La
Lanolin
Lanolin · Lanolin AlcoholBarrier
Sheep-derived occlusive wax. Excellent moisture-sealing properties, but a known allergen for a small subset of users.
What it does
Lanolin is the wax sheep secrete to waterproof their wool. As a skincare ingredient it's one of the most effective occlusives — it can hold roughly twice its weight in water and forms a flexible film without the heaviness of petrolatum. It's also one of the more common cosmetic allergens. Patch test is standard practice if you've reacted to balms or pharmacy moisturizers in the past.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusFungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) is fed by fatty acids and esters with C11-C24 chain lengths. Oils in that range are frequently reported to worsen it, including oils marketed as pore-friendly or 'safe for acne-prone skin'. Squalane, MCT, and mineral oil fall outside the range and are typically tolerated.Rubenstein 2014 · Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
wool wax, wool grease
Pairs worth knowing
Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.