Lanolin
Emollient · INCI: Lanolin
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Known to clog pores. If you break out easily, this is the one to skip.
Is Lanolin comedogenic?
Yes. Lanolin is a known pore-clogging ingredient, and we read it as highly comedogenic. If you're acne-prone, it's worth avoiding, especially when it sits near the top of an ingredient list.
Why we read it this way
Lanolin is the wax washed from sheep's wool, refined into a thick, tacky emollient that seals water into skin and softens rough patches. We read it as highly comedogenic, a heavy, waxy film to leave on acne-prone facial skin.
The nuance
Some sources read plain lanolin more gently than its acetylated and ethoxylated forms, which draw the most consistent flags. We hold the same call across the family. On lips or hands it is a far smaller concern than in a face cream.
Where it shows up
Lip balms, nipple creams, hand and heel salves, diaper ointments and heavy barrier creams. On some labels it appears as wool fat or wool wax.
Names we read the same way
- Wool Fat
- Wool Wax
- Hydrous Wool Fat
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, the pore-clogging ingredients list has the rest of what we flag, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What causes acne.