Vegetable substitute for lanolin

1. A lanolin-free lanolin substitute composition comprising the following components:

A) from 5 to about 95% by weight of at least one plant sterol fatty acid ester;

B) from about 1 to about 20% by weight of at least one polyglyceryl di-polyhydroxy fatty acid ester;

C) from about 1 to about 20% by weight of at least one polyglyceryl di-fatty acid ester;

D) from about 0.25 to about 10% by weight of at least one glyceryl fatty acid ester; and

E) optionally, from about 1 to 80% by weight of an additive containing a mixture of (i) a vegetable oil, (ii) a hydrogenated vegetable oil, and (iii) a non-petroleum derived wax.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein component A) is present in from about 15 to about 60% by weight, components B) and C) are present in from about 5 to about 15% by weight, component D) is present in from about 1 to about 5% by weight, and component E) is present in an amount of from about 35 to 65% by weight, all weights being based on the weight of the composition.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein component A) is soya sterol fatty acid ester, component B) is polyglyceryl-2 di-polyhydroxystearate, component C) is polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, and component D) is glyceryl oleate.

4. The composition of claim 2 wherein component A) is soya sterol fatty acid ester, component B)is polyglyceryl-2 di-polyhydroxystearate, component C) is polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, and component D) is glyceryl oleate.

5. A lanolin-free lanolin substitute composition of claim 1 comprising the following components:

A) about 40% by weight of soya sterol C 18 saturated fatty acid ester;

B) about 10% by weight of polyglyceryl-2 polyhydroxystearate;

C) about 10% by weight of polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate;

D) about 2.5% by weight of glyceryl oleate; and

E) about 37.5% of the additive.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition also contains at least one of the following components:

F) microcrystalline wax;

G) a polyethyleneglycol plant sterol; and

H) petrolatum/mineral oil.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein component F) is present in from 1 to about 20% by weight, component G) is present in from 1 to about 20% by weight; and component H) is present in from 1 to 60% by weight, all weights being based on the total weight of the composition.

8. The composition of claim 6 wherein at least component F) is present and wherein component G) is polyethyleneglycol soya sterol.

9. In the formulation of a pharmaceutical, cosmetic composition, soap, detergent, or leather finishing composition in which lanolin is used as a component thereof, the improvement wherein the composition of claim 1 is used in place of lanolin.

10. In the formulation of a pharmaceutical, cosmetic, soap, detergent, or leather finishing composition in which lanolin is used as a component thereof, the improvement wherein the composition of claim 5 is used in place of lanolin.

11. In the formulation of a pharmaceutical, cosmetic, soap, detergent, or leather finishing composition in which lanolin is used as a component thereof, the improvement wherein the composition of claim 6 is used in place of lanolin.

12. In the formulation of a pharmaceutical, cosmetic composition, soap, detergent, or leather finishing composition in which lanolin is used as a component thereof, the improvement wherein the composition of claim 9 is used in place of lanolin.

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein B) comprises polyglyceryl di-polyhydroxystearate.

14. The composition of claim 13 wherein A) comprises soya sterol fatty acid ester.