Nut-Free, Lipstick

The question of nut-free cosmetics, specifically lipstick, comes from an Allergic Girl reader and it's one that I've written about before.

My first thoughts were Almay and other drug store brands that don't use high-end expensive nutty ingredients. Or a place like Giella that custom creates cosmetic blends. (Very cool, I know and not more expensive than Chanel or other high-end department store brands).

What do you think? What have you used?

From reader:

Hi: I saw your website and was intrigued. It's my husband that has the nut allergy, but I also have the fish/melon-and-other vegetables allergy.

But my main concern is nuts in cosmetics. I've finally found makeup I can wear without breaking out (Bare Escentials) because I have extremely sensitive skin and eyes, but their lipgloss must have some kind of nuts. Even though I wrote to the company and they say it doesn't, their lipstick does, so there must have been some kind of contamination in the processing, or the person I e-mailed is uninformed, or they are not as careful about what is considered 'nuts' (I didn't realize the shea butter connection, for example--that's in everything!).

Anyway, are you aware of a list of cosmetics that are nut-free you could refer me to? I'm mostly interested in the lipsticks as that seems to be the problem.

I'd be very grateful for any assistance you could provide me.

Comments

Katie Lou said…
hmm, ya know since my daughter had a bad reactionto my lipstick that she found in my purse at age 2, I have quit even wearing lipstick at all. I looked and looked for one that was free of seed oils, nuts, and such but never found anything! I'll have to check into your recommendations. Thanks!
Allergic Girl® said…
FROM JENNA:

I don't have any suggestions for nut-free cosmetics, but I do have a related question that I would love to hear your thoughts on, and the thoughts of your readers. I'm really confused about gluten-free cosmetics and toiletries, and particularly about one ingredient: tocopherol. I know that tocopherol is often derived from wheat germ oil. When I call companies to ask about their products, they'll tell me something is gluten free even when it contains tocopherol and they often don't know the source of the tocopherol.

Do you have any insights about this? Do you use products with tocopherol (it seems to be in everything!)?
You might check The Body Shop. I was searching for chapstick for my son--his lips are always dry, and found a few that were nut-free. I have to say I don't know about the gluten part though.

I HATE that shea butter is added to everything. We don't know for sure but avoid it just in case.

You might try looking at some of the small makeup companies online. This is one of my favorite beauty blogs http://frescophyrra.blogspot.com/
You might even be able to have somone do some custom work for you?

Good luck!
Unknown said…
Huge misconceptions being discussed here. Simply

1) Shea is NOT A NUT! This is a fruit. The FDA may have classified it as a tree nut, but it is not in the tree nut family. Go do your research if you do not believe me, and unfortunately the FDA is dead wrong. They have admitted this, but the list won't change. You didn't react to this, I promise you.

2) Wheat germ oil is not causing your problem. You have your concepts mixed up with gluten, and the mechanism of how gluten would cause a reaction (it is a diarrhea thing, not a lip thing, and I remind you of how many people over-attribute gluten as the root of all evil). Furthermore, you wouldn't get a reaction to wheat from wheat germ oil.

3) Sesame is commonly found in balms. If you are sesame allergic, this is a very realistic danger--ask my 12 year old patient who went into anaphylaxis this.

4) Not all, but many of the nut oils (e.g. almond extract, etc) may not be real, and are more likely to be a product of some lab off the Jersey Turnpike. Like peanut oil, most true tree nut allergic individuals are not very likely to react to a tree nut oil, and I would doubt that it could cause oral allergy syndrome (this would be degraded in the processing of the oil).

5) There are SEVERAL agents well known to provoke allergic contact dermatitis in lip balms, such as fragrance mix, quaternium 15, paraben, benzocaine, and others. This would be my most likely culprit. Go see your allergist and discuss this with them.

This is pointed, but it disturbs me that there is huge conceptual misunderstanding being passed around. You do not need a GF lip balm, and shea nut is not provoking a tree nut allergy.
Unknown said…
Read labels and use caution. I have multiple food, chemical, and other allergies-even to waxes and green tea, which are in several products. Face Stockholm has served me well for nail polishes, synthetic brushes, face, and eye shadow products. I have not been able to find lipstick yet without wax, castor, or some type of nut oil in it. I can wear Chanel's entire Glossimer and Aqualimiere lipgloss lines without a problem. I recently found mascara without wax, nut, or fish oil derivatives-made by a company called Kiss. Mac's eye shadows also work for me. However, I try to patron Face Stockholm for as many products as I can. I work with a makeup artist who is excellent with colors, and has allergies himself, so I have less worry, and their products last a long time. He is even willing to suggest other product lines that he knows of, when Face doesnt make something I can use! I am limited to Terax and a few other brands for hair products. Any suggestions would be welcomed in this area. Good luck!
Unknown said…
Read labels and use caution. I have multiple food, chemical, and other allergies-even to waxes and green tea, which are in several products. Face Stockholm has served me well for nail polishes, synthetic brushes, face, and eye shadow products. I have not been able to find lipstick yet without wax, castor, or some type of nut oil in it. I can wear Chanel's entire Glossimer and Aqualimiere lipgloss lines without a problem. I recently found mascara without wax, nut, or fish oil derivatives-made by a company called Kiss. Mac's eye shadows also work for me. However, I try to patron Face Stockholm for as many products as I can. I work with a makeup artist who is excellent with colors, and has allergies himself, so I have less worry, and their products last a long time. He is even willing to suggest other product lines that he knows of, when Face doesnt make something I can use! I am limited to Terax and a few other brands for hair products. Any suggestions would be welcomed in this area. Good luck!
Allergy girl said…
I’ve used one Clinique formula for years,... but now it contains Shea. After much looking I found Luxe lipstick by Bobbi Brown, is Shea free. It’s nice lipstick, and many shades. You may need to read the ingredients to be sure it’s okay for you,... I’m very nut allergic and not interested in trying Shea. I don’t care what “they” say. My throat swells shut and I’m not interested in trying it. I found Milani lipstick which also is Shea free, but I seem to react to something in it,.. maybe the scent, which I find obnoxious. I’d rather pay Bobbi Brown prices, which are high, and not have allergic reactions.

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