Lanolin: Comedogenic Rating & Safety Profile

Lanolin is a occlusive with a moderate risk comedogenic profile (4/5) and moderate risk irritancy (3/5). A waxy substance secreted by wool-bearing animals. Extremely effective at sealing in moisture but a common contact allergen.

What is Lanolin?

Lanolin is a waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals (mainly sheep) and recovered from washed wool. Its chemical composition is closer to human sebum than any other natural occlusive — a complex blend of sterol esters, fatty acids and lanolin alcohols. This unique structure makes it exceptionally effective at sealing in moisture and softening cracked, severely dry skin. Pharmaceutical-grade lanolin is purified to remove proteins and pesticide residues that historically caused contact allergy.

Comedogenic Rating: What 4/5 Means for Your Skin

Lanolin is rated 1–2/5 comedogenic, and acetylated lanolin is rated up to 4/5. Standard lanolin is not heavily comedogenic for most users, but the acetylated form (often used in lipsticks and some balms) is far more pore-clogging. People with active acne should avoid lanolin in leave-on facial products. On lips, hands, heels and other dry areas it is one of the most effective occlusives available.

• Powerfully occlusive — closely mimics human sebum
• Effective for cracked lips, hands and heels
• Single-application moisture protection

Lanolin's main risk is contact allergy — historically common with crude lanolin, much less so with modern hypoallergenic medical-grade versions. Symptoms include itching, redness and rash where applied. Wool allergy does not always predict lanolin allergy and vice versa. If you have a history of cosmetic allergies, patch test before regular use.

Best for cracked lips, hands, heels and nipples — areas where its powerful occlusion is helpful. Avoid as a daily facial moisturiser if you are acne-prone. Choose medical-grade or hypoallergenic versions to minimise allergy risk.

Lanolin is in lip balms, nipple creams (for breastfeeding), nappy rash creams, hand and heel balms, shaving products and some hair conditioners. Pharmaceutical lanolin is a key ingredient in Lansinoh and many medical barrier creams.

Found Lanolin in your skincare?

Paste the full ingredient list into our INCI Analyser to see how this ingredient interacts with everything else in the formula.

Want the full picture on pore-clogging ingredients? Read our complete guide to comedogenic ingredients for the dermatology research behind the 0–5 scale and the full list of high-risk ingredients to avoid.

Sources

• DermNet NZ
• Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
• PubChem (US National Library of Medicine)

Written by ScanSkinAI Team · Last updated May 2026

This information is for educational purposes only. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist if you have specific skin concerns.