What is Lanolin?
Lanolin falls into the lanolin derivative category — a lanolin-derived ingredient (from sheep's wool). Plain lanolin is only mildly comedogenic (around 1), but its acetylated and ethoxylated derivatives are far higher, so the label wording matters. A known contact allergen for some.
You may see it on labels as Lanolin, Wool Fat, Wool Wax, Lanolin Oil, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Lanolin shows up
As a lanolin-derived ingredient (from sheep's wool), Lanolin typically appears in lip products, rich balms, and heavy moisturisers. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Lanolin bad for acne-prone skin?
Because it barely registers on the comedogenic scale, Lanolin is generally a safe pick for breakout-prone skin and is often recommended as a gentler alternative to heavier ingredients.
Worth flagging: Lanolin's rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers, which is why we show a range rather than a single score — and why your own experience is the best tiebreaker.
Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Lanolin is commonly avoided in fungal-acne routines, since it falls into the fatty-acid or ester families the yeast can feed on. The evidence there is looser than for comedogenicity — see our fungal-acne checker for context.