The ingredient, explained

Lanolin

Lanolin has published research relevant to the stated experimental context.

EmollientAntistaticEmulsifyingHair conditioningSkin conditioningSurfactant

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Lanolin is a refined derivative of the unctuous fat-like sebaceous secretion of sheep. It consists of a highly complex mixture of esters of high molecular weight aliphatic, steroid or triterpenoid alcohols and fatty acids

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Emollient: Helps soften and smooth the skin surface.
Antistatic: Reduces the build-up of static electrical charge on surfaces.
Emulsifying: Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.
Hair conditioning: Improves cosmetic hair properties such as softness, shine or combability.
Skin conditioning: A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
Surfactant: Changes surface tension to help a product distribute or interact with other materials.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Human topical research

Both treatments improved moderate to severe foot xerosis over four weeks, without significant between-treatment differences.

What this does not tell us

92 enrolled, but 41 excluded from analysis; attrition substantially limits inference. No vehicle or untreated group.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 12553635 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 9 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.