Wax vs. Lanolin — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 5, 2024
Wax is a diverse substance used for coating and sealing, derived from natural or synthetic sources. Lanolin, on the other hand, is a natural oil from sheep's wool, used in skin and hair products.
Difference Between Wax and Lanolin
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Wax is a hydrophobic material that can come from various sources including plants, petroleum, and animals, used in products like candles and polishes. Lanolin is a natural emollient, secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals, primarily used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for its moisturizing properties. While both wax and lanolin serve protective roles, their origins, consistency, and applications differ significantly.
Waxes are diverse in their composition and use, ranging from the beeswax used in candles to the paraffin wax in packaging. They are characterized by their ability to form solid, water-repellent coatings. Lanolin, extracted from sheep's wool after shearing, is known for its skin conditioning and protective qualities, acting as a barrier to prevent moisture loss from the skin.
In terms of texture and consistency, waxes tend to be firmer and less easily absorbed by the skin, making them suitable for protective coatings and sealants. Lanolin, however, is softer and more easily absorbed, making it ideal for use in skin care products where hydration is desired.
Environmental and ethical considerations also distinguish the two. Waxes can be derived from renewable resources like soy and beeswax, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. Lanolin, while natural, raises concerns about animal welfare and the sustainability of sheep farming.
In the cosmetic industry, lanolin is prized for its ability to mimic human skin oils, making it a sought-after ingredient in moisturizers and lip balms. Wax, while also used in cosmetics, is more often utilized for its structuring properties in products like mascara and lipstick.
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Comparison Chart
Source
Various (plant, animal, synthetic)
Sheep's wool
Primary Use
Coatings, candles, polishes
Skin and hair products
Consistency
Generally solid at room temperature
Soft, greasy
Absorption
Less easily absorbed by skin
Easily absorbed, moisturizing
Environmental Impact
Can be eco-friendly (beeswax, soy wax)
Concerns over animal welfare
Compare with Definitions
Wax
A natural wax produced by honey bees.
Beeswax is often used in natural lip balms.
Lanolin
Pure lanolin used in pharmaceuticals.
Anhydrous lanolin is a common base for ointments.
Wax
A natural secretion in the ear canal.
Ear wax protects the ear from dust and microorganisms.
Lanolin
A derivative of lanolin used in cosmetics.
Lanolin alcohol helps to stabilize emulsions in creams.
Wax
A petroleum by-product used in candles.
The candle was made from paraffin wax.
Lanolin
Used for its moisturizing properties.
Liquid lanolin can be added to bath water for softer skin.
Wax
A renewable wax used in eco-friendly candles.
Soy wax candles burn cleaner than those made from paraffin.
Lanolin
A cream high in lanolin for skin care.
Lanolin cream is excellent for dry, cracked hands.
Wax
A plant-derived wax used in car polishes.
Carnauba wax gives a high gloss to car finishes.
Lanolin
Lanolin (from Latin lāna 'wool', and oleum 'oil'), also called wool yolk, wool wax, or wool grease, is a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Lanolin used by humans comes from domestic sheep breeds that are raised specifically for their wool.
Wax
Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to give low viscosity liquids.
Lanolin
A fatty substance obtained from wool and used in soaps, cosmetics, and ointments. Also called wool fat.
Wax
A sticky yellowish mouldable substance secreted by honeybees as the material of a honeycomb; beeswax.
Lanolin
A greasy yellow substance chemically akin to wax that is secreted from wooly animals, with a variety of uses from rust prevention, lubrication and waterproofing to cosmetics and skin ointments.
Wax
Used in reference to records
He didn't get on wax until 1959
Lanolin
(transitive) To treat with lanolin.
Wax
A fit of anger
She is in a wax about the delay to the wedding
Lanolin
A peculiar fatlike body, made up of cholesterin and certain fatty acids, found in feathers, hair, wool, and keratin tissues generally.
Wax
Cover or treat (something) with wax or a similar substance, typically to polish or protect it
I washed and waxed the floor
Lanolin
A yellow viscous animal oil extracted from wool; a mixture of fatty acids and esters; used in some ointments and cosmetics
Wax
Make a recording of
He waxed a series of tracks that emphasized his lead guitar work
Lanolin
An emollient containing wool fat (a fatty substance obtained from the wool of sheep)
Wax
(of the moon between new and full) have a progressively larger part of its visible surface illuminated, increasing its apparent size.
Wax
Begin to speak or write about something in the specified manner
They waxed lyrical about the old days
Wax
Any of various natural, oily or greasy heat-sensitive substances, consisting of hydrocarbons or esters of fatty acids that are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.
Wax
Beeswax.
Wax
Earwax.
Wax
A solid plastic or pliable liquid substance, such as ozocerite or paraffin, originating from petroleum and found in rock layers and used in paper coating, as insulation, in crayons, and often in medicinal preparations.
Wax
A preparation containing wax used for polishing floors and other surfaces.
Wax
A resinous mixture used by shoemakers to rub on thread.
Wax
A cosmetic procedure in which facial or body hair is removed by peeling away a layer of wax that has been allowed to harden.
Wax
A fit of anger
"All at once you would suddenly find yourself reverting to childish attitudes, flaring up in a wax with some fellow" (Frank O'Connor).
Wax
Made of wax
A wax candle.
