Whether it was due to dietary change, climate differences or Holiday stress, I’m unsure.  But last night, I found my skin acting up and realized my only method of attack was my very own new Gluten Free Beauty Moisture Serum.

So it was quite a proud moment for me this morning to find my skin much improved–almost completely clear again!

Perhaps it’s the natural pH balance of the serum, or the blackhead-busting Echinacea, or the combination of the two.  But I’m just glad to know that my little anti-aging, anti-redness, anti-dryness moisture serum has a couple of acne-fighting tricks up its sleeve.  One-product-packing for trips is naturally fabulous in my opinion!

And don’t even get me started on the aging effect–I once looked at the top of my hand under one of those magnifying skin screens, let’s just say that from then on, I started sharing my facial anti-agers with my hands!  But the downside of that is many anti-aging skin creams feel just awful on your hands.

Which is just another reason to love this ‘lil beauty:

So next time you apply your face serum, not only will you be able to skip rewashing your hands (for the millionth time today), but your hands will even thank you for it!

Even some of the most seemingly natural companies will try to sneak in “fragrance oil” or “natural fragrance.”  But the word fragrance is one that you should watch out for, as ingredients termed under it may contain nasty phthalates.

Rose, Calendula and Rosemary in GFB's Facial Serum

Gluten Free Beauty’s pleasing scent can be attributed to three ingredients, all intended for their healing properties:

* Calming Calendula Oil reduces redness and inflammation.
* Rose Essential Oil for tones and balances the skin.
* Therapeutic Rosemary Essential Oil stimulates and invigorates the skin.

The Ugly Truth About Phthalates:

Phthalates- These tiny plasticizers can cause infertility, feminization of baby boys and sperm damage. Found in “fragrance,” nail polish, nail treatment, etc. Often listed as phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate. These tricky toxins can legally be left out of ingredient list, encompassed under “fragrance.” So when buying a product that does not specify fragrance as being naturally derived, I suggest contacting the company.

-NaturallyDahling.com Top Ten Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Cosmetics

If you are like me, then going gluten-free was just the tip of the rabbit hole.  Since research shows that there is a high correlation between various food intolerances, I try very hard to listen to my body and watch for reactions to foods other than gluten and casein (which I have been tested for and proved severely intolerant to).  Well, our skin is not much different.

There are so many sneaky little ingredients that are common irritants, but make it even into natural and organic products.  For instance, did you know that lavender oil can be a powerful allergen?   And that you should avoid lavender if you are pregnant?  And furthermore, since it mimics oestrogens, lavender has been linked to abnormal breast tissue growth in young boys? (Source:  New England Journal of Medicine)

Needless to say, there is no lavender in any GFB product.

And it doesn’t end there.  Other common irritants include:

• bismuth oxychloride: can contain heavy metals, commonly found in makeup products
• carmine: ground up beetle parts, commonly used as a natural red pigment in makeup products
• lauryl sulfates: a surfactant, commonly used for lathering properties in shampoos and toothpastes

These are just a few common ingredients that could ignite an allergic reaction if your skin is sensitive.  And if you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, you may be more likely to have other allergies or sensitivities.

Preliminary EWG Report Gives GFB a Score of 1 (Low Hazard)

One of my favorite resources for finding new beauty products is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database.  Many of my favorite natural skincare lines were discovered here while searching for the purest products on the planet.

I’m currently in the process of having my Gluten Free Beauty: Facial Moisture Serum added to their site, but after years of ingredient research and product development, I had to know where it stands so I did a Preliminary Report.  This report is not available publicly yet, as EWG has not approved the accuracy of the information, but based on the ingredients and directions I keyed in straight from the product’s label, is scored VERY, VERY well!

The ratings are on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being the safest.  And generally, you want to stay away from anything over a four.  I’m very excited to see that the GFB Facial Moisture Serum rings in at a very safe score of 1, which means it is a low hazard.

And what kept it from scoring a 0?  Avocado Oil, Echinacea Oil, Calendula Oil, and Echinacea Extract each scored a 1 for possible irritation.  And the Vitamin E Oil (from soy) scored a 2 out of contamination concern, but the E I use is pure soy oil, so this is a very far-fetched concern.

Click here to donate to EWG.

I created the Facial Moisture Serum for my new line Gluten Free Beauty out of necessity.  Since I began showing strong symptoms of gluten intolerance–years before my diagnosis–I had a lot of trouble finding an effective, natural, gluten-free beauty serum to tackle my skin issues.

Eating a gluten-free diet has drastically helped me skin, but I still suffer from some common problems when I’m not using the right product.  Problems like rosacea, dry skin, oily T-zone, occasional breakouts and the signs of aging.  So I developed a moisturizer/anti-aging/anti-inflammatory product using all natural, gluten-free ingredients to address these issues.  And honestly, my skin has never looked better!

Thanks so much for being a gluten-free beauty!!

As a special welcome present, I’m offering $10 off of each bottle of Gluten Free Beauty’s Facial Moisture Serum through Saturday March 13th 2010.

That’s just $35 for a three month supply!

Simply enter in the code WELCOME10 at checkout to receive your discount.

In order to get listed with the campaign, companies must agree to avoid the use of ingredients that can cause cancer, birth defects and other health problems, well naturally, I believe in using nothing but the very best natural ingredients in all Gluten Free Beauty products, so I decided to get involved.

Gluten Free Beauty joins the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics!

It’s official!  Gluten Free Beauty is a compact signer for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics!

If you are unfamiliar with this site, you simply must check it out!  You can enter in either a company name, product type or specific ingredient and view products according to a 0-10 safety score.  So if, for instance, you’re searching for the safest sunnless tanners, EWG is a great place to start!

I did a preliminary report a few weeks ago, but now we’re “official!”  A quick search for “Gluten Free Beauty” or any of our product categories will produce a report like this:

I’ve been mixing up gentle, foaming face washes for months, but it was a salve that I fell in love with.

My new routine, perfect for keeping my skin healthy, smooth and glowing is as follows:

Morning:

I use Kiss My Face Organic Sudz–In the Pink Bar with a wash cloth and warm water to gently wash and exfoliate my face in the morning.  I then pat dry and apply my Facial Moisture Serum, wait a few minutes for it to fully sink in and apply my makeup.

Evening:

In the evening, I simply smoothe a dollup of salve over my face, including my eyes (to remove eye makeup) and then gently wipe away the salve with a warm wash cloth and pat dry.  I then apply just a few drops of Facial Moisture Serum.

I never thought I’d love a cleansing salve, but my skin is loving this gentle, moisturizing treatment.

In a pinch, I even used some of the salve as a leg moisturizer, and am loving its versatility.