I went here because reviews indicated a gluten free alternative. Disappointed to discover that meant potatoes cheese was melted on in most dishes. They do not offer gluten free pasta or gluten free Mac. They state they are “Gluten Friendly” not gluten free.the staff asked how severe my gluten reaction was. Don’t bother if you have Celiacs. Feb 22, 2021 On the gluten free makeup list below, I also noted which companies test for gluten. Okay with that being said, let’s jump straight into the gluten free cosmetics and makeup listing. Gluten Free Makeup List. Here are all the makeup and cosmetic brands that offer gluten free products, or better, are 100% gluten free.
The experience related in The Sun this week of a nut allergic student suffering a severe reaction after using a Nivea lip balm containing sweet almond oil should serve as a reminder that, if you have food allergies, the ingredients in skincare products should be carefully checked too.
This would not be a particular additional difficulty, arguably, were cosmetic labelling regulations similar to food labelling regulations.
They’re not.
Allergens will not be highlighted, but even more cumbersome for the allergic consumer is that botanical ingredients are unlikely to be declared in ‘plain English’ terms, but instead in Latin terms, following the standardised INCI format which is recognised and understood internationally. Animal ingredients may also be in Latin, but plain English is more common.
Some skincare brands put helpful English translations in brackets, or offer an alternative plain English ingredients listing, but most do not.
This means you have to learn the Latin or INCI for your food allergens, and scrutinise labels carefully. This is especially important for eye and lip make-up — but all should be checked.
In practice, severe reactions to food allergens in cosmetics are rare. Often the oils used will contain only trace proteins, but this is no reason to drop your guard.
So here is a list of the 14 EU food allergens, with the INCI Latin term where applicable, plus examples of cosmetic use. Remember that vegan products should be effectively free from animal-sourced allergens. Any trace contamination is unlikely to trigger a reaction, as it might in the corresponding food scenario, given the quantity and method of exposure.
Surprising food allergens can turn up in cosmetics
Celery
Apium Graveolens.
Rare in cosmetics, but here’s one explicit example of a celery seed oil face cream (pictured right).
Cereals containing gluten
Triticum vulgare (wheat); hordeum vulgare (barley); secale cereale (rye); avena sativa (oat).
Wheat and oats are the most common cereals used in cosmetics, followed less frequently by barley, and very rarely rye.
Hydrolysed wheat starch (which may be described as such) is common as a thickener, and wheat proteins may be used in shampoos and conditioners.
Oat derivatives are commonly used in bath milks, skin cream and therapeutic skincare products.
Barley extracts are sometimes used in skin creams with purported antioxidant benefits.
Crustaceans
My feeling is you’re unlikely to see Latin terms for shrimp / prawn, crab and lobster on cosmetics, but chitosan is a cosmetic ingredient derived from the shells of crustaceans, and appears in ingredients as chitosan succinamide and trimethyl chitosan. You may also see the word chitin. It appears the risk of a reaction to these derivatives is quite low, but they’re best avoided.
Eggs
Ovum
Eggs are rich in collagen and protein and sometimes used in cosmetics. Lush, for example, use it in their Curly Wurly Shampoo and their Shine So Bright Hair Balm. It is labelled there as ‘egg’ though.
The ingredient lysozyme is egg-derived. It is found in some toothpastes and perhaps other products.
Fish
Piscum lecur / gad lecur.
Like some of the above, the use of fish derivatives in cosmetics tends to be more of an issue for vegans as the ingredients are highly refined and processed, and are unlikely to trigger reactions. Guanine is derived from fish scales, and adds ‘shimmer’ to make-up. The emollient squalene / squalane can be derived from shark liver, but also from plant sources. Looking for vegan and vegetarian skincare products and brands — of which there are many these days — should protect you of any small risk. Another is the ingredient chitin, which appears in Chitodent toothpaste.
Lupin
Lupinus albus
You might find lupin oil or derivatives in anti-ageing formulas. This Susanne Kaufmann Regneration Cream contains fermented white lupine, for example.
Milk
Lac
Goat milk — caprae lac — is quite common in some natural and therapeutic skincare products (eg for eczema) or in soaps.
Milk derivatives may be tricker to spot. Among these are lactoferrin, colostrum and lactoperoxidase. Some of these occasionally turn up in toothpastes and perhaps other products.
Molluscs
I’ve not seen any Latin terms for molluscs on skincare products, but mollusc ingredients are sometimes used — in Pernaton Green Lipped Mussel Gel, for example, and snail secretion in the Dr Organic Snail Gel range.
