Addressing Lanolin Precipitation in Shampoo

Thank you for reaching out. You're experiencing precipitation when adding Lanolin Natural (Sheep Wool Grease, Anhydrous, Deodorized) at 2% to your shampoo base. This is because Lanolin Natural is an oil-soluble ingredient, meaning it dissolves in oils, not water. Shampoo bases are primarily water-based, which causes the oil-soluble Lanolin to separate and form particles or sediment.

While a thickener like ClearClean™ can help suspend particles in a formula, it doesn't make oil-soluble ingredients dissolve in water. To achieve a smooth, homogeneous shampoo with conditioning properties without precipitation, you need to use ingredients that are compatible with the water-based nature of shampoo.

Recommended Alternatives

Instead of Lanolin Natural, consider using water-soluble conditioning ingredients that can integrate smoothly into your shampoo base and provide similar benefits without clogging pores:

• Lanolin Water Soluble (PEG-75 Lanolin): This is a modified version of Lanolin that is made water-soluble. It provides similar emollient and conditioning properties to natural Lanolin but can be easily mixed into the water phase of your shampoo formulation, preventing precipitation. It is suitable for hair care products and is typically used at a rate of 3-5%.
• PCA Glyceryl Oleate: A 100% natural-based ingredient that acts as a hair conditioner and skin moisturizer. It improves hair combability and enhances skin hydration. It is water-soluble and can be mixed into the water phase at a usage rate of 0.1-2.0%.
• Hydrolyzed Keratin: A protein that helps protect and restore damaged hair, improving strength, moisture, and shine. It is water-soluble and can be added to the water phase. Recommended usage is 2.0% for rinse-off products like shampoo.

These alternatives are water-soluble and can provide the desired natural, smooth feel to your shampoo without causing the separation issues you encountered with oil-soluble Lanolin Natural. You can choose the ingredient that best fits the specific conditioning benefits you are targeting (emollience, combability, repair).