Lanolin alcohol is an organic chemical compound, a complex mixture of alcohols that are produced industrially by hydrolysis from lanolin.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Lanolin is composed of sterols, fatty alcohols, wool wax alcohols, fatty acids that vary in composition, is present in the intercellular lipids of the skin and is extracted from sheep fleece.
• Alcohols indicates that lanolin has undergone a process of hydrolysis to yield alcohols. Lanolin alcohols are a mixture of various fatty alcohols and sterols, which are major components of lanolin.

Description of Raw Materials and Their Functions

Lanolin. As above. A waxy substance obtained from sheep's wool, rich in fatty acid esters and alcohols. Lanolin is used as the raw material to extract lanolin alcohols.

Solvents and Reagents. Used in the extraction and purification process of lanolin alcohols from lanolin. These may include alcohols, acids, and other organic solvents.

Industrial Chemical Synthesis of Lanolin Alcohols

• Extraction. Lanolin alcohols are extracted from lanolin using a combination of solvents and refining processes.
• Hydrolysis. Lanolin undergoes hydrolysis, a process that breaks down the esters into fatty acids and alcohols.
• Purification. After hydrolysis, lanolin alcohols are separated and purified to remove impurities and fatty acids.
• Quality Control and Packaging. The purified lanolin alcohols undergo quality checks to ensure they meet the required standards. After quality control, they are packaged for use in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and other personal care products, where they utilize their emollient and moisturizing properties.

It appears as a yellowish colloid liquid.

What it is used for and where

Lanolin Alcohols are used in cosmetics and skincare products for their emollient and moisturizing properties. They are particularly valued for their ability to soften the skin and help maintain its moisture.

Cosmetics

Antistatic agent. Static electricity build-up has a direct influence on products and causes electrostatic adsorption. The antistatic ingredient reduces static build-up and surface resistivity on the surface of the skin and hair.

Binder agent. Ingredient that is used in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products as an anti-caking agent with the function of making the product in which it is incorporated silky, compact and homogenous. The binder, either natural such as mucilage, gums and starches or chemical, may be in the form of a powder or liquid.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Viscosity control agent. It controls and adapts viscosity to the required level for optimal chemical and physical stability of the product and dosage in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. 

Medical

Lanolin alcohols is used in the treatment of wound healing due to its high cholesterol content and in CO₂ laser surgery.

Commercial applications:

Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Industry: Lanolin alcohols are used as emollients and emulsion stabilizers in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, including creams, lotions, ointments, and skin care products.

Skin Care: Used to treat dry and irritated skin, they are known for their excellent moisturizing and soothing properties.

Hair Care Products: Can be included in conditioners and hair treatments to improve combability and add shine.

Safety

It has been considered to be a contact allergen (1), an ophthalmic allergen (2) for decades, but the EFSA Panel on Cosmetic Products considers it safe (3). Lanolin includes hundreds of substances many of which could be allergens and the degree of purity is uncertain as lanolin and lanolin alcohol are obtained by different industrial processes using different reagents.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Knijp J, Bruynzeel DP, Rustemeyer T. Diagnosing lanolin contact allergy with lanolin alcohol and Amerchol L101. Contact Dermatitis. 2019 May;80(5):298-303. doi: 10.1111/cod.13210. 

(2) Herbst RA, Uter W, Pirker C, Geier J, Frosch PJ. Allergic and non-allergic periorbital dermatitis: patch test results of the Information Network of the Departments of Dermatology during a 5-year period. Contact Dermatitis. 2004 Jul;51(1):13-9. doi: 10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00334.x. 

Abstract. Periorbital dermatitis is common and can be due to the external use of ophthalmic drugs. We evaluated patch test results of the Information Network of the Departments of Dermatology. During a 5-year period (1995-99), of a total 49,256 patch-tested patients, 1053 (2.1%) were eventually diagnosed as allergic periorbital contact dermatitis (APD) and 588 (1.2%) as non-allergic periorbital dermatitis (NAPD). Patient characteristics between APD, NAPD and other cases (OCs) differed with respect to sex (19.7% male in both periorbital groups versus 36.3% in OCs), atopic dermatitis (10.4% in APD versus 60.2% in NAPD versus 16.9% in OCs) and age, APD being substantially more often (68.2%) aged 40 and above than NAPD (52.6%). Several of the top allergens in OCs [such as fragrance mix, Myroxylon pereirae resin (balsam of Peru), lanolin alcohol and potassium dichromate] caused significantly fewer positive test reactions in both periorbital groups. In contrast, thimerosal, phenylmercuric acetate, sodium disulfite, gentamicin sulfate, phenylephrine hydrochloride and benzalkonium chloride tested positively significantly more often in APD but not in NAPD, verifying them as true ophthalmic allergens. Finally, in 42 cases (4%) of APD patients, additional allergens were identified by testing of the patients' own substances (mostly beta-blockers, oxybuprocaine and dexpanthenol), supporting the necessity of testing with ophthalmic drugs as is where individual substances are not readily available.

(3) Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Andersen FA. Final report on the safety assessment of Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil and related ingredients. Int J Toxicol. 2011 May;30(3 Suppl):5S-16S. doi: 10.1177/1091581811400636.