Lanolin — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?
Also known as: Wool wax, Wool grease, Wool fat, Anhydrous lanolin
Not Vegan
This processing agent is derived from animals or their byproducts.
Not required on labels
Listed as 'lanolin', 'wool wax', 'wool grease', or 'cholesterol' in cosmetics. In vitamin D3 supplements, the lanolin origin is typically not declared.
Source
A waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Extracted from raw wool by scouring in hot water and centrifuging out the grease. A byproduct of the wool industry.
Used In
Cosmetics (lip balms, lotions, nipple creams, leather conditioning), vitamin D3 supplement production (lanolin is irradiated with UV light to produce cholecalciferol), some industrial lubricants.
How to Avoid
In cosmetics: look for lanolin-free formulations. In vitamin D3 supplements: seek lichen-derived D3, which is vegan. Vitashine and several other brands produce lichen-derived vitamin D3.
Editorial Notes
Lanolin is the animal origin of most vitamin D3 supplements on the market. Vegans requiring vitamin D3 supplementation should specifically purchase lichen-derived cholecalciferol. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is always vegan (derived from yeast). The lanolin-D3 connection is one of the most under-appreciated non-vegan hidden ingredient pathways in mainstream supplementation.