Is It Time to Break Up with Your Gluten-Filled Make Up?
I’m a lotion addict. I have lotion next to every sink in my house. Several months after transforming my kitchen into a gluten free facility, I was walking through my kids’ bathroom and the lotion bottle caught my eye. I had never noticed it before, but now it jumped out at me – there was a stalk of wheat that covered the entire front of the moisturizer bottle. After reading the ingredients I immediately threw it away and felt a totally defeated that I realized I had exposed my son to his kryptonite every day in the bathroom after trying so diligently to keep it out of his diet. “Oh great!” I think I even said it out loud to no one, ”You mean I have to read EVERY label? Not just food labels?”
“As much as 60% of topical skin-care products are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream,” Says Dr. Nancy Lonsdrof, M.D. an lowa-based physician, “They should be consumed with the same prudence that we use to choose our breakfast cereal.”
– April 2006 issue of Women’s Health Magazine.
I don’t really know if there are studies to back that statement up, and I take it with a grain of salt, however, some people just swear that they feel “off” or “glutened” when they use gluten-containing products, and feel better when they don’t use them. There are also those who get contact rashes and skin problems with gluten products.
Lipstick should definitely always be gluten free (and lots of it isn’t) if you, or someone you are kissing is gluten free, but obviously, you are not really ingesting shampoo or make-up. If it’s worth it to you to go gluten free in this area, read on . . .
I have found two blogs, and there may be more, that have been focusing on this for years, so their archives are great resources:
Also, Gluten-free Lifestyle has a great list of Gluten free products by type, including deodorants, shave creams, laundry items, etc.
Here are some GLUTEN INGREDIENTS TO AVOID:
- Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour
- Barley extract
- Cyclodextrin
- Dextrin
- Dextrin Palmitate
- Fermented grain extract
- Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
- Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
- Maltodextrin
- Phytosphingosine extract
- Samino peptide complex
- Secale Cereale (Rye) Seed Flour
- Sodium C8-16 Isoalkylsuccinyl
- Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
- Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
- Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten
- Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch
- Vitamin E (MAY have wheat germ as the source of the vitamin E)
- Wheat Amino Acids
- Wheat Germ Glycerides
- Wheat Germamidopropalkonium Chloride
- Wheat Protein Sulfonate
- Wheatgermamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
- Yeast Extract
Here are just a few companies with products I found that claim to be gluten free, although their websites all list the standard disclaimers about cross-contamination possibilities. These are subject to change as the companies deem, so always read labels and verify for yourself.
Click each company name to go to their websites.
Avon
One of our fabulous Facebook fans, Eileen, sent me this list of Avon Gluten Free Products. They have a list of products they claim are gluten free which is 12 pages long! Available online, from Avon consultants everywhere, and from our friend, Eileen.
Click here to order from Eileen’s online store.
Click here to see the extensive list of products they claim are gluten free.
Afterglow Cosmetics
Their website claims that their cosmetics are infused with organic anti-oxidants like pomegranate and grape seed extract: Paraben free, talc free, gluten free, petro-chemical free, carmine free, lanolin free, GMO free, lake and fd&c free, mineral oil free
Similar product line to the popular Bare Minerals/ Bare Escentuals, Certified Organic
Mission: ”Afterglow Cosmetics believes that everything is connected. We pledge to create products that respect women’s bodies and the earth. Our mission is to elevate women’s beauty products to an alternative that is safe, purely natural and fashionable.”
Available online and on their website.
Arbonne
Arbonne is another home party type product line sold by independent consultants. They carry a wide range of products for adults, teens and babies from moisturizers, to cosmetics, to supplements. They claim their products are “pure, safe and beneficial.”
Click here to see the extensive list of products they claim are gluten free.
Bare Minerals
All gluten free:
-Bare MInerals Foundation
-Bare Minerals Blushes
-Bare Minerals Eyeshadows, Glimpses, Glimmers
-Bare Minerasl Multi-Tasking Bisques
-Bare Minerals Buxom lip gloss.
-Bare Minerals Mascara
Burt’s Bees
Burt’s Bees is the original natural products cosmetic company. They have a large variety of gluten free adult and kid’s products. Widely available online and at many drugstores and discount stores.
