Lanolin, Vitamin D & Sheep's Wool
You may have heard of lanolin, sheep's wool and vitamin D being thrown into the same conversation. Well, in this blog post, I thought we would clear up some things and share how amazing sheep's wool is.
What is Lanolin?
Lanolin is similar to the human sebum. An oily waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands of your body. It coats, moisturizes and protects your skin.
Lanolin is secreted by sheep to condition and protect sheep's wool. It is the natural nourishment and protector of the sheep against the extremes of its environment.
It is these properties that the cosmetic industry desires. It is often used in cosmetics, skin care and hair products.
Lanolin helps to soothe and soften the skin and has a great safety profile for skin care applications.
Wool production begins with the careful clipping of wool from sheep. The wool is then washed and placed in a centrifuge machine, which separates the oil from other molecules and unwanted debris.
The lanolin from sheep's wool is the only oil compatible with humans that we can obtain without having to kill the animal.
Vitamin D
There are two types of vitamin D, D2, which comes from the plant world, and D3, commonly from lanolin. If you get vitamin D from a supplement, it is probably vitamin D3 and comes from sheep wool, pigskins or oily fish.
Vitamin D2 and D3 have similar and different advantages. Vitamin D3 lasts longer in the body after ingestion, but vitamin D2 has benefits for the immune, cardiovascular and neurological system.
In order to get vitamin D3 from lanolin, supplement manufacturers begin purifying, then crystallizing, and using a liquefied and ultraviolet light process. From here, the product is further purified to produce Vitamin D3, which goes into the company's products. Either as a single vitamin or within a blend.
Lanolin & Sheeps Wool
Lanolin, derived from sheep's wool, has been used in the cosmetic industry for over 100 years. With a lot of effort, nothing has been discovered that is more versatile and safe, it is the perfect emollient (having the quality of softening or soothing the skin).
World-renowned dermatologists have shown in clinical studies that 99% of dermatitis patients were not allergic to lanolin. In addition, it has been shown that people with eczema have no allergies or side effects to lanolin products.
This shows how nature works wonders, and that sheep's wool is an incredible product of the natural world.
Check out our store for all your woolly needs.