**Product Description**
| | |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | Lanolin |
| CAS Number | 8006-54-0 |
| Description | Appearance: Lanolin is extracted from wool and is a pale yellow viscous fat with a slight characteristic odor. It forms a clear or nearly clear yellow liquid after dissolution.
Solubility: Insoluble in water, slightly soluble in hot anhydrous ethanol. |
| Chemical Properties | Lanolin is also known as wool fat, wool wax, or wool grease. Since lanolin does not contain glycerides, it is not a true fat. Lanolin mainly contains sterol esters. |
Lanolin belongs to the category of waxes and is a complex mixture composed of naturally formed esters and three types of high molecular weight alcohols (mainly cholesterol) and 36 types of fatty acids. Esters account for at least 98%, with approximately equal proportions of sterols and fatty acids.
**Composition of Lanolin**
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|---|---|
| Sterol esters and triterpenols | 35.4% |
| Ester esters of fatty alcohols | 23.7% |
| Hydroxy sterols and triterpenediols | 20.0% |
| Phospholipids and free diols | 7.9% |
| Free fatty alcohols | 5.6% |
| Free sterols | 4.1% |
| Free hydrocarbons | 0.6% |
| Free fatty acids | 0.5% |
| Unknown | 2.2% |
**Product Functions**
**Unique Properties and Wide Applications**
The essential function of lanolin is to protect the wool and the skin of sheep from damage caused by harsh climates and environments, and it also seems to play a role in the cleaning hygiene of the outer layer of sheep's skin. Lanolin and its many derivatives are widely used in high-grade cosmetic research and development, protecting, treating, and beautifying human skin and the medical industry. Lanolin is also used in lubricants, rust-proof coatings, shoe oils, and other commercial products.
Modern analytical methods have revealed that many important chemical and physical properties of lanolin are similar to those of human stratum corneum lipids, which can help regulate the transepidermal water loss rate and manage the hydration status of the skin.
Low-temperature scanning electron microscopy shows that lanolin, like human stratum corneum lipids, is composed of a large number of liquid crystals. Optical microscopy shows that lanolin, formed by multi-layer lipid bodies, is the same as human stratum corneum lipids. Combined with water entering the skin stratum corneum, forming multi-layer lipid vesicles.
Skin biotechnology research shows that lanolin has a very significant effect on moisturizing (smoothing skin) and can last for several hours. Lanolin applied at 2mg/cm² on the skin shows a 35% reduction in roughness after one hour, and a 50% reduction in roughness after two hours, with an overall effect lasting far beyond 8 hours. It has been proven that lanolin can be absorbed by the skin. Continuous application of lanolin at 4 mg/cm² for 5 days, ultimately shows significant moisturizing effects lasting 72 hours. Lanolin's moisturizing effect is significant, forming a secondary internal moisture storage layer of the skin.
It has been reported that lanolin's barrier repair performance is superior to Vaseline and glycerin. According to a small clinical study with volunteers with dry hands: lanolin is superior to Vaseline in reducing dryness, abrasions, cracks, scratches, pain, and itching. In another study, high-purity grade lanolin was found to be significantly better than Vaseline in helping the healing of surface wounds.
Lanolin is a very effective emollient that can restore and maintain the moisture balance of the stratum corneum and play a role in preventing skin dryness and cracking. Equally important, it does not alter the normal permeability of the skin. Lanolin has been proven to delay transepidermal water loss and can increase the skin's normal water retention by 10-30%. An important characteristic of lanolin is that it can absorb water equivalent to twice its own weight, and it also has enhanced adhesion to dry skin and forms a protective film on the epidermis. In cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulations, lanolin can be paired with most types of fats and waxes. Lanolin can be self-emulsified and can form a very stable oil-in-water emulsion with water, and it is often widely used in this water-containing form.
Lanolin is commonly used for the treatment and protection of infant skin. Lanolin is also used in lip balm products. However, for some people, it may cause lip allergies.
Lanolin is commercially used in many industrial products from lubricants to rust-proof coatings. Some sailors apply lanolin to the ship's propeller and stern to make them smooth, so that barnacles cannot adhere. Its waterproof properties make it valuable as a lubricating grease; otherwise, corrosion might be an issue.
Baseball players often use it to soften baseball gloves (shaving cream and lanolin are commonly used for this).
Anhydrous lanolin is also used as a lubricant on the main tuning slide of copper wind instruments.
Lanolin can also restore water stains and stains on woolen clothing, such as diaper stains.
Linseed oil-based lubricants, commonly known as "wool wax," for polishing wooden furniture, have nothing to do with lanolin; the name comes from its application as a paste wax.
Lanolin mixed with alcohol at a ratio of 2/98% at a temperature of 110 F can be used as a lubricant in the reloading process of brass ammunition.
Lanolin, mixed with other materials such as tallow oil, beeswax, glycerin, can be used for the protection of various leather care products.
Lanolin is approved for use as a food additive, such as a plasticizer for rubber materials in contact with food, a plasticizer for chewing gum bases, and a lubricant for surfaces in contact with food.
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