensively in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In fact, the oils enclosed in lanolin are very akin to the chemical structure of the oils produced by the human skin. In addition, lanolin forms a suspension when mixed with water and this blend is easily soaked up by the skin making it smooth as well as soft. At the same time, application of a blend of lanolin and water on the skin helps to prevent the skin from dehydrating and fissures. This particular aspect of lanolin elucidates the reason why sheep shearers have very smooth hands. Moreover, Lanolin Fatty Acid has been widely used in waterproofing preparations for leather, but has some major disadvantages. a) It softens leather very easily, leading to deformation of walking boots and loss of support to the wearer. b) It is susceptible to microbial attack, leading to rotting of stitching and leather.

You can come to visit our website to know Yixin Chemical Co.,Ltd for more details.