If you have an allergy, you’re probably good at checking to make sure you avoid allergens. However, allergens could be in your skincare products, too. Any food can be an allergen to someone. If you have a food allergy, you’re probably very good at avoiding foods to which you’re allergic. After all, even a mild food allergy can be frustrating.
With the way that foods are labeled with common allergens, you’d probably think that your skin care products are allergy-free, considering the lack of allergy labeling.
Unfortunately, that’s an incorrect assumption. You could be having reactions because of allergens in your skin care and hair care products. Read this guide to get the rundown on allergens in your cosmetics.
Do cosmetics labels have to mention allergens?
The short answer is no. Any number of allergens can be in your cosmetics, and you may not even realize it.
The long answer is that the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, which set in place food labeling requirements for allergens, doesn’t cover cosmetics. Quite a few items don’t fall under FALCPA, including supplements and restaurant foods, but many people are especially surprised to learn that cosmetics don’t require allergen labeling. Even if a cosmetic product contains one of the most common allergens, it doesn’t have to list it in plain English, unlike with food products. Without that requirement, it’s easy to overlook an allergen because it’s only listed by its chemical name.
Most cosmetic companies aren’t intentionally hiding allergen information from customers. However, the intentions aren’t important when it comes to allergens. If you’re having an allergic reaction because of a hard-to-read label, it’s still going to be upsetting.
How can I tell if there’s an allergen in my cosmetics?
Learning how to read labels is an incredibly important part of managing an allergy, but it’s even more important when it comes to cosmetics. The best way to make sure you don’t have any allergens in your cosmetics is to learn the chemical names of different food allergens.
For example, if you’re allergic to milk, you may be using a shampoo with hydrolysates in it. Hydrolysates are actually a type of milk protein, and could be causing you to have an allergic reaction, even if you’re being very careful with what you’re eating. Shea butter, a commonly used moisturizer for skin, is created with the nuts of the shea tree, making it a tree nut product. That means people with tree nut allergies could have physical reactions to lip balms and lotions with shea butter.
At the end of the day, it’s all about reading ingredient labels. With cosmetics, it’s even more important, as food products have to include allergens in plain English while cosmetics don’t. That’s why you should scan the ingredient list every time you buy something new.
What are the best cosmetics for people with allergies?
Even if you have food allergies, you can still use cosmetic items, including skin care, shampoo, body wash, makeup, and more. You just have to be a bit more careful.
Hypoallergenic cosmetic items are more common than ever, and as long as you read the ingredient list, it’s easy to get something that’s suitable for your specific allergy. For example, the Nurture My Body Ultimate Skincare Set is nut-free, gluten-free, and vegan. It’s also fragrance-free, making it great for sensitive skin, and it contains natural ingredients that work to keep your skin refreshed without loading it full of chemicals.
On the Nurture My Body website, you can browse the ingredients of every item. That means you can check for less prominent allergens, ensure that skin care items are safe for your entire family, and be completely knowledgeable about what’s contacting your body.
Conclusion
It’s possible to have food allergies and still lead a healthy, happy life. It just takes a little bit more time. Every time you decide to make the switch to a new line of cosmetics, view the ingredient list to make sure you’re avoiding allergens. The extra time is worth it! You’ll be rewarded with a beautiful skin care routine without allergic reactions.