Gluten-free makeup may interest you if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Using gluten-free makeup can potentially reduce your risk of symptoms if you are especially sensitive to gluten and get some in your mouth.
This article looks closely at the pros and cons of gluten-free makeup, including what some of the current research says. It lists 11 gluten-free cosmetics brands currently on the market and explains which are the safest for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Makeup Filling Machine
Many cosmetics and skin care products contain gluten. The most common additive is hydrolyzed wheat protein, which has some but not all gluten removed. It acts as a binding agent to keep makeup together. Vitamin E, which is often used as a moisturizing agent, is often derived from wheat.
In people with celiac disease, the reaction to gluten ultimately stems from the digestive tract and not from the skin. The gluten protein is too large to be absorbed through your skin.
Even so, it is possible to get makeup in your mouth with lipstick and lip gloss or by touching your face or skin and placing a finger in your mouth. If you are extremely sensitive to gluten, this could trigger a reaction.
Should you avoid gluten in makeup if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity? A 2018 review from the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel investigated the potential risks of hydrolyzed wheat protein in makeup. It concluded that the amounts used "would not elicit type 1 immediate hypersensitivity" and were, therefore, "safe for use in cosmetics."
You may still be concerned about gluten-containing makeup products, especially ones that could accidentally be ingested, like lip care products. Luckily, there are more and more gluten-free options. These companies use alternative binding agents and Vitamin E derived from other sources, such as vegetable oils.
Even if the risk of gluten reaction from makeup is low, people with extreme gluten sensitivity may still understandably be concerned. If you are worried, here are some "do's" and "don'ts" to help keep you safe whenever using gluten-containing makeup.
Wash your hands thoroughly every time you touch a gluten-containing product.
Keep your nails trimmed so that you don't bite them.
Instead of applying gluten-containing lip gloss to your mouth, try petroleum jelly which has no gluten.
Don't apply any gluten-containing cosmetics or lotions near your mouth.
Don't use powders or sprays that contain gluten, since they can become airborne and be inhaled.
Don't rub your face and then touch your lips without first washing your hands.
Don't bite your nails after putting on makeup.
Don't bite or lick your lips if wearing gluten-containing lipstick.
To help you wade through the extensive lists of ingredients, we contacted a wide variety of makeup brands, both small and large, to ask about gluten ingredients in their products.
Below are cosmetic companies' statements on gluten and our conclusions as to whether you should use, avoid, or take extra caution when using their products.
Afterglow Cosmetics products are made in a gluten-free facility and are certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), which requires products to meet stringent standards of less than 10 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. (Lower ppm values are better.)
Afterglow Cosmetics uses Vitamin E (tocopherol ) derived from organic cottonseed oil and olive oil and not from wheat germ as is common in the cosmetics industry.
The bottom line: The products are completely safe if you are sensitive to gluten.
Alima Pure makes eco-friendly, mineral-based makeup that's cruelty-free. According to the company: "All of our loose powder products are gluten-free, as is our Lip Tint, Velvet Lipstick, and Natural Definition Mascara. However, only our loose powder products are created in a designated gluten-free facility."
The bottom line: You're perfectly safe to use any loose powder products from Alima Pure. Exercise caution with other products, especially if you're particularly sensitive to trace gluten.
This company states that many of its products don't contain gluten, but it can't guarantee that they're gluten-free. They are made in a shared facility or on shared equipment. Many people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity do report using Bare Minerals products without issue.
The bottom line: Exercise caution if you are sensitive to gluten, as Bare Minerals does not claim any products are gluten-free.
BITE Beauty, which makes only lip products, sells through Sephora. The company also offers BITE Beauty Lip Lab, a shop in SoHo in New York City that will custom blend lip products for you. The company's products are certified gluten-free.
The bottom line: BITE Beauty products are perfectly safe for those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
Here's the statement from Cover Girl: "If we add gluten, wheat, or wheat extract directly to a product, it will be listed in the ingredients on the label. Still, we cannot give a 100% guarantee that trace levels of gluten are not present."
The bottom line: You'll have to check ingredients carefully on CoverGirl products to make sure gluten grain ingredients aren't present. There's a possibility of cross-contamination, which could be a problem for you if you're particularly sensitive to gluten.
From the company: "There is no gluten or wheat protein in any Ecco Bella product. All our products are safe for customers with celiac sprue."
The bottom line: This is a safe brand for those of us with celiac or gluten sensitivity.
In order to be certified gluten-free, a product needs to be independently submitted and approved by either the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), BRC Global Standards (BRCG), or NSF International (NSF). Certified products should carry the GFCO, BRCG, or NSF logo on their labels.
Many of this brand's products do not contain gluten, but are not labeled as gluten-free, as the products are sometimes made using shared equipment. The company does not test on animals or use ingredients derived from animals, according to the company's statement. However, it does sometimes use shared equipment.
The bottom line: E.L.F. cosmetics are quite safe but are not certified to be made in gluten-free facilities.
This brand is made and marketed in partnership with L'Oreal. The company does not state whether or not gluten-based ingredients are used in its products.
The bottom line: If you're particularly sensitive to gluten, you'll have to check ingredients carefully to make sure gluten grain ingredients aren't present. There's also a possibility of cross-contamination.
This all-natural, paraben-free line of cosmetics has been certified gluten-free by the GFCO, which requires products to include fewer than 10 parts per million of gluten. Gabriel Cosmetics is also vegan (with the exception of its makeup brushes, which are cruelty-free).
The bottom line: Anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can confidently use anything from Gabriel Cosmetics.
This brand is owned by L'Oreal and does not have a statement regarding gluten in its products.
