As I sit down and tap the keys of my laptop while sipping on a warm cup of gluten-free apple cider, often, I find myself realizing how much gluten seems to sneak its way into so many aspects of our lives. Gluten isn’t just in our food. It finds its way onto our faces, into our hair, a sneaky little rogue in areas of our everyday lives that we wouldn’t suspect. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, I’m talking about gluten in our beauty products.
If you follow a gluten-free diet painstakingly, you’d be surprised to find out that gluten could still be hiding in places where you least expect it. Imagine my surprise when I found out years ago that our beauty regimens might not be as ‘gluten-free safe’ as I had initially thought. A shocking revelation, I know, but don’t worry, fellow gluten-free pals.
You see, gluten in beauty products won’t be the same as ingesting a wheat-filled bagel. However, these products can cause topical skin reactions in some people, and there’s always the tiny risk of accidental ingestion. Think about it: applying lip balm that contains gluten, washing your hands with gluten-containing soap and then grabbing that delicious gluten-free cookie from the jar. It’s a cross-contamination nightmare!
The question remains, how do we navigate our way around this? And more importantly, how do we identify beauty products that are “gluten gremlins” lurking on our vanity tables? That’s what we’ll journey on discovering today.
First things first, not all beauty products have clear labeling regarding their gluten content. Unlike what we discoursed in [“Navigating the Gluten-Free Labeling Maze” ](blog1_link), the beauty industry doesn’t require the same detailed labeling for gluten as the food industry. This makes our task a bit trickier but not impossible, thanks to our primary weapon: Information.
The primary sources of gluten in beauty products include wheat, barley, and rye. Reading the ingredient list and identifying these common sources is a great starting point. However, there might be technical, scientific names that you’re not familiar with; these could also be sources of gluten. Some examples include Triticum Vulgare (wheat), Hordeum Vulgare (barley), Secale Cereale (rye), wheat germ oil, wheat protein, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, to name a few. Quite intimidating, right?
But remember, we are all about making life easy here at Easy Gluten Free. So, I’ve done the homework for you, and I’ve compiled a handy list of these terms to make your product-reading journey less tedious. You can download the cheat sheet here – [“Gluten Culprits in Beauty Products – A Handy Cheat Sheet”](blog2_link). Stick this on your fridge, keep it in your wallet, or use it as a handy bookmark, and you’re one step closer to a fully gluten-free lifestyle.
Next, you might wonder if there are any specific beauty products we should be especially cautious of while living the gluten-free life. Truth be told, anything that has a likelihood of getting into your mouth inadvertently, such as lip balm, lipstick or even toothpaste, should definitely be checked and double-checked. Similarly, products that come in contact with your hands – think hand cream or soap – should be on your gluten-watch-list too.
But, and here’s the exciting news, there’s a plethora of gluten-free beauty brands in the market today. These brands take the commitment to ensure their products are safe for people like you and me who follow a gluten-free lifestyle. Brands such as Ilia Beauty, Afterglow Cosmetics, and Pacifica have gluten-free lines that range from skincare to makeup.
Besides the products themselves, it’s essential to ensure the tools you use are free from any leftover gluten. Regularly clean your makeup brushes or invest in a gluten-free brush cleaning solution to avoid any contaminants.
But now you might be thinking, “That sounds like a lot of work, Claire! And probably costly too.” – And I hear you. Switching and investing in all-new beauty products does sound like a tiring and expensive undertaking. However, remember that this is about your health and wellness, and it is always worth investing there. And much like in our [“Budget Gluten-Free Meal Planning”](blog3_link), there are ways you can be savvy about this too. You don’t have to change all your products immediately; you can do it gradually. Start with the products that are most likely to get into your mouth – lip balm, lipstick, toothpaste. Later on, you can progress onto products that you apply on your hands or body.
Embrace the journey of giving your beauty regimen a gluten-free makeover just as you embraced the gluten-free lifestyle, step by step, one product at a time. After all, living a gluten-free life is about more than just what we eat—it’s about embracing a healthier lifestyle from top to bottom.
As always, keep that gluten-free spirit alive, my friends. Feel free to share your gluten-free beauty finds on our community forum because sharing is caring.
With warm and gluten-free love,
Claire Bennet
**Category: Health & Wellness**