Mustard
Brassica alba / sinapis alba
Apparently mustard seed oil is a good cosmetic oil, but it seems quite uncommon, and I’ve been unable to find an example. Other brassica seed oils — such as broccoli and rape — are sometimes used, though I don’t know about potential cross reactions.
Nuts
Prunus [amygdalus] dulcis/amara/sativa (almond); bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut); anacardium occidentale (cashew); corylus rostrata/avellana (hazelnut); macadamia ternifolia (macadamia); carya illinoinensis (pecan); pistacia vera (pistachio); juglans regia/nigra (walnut)
Very common in any cosmetic oils and cream moisturisers, as well as make-up. Almond is perhaps the most used. I’ve not seen an example with pecan.
Peanut
Arachis/arachis hypogea
Much rarer in cosmetics these days, following the recognition over a decade ago that it may be contributing to higher rates of food allergy, but here it is in a Dr Sebagh Replenishing Cream, showing that you can’t drop your guard.
Sesame
Sesamum indicum
Widely used, in creams, lipsticks and more.
Soya
Glycine max/soja
Common, again, right across the spectrum of cosmetics — skin creams, hair products, make-up.
Sulphites
Widely used in various forms (eg sodium sulphite, potassium metabisulphite), but look for the word ‘sulphite’ to play safe. As in food, they help protect discolouration by oxidation, so tints, dyes and make-up are the most likely sources. See also my previous article on sulphite free hair dye.
Tarte cosmetics has been kept off the GFMG Gluten-Free Makeup List for a very LONG time. While they are an extremely popular company, their gluten policies consist of
“We do not put gluten ingredients in our makeup, but we might have cross-contamination“.
So that means Tarte’s makeup is “gluten free” by ingredients but there is chances of cross contamination during processing or with source materials.
For the very sensitive person, this is not safe. (Looking for strictly and safely gluten-free brands? check out The Gluten Free Makeup List)
But to someone not super sensitive? This is perfect.
In fact 2 years ago when I took a survey, about 60% of my readers told me they could handle Tarte’s potential contamination level. And now that I’m so much less sensitive to gluten, I can now handle Tarte without getting sick at all.
My 5 Favourite Gluten Free Makup from Tarte
So, if you’re one of those not extremely sensitive to possible gluten cross-contamination, let me introduce you to my Top 5 favourites from Tarte:
Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15
This is a very basic, oil-free, vegan, matte foundation. For being so basic, it’s totally perfect.
The coverage is good, the wear really is 12 hours, and the matte finish has a bit of a velvet texture to it. Not too heavy, not too drying and lasts all day in Austin, TX heat and humidity.
Where to buy: Ulta, Sephora, Tarte, Amazon
Maracuja Creaseless Undereye Concealer
Gotta love Tarte’s naming conventions. They tell you exactly what a product does right in the description.
This concealer is thick enough to cover pretty intense blemishes, but blends out to work well under your eyes.
Where to buy: Sephora, Ulta, Tarte
Tarteist™ Clay Paint Liner
I grabbed this because the funny little tip got me curious. I like painting on eyeliner with a brush. But I’d never seen a squeezeable tube with a little flat palette on the end.
As it stands, this liner actually requires the blending end. It comes out slightly separated and needs a little swirl to get back into shape. Once that’s done, the liner goes on easily with an excellent texture. It lasts and lasts all day, with almost no smudging or wear.
Where to buy: Sephora, Ulta, Tarte
Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
A gluten-free, vegan mascara that gives oomph and pizzazz and wow and also doesn’t melt in Texas heat? Yes please! tarte’s “Lights, Camera, lashes” mascara has been a cult favorite for years. It’s no wonder, considering it hits everything you could want in a daily mascara.
There’s also an adorable travel version of this you can try, if you don’t want a full bottle. But it’s such great stuff, you can’t go wrong with it.
Where to buy: Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, Tarte
Tarteist™ Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint
THIS STUFF THOUGH. I’m so in love with it. It goes on, stays on, and looks amazing for hooours. Every single time I wear either color I have, people ask me about it. They ask because it looks amazing. They ask because they watch me eat a meal and are stunned by how perfect it still looks.
I sound like a paid ad now. Ahahaha WHOOPS. OK but it really is fantastic. I’m in love. You should check it out.
Where to buy: Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, Tarte
Where can you find Tarte products?
Tarte can be found on Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, their website, Macy’s, Dermstore, QVC, and more.
Mac Cosmetics Gluten Free List 2020
Looking for more gluten-free brands?
Are It Cosmetics Gluten Free
Here on Gluten Free Makeup Gal, I’ve built a list of all the safest gluten free bands of makeup, skin care, hair care and body care on the market. You can also check the following guides on: