Lip balm

Tis the season! The cooler weather has hit us (when it feels like it) and we’re breaking out the sweaters and the boots and the fun fall clothes. It also means that those rosy lips are getting chapped.

I’ve got two recommendations for gluten free lip balm.

EOS:

Their lip balm comes in two different forms. I’ve only tried the sphere as of yet. It’s a fun little accessory, and the flavor is pretty nice (I have strawberry sorbet). It’s not expensive, and you can find it in a bunch of different places. The quality is nothing special; it works, but it does feel thick and greasy when it’s on. Not my favorite. So, good stuff, but not the best.

*Please note: not all of their products are GF, just the lip balm.

Red Apple Lipstick:

Gentlemen, don’t be intimidated by the name; they don’t make just lipstick. I’ve tried a number of their products, and I have yet to find one I don’t like. Their Rallye Balm is to die for. It comes in both a tube and a tub. It’s very light; you can barely tell it’s on. There is no scent or flavor to it. It’s a fantastic primer for lipstick, especially theirs. My lips area left feeling smooth and moisturized. I personally prefer the tube so I don’t have to put my fingers in it, but I imagine the tub would be more appealing to anyone who would rather not give the appearance of applying lipstick. I can also testify to the fact that the tub is a fantastic piece of technology; mine went through the wash, and I didn't end up with lip balm all over my clothes. Awesome stuff!

*Everything that RAL makes is gluten free, and they also strive to be free of anything that research shows to be unhealthy.

Face Wash

Good face wash is hard to find. Add to that the fact that it needs to be gluten free, and it’s even more difficult. So far, I’ve tried three.

Origins:

This company is NOT all gluten free, but when I went to the counter, the woman was extremely helpful with looking up what I could and could not use. I tried the Zero Oil cleanser. I loved the light mint scent and the fact that it was gentle on my skin. However, the clean feeling didn’t last too long. Toward the end of the day, my face would be rather oily. So, not a bad product, but not one that I fell in love with. It’s also really  hard to justify $20 for a face wash that only sort of does its job.

Desert Essence:

This company clearly labels their gluten free products.  I purchased the Thoroughly Clean Face Wash in Original (around $10). The first thing I noticed when I used it was the overwhelming smell. It’s strong, and I don’t find it pleasant at all. The scent didn’t cling to my face, however, and one I rinsed it off it was done. First thing in the morning, though, strong, gross odors are not my friend. I also noticed that though it was purportedly for “oily & combination skin”, at the end of the day, my face was even more oily than when I used the Origins face wash.

365 Everyday Value:

I bought the Daily Facial Cleanser on a recommendation from a saleswoman at Whole Foods. She was very eager to help, and knew her stuff; always a plus. It’s gluten free, it’s comparable to Cetaphil, and it’s cheap! I bought it for less than $6. I believe it’s supposed to be fragrance free, but it does have a bit of a sweet smell to it. Nothing I can’t live with. It also works. I end the day with minimal oil on my face and still feeling clean. Out of the three I’ve tried, this is by far my favorite.

Why research is important--or, my TSTL moment of the day

Just a quick post today to illustrate the importance of doing your own research:

I went to Nordstrom the other day looking for some new make up. I'd done my research and found out that 100% of the make up made by NARS is gluten free. I was ecxtatic. Unfortunately, my Nordstrom does not cary NARS. The ladies in make up were, however, very helpful, and directed me to Smashbox. Most (but not all) of Smashbox's products are GF. I was able to confirm this with several different gluten free bloggers and sites, which was great, and an old friend was at the counter with all the knowledge of the products and their GF status that I could want. Great stuff, right?

The only problem is that this made me a bit bold. This morning went into Ulta, because I knew they also carried Smashbox and they're a bit closer to me. I was attempting to look up which products were not gluten free so I could steer clear. Trying to do that in a crowded store on a smallish phone with inquisitive sales reps is not so easy. I finally caved and asked one of the reps for help. She told me that she didn't know about Smashbox, but she did know that Tarte made completely gluten free products.

Let me stop you right here before you get too excited about that. Despite the woman's assurances, Tarte products are not gluten free. Some of them might be, but per a company rep, the Maracuja Divine Shine lip glosses are not. Still waiting to hear back about the liquid eye liner and mascara.

Unfortunately, I made a TSTL (too stupid to live, for those unfamiliar with the acronym) move by trying out the gloss before hearing back from the company. No symptoms yet, but we'll see. That means I can't take it back, either. Luckily, I have a friend who doesn't mind my germs (especially for free lip gloss) and who will take it off my hands.

Lesson of the day: don't be TSTL when it comes to gluten. Do your homework.

What's in Traci's house?

Maybe you've been gluten free for a while and you're looking for new products to use. Maybe you're new to this and have no idea where to start looking for GF products. Here would be a good place. You're welcome. :)

Room by room, I've listed every gluten free product I have in my home. This list doesn't contain every product on the market that's GF; I doubt I could ever collect such a beast. It's not even every one that I know about. That will come later. However, here is a good starting place for those who are feeling overwhelmed.

In the interest of not making this forever long, I'm not including my kitchen and make up bag in this list. For anyone interested, I can post those separate.

Laundry:
Method laundry detergent
Seventh Generation laundry detergent
Hydrogen peroxide
Baking soda
White vinegar
Lemon juice
(Those last four are my new house cleaning supplies)

Bathroom:
Method hand soap
Tom's of Maine toothpaste
Method daily shower spray
Kiss My Face bar soap in lavender
Kiss My Face body wash in lavender lily
Kiss My Face moisture shave in cool mint
Kiss My Face lavender and shea moisturizer
Dove bar soap
365 Everyday Value shampoo and conditioner in citrus
ShiKai Color Reflect shampoo
ShiKai Color Reflect mist & go conditioner
ShiKai hand and body lotion in coconut
Project Fig shave kit
Origins face wash


Pretty long list, no? Until I started throwing things out, I didn't realize just how much gluten I put on and in my body every day. Reviews will be forthcoming for most (if not all) of these products.

What do you use daily?