Lanolin Alcohol — Frequently Asked Questions

Lanolin is the whole secretion recovered from sheep wool, a complex mixture of esters. Lanolin alcohol is the alcohol fraction obtained by saponifying lanolin to split those esters and separating the alcohols from the fatty acids. The result is far richer in sterols, principally cholesterol and lanosterol, and is a much more powerful water-in-oil emulsifier than lanolin itself.

Cholesterol is one of the three lipid classes that make up the skin's own barrier, alongside ceramides and free fatty acids. Supplying it topically supports barrier repair in a way an unrelated emollient does not, which is why lanolin alcohol is so well tolerated on damaged and compromised skin and why it appears in barrier and ointment formulations.

Several times its own weight, which is what makes it useful for converting a simple ointment base into an absorption base capable of carrying aqueous actives. The exact capacity depends on the base and the processing, but the ability to take up water while remaining a coherent oil-continuous phase is the defining functional property.

It is the fraction of lanolin most associated with contact sensitivity, and lanolin allergy in patch testing is generally attributed to it. Purified low-residue grades with reduced free alcohol and pesticide content are available and are specified where that risk matters, particularly for products intended for compromised skin or for medical use.