Gluten-Free Hub » GF Cosmetics

See How Easily You Can be a Gluten-Free Mom

Crystal — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:51:41 +0000

I travelled to Minneapolis over the weekend to present some of my research on depression and anxiety at a conference. While there, I had an opportunity to eat at some fantastic restaurants that offer gluten-free menu options (Fogo de Chão rocks!). I also had a chance to hangout with my best friend from college and her 11-month-old baby. I don’t have a baby, so I have to admit that I had never really thought about all of the ways in which celiac disease could affect the mother-infant relationship. My friend tasted most things that she fed the baby, and she always checked the temperature of warm foods and drinks. Most of what the baby ate ended up all over his face, hands and clothes, which inevitably touched his mom’s face and mouth by the end of the meal.

Beyond the food issues inherent in the mother-infant relationship, cosmetics and self-care products are an important consideration. The baby’s hands were constantly in his mouth, his mom’s mouth, touching her face, and my face. Many kisses were exchanged.

If your baby has celiac disease, all of his or her activities must be taken into account. Does she suck her thumb? Do you kiss her while wearing lipstick or lip balm? Do you put lotion on her? Does she put her hands in her mouth when eating? If so, then you may want to make sure that your lipstick and lip balm are gluten free so that you can exchange worry-free kisses. You may also want to consider the baby lotion, oil, and shampoo that you use.

If you have celiac disease, the considerations are similar. Do you kiss the baby’s skin or hair? Do you wash your hands after applying the baby’s lotion or oil and after giving her a bath? Does the child wear lip balm or facial moisturizer? You may want to make sure that the baby’s products are gluten free so that you don’t have to worry about avoiding kissing her skin or washing your hands after applying her lotion.

This approach may sound overzealous to some, but many others, including celiac specialists, nutritionists, and physicians, seem to agree:

“Make sure everything you use is gluten free; for example, shampoos, hand soaps, makeup and hand lotions.” Erik Spersrud & Jennifer Spersrud (2008) in Everything You Want to Know about Recipes Restaurants and Much More…

“Anything that can be ingested may be a potential source of gluten. This includes not only medications and dietary supplements but also toothpaste, mouthwash, lipstick, and postage stamps… Until more is know about the minimum safe exposure threshold of gluten, the patient should be advised to be as strict as possible.” – See & Murray (2008) in Nutrition in Clinical Practice

“These non-foods may also be gluten sources: lip stick and lip balm, sunscreen… soaps and shampoos, toothpaste and mouthwash, cosmetics, lotions, creams…” – Baurman & Friedlander (2008)

“The make-up that matters most is make-up you’re likely to get in your mouth (or someone else’s), like lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, and anything else that goes on or near your lips…. Sometimes lotion from your hands or arms can get on the food you’re eating or preparing, and that can cause a problem.” Dana Korn in Living Gluten Free for Dummies (p. 74-75).

Finding out which cosmetics and self care-products are gluten free can be difficult and time-consuming, so we have done the legwork for you. Our Gluten Free Cosmetics List makes going gluten-free easy and includes over 550 gluten-free products from 25 companies in 35 categories and includes baby products, men’s products, lipsticks, lip balms, and lotions, and we’re constantly adding more.

Photo credit: charlottemorrall

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Ecco Bella’s Natural and Organic Gluten-Free Cosmetics

Crystal — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:00:21 +0000

Recently I discovered Ecco Bella cosmetics, and I am thoroughly impressed. I received a bottle of Age Antidote Day Cream and Vanilla Herbal Body Lotion from the company to review.

I love the Age Antidote Day Cream. It is light and not greasy. It doesn’t sit on top of my face like a lot of other moisturizers, so it provides an ideal base for makeup. It contains SPF, which I love because I have very sun-sensitive skin. I even went for a long run on a hot, sunny day, and the Day Cream completely protected my face from the sun without any additional sunscreen. Ecco Bella Day Cream is a new part of my daily skincare routine. I have been using it for about two weeks now, and I have noticed a decrease in skin breakouts and blemishes. It also provides a nice, natural glow. This is my new favorite skincare product!

