Lanolin: What It Is, What It Does, and Is It Safe?

Lanolin is a classic ingredient in hand creams, lip balms and ointments. Here is what it is, what it does and what the safety reviews found about allergy, with a link for every fact. Corium 21 Aloe Vera Skin Cream does not contain lanolin.

What is lanolin?

Lanolin is a refined form of the fat like sebaceous secretion (the natural oil made by glands in the skin) of sheep. It is also called wool wax, wool fat or wool grease, and it makes up 10 to 25 percent of the weight of sheared wool (CIR, 2024). It is obtained from wool fleece, so it is an animal derived ingredient (CIR, 2024).

Chemically, lanolin is a complex mixture of esters (compounds formed when an acid joins an alcohol) of large alcohols and fatty acids (building blocks of fats and oils). On a label its INCI name (the standard name used on cosmetic ingredient lists) is simply "Lanolin" (CIR, 2024).

What does lanolin do in a cream?

The CIR safety report lists lanolin's cosmetic jobs as emollient (an ingredient that softens skin), skin protectant, hair conditioning agent, emulsion stabilizer (it helps keep oil and water mixed) and emulsifying agent (CIR, 2024).

Lanolin is also an approved skin protectant active ingredient in FDA rules for over the counter (sold without a prescription) products, at 12.5 to 50 percent (21 CFR 347.10).

It turns up in many product types. Reported uses include up to 37 percent in body and hand products and up to 20.7 percent in lipsticks (CIR, 2024).

Is lanolin safe?

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) is the expert panel that reviews the safety of cosmetic ingredients in the U.S. Its 2024 final amended report concluded that lanolin and 8 related ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration (CIR, 2024).

The panel found no systemic toxicity (harm inside the body) or genotoxicity (damage to genes), and no to minimal skin irritation or sensitization (skin allergy) on healthy skin (CIR, 2024).

Lanolin can cause allergy in some people. The panel calls it a weak sensitizer and says the rate of allergic reaction in the general population is extremely low. Allergic reactions are seen mainly in people with damaged skin, such as leg ulcers, stasis dermatitis (skin irritation from poor circulation in the legs) or atopic dermatitis (eczema), and children and older adults are at greater risk (CIR, 2024). Ultra refined lanolin, with less free lanolin alcohol (one of its parts that can trigger allergy), lowers the risk further (CIR, 2024).

Lanolin was named the 2023 Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Doctors describe a "lanolin paradox": it is a rare sensitizer on healthy skin, but people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions are at higher risk of allergic contact dermatitis (an itchy rash from an allergy to something touching the skin) (Johnson et al., 2023).

If you know you react to an ingredient, the FDA says the best way to avoid it is to read the ingredient list, and a patch test from a doctor can help find what you are allergic to (FDA, Allergens in Cosmetics).

How to spot lanolin on a label

Look for "Lanolin." Related ingredients include "Lanolin Alcohol," "Lanolin Oil," "Lanolin Wax," "Hydrogenated Lanolin" and "Acetylated Lanolin" (CIR, 2024).

U.S. rules say cosmetic ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance, meaning the largest amount comes first. Ingredients at 1 percent or less may be listed in any order after the ones above 1 percent (FDA Cosmetics Labeling Guide).

Lanolin is not on the Corium 21 ingredient list (Corium 21 ingredients).

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FAQ

Is lanolin vegan?

No. Lanolin comes from sheep's wool, so it is an animal derived ingredient (CIR, 2024).

How common is lanolin allergy?

The CIR panel says the rate of allergic reaction to lanolin is extremely low in the general population, with reactions seen mostly on damaged skin (CIR, 2024).

Does Corium 21 contain lanolin?

No. Lanolin is not on the Corium 21 ingredient list (Corium 21 ingredients).