Every day, there are more and more people diagnosed with gluten allergies or celiac disease. In fact, according to the Gluten Intolerance Group, 1 in 133 people (or one percent of the population) has celiac disease — an illness in which the small intestine is sensitive to gluten, leading to digestive issues. While going gluten-free was traditionally only a diet concern, increased sensitivities and fear of worsening symptoms has created a need for the new age of makeup: Gluten-free beauty.
While gluten-free makeup does have its legitimate benefits for the gluten intolerant, according to Whitney Bowe, a New York-based dermatologist and assistant medical director of Laser & Cosmetic Services at Advanced Dermatology, the only makeup gluten sensitive gals really need to be concerned with are the ones that touch your mouth. Beauty products like lipstick and lip balm risk being ingested into the stomach, creating negative symptoms for the gluten sensitive. Bowe also notes that some people suffer from severe cases, where even the smallest gluten ingestion can cause a major reaction, but there is one important thing to note: Gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin. So what’s the concern for topical beauty products like lotion? Bowe says it’s very easy to “accidentally ingest” beauty products, as simply touching your face after applying lotion could be enough for the particles to be ingested into the stomach — inducing negative symptoms. Yikes.
So, if you’re gluten-free and are looking for the safe A-list products, you’re in the right place. Here are the eight gluten-free beauty products we’re happy to give up wheat for.
