When living with a gluten allergy, it is second nature to check and double check the foods that you are eating. However, few people second guess the ingredients in their cosmetics, shampoos, toothpaste, and body lotions, when the reality is that many of these things contain gluten and can trigger reactions in some people the same way food containing gluten does.
While there hasn’t been much research done on the effects of cosmetics and gluten allergy reactions, Alice Bast, founder and president of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA), suggests that “If you’re sensitive to gluten, you should be using gluten-free cosmetics and toiletries. Even if you don’t experience any symptoms, you could be doing damage on the inside”. So, like all other allergies, the severity of your possible reaction is very dependent on your own body and how it reacts. For many, products containing gluten may not trigger any reaction, while in others it may cause a rash or similar reaction.
One woman who experienced a reaction to her makeup, Afton Jones, decided to create a way to help others with the same problem and created Gluten Free Makeup Gal. Her awesome site shares “her research, her reviews, and her discoveries about Gluten Free Makeup” and is even running a giveaway this week for a year subscription to Simply Gluten Free Magazine!
Another great site for info on this subject is The Celiac Diva – she has a whole section of her blog dedicated to gluten free beauty products and has these handy tips about gluten free makeup and which brands are her favorite!
We’d love to hear your experiences with cosmetics and other toiletry products that contain gluten. Do you always stay away from these products and buy GF versions? Do you have a favorite brand? Share them with us in the comments below!
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
