Gluten-Free Shampoo?

If you're vegan like me, chances are you already know to check your beauty products to make sure they are cruelty free. Cosmetics and personal care products can not only contain substances derived from animals, they can also be tested on animals. A little bunny on the label usually means the product is cruelty free.

It's also a good idea to check the product's ingredient label to make sure that there are no harmful chemicals in it. Many personal care products contain carcinogenic fragrances and dyes, hormone disrupting parabens and phthalates and toxic ingredients such DEA, TEA, propylene glycol and sodium laurel sulfate. Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website for more info, and watch Annie Leonard's The Story of Cosmetics (below) for more info.

Did you know that beauty care products can also contain ingredients such as soy and gluten? If you have a food allergy, you should always check labels to make sure offending foods aren't lurking in places you wouldn't suspect. I recently checked the labels on my "natural" shampoo and conditioner and discovered that they contain gluten, which probably explains why my eyes tend to itch when I'm in the shower. Whole Foods and most health food stores carry products that are cruelty free, chemical free and free of allergens.






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