Click here for a list of the products they claim are gluten free.
California Baby
Gluten Free Baby Lotions, soaps, shampoos, sunscreens for sensitive skin
“California Baby products are free of common allergens such as milk, egg, peanut, walnut, cashew, almond and pecans, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. California Baby products are also free of gluten and casein.”
Available at Whole Foods, Target & Babies R Us (and online) essential oils, safe bug sprays and more
Joelle
They claim all products are gluten free.
Mineral based make-up, mascara, shampoo, soap, lotion and more. Free shipping.
NARS
They claim all products are gluten free and produced in a gluten free facility.
Make-up, cleansers, lotions and more.
Available online and at stores like Sephora and Nordstrom.
Neutrogena
This company has a huge list of gluten free shampoo, sunscreen, acne products, washes and more. Chances are good that you probably already use some of these products.
Available just about anywhere that sells cosmetics.
Click here to see a partial, but extensive list.
Smashbox
These are the products they claim are gluten free:
Bionic Mascara, Jet Black
Layer Lash Primer
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, Fair, Light, Medium and Dark
Doubletake Lip Color, Praline, Gossamer, Sugar Spice, Cranberry
Lip Treatment
Lipstick Tinted Lip Treatment, Solar, Ray, Beam, and Shine
Available online and at stores like Sephora. I’ve even seen a few products at Costco.
This is just a small listing of gluten free products. If you have helpful information or experience with one of these or another company, share it below!
Lots of good discussion on this topic on the FaceBook fan site(link below). Check it out.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gluten-Freeville/298726661598?v=wall#!/pages/Gluten-Freeville/298726661598?v=wall
I recently contacted Bonnie Bell and I have given their response on my blog, on February 26, 2010. They have a large number of products they also claim are gluten free which I included in that post.
http://glutenfreesleuth.blogspot.com/
You have really great taste on catch article titles, even when you are not interested in this topic you push to read it
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time!
Haha. thanks! ..I think
I emailed the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University in New York to see if beauty products need to be GF. I have read on another GF/Celiac web site that if you’re not ingesting them directly, they do not need to be GF. I am not sure what’s what so I will post their reply when I get an answer. Thanks Nancy!
Thanks, Sharon. Many people DO have a physical reaction to ingredients in lotions, shampoos, and make-up. If you look around on my face book fan page, you will find many peoples’ stories. Many people besides celiacs are living a gluten free lifestyle for a variety of reasons, some being contact allergies to gluten other ingredients. If you have no issues with it, that’s good and this article is not for you. I did not suggest in the article that everyone should go gluten free in this area-
“Lipstick should definitely always be gluten free (and lots of it isn’t) if you, or someone you are kissing is gluten free, but obviously, you are not really ingesting shampoo or make-up. If it’s worth it to you to go gluten free in this area, read on . . .”
Happy to stir up a little conversation on the topic, though!
From a book review of Elisabeth Hasselback’s book The G Free Diet –
“We also learn about using gluten-free personal products such as hair care items, cosmetics, and skin care. Hasselbeck shares how she once got sick breathing in hair spray that had wheat as an ingredient. She suggests bringing your own shampoos and hair products to the salon with you instead of chancing using what they carry there. There are also tips on bringing your own personal products on vacation and doing spot tests before having your hair colored.
I was very glad to see the section on personal products because many celiacs and people with wheat/rye/barley/oats allergies as well, often neglect this area and then wonder why they are still having symptoms even though they are so careful about their diets. Often it is something as simple as hand soap residue with gluten, a lotion residue, or getting your hair or lip gloss in your mouth that is causing a reaction. Not to mention the fact many celiacs get dermatitis hepaformis from topically using products with gluten in them. This subject is often overlooked in books on living gluten-free, but is very important.”
http://www.popsyndicate.com/site/story/The_g-free_diet_a_gluten-free_survival_guide_by_elisabeth_hasselbeck/
100% Pure- the shampoos and conditioner is NOT gluten free and lists “wheat protein” in the ingredient list. Just thought everyone should know.
Thanks, Angie!
