If you’ve got celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity, any gluten you consume, including gluten in supplements and oral care products, can cause adverse reactions. But what about topical beauty aids? Does your shampoo, body lotion, and makeup need to be gluten-free? Many beauty and personal care products do contain gluten. Coarse-grain ingredients such as oats and bran aid in exfoliation in facial and body scrubs; lipstick may contain gluten in the form of wheat germ oil and color sources. Other common gluten-containing beauty ingredients include triticum vulgare (or hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolysate wheat protein), sodium benzoate, potassium stearate, and hordeum vulgare (barley).
Download our Guide to Gluten-Free Living for more information on what to look for (and avoid) on personal care and supplement products.
