Gluten-free, vegan and organic makeup is having its moment, especially when it comes to mascara! There are a growing number of all-natural products on the market that are appropriate for those who are celiac or gluten intolerant.
This article will dive into the movement of all-natural makeup products, as well as the top-rated gluten-free mascaras on the market today!
The Hazardous History of Makeup
Cosmetics have come a long way in recent years, and have taken strides since centuries before. Back in the post-Civil War period and in Victorian England, makeup contained toxic ingredients such as arsenic, mercury and lead. These heavy metals were marketed to give women a pale, clear complexion which, at the time, was the desired look.
Harmful chemicals were found in many beauty products marketed to women, including eyeshadows, pressed face powders, and soaps. Lead was a popular treatment for acne, and there were even hazardous chemicals in eyedrops to promote larger pupils. Needless to say, this resulted in the permanent disfiguration and even death of many women around the world.
Modern-Day Chemical Use
While we’ve come a long way from the use of heavy metals in beauty products, we are not out of the woods just yet. Many makeup and personal cleansing products on the market today still contain harmful ingredients. These ingredients include but are not limited to, formaldehyde, parabens, BHA, and talcum powder.
The reported side effects of these and similar chemicals are skin irritation, inflammation, and have even been linked to various auto-immune and other diseases. While no one knows just yet the long-term effects of these products, one thing is obvious: if these unnatural nanoparticles are being absorbed through our skin and into our organs, that cannot be good news for our bodies.
The Move to All-Natural
It may surprise you to find out that even during the Victorian era, there was still a big DIY culture among women making their own all-natural items, many ingredients we still use in organic makeup today. Ingredients such as witch hazel, essential oils, rose water, and plants have stood the test of time and have shown to be beneficial for many women opting for chemical-free products.
Our overall health is instrumental to what we put on and in our bodies, and while we still have a ways to go with removing the harsh chemicals still found in products today, people are waking up and leading the movement towards safe and natural alternatives in beauty.
Gluten in Skincare
You may be wondering what the purpose of gluten in skincare is, and how much it can affect you when present in your makeup and beauty products. If you’ve been diagnosed as celiac or gluten intolerant, here are some important things to keep in mind.
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Why Use Gluten in Skincare at All?
Gluten is used primarily as a thickener or binding agent and can be found in a number of exfoliants, moisturizers, and emollients. When trying to avoid gluten in a product, keep an eye out on the ingredients list for other words such as oat, wheat, rye, barley or malt.
Gluten Products Applied to the Skin Cannot Enter Your Bloodstream, but That Does Not Mean There Are No Risks Involved
Any allergy or sensitivity that you have, when applied to the skin, can cause an adverse reaction such as dermatitis. While gluten cannot enter your body via your skin, there are still ways that you may accidentally ingest the product, which could result in nausea, vomiting and stomach upset.
The level of irritation you may face is dependent on your level of sensitivity and how much you’ve ingested. It is also important to make sure that you do not have any open lesions on your body where gluten or gluten by-products could more easily enter the body.
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Effects of Gluten in Mascara
Since your eyes are an organ, it is very likely that you could be affected by gluten in mascara. There have been reports of those with celiac disease or gluten intolerances mentioning their eyes feeling swollen and heavy at times after using mascara containing gluten, as well as more frequent facial breakouts and itchy patches on their body when using gluten-containing products.
So which mascaras are safe to use and certified gluten-free?
Ecco Bella is a vegan company whose value stems from being gluten/wheat free, as well as cruelty and fragrance-free, making them an obvious choice for anyone with a variety of sensitivities to non-natural products.
Kiss Freely mascara is also free of many common allergens in addition to gluten, such as dairy, eggs, peanuts, sesame, shellfish and harmful chemicals.
Essence is a price-conscious brand that always hits the mark! They have recently released an organic mascara that does not contain any allergens or chemicals, so you can have that false lash look without breaking the bank!