The Vanilla Herbal Body Lotion has a great texture and consistency. It moisturizes my hands very well, again, without being greasy. It also absorbs quickly and easily, unlike many other organic lotions. I like to rub it into my hands and cuticles before bed. You’d have to really love vanilla in order to put this all over your body, but I find it to be perfect for my hands and feet.

The best part about Ecco Bella is that most of their products are organic, gluten-free, and preservative-free. They never test any of their products on animals. The skin care products contain anti-aging vitamins, lutein, lycopene, astaxanthin, CoQ10, vitamin E, and vitamin C.

You can purchase Ecco Bella online. However, after I received products in the mail, I noticed that my local organic grocery store sells them, so I will definitely be going there for more!

For more information about gluten-free cosmetics from Ecco Bella and 23 other companies, visit our new site: GlutenFreeCosmeticsList.com. Our list includes over 500 gluten-free products, and we’re constantly adding more. The list includes 34 product categories, including toothpaste, lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, and nail polish!

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Here is the Most Complete List of Gluten Free Cosmetics Available

Crystal — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:42:50 +0000

Today I’m excited to announce the new, expanded version of our Gluten Free Cosmetics List. The list contains more than 500 cosmetics and self-care products from 24 companies (and we’re always adding more!). Most of the companies represented on the list are mainstream, and their products are available at most pharmacies and department stores.

Watch this quick video we made about why you need to use gluten-free cosmetics:

(If you’re reading this via email or RSS feed, you may have to click through to our website to see the video.)

Everything on the list has been confirmed gluten-free within the last six months by speaking with customer service representatives from each company. Moreover, everything on the list will continue to be verified every six months, so that all of the information is up to date.

I am so happy to be a part of making this list available to the public. In the beginning, I really struggled trying to figure out which products were safe for me to use. I think that this will make maintaining a gluten-free lifestyle easier for a lot of people, and I hope that it will be as helpful to you as it has been to me.

Subscribe to our Gluten Free Cosmetics List today!

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Origins Gluten-Free Lipstick and Gloss

Crystal — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:37:05 +0000

In an effort to update and expand our gluten-free cosmetic list, I have been contacting a lot of cosmetic companies. I heard back from Origins today, and I have posted the results on our gluten free cosmetics list.

Origins products are paraben- and pthalate-free, and many of them are also organic, which means that you don’t have to sacrifice health for beauty. However, I haven’t had an opportunity to try any of their lipsticks or glosses yet, so if you have, please let me know what you think!

I have no way of testing for gluten in any cosmetic products that I endorse. So, if you are interested in purchasing any of these products, please contact Origins to confirm that they are gluten free.

Check out our full gluten-free cosmetics list for more gluten free lipsticks and glosses!

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Clinique’s Gluten-Free Lipstick and Lip Gloss

Crystal — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:40:51 +0000

In an effort to update and expand our list of gluten-free cosmetics, I have contacted several companies to gather information. Today I received a response from Clinique about their lipsticks and lip glosses, and they are posted on our Gluten Free Cosmetics List.

The customer service representative also sent along the following disclaimer that I have included for your information:

“While a formulation may not contain wheat, oat, barley or rye derivatives, for the benefit of our gluten-sensitive consumers who may have cross-sensitivities, Clinique takes the extra precaution of including corn, rice and soy in our research. In addressing your concern about gluten, we would like to explain that a vast number of raw materials from many different suppliers and sources are used in the manufacture of Estee Lauder Companies’ products. It is therefore not possible for us to fully guarantee that our products are completely free of ingredients that may elicit an allergic response in highly sensitive individuals who react to gluten. For example, it is possible that small amounts of a wheat sourced ingredient may remain on shared manufacturing equipment even after a thorough cleaning. We therefore recommend that you discuss this with your physician, because consumer safety is of utmost concern to us.”

To read reviews of other gluten-free cosmetics and self-care products click here.

To access our full gluten-free cosmetics list click here.

