Thread: Can someone explain the logic behind lanolin in soaps and pre shave creams?

My wife is into that whole Sheep to Fiber thing so I am often dragged along on one of her hunts for the next fiber. One thing I know is that when you stick your fingers in a sheep's coat, even after it has been sheared, the lanolin sticks to your skin and coats it with a soothing softening moisture that doesn't quickly wear away, even when washed.

I always thought it was a natural waterproofing that sheep emit in order to make their hair better resist the elements.

I have a tub of pure lanolin that I use in my homemade oil-based hand cream - I don't bother with essential oils because nothing seems to make it not smell farmyard. I've just had a thought... Would my olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, lanolin, and vitamin E concoction protect my blades?

I personally can't stand anything oily on my face, my pre-shave oil was only used a few times before I gave up on it.

Lanolin softens skin and hair, helps heal (increased cell production?) and moisturise skin, and helps hair retain moisture.*

* I have not looked for any scientific studies that prove/disprove what the Web says about lanolin.