Ingredient decoder

Lanolin wax: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Lanolin Wax

Acne verdict Watch

Worth watching on acne-prone skin

  • Comedogenic1 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Waxy lanolin fraction that softens skin and may clog pores.

  • Binding
  • Emollient
  • Hair conditioning
  • Viscosity controlling

Lanolin wax in plain English

Lanolin wax is the waxy part of lanolin, the oil from sheep's wool, used to soften skin and thicken products. Lanolin derivatives are often flagged on comedogenic lists. Keep in mind these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests of the raw ingredient, which can overstate the risk of a small amount in a finished product. In Fulton's 1989 retest it scored only 1 out of 5, so we list it to watch rather than as a pore-clogger.

Is lanolin wax bad for acne?

Not usually, but it is worth watching. Lanolin wax is not a proven pore-clogger, but it is flagged for acne-prone skin for the reason below. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 1 out of 5 for clogging pores and 0 out of 5 for irritation. Notice how your skin reacts when a product lists it near the top.

Why it is flagged: A waxy lanolin fraction. Lanolin derivatives are often flagged.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Lanolin Wax

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Frequently asked questions

Is lanolin wax comedogenic?

Lanolin wax scored 1 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does lanolin wax do in skincare?

In short: waxy lanolin fraction that softens skin and may clog pores. In formulas it is used for binding, emollient, hair conditioning and viscosity controlling.

How can I check if a product with lanolin wax is acne-safe?

Paste the product's full ingredient list into the free breakoutLabs acne-safe checker. It decodes every ingredient, flags commonly cited pore-cloggers and irritants, and points out acne fighters.

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