Lanolin is the unsung hero of sustainable green ingredients

(02/12/2009)

Lanolin is one of the most popular and effective ‘natural’ ingredients used in the beauty industry today. 100% naturally derived, ethical and highly sustainable, lanolin is a multifunctional and unique ingredient that can be incorporated into all aspects of personal care. Derived from the wool of grazing sheep on land unsuitable for agriculture, Lanolin is already incorporated into naturally certified products that comply with sustainable and ethical guidelines.

What is Lanolin?
Lanolin is an exceptionally versatile, natural material offering a unique combination of five functional and sensory benefits unrivalled by any other cosmetic ingredient. There is no other single ingredient on the market natural or synthetic, which can replace it.

The key benefits include:
1. Replenishing the natural skin barrier providing essential lipids
2. Accelerating the repair of the skin barrier
3. Boosting the protection of the skin against environmental factors
4. Imparting sensory benefits that leave skin feeling soft and velvety
5. Emulsification properties that improve formulation stability

With its outstanding replenishing, repairing and protecting properties, Lanolin is a popular ingredient choice for beauty brands (both high street and luxury skin care) including mother baby products. In addition to this, Crossential Optima™, Croda’s most recent Lanolin Alcohol, holds rejuvenating, anti-ageing properties to restore youthful resilience to ageing.

There are many Lanolin fractions and derivatives used within beauty formulations that are 100% natural. Lanolin is known to contain components common to both stratum corneum lipids and the cell membrane complex of the hair, and as such, displays a natural affinity to both skin and hair, performing many of the functions of lipids found within them.

Related categories:  Moisturisers   Natural ingredients