Lanolin is obtained from wool, making it different from many other animal-derived ingredients used in cosmetics.

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Sheep naturally produce a waxy substance that coats and protects the wool fibres. When sheep are shorn, the wool is washed as part of its processing. The wool grease recovered during this process can then be refined and purified to produce lanolin.

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Does producing lanolin require sheep to be killed?

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No. Lanolin is obtained from sheep's wool rather than from meat or other materials that require the animal to be slaughtered.

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The lanolin itself is recovered after wool has been shorn from the sheep and subsequently washed and processed.

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What about animal welfare?

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The fact that lanolin is obtained from wool does not, by itself, guarantee how sheep have been treated.

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Animal welfare depends on farming and wool-production practices, including the way sheep are handled, managed and shorn. Standards and practices can vary between farms, regions and countries.

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Consumers concerned about animal welfare may therefore wish to look for information about the origin of the wool and the animal-welfare standards followed within the supply chain.

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Why do sheep have lanolin in their wool?

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Lanolin is produced naturally by the sebaceous glands of sheep. It coats the wool fibres and helps protect the fleece and skin from environmental conditions, including moisture.

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It is also known as wool wax, wool grease or wool fat, although chemically it is a wax rather than a conventional fat.

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