**Attention! This blog is no longer updated on Burt's Bees gluten free products. Please see the Burt's Bees Gluten Free page on the Gluten Free Diet Guide website for the most current information. **
Hello! As part of my quest to find gluten free cosmetics and beauty products, I'm introducing a topic that I'll revisit from time to time. Every time I walk through my local Target (I'm afraid that's a lot!), I wonder what the chances are that some of these cosmetic and personal care products are gluten free?
I just wrote a letter to Neutrogena to figure out what the story is there. I've read some forum posts saying they just have a "wheat free" list, not a true GF list. Although what I read also seems to give the impression that if there is no wheat in it, there won't be gluten in it. What?? Does Neutrogena actually understand that there could still be gluten if there's no wheat? I did make a point to clarify that I wanted to know about a "gluten free" list, since any barley, rye, or oat-derived ingredient could still have gluten. We'll see what they provide. However, just know there is already a big question mark on Neutrogena anyway. I'm not expecting much different.
In the last year or two, Burt's Bees has been sold in Target stores. This is delightful for me since I can get a few of my basics on my regular errand route. I do know that some gluten free folks have expressed frustration because they haven't gotten a straight answer regarding their source of Vitamin E. So some may consider that Burts Bees gluten free cosmetic list doesn't really provide anything for them. I understand and include that disclaimer here for anyone with that level of concern. I also wish they had a more updated list - most recent one is from January of 2008. My secret wish is that they are working out their Vitamin E issue and will include that in any updated list. Don't know how likely that is, but I can hope!
At any rate, I do get Burts Bees Lip Shimmer quite frequently. I also use the Burts Bees Day Radiance cream every day. Some of their lotion products are scented too strongly for my preference, but that's just me I think. Some people love that, which is great. And it helps that it can be easy to pick up your beauty staples at the same store as your new laundry basket, tortilla chips, and shampoo.
Speaking of shampoo, Suave has been a good brand for gluten free shampoo. I will do more checking for any recent updates, but the Unilever company has been known for fully disclosing all sources of gluten. I've read other bloggers and forum posters using Suave as well. Again, I'll write another letter soon to confirm this, but it's what I use on my hair every day.
So there are a few gluten free cosmetic and shampoo choices you could pick up from Target on an everyday basis. Nice to know some things are just around the corner. :)
Showing posts with label gluten free cosmetics vitamin E wheat germ oil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gluten free cosmetics vitamin E wheat germ oil. Show all posts
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, November 19, 2007
Watch for Vitamin E as a hidden gluten source in cosmetics, skin care, body care products
If there is one thing I've learned, you really have to know what to look for when asking questions about gluten free cosmetics. Vitamin E is a common ingredient in cosmetics, skin care, and body care products. I learned, only after seeing some posts on celiac and gluten free message boards, that Vitamin E can be derived from wheat germ.
I realized that this had been something I'd missed in a few of the companies I'd contacting - the first one is Afterglow (a totally gluten free cosmetic company I'll tell you about in a later post), and the other was Burt's Bees. A visitor to this blog had contacted me and said that she hadn't gotten good information from Burt's Bees several years ago about Vitamin E. I told her that I would contact Burt's Bees to get an update on that. I just got an email today saying that they do not use wheat germ oil, but rather vegetable oils, mostly soybean. This is good to do, even with companies that say they have gluten free products.
Customer service folks may or may not already know what constitutes a glutenous ingredient. This is not to insult them, it just may or may not be information they are given. And if they just have a general list they are refering to, they may or may not already know that vitamin E is something that could be derived from a glutenous source. This is yet another reason that it may be better to stick with a smaller company or a company that has had a good reputation among those purchasing gluten free products. A smaller company has fewer hoops to go through to find such information. A company who already has a reputation for GF products will likely have the answer quickly available, such as with Burt's Bees. I'm not sure I could count on a huge very mainstream cosmetic company to even know where to look for such an answer.
I know from contacting at least one larger cosmetic companies that their ingredient sources change and there is no guarantee where the ingredients are coming from. You know when you see on a food label "May contain ~~~~~~" ? I'm no mass-market consumer product expert, but here is my guess. It is probably because the product will turn out the same but some of the specific ingredients may not be from the exact same source due to economics, limited quantities available, etc. etc.
Anyway, there is more info on Vitamin E that I need to look into, but it is an easy thing to miss. I sure didn't know about it until about a month ago. Be on the lookout. Food companies are opening up more and more on their labeling and some companies have policies about not hiding glutenous ingredients under "natural flavorings" and so on. There is even some legislation or FDA policy or something about truthful labeling in the works now. There is no such thing I've heard of regarding cosmetics and personal products. If anyone knows more about the food labeling thing, feel free to comment. I'm just kind of writing about that on-the-fly here to make a point. There is no "rule" anyone has to follow about labeling Vitamin E or other hidden sources of gluten.
I'm looking more into where gluten can lurk in cosmetics and other personal products. Another post will come with some terminology to look for. I've also asked an "expert" on cosmetics to help out with some info on the topic. I'll pass that on as it comes.
Keep your eyes peeled and don't get complacent about gluten. It is your health!
Erika
I realized that this had been something I'd missed in a few of the companies I'd contacting - the first one is Afterglow (a totally gluten free cosmetic company I'll tell you about in a later post), and the other was Burt's Bees. A visitor to this blog had contacted me and said that she hadn't gotten good information from Burt's Bees several years ago about Vitamin E. I told her that I would contact Burt's Bees to get an update on that. I just got an email today saying that they do not use wheat germ oil, but rather vegetable oils, mostly soybean. This is good to do, even with companies that say they have gluten free products.
Customer service folks may or may not already know what constitutes a glutenous ingredient. This is not to insult them, it just may or may not be information they are given. And if they just have a general list they are refering to, they may or may not already know that vitamin E is something that could be derived from a glutenous source. This is yet another reason that it may be better to stick with a smaller company or a company that has had a good reputation among those purchasing gluten free products. A smaller company has fewer hoops to go through to find such information. A company who already has a reputation for GF products will likely have the answer quickly available, such as with Burt's Bees. I'm not sure I could count on a huge very mainstream cosmetic company to even know where to look for such an answer.
I know from contacting at least one larger cosmetic companies that their ingredient sources change and there is no guarantee where the ingredients are coming from. You know when you see on a food label "May contain ~~~~~~" ? I'm no mass-market consumer product expert, but here is my guess. It is probably because the product will turn out the same but some of the specific ingredients may not be from the exact same source due to economics, limited quantities available, etc. etc.
Anyway, there is more info on Vitamin E that I need to look into, but it is an easy thing to miss. I sure didn't know about it until about a month ago. Be on the lookout. Food companies are opening up more and more on their labeling and some companies have policies about not hiding glutenous ingredients under "natural flavorings" and so on. There is even some legislation or FDA policy or something about truthful labeling in the works now. There is no such thing I've heard of regarding cosmetics and personal products. If anyone knows more about the food labeling thing, feel free to comment. I'm just kind of writing about that on-the-fly here to make a point. There is no "rule" anyone has to follow about labeling Vitamin E or other hidden sources of gluten.
I'm looking more into where gluten can lurk in cosmetics and other personal products. Another post will come with some terminology to look for. I've also asked an "expert" on cosmetics to help out with some info on the topic. I'll pass that on as it comes.
Keep your eyes peeled and don't get complacent about gluten. It is your health!
Erika
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