Wax
To coat, treat, or polish with wax.
Wax
To remove (facial or body hair) by covering the skin with a layer of wax that is peeled off after hardening, uprooting the encased hairs.
Wax
To remove hair from (a portion of the body) by this method.
Wax
To increase gradually in size, number, strength, or intensity
“His love affair with Mrs. Bernstein waxed and waned and waxed again” (C. Hugh Holman).
Wax
To show a progressively larger illuminated area, as the moon does in passing from new to full.
Wax
To grow or become as specified
“His very body had waxed old in lowly service of the Lord” (James Joyce).
Wax
To speak or write as specified
“[He] warmed to his most favorite of subjects, waxed eloquent, gained in his face a glow of passion” (Paul J. Willis).
Wax
Beeswax.
Wax
Earwax.
What role does the wax in your earhole fulfill?
Wax
Any oily, water-resistant, solid or semisolid substance; normally long-chain hydrocarbons, alcohols or esters.
Wax
Any preparation containing wax, used as a polish.
Wax
The phonograph record format for music.
Wax
A thick syrup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple and then cooling it.
Wax
A type of drugs with as main ingredients weed oil and butane; hash oil.
Wax
(rare) The process of growing.
Wax
An outburst of anger, a loss of temper, a fit of rage.
Wax
Made of wax.
Wax
(transitive) To apply wax to (something, such as a shoe, a floor, a car, or an apple), usually to make it shiny.
Wax
(transitive) To remove hair at the roots from (a part of the body) by coating the skin with a film of wax that is then pulled away sharply.
Wax
To defeat utterly.
Wax
To kill, especially to murder a person.
Wax
To record.
Wax
To increasingly assume the specified characteristic.
To wax eloquent
Wax
To grow.
Wax
To appear larger each night as a progression from a new moon to a full moon.
Wax
To move from low tide to high tide.
Wax
To increase in size; to grow bigger; to become larger or fuller; - opposed to wane.
The waxing and the waning of the moon.
Truth's treasures . . . never shall wax ne wane.
Wax
To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong; to wax warmer or colder; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse.
Your clothes are not waxen old upon you.
Where young Adonis oft reposes,Waxing well of his deep wound.
Wax
To smear or rub with wax; to treat with wax; as, to wax a thread or a table.
Wax
A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; - usually called beeswax. It is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales, which, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious. Its natural color is pale or dull yellow.
Wax
Hence, any substance resembling beeswax in consistency or appearance.
Wax
Cerumen, or earwax.
Wax
A waxlike composition used for uniting surfaces, for excluding air, and for other purposes; as, sealing wax, grafting wax, etching wax, etc.
Wax
A waxlike composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread.
Wax
A substance similar to beeswax, secreted by several species of scale insects, as the Chinese wax. See Wax insect, below.
Wax
A waxlike product secreted by certain plants. See Vegetable wax, under Vegetable.
Wax
A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock salt and coal; - called also mineral wax, and ozocerite.
Wax
Thick sirup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, and then cooling.
Wax
Any of numerous substances or mixtures composed predominantly of the longer-chain saturated hydrocarbons such as the paraffins, which are solid at room teperature, or their alcohol, carboxylic acid, or ester derivatives.
Wax
Any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water
Wax
Cover with wax;
Wax the car
Wax
Go up or advance;
Sales were climbing after prices were lowered
Wax
Increase in phase;
The moon is waxing
Common Curiosities
How are wax and lanolin obtained?
Wax can be obtained from plants, animals, or petroleum, whereas lanolin is extracted from sheep's wool.
What is wax?
Wax is a lipophilic substance that is solid at room temperature and can be derived from natural or synthetic sources.
Can wax be used on the skin?
While some waxes are used in cosmetics, they are generally not as skin-friendly as lanolin.
What is lanolin?
Lanolin is a natural oil obtained from sheep's wool, used primarily in cosmetics for its moisturizing properties.
Can wax be used in hair products?
Yes, certain waxes are used in hair styling products to provide hold and texture.
Is carnauba wax edible?
Carnauba wax is considered safe for consumption in small quantities and is used as a food glaze.
Can lanolin be used in all types of cosmetics?
Lanolin is versatile but primarily found in products aimed at moisturizing and conditioning.
Is lanolin vegan?
No, lanolin is not vegan as it is derived from sheep's wool.
Is lanolin good for your skin?
Lanolin is known for its moisturizing and protective properties, making it beneficial for dry skin.
Why is beeswax preferred in organic products?
Beeswax is renewable and biodegradable, making it a favorite in eco-friendly and organic formulations.
Can people be allergic to lanolin?
Yes, some individuals may be allergic to lanolin and experience skin irritation.
How does the environmental impact of wax and lanolin compare?
The impact varies; waxes like beeswax and soy wax are considered eco-friendly, while lanolin raises concerns regarding animal welfare.
Are there synthetic alternatives to lanolin?
Yes, there are synthetic alternatives that mimic the emollient properties of lanolin.
How do waxes benefit the automotive industry?
Waxes like carnauba are used in polishes and waxes to protect and enhance the appearance of vehicle finishes.
What are the main uses of lanolin in cosmetics?
Lanolin is used for its moisturizing properties in products like creams, lotions, and lip balms.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
