Lanolin - what is it? Benefits of lanolin for humans

In our years in a fairly large number of cosmetics is actively used lanolin. What is it and where it came from is not known to everyone, since many are not interested in the composition of their cosmetics.

Origin

Lanolin is a natural wax that is extracted from sheep's fat by special treatment using alkali. That is, this product is a substance of natural origin. The useful properties of this fat-like substance were discovered by the ancient Greeks and Romans. They at that time used unrefined lanolin, which was their mistake, because this substance in a crude form contains dirt and various other harmful substances. Modern technology allows you to get a clean product. Many women who are accustomed to follow their appearance, admire this tool. This product is also called animal wax.

Product Description

This substance has a viscous consistency. It can be of different shades, ranging from light yellow to dark brown. Since lanolin is a fat, the smell of it can not be called pleasant. 10% of the composition of this substance belongs to sterols, this group includes cholesterol. Physical properties of lanolin resembles human skin fat. The melting point of this product is low, it ranges from 36 to 42 degrees. Also, lanolin is a good emulsifier. It retains the amount of water that is 2 times its weight.

Anhydrous lanolin

Lanolin anhydrous has a more complex composition. It contains the presence of free high-molecular alcohols, mixtures of esters and higher fatty acids. Many cosmeticians claim that the composition of lanolin is very similar to the composition of the skin fat of a person.

Food industry and lanolin

In the production of food products, lanolin is used as a glazing agent and anti-flammin. Thanks to anti-flamings, foaming is prevented, and the consistency of the product becomes homogeneous. Thanks to glaze production gets shine, and its appearance becomes much more pleasant. Lanolin is one of the constituent components of the mixtures that cover the fruit.

With the help of such coating mixtures, fruits acquire a fresh and pleasant appearance, making them more attractive and lasting longer. Such a procedure is most often performed on products such as apples, lemons, oranges, pears, plums, pineapples, peaches and melons. Food additive with lanolin is called E913, it is part of the glaze on various foods. They can serve flour confectionery, as well as pills, nuts, sweets, chocolate and chewing gum.

Properties of lanolin

This product is not the last place in the production of cosmetics due to its excellent ability to absorb and retain moisture. For example, the cream, which includes lanolin, has the property of penetrating deeply into the layers of the skin, permanently moisturizing it. Due to this, wrinkles are smoothed out, in addition, their appearance is prevented.

When using a cream containing lanolin, a protective coating is formed on the skin in the form of a thin film. Due to this environment minimally affects the human body. Frost, sun, dust and dirt are not terrible if the cream contains lanolin. What is this for a miracle substance? This is what the nature of animals has endowed.

Lanolin provides moisturizing of the skin, due to which there is an early healing of cracks and wounds. And the regular use and at all prevents their development. In addition, this agent produces an anti-inflammatory and cooling effect.

Lanolin in cosmetics

In full, lanolin is used only in cosmetology. It is part of almost any lipstick, and also acts as a harmless and soft foundation of many creams. This product is good because it is quickly and deeply absorbed during application, which leaves no residue on the skin, and therefore, on the clothing of greasy marks. Often, women use lanolin to make natural home cosmetics. With it, you can prepare creams and masks that can be applied to the skin around the eyes or on the entire face. There are also prescriptions for creams with lanolin for the feet.

Lanolin for Hair

This component is used in other cosmetics. For example, you can find shampoo with lanolin. Thanks to the presence of this component, the hair gets a healthy appearance and shine, and also their structure improves. Thanks to these properties, lanolin is an integral component of air conditioners and hair masks. Many people think that this product promotes the growth of hair. This is not so, the length of the curls is absolutely independent of this substance.

Lanolin against cracks

Also, there are ointments that contain lanolin. Ointment is most often aimed at preventing cracks. It is used by nursing moms to protect the nipples from wounds. To become a component of this product, lanolin is highly purified, after which it becomes harmless to infants even if ingested.

For such purposes, oil is sometimes used, the main component of which is lanolin. Oil helps to restore and moisturize, provides nutrition, supports the water-fat balance of the integument. Thanks to lanolin oil, the skin of a person becomes soft and velvety.

Application in medicine

How is lanolin used in this industry? What is it and why was this place found in this component? This substance has several properties, which should be repelled - moisturizing and healing of wounds. In medicine, he acts as the basis of a medical adhesive and adhesive bandages. Lanolin is one of the constituents of a hydrophilic ointment. In this case, ophthalmic ointment is also no exception.

Use of lanolin in other industries

This substance can be used in other directions. For example, the production of concrete is practically impossible without this component. In addition, this product is used to create lubricants. In products that protect clothes and shoes from water and dirt, lanolin is also present.

Does lanolin have disadvantages?

What it is, has become very clear, but it seems that this is some miracle product without flaws. This opinion is erroneous. Lanolin, like all natural remedies, has its drawbacks. One of them is the ability to cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, before using a cream or ointment with the presence of lanolin, you need to test it, applying the product to the skin of the hand below the wrist. If after a day the irritation does not appear, the cream can be safely used.

Clean lanolin on the skin should not be applied. In this form it is very thick, which makes it stretch the skin when it is applied. Most often this leads to the formation of wrinkles. Pure lanolin contributes to clogging the pores, causing swelling, as the skin does not breathe. An allergic reaction most often occurs when lanolin is applied in a pure form, rather than in a diluted one.

Lanolin. Reviews

The reviews of many men and women confirm that lanolin really helps smooth wrinkles. If it is used regularly, old wrinkles are not only smoothed out, but new ones do not appear. Many mothers who feed their babies with their breasts face cracks on the nipples, accompanied by pain. They only respond positively to this product, as it helped them cope with the problem and prevented the formation of new wounds.

Women who used lanolin to strengthen hair, also were satisfied with this shampoo, the hair became stronger and healthier. Negative reviews can be heard from people who have tried to use lanolin oil for the body. They say that the product is not absorbed for a long time, the skin after it remains oily. Many people say that it was after the oil that there was an allergy. This is natural, because it is a very concentrated product.

You can try to make home creams or masks with this remedy, so it will be much cheaper than buying a cream of a famous brand. You can buy lanolin in a pharmacy in its pure form, after which you can gradually use it, creating different home cosmetic products. In any case, lanolin has many positive properties that you just need to take advantage of.