Lanolin Cosmetics in Australia &
New Zealand
Edited by Roger Kirwan, Managing Director of Lanolin Beauty
Australia and New Zealand are two of the world's major wool-producing countries, with sheep farming playing an important role in both countries for generations.
Because lanolin is recovered from wool during processing, the wool industries of Australia and New Zealand have also been important sources of the raw material from which lanolin is produced.
The lanolin used in cosmetics is subsequently refined and purified to meet the requirements of cosmetic and personal-care formulations
From wool to lanolin
Lanolin is not produced by cutting or processing the wool fibre itself. It is the natural waxy substance that coats sheep's wool.
After wool is shorn, it is washed to remove wool grease, dirt and other materials.
The recovered wool grease can then undergo further refining and purification to produce lanolin suitable for different industrial, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.
Australian and New Zealand lanolin
The quality of finished lanolin depends on factors including the raw wool grease, the refining process and the specifications to which the lanolin is produced.
For cosmetic use, it is therefore more meaningful to consider the quality and specification of the refined lanolin than to assume that country of origin alone determines its quality.
Looking for lanolin skincare?
Lanolin continues to be used in skincare because of its ability to help soften the skin, reduce moisture loss and provide a protective moisturising layer.
If you would like to explore skincare products made with Australian lanolin, visit Lanolin Beauty — an Australian lanolin skincare brand established in 1991.
Lanolin Beauty is a skincare business under common ownership with this website.