Just a heads up, your AVON list is over a year old-several products are no longer sold, and many products released in the last year that are GF are not on here. But AVON does a wonderful job of putting ingredients on their website, so it’s easy to double check products.
Just to let you know I have been on a gluten free diet since I was 15 I am now a 24 year old female. Everybody should read a book called Gluten Free Baking by Chef Richard Coppedge. It is put out by The Culinary Institute of America very own Certified Master Baker. He worked hand and hand with a GI specialist and really explains the lifestyle and how it affects many people. Also as a chef he has first hand knowledge of what may be in things that are not listed and it includes many wonderful and simple recipes from bread to pastries to savory items. They come out tasting and feelings just like gluten filled items and many people couldn’t tell the difference in them. I swear by his GF Zucchini Bread! I know the books can be purchased at any major bookstore such as Borders and Barnes and Nobles!
Nancy, Please note that both Maltodextrin and Dextrose are GLUTEN-FREE additives. Maltodextrin is made from corn starch, potato starch or rice starch and does not contain gluten. It is commonly confused as containing gluten because the word itself contains the root “malt”. Of course, malt is made from barley, and is definitely an ingredient that contains gluten. But, your readers should know that maltodextrin is perfectly safe. I think this is a big deal because maltodextrin is in so many foods. As a person with Celiac Disease, I wouldn’t want to exclude any more ingredients than is positively necessary. For a great list of ingredients and additives that DO and DO NOT contain gluten, go to the Univ of Chicago’s Celiac Disease Center web site at: http://www.celiacdisease.net/gluten-free-diet
Kimberly- Many of the sources I consulted said that that these 2 ingredients are not always gluten free and can be made from wheat. There are differing opinions and in that case, I would not claim that it is gluten free.
Here’s just one:
“Maltodextrin, a common food additive, is a type of sugar that’s made by breaking down starch. (Despite its name, maltodextrin does not contain malt.) Whether maltodextrin is gluten-free depends on what kind of starch it came from. In the United States, maltodextrin is usually made from rice, corn, or potato. In Europe, maltodextrin is frequently made from wheat.
Dextrin, a common additive that’s made by heating starch, can come from corn, potato, arrowroot, wheat, rice or tapioca.”
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/faqs/f/Maltodextrin.htm
Hey All! I am new here. Just want to greet you
I noticed that your list of GF Smashbox items are actually the small list of products they have that CONTAIN GLUTEN!
Information found on glutenfreecosmeticcounter.blogspot.com :
Some of you may know about Smashbox gluten free cosmetic choices. Now everyone can know! I just got this letter today, confirming what I read earlier this year about having a great selection of gluten free cosmetics. Here is there exact letter:
Dear Erika,
Thank you for contacting us. Gluten can be found in products that contain wheat/rye/barley derivatives. Most Smashbox products do not contain gluten, however the following products do contain gluten in their formulations:
Bionic Mascara, Jet Black
Layer Lash Primer
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, Fair, Light, Medium and Dark
Doubletake Lip Color, Praline, Gossamer, Sugar Spice, Cranberry
Lip Treatment
Lipstick Tinted Lip Treatment, Solar, Ray, Beam, and Shine
For your reference, here is a list of gluten ingredients you may want to avoid:
Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour
Cyclodextrin
Dextrin
Dextrin Palmitate
Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
Hydrolyzed Wheat Flour
Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/PVP Crosspolymer
Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Maltodextrin
Secale Cereale (Rye) Seed Flour
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Starch
Wheat Amino Acids
Wheat Germ Glycerides
Wheat Germamidopropalkonium Chloride
Wheat Protein
Wheatgermamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate
Yeast Extract
Be sure to double check the complete ingredients on the unit carton of the Smashbox product or we can email them to you. Also, a full list of the ingredients for our products is listed each product page, see here: http://www.smashbox.com/Make-Up-Page. If you have any questions please contact us at customerservice@smashbox.com.
Best Wishes,
Customer Service
SMASHBOX COSMETICS
1.888.763.1361
customerservice@smashbox.com
See link below:
http://glutenfreecosmeticcounter.blogspot.com/search/label/Smashbox%20gluten%20free%20makeup
The list you have posted for Smashbox is incorrect. The items you have listed are the items that ARE NOT Gluten free.