The bottom line: If you are avoiding gluten in your makeup products, check ingredients carefully to determine whether they include gluten. Because the brand does not address gluten content directly, it's possible even products without gluten-containing ingredients might experience cross-contamination.
Lili Lolo offers mineral makeup, including foundation, powder, blush, lip, and eye products. According to the company, everything in the Lili Lolo line is gluten-free except for the BB Cream, which contains wheat germ.
The bottom line: The BB Cream may cause symptoms if you're highly sensitive to gluten, but you should be able to use other products in the makeup line safely.
This company does not have a statement about gluten-containing ingredients in its products.
The bottom line: If you're particularly sensitive to gluten, check ingredients carefully to make sure gluten grain ingredients aren't present, and there's a possibility of gluten cross-contamination.
According to an article from the National Celiac Society, "There is currently no scientific evidence that gluten used in cosmetics that are not ingested is harmful to individuals with celiac disease." As long as the makeup remains on the skin, gluten-containing cosmetics should not pose any concerns.
According to Mirabella, all its products except for its skin tint crème are gluten-free (there's wheat protein in the skin tint crème). Mirabella reports that its vendors test ingredients for trace gluten "and are amazingly thorough."
Gluten-free products may be made in a shared facility, but Mirabella takes special care to clean the equipment in between batches. The company also doesn't perform animal testing.
The bottom line: Mirabella Beauty takes a careful approach to serving the gluten-free community. You should be safe with any product, with the exception of the gluten-containing skin tint crème.
The company does not have a statement regarding gluten.
The bottom line: If you are highly sensitive to gluten, watch for a reaction when you start to use NARS Cosmetics products to decide if you should continue to use them or not.
According to Nivea, gluten-containing ingredients in the company's products include Triticum vulgare (wheat bran), Aecale cereale (rye seed extract), Hordeum vulgare (barley), and Avena sativa (oat bran). Nivea adds that there's a risk of cross-contamination due to shared facilities.
The bottom line: You'll have to check ingredients carefully on Nivea products to make sure gluten grain ingredients aren't present.
The company does not have a statement regarding gluten.
The bottom line: If you are highly sensitive to gluten, watch for a reaction when you start to use NYX Cosmetics products to decide if you should continue to use them or not.
Pangea might not truly count as a makeup company—it makes three lip balms, but mainly creates beauty products such as cleansers, toners, and creams. However, the company is extremely careful when it comes to gluten.
All of its products are considered gluten-free, with the exception of its Oatmeal Bergamot Bar Soap. It's not included on its gluten-free list because of the possibility of gluten cross-contamination in the oatmeal from nearby wheat fields.
Pangea Organics also states that "our Vitamin E is sourced from either soy or sunflower, rather than wheat germ."
The bottom line: You can use anything from Pangea Organics with confidence (with the exception of the oatmeal soap).
All Red Apple products are gluten-free, with rigorous testing (aiming at zero parts per million of gluten) to ensure there's no trace gluten present. The company then follows that up with routine batch lab testing to ensure purity.
The bottom line: You can use Red Apple Lipstick products if you have gluten sensitivity.
The company does not have a statement regarding gluten.
The bottom line: If you are highly sensitive to gluten, watch for a reaction when you start to use Revlon Cosmetics products to decide if you should continue to use them or not.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not issue rules regarding the use of the term "gluten-free" in cosmetics—only food—but will act if a product label is inaccurate or misleading. Report any abuses or concerns to the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors at (240) 402-1130.
This brand is a subsidiary of Estee Lauder. The company states that consumers can provide it with the name of individual products and that it will respond with information on those specific products. Products might be processed on shared equipment.
The bottom line: If you are highly sensitive to gluten, watch for a reaction when you start to use Smashbox Cosmetics products to decide if you should continue to use them or not.
The company's entire line of cosmetics is gluten-free with the exception of our Borderline Lip Pencil, but products may be subject to cross-contamination in manufacturing. The company is cruelty-free and has an extensive vegan-friendly product list.
The bottom line: If you have gluten sensitivity, you can safely use anything from Too Faced Cosmetics with the exception of the Borderline Lip Pencil.
According to the company, some products do not include gluten ingredients, but Urban Decay does not test for trace gluten.
The bottom line: Urban Decay will tell you which products contain no gluten ingredients if you contact them at (800) 784-8722.
This brand, made by GFCO-certified Gabriel Cosmetics, is certified gluten-free. Most Zuzu Luxe products also are corn-free and vegan, according to the company.
The bottom line: Zuzu Luxe products are perfectly safe for people with celiac and gluten sensitivity to use.
Many cosmetics contain gluten in the form of hydrolyzed wheat protein. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, it is possible to get a gluten reaction if you happen to get some gluten-containing makeup in your mouth.
Even so, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel contends that the risk of a gluten reaction to makeup is low based on the amount used in products like lipstick or lip gloss.
Nevertheless, if you want to take extra steps to avoid gluten in all forms, opt for cosmetic brands like Afterglow Cosmetics, BITE Beauty, Ecco Bella, Gabriel Cosmetics, and Zuzu Luxe whose product lines are certified 100% gluten-free.
Alternately, avoid biting your nails or licking your lips or fingers if using gluten-containing cosmetics. Also, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying gluten-containing makeup or lotion to your face or body.
Gluten Intolerance Group. Lifestyle: Beauty-Supplements.
Burnett C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, et al. Safety assessment of hydrolyzed wheat protein and hydrolyzed wheat gluten as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. May/Jun 2018;37(1_suppl):55S-66S. doi:10.1177/1091581818776013
National Celiac Society. Are gluten-free skin and body product important for people with celiac disease?
By Jane Anderson Jane Anderson is a medical journalist and an expert in celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and the gluten-free diet.
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