I’ve been on a bit of a gluten-free purge in my bathroom. I’ve been using Clinique facial lotion, but since they can’t verify anything for me on their gluten content, I threw out everything and wanted to start fresh. I purchased Desert Essence Daily Essential Facial Moisturizer. A fellow Celiac recommended the brand, so I went to sprouts and was happy to have a safe facial lotion.
I thought about it more and realized that it couldn’t just be me – there has to be something in the product that I’m reacting to. However, it’s essentially pretty allergen-free! It’s clearly gluten-free, and also paraben-free, no artificial fragrances or dyes, no petroleum compounds, no SLS, no glycols, phthalates, etc.
Here’s the ingredients: Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glyceryl Stearate (Vegetable Derived), Stearic Acid (Vegetable Derived), Cetyl Palmitate (Plant Derived), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol (Vegetable Derived), Propanediol (Corn Derived), Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Glycerin (Plant Derived), Gluconolactone, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Geranium Maculatum Oil (Plant Derived).
WHAT AM I ALLERGIC TO!?!?!
Just as a follow-up test, I put it on again this afternoon and my face started burning and turned bright red again. Awesome.
If you don’t have any ideas of what I could be sensitive to, can you at least help me find another gluten-free face lotion? I’m so bummed out!
I use philosphy’s keep the peace moisturizer, and I grilled the national skin care person from there when she was at my Nordstrom’s.
I had really good luck with Sephora’s First Aid Beauty, but the store near me didn’t carry it for the longest time, so I switched to philosophy, but I really liked it.
There is this post on Sephora about GF brands: http://community.sephora.com/t5/Products/Gluten-Free-Products/td-p/142507
Hopefully that helps!
Also, I am sorry about your skin! Mine does that not just with gluten, but with some other chemicals and dyes as well, so I feel your pain!
I submitted too soon.
My guess is you are reacting to the Steric acid. You can always switch to 100% argan oil or coconut oil. I use argan oil at night, keep the peace in the morning. I also use the oil on my hair and body…it is amazing stuff.
Yeah, I could believe the steric acid! That sounds good using the argon oil – I’ve been using that in my hair courtesy of DermOrganic. My skin is very sensitive with anything – so I know it wasn’t the gluten (although I could believe cross-contamination), I’m sure it’s some random ingredient. GRR! So frustrating to not know! Thank you for the Sephora list too, I may just have to sample as I go along…
Erica – I had the EXACT same reaction today. It seriously freaked me out – I have never had such a bad reaction to a product, even though I have sensitive skin. My entire face went completely bright red like I had an instantaneous sunburn or worse. My upper lip also felt a little numb and swollen. Fortunately, it pretty much wore off within an hour ( I washed my face twice and put some of my body lotion on my face).
Whatever it was, I definitely want to avoid it in the future, too! Ack!
Let me know if you ever figure out what it is that you reacted to!
I had the exact same experience with their face lotions – even though I am totally fine with their shampoos. Not sure what it was but I had to give it up. After trying several different lines, I ended up with Arbonne and liked it so much that I now sell it. They’ve made a huge difference in the texture of my skin which I just wasn’t seeing with so many others. I’d love to send you some samples!
Cool! Go ahead and send me a message on my website and we can talk. I’ve seen Arbonne at some of the gluten-free expos I’ve seen…
Could it be the Gluconolactone in the ingredients list? It is derived from corn.
Have you tried any of the ‘Kiss My Face’ products?
I haven’t tried the Kiss my Face products, but I definitely know that they are an option. So, I guess that’s what I can try next! Thank you!
I was under the impression celiac doesn’t cause a gluten skin reaction. You don’t need gluten free hair care and body lotions. I understand the lipstick because it may end up in your digestive system but can you point me to the literature about celiac and needing to use gluten free topical products?
http://www.glutenfreedietitian.com/newsletter/personal-care-products-do-you-need-to-worry-about-gluten/
I totally understand and feel the same way, but I wanted my house to be totally free of gluten. I can’t remember how many times I put on face lotion, rub it in, and then touch my mouth. Why risk it, if I can buy awesome products that are gluten-free? Also, I have had readers that topically react to wheat in products – like an allergen, so that’s a plus too. For me, it’s the fact that I’m clumsy. I don’t know how many times I’ve had body soap or shampoo end up in my mouth and eyes when taking a shower. I’m not careful when I’m washing my hands in the morning after applying makeup and lotion and then eating afterwards. So, I just like to keep it safe. But for this particular product, I was just reacting to something weird – because gluten itself doesn’t necessarily give me a skin reaction.
Oh I see, very good point. Sometimes I just get annoyed because people out there push expensive gluten free products saying you need it when you don’t always! I think as individuals with celiac we already suffer enough with out wasting money unnecessarily. I know when I have children I will use gluten free products on them in case they have it too.
Sodium Benzoate may also be the culprit. I have recently had to ditch everything that contains benzoates. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of information on benzoate allergies, but it seems that more and more people are having to eliminate benzoates from their diets/ personal products.
Wow… sounds like there are a few of us… I use desert essence face wash without issues so I was a bit thrown off with the blatant red face reaction to this moisturizer….
Hi,
I do not have gluten intolerance, but I just used Dessert Essence Coconut Hand and Body lotion all over, except my face thank goodness, and my skin began burning and then turning red and blotchy! I freaked out and jumped in the shower to wash it off, and even though applied some different lotion after my shower, my skin is still somewhat red, although calming down. There is something in this product that is bad, bad, bad. I’m not allergic to lotions ever, so beware, people!
The same thing happened to my face when putting this on! My chin now has red bumps, extremely dry to the point where it is peeling, and it burns. I stopped using it but now I am stuck with everything I stated above. I don’t know how to get rid of it :/