Lanolin, present in moisturizing creams, is a material made up of several types of substances, obtained from sheep’s wool.
Dry skin, lifeless hair and sore breasts from breastfeeding? You probably suffer from at least one of these problems, right? What if we told you that you could solve them using just one component? Lanolin, used since ancient times, has a high moisturizing power and can be used to treat dry skin, revitalize hair and even by breastfeeding women.
And the best of all is that this product is of 100% natural origin. So, if you are tired of cosmetics full of chemicals, lanolin could be the solution you wanted.
Check out the benefits and some interesting facts about the product!
What is lanolin?
Widely used in beauty products, moisturizing creams, homemade hair recipes and even to prevent chapped breasts, lanolin is an essentially natural product, a type of wax obtained from sheep or sheep wool.
But, before you get worried, the wax removal process, as experts explain, is harmless. It does not cause harm to animals and, furthermore, it is an ecologically correct action, as it prevents this material from becoming a pollutant for the environment.
The process occurs when the sheep are sheared to remove the wool, which is widely used for textiles, such as yarn or felt. However, first of all, the wool is passed through rollers to extract the lanolin.
Composition
Lanolin is made up of several compounds, such as esters and polyesters of long-chain alcohols and fatty acids, with a predominance of unsaturated ones, represented by a high proportion of eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), linoleic acids and docosahexaenoic acids.
But what you really need to know is that lanolin has a high concentration of vitamins, natural oils and good fats. That is why it is so used in moisturizing creams, soaps, hair masks and various types of products.
Origin
Lanolin has been used since ancient times and its name has a lot to do with its production and origin. After all, in Latin, “lana” is the same as “wool”, and “oleum” means “oil”. Pretty intuitive, right?
Utility
With frequent exposure to wind, water, dry air and pollution, the skin’s natural oils can dry out more quickly, as a result of which the skin looks dry and needs to be replaced.
Lanolin then works by creating a barrier on the surface of the skin, which helps prevent water from evaporating.
As the appearance of the skin can suffer from climate change and health habits, it is important to use products that promote this replacement of oils. In the case of lanolin, it guarantees hydration of the skin and hair, because it has components very similar to the oils produced by the skin. Furthermore, the amount of water present in lanolin is, without a doubt, what also guarantees this moisturizing effect.
Lanolin then works by creating a barrier on the surface of the skin, which helps prevent water from evaporating. The skin does produce natural oils, but these oils can wash away, leaving the skin dry and cracked.
Sometimes the environment can be colder, drier or windier, and this causes the skin’s natural oils to be depleted. Therefore, it is essential to add extra oils to the surface of the skin.
Contraindication
As it is a natural product, there is no contraindication to using lanolin. However, for hair benefits, its use is more recommended for women with curls and voluminous hair, who need to keep the strands in place.
Therefore, when lanolin is used on fine, straight hair, the results may not be as expected. Its action can leave hair looking hard and oily.
Is there a vegan option?
Although lanolin is essentially natural and extracted without any risk to animals, the products are not recommended for vegans. However, there are some very interesting alternatives on the market for those who want to use this oil without compromising their ideologies.
An interesting option is Vaseline, which we have already listed some interesting uses for in everyday life, or even mineral oil. Both are considered by-products of gasoline production, and are not only safe and tested, but also components of many cosmetics.
However, if what you are looking for is an option corresponding to lanolin, you should check out Lanogreen. It basically has the same properties as traditional lanolin, but without the animal origin of the product. Lanogreen promotes skin hydration, but does not increase oiliness and can now be found in several products for treating dry skin.
Benefits of Lanolin
The main benefit of lanolin is its moisturizing composition, used in various cosmetic and aesthetic products. Today on the market it is possible to find various cosmetic and aesthetic products based on lanolin, with different purposes. See some examples of these benefits:
- Healing: It is used in some medicines for wound treatment and healing due to its high hydration power.
- Waterproofing: Another interesting use of lanolin components is to prevent the passage of water, as in diapers, for example.
- Cosmetics and protectors: Lanolin has also been used in lipsticks and specific lip moisturizing products.
- Lubricant: the anhydrous form (without water) has often been used as a lubricant for wind musical instruments.
For hair
In hair, lanolin acts as a protector, replacing the good fat that is removed by the sulfates present in many shampoos, and also as a conditioner. It is also widely found in ointments and leave-in treatments. Its components act as moisturizers, softening strands and protecting fibers damaged by chemical treatments, in addition to conditioning dry hair.
Lanolin can also be used in super-greasy products, which replaces part of the lost fat in the hair, and therefore ends up being an ally for hairstyles and daily hair treatment, leaving them more aligned.
For the skin
Lanolin acts as a skin protector, keeping it hydrated and preventing water loss. Due to its high concentration of oils, it guarantees deep hydration and is ideal for dry and dry skin. Furthermore, it is great as an emollient and promotes skin elasticity.
Furthermore, it can be used as a lipid bilayer supplement, naturally reinforcing the skin’s barrier function.
Some general benefits:
- Barrier repair
- Hydration
- Emollience
- Conditioning
- Emulsification
- Overfattening
Lanolin for breastfeeding
Breastfeeding, although it is a unique moment of love and bonding with your baby, can also be very painful. With the hypersensitivity of nipples after birth and incorrect attachment of babies, fissures and cracks become inevitable.
And it is precisely because of lanolin’s moisturizing and healing capacity that many breastfeeding women have adopted the product.
Its use allows mothers to hydrate the nipple region, which in addition to increasing the necessary hydration in the region, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, preventing the appearance of fissures or acting to repair them.
And because it is a natural product, there is no risk to the baby.
See some of the benefits of using lanolin during breastfeeding:
- Moisturizing power, prevents terrible cracks
- Healing effect (repairs cracks and skin damage).
- Helps in the production of vitamin D3
- Repairs skin damage
- Acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.
So, if you liked this content, how about checking out this one: Dry skin, what is it? Characteristics, symptoms, treatment and care
Sources: Brasil Escola, Guia da Farmacia, Casa da Ovelha, Crodapersonalcare.
Images: DrMorris, ChemistryWorld, Uol, Casa da Ovelha, sc01, ath2, Guia da Farmácia.
