I have to admit that when I was first told of my sensitivity to gluten, I did not appreciate the many places – across the entire spectrum of the grocery store – that gluten can hide. This became apparent to me when I looked closely at my Tea Tree shampoo and noticed that wheat was listed in the ingredients. Could that be why my head would break out from time to time? Maybe so!
Of course, from there, I began taking a much closer look at everything I owned from soap to yes, cosmetics. Little did I realize how extensive the list of ingredients that might contain gluten actually is. Thanks to Gluten Free RN – that devised a list of ingredients in popular makeup products which might contain gluten, I was able to learn what to look for in my cosmetics. Ingredients such as 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, 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, and Yeast Extract could all — or do all — contain gluten.
I, personally, am also highly sensitive to oat. Oat, because it grows similarly to wheat, causes me to become an insomniac and one particular time I tried using a cream that contained an oat germ in fine print that I did not see at first, I found myself unable to sleep for nearly a week before realizing why. This is why reading labels and re-reading them again is so important when you are highly sensitive to gluten and what it can do to your body.
Fortunately, for those of us that must be gluten free for our own good health, there are several companies that DO produce gluten free cosmetics. Afterglow Cosmetics, Everyday Minerals, Gluten Free Beauty, Red Apple Lipstick, 100% Pure and Joelle Cosmetics, to name a few, offer safer alternatives to beauty products that do not leave you feeling or looking like you’ve seen better days.
Just yesterday, Bella Reina Cosmetics announced ahead of Fall Fashion Week that they are ready to launch Rebel, a maple red Vegan Lipstick. From their press release: “One of the many trademarks of Bella Reina’s lipstick is that it is vegan and gluen-free; and, it is also chemical-free. Gluten-free lipsticks are free from wheat, rye, barley and other hybrid grains. Lipsticks that contain gluten can trigger health issues and attacks in those with celiac and gluten sensitivities.”
You probably get tired of hearing every doctor and health care professional, as well as every blogger you read, preaching the importance of reading labels, but for good health, it is essential. You can look your best and feel great about yourself — and your makeup — and still remain gluten free. Self care is important in all aspects of life and your gluten free journey is no exception. In fact, it is the most important of all to maintaining your health, but that said, you are still very able to live gluten free, feel and look great inside — and out!
AZ Grocery Deals 