No one ever forgets the day you find out your child has a genetic, life-long, life changing autoimmune disorder.
Why did my daughter have to live a life that would now be “different” and more difficult?
Don’t get me wrong, I am completely relieved to know what is causing my daughter to feel sick, tired, and “fuzzy” as she describes some days; even better, that the illness is completely treatable by something as natural as a change in diet. No medication necessary.
Yet, I could’t help feeling such sadness the day we found out. It is a kind of sadness that I feel through my whole body; it starts in the middle of my heart and carries down to the pit of my stomach. It is very overwhelming emotionally.
Thankfully, “gluten free” has become a well know term, but navigating the ins and outs of finding safe food she can eat often feel like a part-time job. But if anyone can do it, this mama will. My pity party is over and I will nourish her back to health.
Research for Celiac is minimal, but some say makeup that contains gluten can trigger Celiac disease symptoms. My whole life practically has been dedicated to beauty and beauty products, so don’t judge me when one of my first thoughts were “what if she can’t wear makeup?” That thought quickly turned into: what beauty products can she have? Hence, inspiration for this very blog post.
Gluten is a very sneaky culprit. Celiac sufferers are discovering that more than dietary changes are necessary because it can be found in lipgloss, hair-sprays, eyeshadows-everyday products that some don’t even think twice about using.
Gluten is used as a binder to help ingredients stick together, and to add moisture to products through gluten-derived oils.
Experts are split over whether people living with Celiac should really avoid cosmetics containing gluten. Some adamantly believe gluten-free beauty products are healthy for them and prevent further reaction or damage to their insides; while some researchers say that gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin because the protein molecules are too large. Obviously, more research is imperative and needed.
Regardless, I will now be very aware as to what products do and don’t contain gluten for the benefit of my daughter.
These are ingredients in cosmetics that could contain gluten and are best avoided for those with Celiac:
avena sativa (Oat) kernel flour
barley extract
cyclodextrin
dextrin
fermented grain extract
hyrolyzed malt extract
hydrolyzed wheat protein
hydrolyzed vegetable protein
maltodextrin
oat (avena sativa)
stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl
samino peptide complex
phytosphingosine extract
triticum vulgare (Wheat germ extract)
Secale Cereale
Sodium C8-16 Isoalkylsuccinyl Wheat Protein Sulfonate
wheat germ
vitamin e
yeast extract
Here is my list (so far) of beauty products sans gluten:
Nars: All products are 100% gluten free
Smashbox: over 98% of products are gluten free and safe.
Mac: almost all products EXCEPT:
+tinted lip conditioner – wheat germ oil and soy
+amplified creme lipstick – hordeum vulgare (barley) extract, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract & soybean extract
+say SPF 15 light moisture – polysorbate 80 (wheat), biosaccharide
+fast response eye cream – wheat germ oil, barley extract and cornoil
+prep + prime skin-saccharide isomerate (wheat)
+satin, velux pearl, & velux eye shadows
+cremesheen lipgloss
+amplified lipstick
+plush glass
Estee Lauder Company Statement:
“This is to hereby confirm that none of our lipsticks contain gluten, and they are not manufactured alongside products that would contain it.
While a formulation may contain no wheat, oat, barley or rye derivatives, for the benefit of our gluten-sensitive consumers who may have cross-sensitivities, Estee Lauder takes the extra precaution of including corn, rice and soy in our research. All Estee Lauder lipsticks contain either/or corn and soy with the exception of Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick which contains wheat, corn and soy.”
My journey to finding gluten-free products has just begun, so my hope is that more companies will follow suit and choose ingredients that are beneficial to all.
+If you find any gluten-free products that you love send them my way!
xo
LL
Loveleigh Beauty 