For info. on how to try to score these glosses for your group, please visit: http://glutenfreebeauty.com/blog/gluten-free-lip-gloss-giveaway

100% natural and gluten-free, they won’t dry, chap or addict your lips, but they may leave your beau vying for more gluten-free kisses!

My Aha Moment

I was SO excited and honored to be contacted recently by the Mutual of Omaha “My Aha Moment” tour while they were in Asheville.  I was invited for an interview about my own moment of realization that aligned me with my “path.”  And for me that moment was putting my research to work for me and accumulating all of my years of product research behind Naturally Dah’ling into the development of my own cosmetic and skin care line, aka a line I can REALLY stand behind (one made by my own hands!). To view, just click  here!

But after much trial and error I began to fear that I’d never find natural, gluten-free products that could tame my tangled tresses.

Finally, I’ve found a solution!  Now I do love the Sircuit Skin and Hamadi products listed under the Hair Care section of Naturally Dah’ling, but here’s what I use when I can’t afford to always use salon-quality products:

Shampoo: Jason Natural Fragrance-Free Daily Hair Shampoo

Conditioner: Jason Natural Fragrance-Free Daily Hair Conditioner

Leave-In Conditioner: Jason Natural Kids Only!-Daily Detangling Conditioner

Other gluten-free hair products include Desert Essence Organics and California Baby.  Of course, since formulations are subject to change, always read your labels first!

I had only just received an inquiry about Derma E products, when I received a sample of their Microdermabrasion Scrub packaged neatly with my Skin Botanica order.  But there are so many scrubs on the market, and few actually perform as promised.

Well, this trial was an absolute success!  I am utteryly adoring this beaded exfoliator.  It’s fabulous!

And as for the ingredients, I have provided a complete list below.  And here is a verifying statement regarding gluten in their products–I love, love, love that they are aware of the dangers of topical gluten for some of us:

Gluten Free

derma e® recognizes that some individuals with gluten intolerance may have an allergic reaction when gluten is applied topically. Most derma e® products are gluten-free, however the following may contain remnants of gluten such as oat extract:

• Stop Itch (Item #88300)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Magnesium Oxide, Silica, Volcanic Sand, Pearl Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate

For fine lines and wrinkles, I still swear by Sircuit’s Addict, but I’ve come to appreciate this little beauty for it’s pure magic!

For lighter, day to day beauty routines, I’ve left out my concealer in favor of this dark-circle-erasing under eye cream. Even when my dark circles are their darkest, I simply dab a bit on and apply my makeup as usual, only no need for any concealer under my eyes! Sometimes I’ll brush a bit of foundation powder over my eye area, but it’s nice to know I’m not just covering, I’m treating the area.

I also love that this eye cream doesn’t conjure up any little oil bumps in the under eye area, like some cheap imitations do.

Return to NaturallyDahling.com

As a tween I thought that a good facial routine meant wash, tone and spot treat.  But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve invested more in good cleansers and moisturizers than astringents or toners.

I have tried a few out here and there over the past few years, and recently decided to give
100% Pure Organic Peppermint Green Tea Facial Toner
a try.

It immediately surprised me since it has no alcohol, but has the same cool “burn” of the Windex colored toners of my past.  But whether or not it anti-ages, brightens, protects and repairs as recommended is still to be determined.  I’ll keep you posted!

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It seems that every time I visit a salon it’s not actually as pleasant an experience as I hoped. My scalp winds up breaking out in a rash–which stylists usually freak out about and do not want to tell me, so I wind up wondering why they’re acting that way.  Or my scalp becomes super sensitive and I’m left wondering why the stylist is brushing so hard.

Turns out, it’s all about the gluten.  Since I am topically sensitive to gluten, salon shampoos containing high levels of this protein from wheat, barley or rye tend to cause negative reactions for me.

This week I also getting a bit bored with my blond highlights, so on a whim, I bought a box of L’Oreal’s Natural Match Hair Color.  It is ammonia free and a bit less chemical-laden than some alternatives, but still, I hesitated to even read the ingredients, which range from ethanolamine to toluene-2–even to check for gluten.

It did take two different shades and a call to their support line for color-correcting advice, but the results are in: I LOVE MY NEW COLOR, and NO BAD GLUTEN REACTIONS!

I called back to ask L’Oreal, and guess what, this product is even confirmed gluten-free!

But I do have a wonderful little sample that I did try and quite liked–before I realized that it contained: Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein.  And for us gluten-free gals, that simply won’t do.

I will however keep seeking out some other fabulous REN products to try, of course, in the future I had better be sure to carefully read the label!

PeaceKeeper natural, gluten-fee nail paints are back!

I’m sorry for their disappearance, but thanks to a healthy supply of Peacekeeper paints at Drugstore.com, Naturally Dah’ling once again links to one of the best nail companies on the planet!

So whether you paint at home or bring your own polish with you to the manicurist, toss out toxic formulas in exchange for these healthier, long-lasting, gluten-free nail beauties.

In the midst of moving, managing “The World’s First Gluten Free Search Engine” and trying to help save sweet animals from dangerous food allergies, I’ve found that 140 character communication certainly has its benefits.

To all of those who have e-mailed, I think I’ve now gotten back to you, but if not, please try again!  And if you want immediate answers to any natural or gluten-free beauty questions you may have, please come and tweet with me on Twitter!