Expert: Dr.Paul Skett - 1/9/2007

Question
is lanolin or wool alchohols in these? i am alergic and there are so many hidden names,it is hard to find makeup or sunscreen ican use,i also have rosceacia, can you tell what ingred.names have it in it?  thanks alot,  lisa

Answer
Hi, Lisa,

Thanks for your question.

It can, indeed, be very confusing to work out what is in natural products and if you might react badly to them - particularly when different scientific names are used for the same things!

The best site I can find for shea buter is:

http://www.agbangakarite.com/science_bulksheabutter.php

This shows that it is derived from a nut and it contains mainly fatty acids (85-90% stearic and oleic acids) with some phenolics (mainly catechins - which are antioxidants) whereas lanolin is derived from sheep wool and is mainly composed of esters of sterols and alcohols. The composition of each is, thus, quite different.

This is not to say that you may not react to the shea butter as you may be allergic to a trace ingredient but the bulk ingredients are certainly very different.

Phenoxyethanol is a pure alcohol and, as far as I can find, is not a constituent of shea butter nor lanolin.

Trying the preparations on a small section of skin before using the product generally may be a good way forward.

Hope this helps.

Paul