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Origins Cosmetics and Self-Care Products: Gluten-Free Selections

Crystal — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:26 +0000

Recently I entered a department store to check out my favorite shoe department, when a cosmetician at the Origins counter approached me about Origins cosmetics and skin care products, which are natural and free of hazardous chemicals like parabens, petroleum, and paraffin. Of course, the first question I asked was, “Well, ok, but is it gluten free?” Surprisingly, the answer was mostly, “yes.” The ingredients of each product are clearly written in plain English on the box, so it was very easy to figure out which ones contained wheat, barley, and rye. After making my selections, I emailed the company to confirm that the products were actually gluten free, and they were. Although Origins would not send me a complete list of gluten free products, they did confirm or deny the gluten free status of the specific products that I was interested in purchasing. I have listed the customer service representative’s response to each of the products on our Gluten Free Cosmetics List. Her response was quite comprehensive, and she included other common allergens such as soy, rice, and corn.

I have been using A Perfect World Skin Guardian, Moisturizer and Deep Cleanser, and Moisturizer. It makes my face feel very soft without being oily, and it eliminated all of my dry areas. I am able to apply my makeup much more smoothly, and it lasts all day without reapplication. I especially love the light orange scent! I have also been using Modern Friction twice a week, and it leaves my skin looking bright and squeaky-clean.

I have also used Full Story Mascara, which I love. It seemed like my mascara was constantly getting in my eyes throughout the day and sticking to my contacts, but I don’t have that problem with this mascara.

I also really like the Organics Totally Pure Deodorant. There has been so much bad press about the aluminum in most leading deodorant brands that I feel better using the Origins instead. It has a nice scent, and it is completely translucent.

Finally, the product that has impressed me the most is The Great Pretender Shimmery Self-Tanner. It leaves me with a nice golden glow, and I like the subtle shimmer. Best of all, it smells great (a little minty), which is rare for a self-tanner, and it doesn’t contain a lot of weird chemicals like the others I’ve tried.

Based on the experience I’ve had with my first few Origins products, I plan to switch to them for the rest of my cosmetics. I love that their products contain natural ingredients that are free of carcinogenic agents and that their ingredient lists are easy to understand. I feel really good about using these products, and it’s great to know that you can look great without compromising your health.

If you are interested in purchasing Origins products, please first contact the company to check that the specific items you plan to buy are gluten free.

For a full listing of Origin’s gluten free cosmetics, subscribe to our Gluten Free Cosmetics List.

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New Recommended Gluten-Free Self-Care Product List!

Crystal — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:33:25 +0000

I have posted a new Gluten Free Self-Care Product List that includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion to supplement our popular Gluten Free Cosmetics List. Although the gluten-free product offerings from each of the companies featured on the page is more extensive than the list products that I have endorsed, I have included only those products that I have personally used and enjoyed. In addition, I have written reviews of many of the products and companies featured on this page, including AVEDA, Burt’s Bees, Paul Mitchell, and MAC.

So, why should we care whether any of these self-care products are gluten free? Although you would never intentionally eat any of these products and gluten molecules are too large to permeate your skin, shampoo and conditioner can end up in and around your mouth while you’re in the shower; soap and lotion are used on your hands, and let’s face it: your hands often end up in your mouth at some point throughout the day. In addition, some individuals with celiac disease report experiencing dermatitis herpetiformis through skin contact with gluten. I have been able to reduce my TTG score to a normal level by maintaining a strict gluten-free diet and abiding by the general rule that any products used on my face or hair and anything that will be left on my hands without being washed off (like lotion, for example) should also be gluten free.

I hope that you will find this list helpful as a starting point. Please remember that product ingredients are subject to change at any time. I have included the date on which I last confirmed that each product was gluten free. For some of them, it has been several months, so I have included contact information for each company so that you can confirm whether a product continues to be gluten free prior to making your purchase.

This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all gluten-free products currently available for purchase. I have simply gathered a list of products that I have used and enjoy, and I hope that you will help add to the list by posting comments with gluten-free products that you love.

