Hidden Gluten in Skincare Products

We are going to discuss hidden gluten in our skincare products for this week’s Gluten-Free Friday! I have had a lot of people who want to know more information about this topic, so I decided to cover the topic.

Not many people know that gluten can be hiding in your skincare products. This category includes items like shampoo, conditioner, hair products, toothpaste, facial cleansers, lotions, body wash, soap, all types of makeup, and anything that you use during your personal care routine.

Why is it Important to Use Only Gluten-Free Skincare Products?

The skin is the largest organ in the body, making up about 15% of your body’s total weight. If you are someone who has an autoimmune disorder affected by gluten, a gluten allergy, or intolerance, using skincare products with gluten in them could cause you to have flare ups of your symptoms.

Think about it like this – you use a product that has gluten in it on your face, like a foundation, and you touch your face. Let’s say you do this while you are eating. Some of the makeup that has gluten in it has now been transferred to your food and into your digestive tract. The same goes with any other skincare product that you could touch and then accidentally ingest.

Secondly, I know of a lot of people who say they react topically to gluten. If they use a skincare product with gluten in it, they develop a rash, sores, and dry itchy patches on their skin. So if you fall under those two categories, it is important for you to use only gluten-free products.

Ingredients You Should Watch Out For

Just like with food, gluten hides under many different names within our skincare products.

You’ll need to watch out for the following ingredients in your skincare products: hydrolyzed wheat, barley, or rye, anything containing oats or oatmeal, extracts or fermented wheat, barley, or rye. Watch out for malt extract, yeast extract, any type of wheat, barley, or rye protein, and also look for any vague terminology like “vegetable protein.” These vague terms leave the door wide open for hidden gluten.

Additionally, any type of flour or starch that is related to wheat, barley, or rye, and vitamin E that is sourced from wheat germ. Not all vitamin E is sourced from wheat germ, but it is good to know where your vitamin E is sourced to avoid hidden gluten.

Moving Forward with Your Skincare Products

All of these ingredients could be in any of our skincare products. I have found gluten in my deodorant, shampoo, makeup powder, lotion, and sunscreen, just to name a few. To ensure that you avoid any reaction with your skincare products, be sure to check the label every single time!

If you have any questions, type them in the comment section!