Lanolin is a highly effective natural moisturiser that has wide uses in skincare and hair. Extracted from sheep’s wool, lanolin is a rich emollient that closely mimics the skin’s natural lipids.This is gives it the ability to soften, protect and repair dry damaged skin and hair. As such, lanolin remains a staple for uses in chapped lips and nipples, cracked heels, rough patches and frizzy or brittle hair. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of lanolin for skin and hair as well as the best ways to use it in your skincare routine.
What is Lanolin?
Lanolin is a natural waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep to keep their wool soft, water-resistant and conditioned. After shearing, lanolin is extracted from wool and has been used in skincare and medicine for centuries. Its earliest recorded uses date back to ancient Greece and Rome, where lanolin was valued for its healing and protective properties. By the 19th century, advances in wool processing led to the commercial extraction and purification of lanolin. This made it a widely used ingredient in skincare, cosmetics, medical and hair treatments.
What makes lanolin special is its dual action as a humectant and an occlusive. It attracts moisture to the skin whilst forming a breathable barrier that prevents water loss. This makes it ideal for deep hydration and long-lasting moisture. For this reason, lanolin is extremely popular in beauty with the most common uses :
- Healing ointments: For irritated or dry cracked skin such as nipples or eczema prone skin.
- Lip balms: To treat and prevent chapped lips.
- Heavy-duty moisturisers: For dry or cracked skin on the body like heal or hand creams.
- Hair conditioners & Treatments: To combat dryness and frizz.
Benefits of Lanolin for Skin & Hair
Lanolin is a deeply hydrating and protective ingredient that mimics the skin’s natural lipids. It has a unique chemical structure that allows it to function as both a humectant (draws moisture into the skin) and an occlusive (seals moisture in). This makes it one of the most effective natural moisturisers on earth. Unlike many synthetic emollients, lanolin is biocompatible with human skin. This means it absorbs easily without leaving a greasy residue or clogging pores. As such, the key benefits of lanolin for skin and hair include:
- Hydrates & Softens Dry Skin: Lanolin has the ability to penetrate deep into the skin’s outer layers, drawing in moisture and trapping it in for long-lasting hydration. This makes it especially good for dry, rough or flaky skin that struggles to retain water.
- Repairs & Protects the Skin Barrier: By reinforcing the skin’s natural lipid barrier, lanolin helps to prevent moisture loss and shield the skin from environmental damage. This is particularly useful for those with sensitive, eczema-prone or irritated skin that needs extra protection.
- Heals Chapped & Cracked Skin: Lanolin is a highly effective healing agent for dry, cracked lips and rough skin. Unlike petroleum-based balms, it absorbs into the skin rather thus providing deep hydration and restoring smoothness.
- Calms & Nourishes Irritated Skin: Strong actives like exfoliating acids or irritating treatments like chemical peels or laser treatments can cause red, dry and sensitive skin. Lanolin helps to reduce irritation, soothe inflammation and replenish lost moisture. This make it an excellent post-treatment balm.
- Tames Frizz & Adds Shine to Hair: Lanolin acts as a natural hair conditioner. It smoothes the cuticle and reduces frizz without weighing the hair down. It also helps to lock in moisture, making hair feel softer and look shinier.
- Prevents Hair Breakage & Split Ends: Dry, brittle hair is more prone to breakage. Lanolin helps to strengthen the hair shaft and improve elasticity. It also forms a light protective coating around the hair helping protect it from environmental damage.
- Soothes & Hydrates a Dry Scalp: A key cause of a dry, flaky scalp is often lack of natural oils. This leads to itchiness and irritation. Lanolin helps to restore moisture and promotes a healthy scalp environment for hair follicles.
How to Use Lanolin in Your Beauty Routine
Although you can still get it in its traditional pure form, some people may find its natural odour and feel a bit off putting. Luckily, there are now a variety of beauty products that including moisturisers, lip balms, body creams and hair treatments that give the benefits of lanolin in a more pleasing form. Whether in its pure form or in a ready made product, here are the best uses of lanolin in your skincare routine:
- Moisturiser: Apply a small amount of lanolin to damp skin after cleansing to lock in moisture and prevent dryness. If using a lanolin containing moisturiser, look for formulas with additional nourishing ingredients like shea butter or ceramides.
- Lip Balm: Lanolin is a popular ingredient in lip balms because it provides long-lasting hydration and protection. You can also apply pure lanolin directly to dry lips to heal and prevent cracking.
- Healing Ointment: If you have areas of irritation, such as eczema-prone skin or rough elbows and heels, lanolin can help soften and repair these spots. Apply a thin layer before bed for deep moisturisation.
- Face & Body Masks: Either use alone or add a few drops of lanolin to your favourite face or body mask for an extra boost of moisture.
Lanolin also works really well for dry, frizzy or damaged hair. You can use it on its own as is most common or find lanolin-containing hair products like serums. conditioners, styling balms and anti-frizz serums. Here are the best ways to use lanolin for hair:
- Pre-Shampoo Scalp Treatment: If your hair is particularly dry or prone to breakage, massage a small amount of lanolin into the scalp and lengths before shampooing. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes to deeply nourish the hair and scalp.
- Leave-In Conditioner: For daily hydration and protection, rub a tiny amount of lanolin between your palms and smooth it over damp hair before styling. This helps to prevent frizz and keeps hair soft without weighing it down.
- Smoothing & Styling: If you have flyaways or need extra shine, apply a very small amount of lanolin to dry hair, focusing on the ends. This helps to tame frizz and add a glossy finish.
Safety & Considerations
Although lanolin is well-tolerated by most people, it may not be suitable for everyone. The following people may need to use lanolin with caution or avoid it altogether:
- Wool allergies: Since lanolin is derived from sheep’s wool, it may cause irritation for those allergic to wool.
- Acne-prone skin: Whilst lanolin is non-comedogenic for most, it may clog pores in people prone to breakouts.
- Vegans & Those Avoiding Animal-Derived Products: Lanolin is not plant-based, so skip it if you wish to avoid animal products.
Alternatives to Lanolin
If lanolin isn’t the right fit for you, there are plenty of other skincare ingredients that offer similar benefits and uses. Whether you’re looking for a plant-based option or something lighter in texture, here are some great alternatives:
- Shea Butter: A rich and nourishing emollient, shea butter helps to soften and protect dry rough skin. It’s especially effective for areas prone to cracking, like elbows, heels and hands.
- Jojoba Oil: This lightweight oil closely resembles the skin’s natural sebum, making it an excellent alternative for all skin types. It hydrates without clogging pores and works well for both face and scalp care.
- Coconut Oil: Known for its deep hydration properties, coconut oil is great for sealing in moisture. However, it can be too heavy for acne-prone skin, so it’s best suited for body care or as a hair mask.
- Argan Oil: This is a lightweight yet highly nourishing oil that strengthens the skin barrier and provides hydration without feeling greasy. It’s particularly beneficial for smoothing and protecting dry or damaged hair and suits most skin types.
- Squalane: Another lightweight fast-absorbing oil, squalane also mimics the skin’s natural sebum. It’s useful for sensitive or acne-prone skin as it provides hydration without clogging pores or feeling heavy. Squalane is also great for taming frizz and adding a soft silky feel to hair
Lanolin is a powerful natural moisturiser with many uses. It offers deep hydration, skin protection and hair conditioning. Its benefits make lanolin especially great for dry, rough, or chapped skin and frizzy or brittle hair. However, as with anything in life not everything is suitable for everyone. If lanolin isn’t a good fit for you there are plenty of other skincare alternatives.
At City Skin clinic, we are passionate about personalised skincare. Our virtual skin clinic offers safe and effective custom skin and hair loss treatments. Where appropriate our doctors use ingredients such Tretinoin and Hydroquinone to treat skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma and skin ageing. Connect with one of our doctors today with an online consultation. The journey towards great skin starts here.