Finally, if you’re looking for any last minute Christmas gifts for your friends and relatives with celiac disease, the Gluten Free Self-Care Product List makes a great shopping list because most of the products are pretty easy to find. Also, check out Drew’s Christmas gift list—it’s full of terrific ideas!

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More Gluten-Free Lipstick Options

Crystal — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:55:16 +0000

[Update:] For the most up-to-date gluten free lipstick and makeup, subscribe to our Gluten Free Cosmetics List!

As the financial situation grows more uncertain, women are treating themselves to a new shade of lipstick in lieu of spending sprees on pricier items. A recent New York Times article listed 41 of fall’s most popular shades, and I wondered if any of them are safe for women with celiac disease (or their significant others with celiac). So, I’ve been working my way through the list, and I have received confirmation that the following lipsticks are gluten free:

Mark Dew Drenched Moisturlicious lip color in Pretty Posey, $6 at meetmark.com

MAC lipstick in Viva Glam VI, $14 at maccosmetics.com

With the holidays approaching, I thought that this list might also be helpful to people purchasing gifts for loved ones with celiac disease.

I hope that cosmetic companies will eventually include gluten plainly on the ingredient list, similar to what food companies have done. In the meantime, I’ll continue posting on this topic, and I hope that you’ll share information about any products you use with us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Why Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Should be Gluten Free

Crystal — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:03:23 +0000

Update: Check out this video: How Your Cosmetics and Lotions Might Be Making You Sick

While it’s true that the gluten molecules contained in cosmetics are too large to permeate the skin, I make certain that any cosmetics that may enter my mouth are gluten free. Of course, I don’t mean to get moisturizer, hairspray, or foundation in my mouth, but it can end up there. Below are my quick and easy guidelines for determining which products should be gluten free:

Products used on my lips (e.g., lipstick, chapstick, and lip gloss) or on the lips of my significant other
Products used on my face around my mouth (e.g., facial moisturizer, foundation)
Products used in the shower to wash anything above my chin (e.g., facial cleanser, shampoo, conditioner)
Products sprayed on my hair (e.g., hairspray) – and because I have long hair, any products used on my hair (because my hair sometimes gets in my mouth, especially on windy days)
Products that remain on my hands without being washed off (e.g., body lotion)

When I’m aware that products not meeting these guidelines (e.g., eye shadow) are gluten free, I generally prefer them because I tend to use my fingers for application, and I rub my face and eyes throughout the day, and I don’t want to accidentally contaminate myself. In addition, some people report getting dermatitis herpetaformis from cosmetics and other personal care products containing gluten.

It is quite difficult to determine whether a product contains gluten-derived ingredients by looking at the ingredient list because they’re often written in a cryptic manner comprehensible only to chemists. If you’re uncertain whether something is gluten free, it’s best to call the company. I highly recommend that you use the customer service contact information provided to check on the gluten-free status of the products on the list. There is a lot of conflicting information out there in the blogosphere, so it’s good practice to start checking these things for yourself. It can be difficult when you don’t know where to start, so having a list of things that have been established as gluten-free at one point in time narrows the field considerably, reducing the number of calls you’ll have to make.

That’s why we created the Gluten Free Cosmetics List the most complete list of gluten free cosmetics and self-care products available!

If you have any additional recommendations, we’d love to hear from you. Post a comment below!

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Rock the Vote Wearing Stila’s Gluten-Free Lipstick

Crystal — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:23:57 +0000

Even ladies with celiac disease can join in wearing Stila’s Rock the Vote Red Lipstick on November 4th! According to Stila’s customer service department, Rock the Vote Red Lipstick is free of wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Rock the Vote Red is a bold, scarlet color that’s bound to make a statement at the polls. In addition, a portion of the sales will support Rock the Vote’s effort to increase the young voter movement in the US. I love it when being fashionable coincides with doing good, and it’s even better when both are gluten free!

Check it out for yourself: contact Stila Customer Serivce by emailing custcare@stilacosmetics.com.

No matter your party affiliation, if you’d like to find out how to register and vote, please click here. See you at the polls!

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