Along with terms like “clean beauty” and “vegan,” you’ll also come across more and more brands stating that their products are “gluten-free.” This is great for anyone with gluten intolerance, but what is gluten free makeup and who needs it? Does it matter?
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What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein that is found in a few grains. It can be found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale. (Triticale is a combination of both wheat and barley.)
Even though gluten is found in food and comes from grains, there are plenty of other places where gluten can pop up. It’s also used as a bonding agent. You can find it in cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, and even your lotion or skincare products.
For most people, gluten isn’t a concern. Your body processes it as though do everything else, and you go on with your day. For people with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, that isn’t always the case.
Celiac Disease And Gluten
When people have Celiac disease, their immune system views gluten as a threat. It goes into overdrive, trying to fight off the gluten. This can cause various symptoms, from inflammation to rash and bleeding. Over time, the intestinal villi (the lining of the small intestine) in the intestine can scale over, preventing the body from properly absorbing nutrients.
Gluten Intolerance
People who have a gluten intolerance might not wind up with a severely damaged intestine, but there can still be some pretty unpleasant side effects. A rash and stomach upset are the most common symptoms, but their severity can vary depending on the person and their intolerance.
Why Gluten Free Make-up?
While gluten typically causes a problem when ingested, which makes sense because it affects the small intestine, that’s not the only time people experience problems. For example, this woman found she couldn’t use mascara, shampoo, or any other product with gluten in it. She can’t even touch gluten, or her skin breaks out.
Cases like hers continue to pop up as more and more people ask, “Are gluten-free cosmetics necessary?” Some people might not be. For others, wearing eyeliner with gluten in it can disrupt their entire lives due to the horrible side effects. When wondering if gluten-free makeup is necessary, you have to consider your reaction, if you have one.
Outside of people with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease, gluten doesn’t cause any harm. If you have adverse effects when eating gluten or using gluten-containing products, you should avoid them. Everyone else is generally okay. We have all consumed gluten for years without knowing it.
The recent trend in gluten free diets has become a fad. Gluten is inflammatory, etc. However, if you’re not experiencing inflammation when using products that have gluten in them, you probably don’t need gluten free cosmetics. Listen to your body, and you’ll know what to do.
FDA Regulation Regarding Gluten Free Cosmetics
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) carefully watches how most products are labeled. They are relatively strict when it comes to food items being mislabeled. It makes sense that those same rules would spill over into the beauty industry, but that isn’t quite the case.
Few Regulations
While the food industry has specific guidelines to meet to label a food as being gluten-free, the same does not apply to gluten-free makeup. Nothing stops companies from developing policies and slapping a gluten-free label on their lipstick.
Misbranding Results In Lawsuits
On the other hand, if a product is labeled as gluten-free and found to have gluten in it, it can be declared misbranded. You could also sue them if you have adverse side effects that disrupt your life, so most companies aren’t keen on lying about whether there is gluten in their lipstick.
Do Your Research
It should be noted that the FDA does not make companies declare the presence of gluten in their cosmetics. You’ll have to read the ingredient list to see if a product has gluten. You can also email the company to determine whether a product contains gluten.
For example, I recently emailed Urban Decay before purchasing something. They stated that I should read the ingredient list for individual products and that all their products are made in the same facility, so cross-contamination is possible. Other companies, such as Bath and Body Works, have emailed an entire list of ingredients because it’s not on the bottle or website.
How To Tell If Makeup Is Gluten Free
Most companies that label their products gluten-free can be considered safe. Even without strict FDA regulation, companies won’t want to risk being misbranded or having to admit that they included gluten in their lipstick, which could result in a lot of backlash. More and more brands are releasing gluten-free products.
Email The Company
You can email the company to ask if the packaging is too small for a complete ingredient list. Some companies will respond with an email that tells you the list of ingredients. Others, however, will not.
Read The Ingredients
Check out the list of ingredients. Certain ingredients contain gluten, and some do not. The list is sometimes printed inside the box or on a piece of paper next to the display.
If you already have the product, you can check out the inside of the box. If not, you can’t exactly rip it open in the middle of the store to check. In that scenario, look it up online. Most companies have ingredient lists available on their website.
