The consistency of hydrogenated fats depending on the conditions of hydrogenation can be different – from semi-liquid to solid. Having positive qualities of animal fats, they are characterized by greater stability, better mixed with water, but worse absorbed.
Waxes are esters of fatty acids and higher monoatomic alcohols. Waxes are chemically inert, and many of them mix well with water. Waxes fuse well with fats and carbohydrates and serve to thicken ointments and increase their viscosity. Waxes include anhydrous lanolin and beeswax. Anhydrous lanolin is an animal wax obtained by washing sheep’s wool. It is a thick, viscous brownish-yellow mass with a peculiar odor and is distinguished from other waxes by its high content of sterols (particularly cholesterol). Lanolin melts at a temperature of 36-42 “C, well absorbed into the skin and has a softening effect. The composition of lanolin is very complex and has not been fully studied to date. Basically, it is a mixture of esters of high-molecular alcohols (cholesterol, isocholesterol, etc.) with higher fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, cerotinic, etc.) and free high-molecular alcohols. In terms of properties, lanolin is close to human sebum. Chemically it is quite inert, neutral and stable during storage. The most valuable property of lanolin is its ability to emulsify up to 180-200 % (of its own weight) of water, up to 140 % of glycerin and about 40 % of ethanol (70 % of concentration) to form water-in-oil emulsions. Addition of a small amount of lanolin to fats and hydrocarbons sharply increases their ability to mix with water and aqueous solutions. The disadvantages of anhydrous lanolin as a base are high viscosity and difficulty of smearing, which does not allow to use it in its pure form. Beeswax is extracted by melting emptied bee honeycomb. It is a solid brittle mass of dark yellow color with a characteristic honey odor and melting point of 62-68 ° C. It becomes plastic at a temperature of 35 °C. At a temperature of 35 ° C it becomes plastic. Beeswax. is a mixture of esters (High molecular weight alcohols and palmitic acid, and also contains cerotinic acid. It has a slight emulsifying property and increases the absorbency of water-based liquids. White wax-derived from yellow wax by bleaching it in sunlight. It is inferior in quality to yellow wax because it becomes contaminated and partially rancid during bleaching. It is also more fragile.

Hydrocarbon bases are similar in appearance and consistency to fats. They are mixtures of solid or solid and liquid limiting hydrocarbons. These bases are characterized by high chemical resistance, stability and compatibility with most drugs, but they are almost not absorbed by the skin and difficult to wash off.
The most widely used are the following bases: petroleum jelly, solid paraffin, vaseline oil, ozokerite, ceresin, artificial petroleum jelly, polyethylene or polypropylene gels and refined naphthalan oil. Vaseline is obtained as a result of petroleum refining. It is a homogeneous viscous stretching mass with a melting point of 37-50 “С. Vaseline is of two types: yellow and white. White petroleum jelly is obtained from yellow petroleum jelly by bleaching it.
By their properties, both types are the same. Vaseline is chemically indifferent, stable in storage and when melted forms a transparent liquid with a faint odor of paraffin and oil. Vaseline mixes with fats and fatty vegetable oils (except castor oil), slowly and does not fully release drug substances, so it can be used only for ointments of superficial action. Skin it is almost not absorbed, has no irritant effect and poorly mixed with water, in connection with which it is often combined with lanolin. This allows to increase the absorption of drugs from ointments. The disadvantages of petroleum jelly include violation of the physiological function of the skin. Many researchers note that the more in the composition of petroleum jelly includes solid paraffins and ozokerite, the worse it is in quality. Vaseline often causes allergies, it should not be used by people with dermatitis, eczema and sensitive skin. Vaseline is poorly removed from the place of application. If 60% of human skin is smeared with petroleum jelly, it can be fatal. For eye ointments, a special grade of Vaseline of the highest purity is used. Solid paraffin is also obtained during oil refining. It is a white solid fine-crystalline mass, greasy to the touch with a melting point of 50-57 ° C. Paraffin is chemically resistant. Paraffin is chemically resistant, is not saponified by caustic alkalis and does not mix well with water and other substances. Paraffin is used as a sealing agent for ointment bases. Vaseline oil (liquid paraffin) is a colorless oily liquid that softens ointment bases. Vaseline oil is mixed with fats and vegetable oils (except castor oil) and has all the disadvantages of petroleum jelly.
Ozokerite (mountain wax) – is a wax-like mineral of dark brown color with the smell of oil and melting point 50-65 “C. Chemically, it is a mixture of high-molecular hydrocarbons.