7 Gluten-Laced Ingredients to Watch Out for In Your Makeup
Going gluten-free is not just a trend. It’s a health concern that affects millions of Americans. Some people cannot digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten-related symptoms can range from gas and bloating to malnutrition. The only way to control symptoms is to stop ingesting gluten. Gluten-laced ingredients can hide in your favorite beauty products. If you’re sensitive to gluten or on a gluten-free diet, watch out for these seven hidden ingredients in your cosmetics.
1. Avena Sativa (Oat)
Avena sativa is a type of oat that generally contains gluten. Cosmetic companies may include avena sativa (oat) kernel flour in makeup products as a bulking agent in powders, and as an absorbent. The texture of the ground kernels makes it ideal in many products. If the ingredients list has avena sativa (oat) in any shape or form, it is not gluten-free makeup.
2. Triticum Vulgare
Triticum vulgare is a fancy name for wheat germ oil, which definitely has gluten. Wheat germ oil is a light yellow to reddish oil that cosmetic manufacturers use in a wide variety of beauty products. You might find it as a skin-conditioning agent, as the vitamin E in the oil is good for moisturizing. Gluten-free cosmetics and gluten-free makeup will not contain wheat germ oil or triticum vulgare.
3. Dextrin
Dextrin is a gluten-containing ingredient often used to soothe the skin. Dextrin increases the solubility of compounds in water, helping creams and lotions achieve a smoother texture. Dextrin is a gum substance that comes from the hydrolysis of starch. It is a common component in cosmetics that have a creamy texture, including many lip balms. Always look for gluten-free lip makeup to avoid accidently ingesting gluten. While researchers debate whether or not the skin can absorb gluten, gluten ingestion from lipstick and other products can be problematic.
4. Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin binds with other compounds to stabilize cosmetic formulas. You may find maltrodextrin, which comes from starch, in many different cosmetics, including lotions and conditioners.
5. Vitamin E (aka Tocopherol)
Companies may add vitamin E (also known as Tocopherol) to makeup as an element for moisturizing, ultraviolet light protection, antioxidant, wrinkle prevention, and as a preservative. Wheat germ (containing gluten) is often the cheapest and most available source for cosmetic vitamin E extracts or additives. If you see vitamin E or Tocopherol on the label, call the company to ask about its source. Buyer beware! Cosmetic companies go to multiple sources to purchase the raw materials and ingredients used to compound their cosmetics. Even if the source of the moment happens to be gluten-free, if the company doesn’t have a gluten-free certification or formulation guarantee, they may well source their next batch from a wheat based source. When in doubt, find an alternative product that says “gluten free”… even better, go with a brand that has gone the extra step to be GFCO Certified Gluten-Free.
6. Hydrolyzed Barley Protein
This ingredient exists primarily as a skin-conditioning agent in cosmetic formulations. As the name implies, it comes from barley, which is a main source of gluten. Avoid lotions and hair care products with this ingredient or others with the term, “barley.”
7. Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
This one is tricky because it doesn’t have the word wheat or barley, but it may still contain gluten. Vegetable proteins often contain traces of gluten from their original sources. Avoid it in many hair and body conditioning products.
Unfortunately, many major makeup companies fail to say what is and is not gluten free when marketing their cosmetics and makeup products. Watch out for these seven items and you’ll have a better chance of staying away from gluten.