Ingredients To Watch Out For
There are vital ingredients in cosmetics that can help you determine if you are purchasing gluten-free makeup. Any ingredient that contains the word wheat has gluten in it. Sometimes, wheat is in the middle of the ingredient, though. For example, hydrolyzed wheat protein. Other ingredients to watch out for include:
- Avena Sativa Kernal Flour
- Cyclodextrin
- Hydrolyzed Malt Extract
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
- Dextrin
- Oat Flour
- Triticum (you usually won’t see this ingredient by itself, either. It’ll say something else, such as “Triticum Vulgare Starch.”)
- Yeast Extract
Avoid ingredients that have any of the above words in them.
Do Celiacs Need Gluten Free Cosmetics?
According to my old GI doctor, there is not a solid answer to this question.
It was recommended that I wear gluten-free lipstick and foundation. She said that those had a higher chance of getting into my mouth and accidentally being ingested. The same applies to lotions and things that we touch with our hands. The gluten can still be on your hand and then can be accidentally ingested.
I was wondering, “do I need gluten free eyeshadow?” She told me that it depends on how it affects me. This was frustrating, but she explained it further. She told me much of the same thing that I had read online. There is no research to confirm that gluten in makeup or skincare products can cause harm if you have Celiac disease or even gluten sensitivity.
Then, she told me that she’d had patients who couldn’t wear eyeliner or eyeshadow that had gluten. She’s also had patients who have no problem wearing these products. Whether or not you can depends on how it affects you. I’ve never had a reaction from wearing gluten containing foundation, lipstick, etc., so I wear whatever I want.
So, do you need gluten-free makeup if you have Celiac disease? Try one product at a time to see if you develop a reaction, and use that as a guideline for which makeup needs to be gluten-free. There’s nothing wrong with being cautious and going gluten-free with all your makeup.
Gluten Free Makeup Brands
There are quite a few companies that proudly make gluten-free cosmetics, though! This is not a complete list of every gluten-free cosmetics company, but plenty is here to get you started! (Please note that these companies offer gluten-free options. I am not saying that every product they offer is gluten-free.) These companies clearly state that their products are gluten-free in the product description. We’ve also included some gluten-free skincare options.
Ahava
Ahava is a skincare company especially known for its commitment to offering products free from harmful ingredients. Many of its products are cruelty-free and vegan. The majority of it’s products are gluten-free, but the company encourages people to check labels before purchasing. They are transparent regarding which products are gluten-free.
This company is also well-known for its ethical practices, such as using solar energy, creating a bird sanctuary around the factory to support local wildlife, and using sustainable practices to harvest Dead Sea mud, a cornerstone ingredient. It consistently receives rave reviews because its products are effective.
Ogee Luxury Organics
Ogee Luxury Organics offers a comprehensive skincare line and organic makeup products. Their contour collection is one of their most popular products, and their skin tint is hard to resist. The company states that it does not use gluten in any of its products. Products are also certified organic.
Laura Geller
Laura Geller is not an exclusively gluten-free brand, but some products have a gluten-free formula, such as Laura Geller Hydrating Jelly Balm and many of the baked formulas, including baked foundation products. Brands do update formulas periodically, so it’s always important to read the product description.
Laura Geller is well-known for providing amazing makeup products that work well with mature skin. The makeup is infused with skincare ingredients to ensure it’s safe for people with allergies, sensitive skin, and conditions like rosacea. You can also find products from its sister brands on its site, like Cover FX or Bliss Skincare.
Sigma Beauty
Sigma Beauty labels every product clearly so you can see if it’s gluten-free, vegan, or cruelty-free. Most of their products, including this gorgeous lip gloss, are labelled gluten-free. Sigma Beauty remains well-known for providing high-quality cosmetics.
FAQ
Is Clinique gluten-free?
Yes and no. Clinique does not advertise which of its products are gluten-free. However, it responds well to inquiries and knows which ones contain gluten.
Is Too Faced gluten free?
Too Faced is primarily gluten-free, but they do offer a lip pencil with gluten. Because all products are processed in the same facility, there is a risk of cross-contamination.
Is It Cosmetics gluten free?
It Cosmetics does not label any of its products as gluten-free, although some do not contain gluten. This is because cross-contamination can occur.
Gluten Free Makeup
Going gluten free can mean getting rid of your lipstick collection and starting over. If you’re traveling down that road, it’s essential to learn everything you need to know regarding gluten-free makeup. Check out the rest of the site for more tips and tricks.
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